"We're planning to visit the village head's house to offer New Year's greetings. It's nothing major, so Xiao Ming can stay home with you. We'll be back soon," Shen Xiaoyan said.
Bai Yan, overhearing this, immediately spoke up, "No need, no need, sis. You go ahead. Da Gang and I need to head back too. We still have to go pay New Year's calls with Mom and Dad."
Wu Da Gang chimed in, agreeing that he also had to accompany his parents for greetings and wouldn't be staying.
Shen Xiaoyan knew they weren't just being polite, so she didn't press the matter further.
The group walked together towards the village. Zheng Wei and Shen Xiaoyan walked at the back, while Shen Xiao Ming and the other two chatted and laughed cheerfully ahead, making the journey lively.
As they neared the village, Shen Xiaoyan and the other two separated from Wu Da Gang and Bai Yan, as their homes were in different directions, and neither was in the direction of the village head's residence.
Shen Xiaoyan, Zheng Wei, and Shen Xiao Ming headed towards the village head's house. Along the way, they encountered many people, most of them with their families, either returning from or heading to pay New Year's visits.
The last time Shen Xiaoyan visited the village head's house was for the housewarming banquet after it was built. Although several months had passed, she still remembered where it was located.
The village head's house was one of the most prominent in the village – a grand courtyard with black bricks and red tiles, high walls, and a bright red wooden gate. It stood out significantly among the other houses.
The red gate was open. As Shen Xiaoyan and the other two entered, they saw several people sitting and chatting in the courtyard, with sounds of conversation also emanating from inside the house.
Bai Zhang Shi was speaking with a woman. Catching sight of people entering out of the corner of her eye, she immediately smiled and walked forward to greet them.
Initially, she didn't recognize Shen Xiaoyan and the other two. Only when she stood up did she see who it was.
Remembering that she would be working with Shen Xiaoyan to plant watermelons and cantaloupes after the spring, the smile on her face deepened by another two points.
"Xiao Yan and Little Zheng are here. This must be Xiao Ming, isn't it? You've grown taller in just a few months," Bai Zhang Shi said, stepping forward quickly and taking Shen Xiaoyan's hand.
"Xiao Yan, auntie has something to say to you today," Bai Zhang Shi declared, putting on a stern face.
This startled Shen Xiaoyan, making her wonder if she had somehow offended the village head's wife. She couldn't think of anything she had done.
"Auntie, what did I do?" Shen Xiaoyan quickly asked.
Bai Zhang Shi had intended to tease Shen Xiaoyan, but she hadn't expected her to take it seriously. She couldn't hold back her laughter.
Seeing Bai Zhang Shi laughing so heartily, Shen Xiaoyan became even more confused. What was going on?
After laughing for a good while, Bai Zhang Shi finally spoke, "I'm saying, you're so busy you don't come to see auntie. Auntie has been thinking about you."
Hearing Bai Zhang Shi's words, Shen Xiaoyan's lingering anxiety finally subsided.
She wasn't afraid of offending the village head or his wife. It was just that she felt it was unnecessary. They had no conflict of interest, and it was better to maintain a good relationship and avoid offense.
"Auntie, I live quite far away, and it's cold, so it's not convenient to go out. Once spring arrives, I might be here every day," Shen Xiaoyan replied with a smile.
Both Bai Zhang Shi and Shen Xiaoyan understood the unspoken meaning behind her words, and they didn't dwell on the topic, shifting to other subjects.
Bai Zhang Shi said, "You all go inside and sit for a while. Your village head uncle is talking inside."
"Alright, then auntie, we'll go in and take a look," Shen Xiaoyan agreed, and together with Zheng Wei and Shen Xiao Ming, she walked towards the house.
Approaching the main house, they could hear voices coming from the east side room.
The door to the east side room was not fully closed, with only a padded cotton curtain embroidered with peonies and wealth hanging there.
The curtain was very long, reaching all the way to the ground. A wooden rod was sewn horizontally at the bottom to prevent it from fluttering.
In winter, every household would hang such curtains. Since farming families didn't close their doors during the day, this curtain provided convenience and warmth.
Zheng Wei walked ahead and lifted the curtain. A strong smell of dried tobacco smoke wafted out, causing Shen Xiaoyan to subtly frown.
As they entered the room, Shen Xiaoyan saw that people were seated on the kang bed and on stools around it. They were mostly men, some old, some around Bai Yonggui's age, and some younger.
Among them were people Shen Xiaoyan had met before, and others she hadn't.
Bai Yonggui was sitting on the kang bed, talking to an elder from the village. Seeing the trio enter, he smiled and said, "Little Zheng, you're here."
Zheng Wei returned a smile, which was a rare sight. "Yes. Village head. We've come to offer New Year's greetings."
"Happy New Year, Uncle Village Head," Shen Xiaoyan and Shen Xiao Ming said in unison.
"Good, happy New Year. Come. Xiao Yan. Uncle will give you lucky money," Bai Yonggui said with a broad smile, beckoning to Shen Xiao Ming.
Shen Xiao Ming gave Bai Yonggui a shy smile and then said, "Uncle Village Head, I'm already a big kid. I can't accept lucky money anymore."
Bai Yonggui listened, slightly surprised, and then laughed heartily. "Is that so? Our Xiao Ming is a big kid now?"
Shen Xiao Ming proudly lifted his chin. "Of course. I can already go hunting with my brother-in-law."
Everyone in the room burst into laughter after Shen Xiao Ming finished speaking.
With a room full of men talking, it was clearly not appropriate for Shen Xiaoyan to stay. She offered New Year's greetings to those present and then walked out.
As for Shen Xiao Ming, with Zheng Wei there, she had no reason to worry.
Shen Xiaoyan returned to the courtyard, where there were now two more people than before. They were all gathered around Bai Zhang Shi, chatting and laughing continuously.
Seeing Shen Xiaoyan emerge, Bai Zhang Shi quickly gestured for her to come and sit down.
The sun was high in the sky, and its warmth was pleasant on the skin. Fortunately, there was no wind, so sitting in the courtyard felt not cold at all.
Shen Xiaoyan sat down beside Bai Zhang Shi, but for the most part, she listened to others talk, only smiling and responding briefly when asked.
As everyone was engaged in lively conversation, Zheng Wei emerged from the house with Shen Xiao Ming.
Upon seeing Zheng Wei, Shen Xiaoyan felt as if she had seen a savior and was on the verge of tears.
"Auntie, we'll be leaving now. We still have to visit other families. When I have time, I'll come chat with you," Shen Xiaoyan said as she stood up.
Bai Zhang Shi could tell that Shen Xiaoyan didn't want to engage in such social pleasantries and didn't stop her. After exchanging a few polite words, she watched Shen Xiaoyan, Zheng Wei, and Shen Xiao Ming depart.
"Sister Zhang, Shen Xiaoyan has changed so much this year. Look at her skin, oh my, it's so different from how she used to look," a plump woman said to Bai Zhang Shi.
"She's still young. A girl's beauty grows with age. It's natural," Bai Zhang Shi replied, not wanting to gossip about Shen Xiaoyan, and quickly changed the subject.
Shen Xiaoyan, as she walked away, was unaware of the jealousy directed at her by the women in the village head's courtyard. Even if she had known, she wouldn't have cared.
To be honest, her changes were significant, but they could also be attributed to her previous lack of proper nourishment and constant hard work under the sun, which had made her very tanned and her health compromised.
Having been well-cared for for nearly a year, her recovery was natural.
Therefore, these women were merely envious and jealous, but they wouldn't suspect anything more.