The Meng couple truly understood the art of hospitality, their warmth and generosity were evident.
It was no wonder Uncle Meng held a respectable position in town, sought after for his presence and assistance during important events, both joyous and solemn.
Unable to dissuade them, Mei Nan quickly addressed everyone, "No sleeping in tomorrow morning. Wake up early and help us make the buns. You children can also learn how to make them."
Everyone readily agreed. After finishing their meal, Tang Tang and the others went out with Aunt Meng to buy groceries.
Since they were making buns tomorrow, they had to purchase the ingredients for the filling today. Not wanting to impose on the Mengs any longer, Tang Tang and the others eagerly offered to pay.
After dinner, some went grocery shopping, some attended to the general store, some tidied up the kitchen, and others were busy feeding the boisterous roosters and hens.
Soon, only Ning Wei and Li Ye remained in the courtyard.
Li Ye looked at Ning Wei several times, his brow furrowed with concern. "You look a bit pale. Are you not feeling well?"
Ning Wei shook her head. "I sat out in the courtyard so late last night, and woke up so early this morning. I just didn't get enough rest."
"But I heard Tang Tang say you had a nightmare," Li Ye revealed, seeing through Ning Wei's flimsy excuse.
Ning Wei hadn't anticipated Tang Tang's talkative nature; her secret was out in the blink of an eye.
Little did she know Tang Tang's intentions. As her biggest fan, Tang Tang was genuinely worried about her idol's well-being!
"Perhaps I was thinking too much during the day, which led to many strange dreams at night," Ning Wei offered another excuse.
Li Ye's expression was unreadable. Whether he believed her or not, he didn't press further and turned back into the room.
Ning Wei was surprised by how easily she had managed to dismiss Li Ye and felt a slight sense of relief.
After all, only she was targeted by the mountain god. For whatever reason, Ning Wei had no intention of involving anyone else.
Keeping them out of harm's way, she felt, was a form of protection.
Although she didn't understand why the mountain god was set against her, Ning Wei remembered Li Ye's advice and decided not to make any rash moves for the time being.
She would try to survive one day at a time, even if it felt frustrating.
"Shall we go for a walk?" Li Ye saw Ning Wei's demeanor and could tell she was hiding something. He knew she had something on her mind.
Ning Wei's attempts at deception might fool others, but they were no match for Li Ye's keen observation.
Since there was nothing else to do, and they weren't much help with the cooking anyway, a stroll outside seemed like a good idea.
As they exited the general store, Mei Nan and Uncle Meng were chatting at the entrance.
"Uncle Meng, Teacher Mei, we're going out for a walk," Ning Wei greeted them.
"Go ahead," Uncle Meng waved them off.
"Be careful on your way," Mei Nan added with a reminder.
With no particular destination in mind, the two simply chose a direction and walked on.
The streets were still lively, with many people passing by carrying bamboo baskets filled with their produce.
Tang Tang and the others had gone with Aunt Meng and hadn't returned for hours. They had walked so far, yet there was no sign of them.
As Ning Wei and Li Ye walked through the town, their striking appearance as a handsome couple drew attention. Many whispered and pointed.
The gossip here wasn't malicious; it was simply the townspeople's reaction to seeing such a beautiful and well-matched pair, prompting casual speculation.
In this town, secrets didn't last long. Ning Wei's feat of resolving the zombification incident was already common knowledge.
Previously, the town only had the renowned Master Ci Yun; now, they had added "Master Ning Wei."
Ning Wei and Li Ye walked as if in their own world, ignoring the stares.
They continued walking, eventually reaching the small creek.
The small bridge over the creek was not only a vital passage for the townspeople to the outside world but also the mandatory route for outsiders entering Bai Xian Town.
Ning Wei and her companions had passed through here when they first followed the black cat.
However, at that time, their focus was solely on the black cat, leaving them with no inclination to observe their surroundings, thus overlooking this place.
Beneath the bridge, many young women were washing clothes. They rolled up their sleeves, revealing their calves, their faces beaming as they diligently scrubbed laundry. They listened to the chatter from all directions, ready to join in the conversation at any moment.
"Hey! Cui Cui, isn't that the ghost-catching master who's staying at your place?" Cui Cui was Yu Jiansheng's wife.
Cui Cui looked up, then quickly lowered her head. She didn't want to be drawn into the gossip and become the subject of these women's chatter.
Ning Wei and Li Ye didn't linger on the bridge, soon leaving with the crowd.
Although Cui Cui remained silent, the others weren't about to let her off the hook.
Lately, tantalizing aromas had been wafting from her kitchen, indicating a comfortable life.
Yu Jiansheng wasn't one to manage household affairs. Although Cui Cui raised chickens and ducks, she rarely slaughtered them for consumption.
Now, the scent of meat filled the air with every meal. It was clear that after benefiting from Yu Baohua's untimely demise, their pockets were heavy with cash, making such indulgence possible.
The townsfolk disdained the couple's actions but couldn't deny their envy.
It was akin to suddenly coming into a fortune; who wouldn't be tempted?
Unfortunately, they lacked such distant relatives, leaving them no hope of such windfalls in this lifetime.
"Cui Cui, I heard that female master is currently staying at Uncle Meng's. Did you two kick her out after she served her purpose?" The speaker's words were full of malice, their voice loud enough for passersby on the bridge to hear.
Cui Cui's heart skipped a beat. She didn't want to offend Ning Wei and her companions, unsure when she might need their help again.
She glanced up at the bridge and was relieved to see Ning Wei and Li Ye had already departed.
Cui Cui remained silent, knowing that everyone was simply jealous of the couple's newfound prosperity.
Speaking more would only attract unwanted attention. Cui Cui gathered the remaining unwashed clothes, dropped them, and walked onto the bridge in her slippers.
After she left, the speaker continued their rant, "What a nerve! Think you're so great just because you have a little money? Looking down on people! Hmph!"
The others merely watched the spectacle, no one willing to engage further.
These were minor distractions. Ning Wei and Li Ye wandered the streets for quite some time before returning to the Mengs' before lunch.
Tang Tang was just walking out with a freshly stewed bowl of pork rib soup. She was delighted to see Ning Wei. "I was just about to put this down and go look for you."
Ning Wei stepped forward to help her with the steaming bowl. "We were just taking a walk."
With Li Ye around, everyone felt at ease. They had voluntarily agreed not to investigate the mountain god, as he had suggested.
During lunch, a man strode in, loudly calling for Uncle Meng.
Uncle Meng quickly put down his chopsticks. "It's Wang Erwa. What's the matter?"
Wang Erwa was the man who, on that night, had offered three sheep to the mountain god in hopes of having a son.