Wang Erwa was overjoyed. "My son is having a banquet tomorrow, so I wanted to ask you to come over in advance to look at the menu. My son and I don't understand these things very well."
"Oh, it's about that. I'll come over and take a look after I finish my meal. Have you eaten? Stay and have dinner with us."
Uncle Meng's invitation was merely a courtesy. With so many people in his own household, there really was no more room for Wang Erwa.
Wang Erwa quickly declined, "No need, my son is still at home. I have to go back and change his diapers."
"You've certainly grown up. It's different when you have children," Uncle Meng laughed heartily, a look of relief on his face.
After Wang Erwa left, Uncle Meng was still discussing with Aunt Meng, "The Wang family has an heir. I can finally face Brother Wang."
The "Brother Wang" Uncle Meng referred to was Wang Erwa's father, who had passed away from illness years ago. His only regret before he died was not seeing Wang Erwa's child.
Uncle Meng had good relationships with people of similar age in town, so he was genuinely happy for the Wang family when he heard they had a son.
Zhu Yilian asked directly, "Is it because they had a son that they're having a banquet?"
Uncle Meng paused for a moment, then quickly understood Zhu Yilian's meaning and hurriedly explained, "It's just how things are in small towns. But generally, boys and girls are treated the same. However, people do still desire a son from the bottom of their hearts to carry on the family line."
Zhu Yilian pouted, clearly disliking the answer.
However, such sentiments have always existed, regardless of the time or place.
This is not something that can be changed by one person or one place alone, so all she could do was grumble inwardly.
Aunt Meng, however, thought of something else. The Wang family's banquet was a significant event, and her husband would be helping out, which meant she would also be attending.
But what about Ning Wei and her large group?
They had no relation to the Wang family, and Wang Erwa hadn't invited them.
If she were to go to the Wangs for lunch, she probably wouldn't be able to prepare lunch for them.
Aunt Meng was conflicted. Tang Tang, being perceptive, immediately understood her predicament.
"I won't go tomorrow," Aunt Meng finally decided, choosing to stay home. After all, her husband was going, so having one person from the family attend wouldn't be neglectful.
Tang Tang quickly interjected, "No need. Don't let us inconvenience your important matters. We've already familiarized ourselves with the kitchen, and we'll cook for ourselves tomorrow."
"This..." To say Aunt Meng didn't want to go to the Wangs would be disingenuous. She really wanted to see the baby.
"Aunt Meng, you go ahead with your plans. If we cause you to miss important matters, we'll feel too embarrassed to stay here," Ning Wei said softly, persuading her.
With Ning Wei putting it that way, Aunt Meng no longer refused, "Then I'll go buy groceries early tomorrow."
"No, no, we can go ourselves," Yuan Yuan said.
Uncle Meng and Aunt Meng exchanged smiles, very pleased with the children's attitude.
After lunch, Uncle Meng was going to the Wangs' to help with the menu. Hosting a banquet was no easy task, and young people often overlooked many details. He had to go and supervise.
However, the general store couldn't be closed, so Aunt Meng had to tend to it.
Soon, only Ning Wei and her group were left in the courtyard. Considering that the others were unaware of Wang Erwa's petition to the mountain god, Ning Wei decided it was best to tell them.
She recounted all the details of that night, and also mentioned Wang Erwa's wife giving birth half a month early.
Everyone listened with astonishment, never imagining that people would go to such lengths as praying to a mountain god for a son.
What struck them most was Ning Wei's emphasis on the premature birth, which inevitably led their thoughts to the mountain god.
Among the eight people present, only Mei Nan had children, so he had some insight into pregnancy and childbirth.
"Generally, it's not common to give birth half a month early. Many pregnant women deliver three or four days or even a week past their due date. My wife gave birth a week after her due date."
"The fact that she prayed to the mountain god the night before and gave birth the next day, that's just too miraculous," Wang Jing realized the implication, which was precisely what Ning Wei wanted to convey.
"To be able to control childbirth, that's quite something," Song Zhi said, full of surprise.
Through the incident Ning Wei described, everyone gained a new perspective on the mountain god.
However, they had already agreed not to meddle with matters concerning the mountain god, so no matter how effective it seemed, they would just take it as a story.
With nothing to do in the afternoon, some people went for a stroll, while others played cards in the courtyard.
Ning Wei was napping on a lounge chair. Li Ye found a book from somewhere and sat by Ning Wei's side, quietly reading.
Uncle Meng returned very late. He had already eaten, and upon his return, he happened upon Ning Wei and the others eating dinner.
"We'll be heading over tomorrow morning after breakfast. The general store will be closed, but there's a small side door for entry and exit. The key will be hanging on the doorknob," Uncle Meng explained the arrangements for the next day.
While he was helping at the Wangs' today, some gossipy people had specifically asked him what this group of people was doing in town and when they planned to leave.
Uncle Meng hadn't asked these questions. Since they had come to town, they were guests of Bai Xian Town. Why would he pry? It would be like hinting for them to leave.
He couldn't be like Yu Jiansheng, about whom so much gossip was spread behind his back.
Since they had to make buns tomorrow morning, after dinner, Aunt Meng led the girls to prepare dough and fillings.
Ning Wei lay in bed, oscillating between opening and closing her eyes.
It wasn't impossible for her to stay up, but she couldn't remain fully alert all the time.
Having come to a decision, Ning Wei pulled up her quilt, bit her finger, and drew a talisman on the headboard with her blood.
Drawing this talisman was simply for peace of mind. The mountain god was immensely powerful; a mere talisman couldn't stop him.
Indeed, as Ning Wei drifted off to sleep, she felt a gust of wind blow in through a gap in the window.
The wind felt sentient, and an icy chill enveloped Ning Wei's entire body. She shivered unconsciously and then returned to the familiar darkness.
This time, not only were there eyes watching her, but Ning Wei's sensitive nose also detected a foul, fishy odor.
She had smelled this odor at the mountain god temple before. It was all too familiar!
"Why do you keep trapping me here every night? What do you want?" Ning Wei sat down abruptly and asked into the void.
A cold, eerie voice followed, "I am very interested in you, so I want to spend more time with you."
The voice was neither male nor female, so Ning Wei couldn't determine the speaker's gender.
In fact, mountain gods have no gender and not even a physical form.