Ning Wei nodded, picked up an egg with her chopsticks, and took a bite.
The old woman continued to praise Ning Wei to her son, recounting how kind she was to help her up when she fell and even massage her.
Li Bai's eyes kept darting to Ning Wei until his father's cough made him look away.
After the four of them finished eating, Ning Wei glanced at the woman in the pigsty, who was staring intently at the food on the table. "Aren't you preparing lunch for your sister?"
The old woman said impatiently, "I'll make it for her later. Her throat is bad, so she can only have noodles and congee."
Ning Wei nodded and helped the old woman clear the dishes.
Seeing the father and son smoking by the side after finishing their meal, the old woman became annoyed. She glared at her son and reminded him, "Hurry up and take Ning Wei inside to look at those two old items!"
Li Bai quickly extinguished his cigarette and beckoned Ning Wei into the house with a smile.
Ning Wei remained still. "Perhaps Brother Li could bring them out? We can see them more clearly from outside."
Li Bai was momentarily unsure how to refuse, but the old woman intervened. "We usually don't bring those things outside. It's best not to flaunt wealth, what if the villagers get greedy?"
Ning Wei, feigning understanding, was then pushed by the old woman and followed Li Bai into the house.
Although the courtyard looked like a brick house from the outside, the light inside was still very poor.
Li Bai's room, in particular, was not sun-facing. Only one window was open, allowing for ventilation and a bit of light.
The floor was littered with cigarette butts, and Li Bai awkwardly kicked them aside with his foot.
He took out a dusty stool, casually wiped it with a dirty piece of clothing, and gestured for Ning Wei to sit.
Ning Wei sat obediently by the window. Li Bai was rummaging through a cabinet, his rear end sticking out.
Perhaps because he couldn't find anything, he asked Ning Wei to wait a moment longer and went to find the old woman again.
In reality, Li Bai's family had no genuine antiques. If they did, they wouldn't be living in such poverty.
The old woman's words were merely a ruse to keep Ning Wei there so her son could get a good look at her.
But since the words had been spoken, and to create more time for her son to interact with Ning Wei, she dug out a ceramic jar that had been used to store salt years ago and a floral ceramic vase from under the bed.
Both were dowry items from her wedding, over thirty years old, and could be considered family heirlooms.
The old woman, feigning ignorance, insisted that Li Bai show these to Ning Wei.
Li Bai was embarrassed and reluctant, remaining rooted to the spot.
He naively believed there were truly valuable antiques at home and was eager to see them himself.
Seeing his pathetic state, the old woman became angry and poked him hard. After all, he was her son; his foolishness was unavoidable.
The old woman pulled her sturdy son closer and whispered in his ear, "Ning Wei isn't just a university student; her parents work for a company. If you win her over, their big company will be ours in the future!"
Li Bai pouted and mumbled, "I don't care about some big company. I just like her."
The old woman couldn't be bothered with her silly son. He had insisted on liking the woman in the pigsty before, solely for her good looks. But in the end, she couldn't even lay eggs, let alone escape.
If she hadn't discovered it in time, the village's secrets might have been exposed!
The old woman's thoughts turned bitter. She pinched Li Bai's soft flesh near his waist. "What are those two holes on your nose for! You only care about pretty faces. Once we have the company, you'll have all the beautiful women you want! You're as dumb as a pig!"
Li Bai snapped back to reality, immediately grabbing the vase and salt jar and heading into the room.
Ning Wei sat by the window, her hand extended, waving in the dusty sunlight.
Li Bai stared, longing to claim the beauty.
He must have remembered his mother's instructions. These people were brought by Wang Shunli this time, so he had the final say on how to distribute them.
The old woman also made up her mind. Since her son fancied Ning Wei, she would sell off even three fat pigs to marry her as her daughter-in-law.
Worst case scenario, she'd swallow her pride, beg the village chief, and he, being a man who valued his reputation, would surely relent.
The most important thing now was to let Ning Wei and her son develop feelings for each other. If she was willing, no one else could object.
Then, she would just sell off the family's valuables, prepare a few tables for a banquet, and await her future as the mother-in-law of a rich young lady.
Thinking of this, the old woman felt immensely pleased. She hummed happily and tossed the moldy steamed bun into the pig trough with good cheer. She didn't even strike the woman, even though she was the one eating it.
Li Bai carefully placed the salt jar and vase on the wooden table and slowly introduced them to Ning Wei. "These two items are my mother's dowry. They say they were my maternal grandmother's dowry when she got married. They've been passed down through generations, so they're probably a few hundred years old. But my mother doesn't know their value and used them to store miscellaneous items."
Ning Wei glanced at the two items and immediately saw they were not hundred-year-old antiques. It was clear the family was deliberately deceiving her, and she had some idea of their motives.
She could only blame Li Bai for being too foolish, completely unable to control his emotions, and even boldly attempting to touch Ning Wei.
Ning Wei dodged several times, then made an excuse. "It's my fault for not being skilled enough to identify their dynasty. I'll go back and ask the dean."
Ning Wei left swiftly, moving towards the exit as she spoke.
Li Bai had no opportunity to stop her and could only watch her go.
The old woman emerged from the kitchen, looking expectantly at her son. "Well?"
Li Bai rolled his eyes. Having been rebuffed by Ning Wei, he immediately took his anger out on his mother.
"It's all your fault for being so lazy. You didn't even help me clean the room. The floor was covered in cigarette butts, and there was a thick layer of dust on the tables and chairs. Ning Wei is clearly a clean person; she didn't even speak two words to me before leaving."
Although the old woman had been formidable earlier, she felt a twinge of fear when her son turned on her.
She quickly comforted Li Bai. "Don't worry. They'll be here for several more days. There will be plenty of opportunities."
Li Bai didn't seem any happier. With a sullen face, he picked up a hoe and went to the fields.
After Li Bai left, the old woman's face turned crimson. This Ning Wei was truly unappreciative.
If she hadn't been so proud, the old woman wouldn't have been scolded.