"An Jing, Brother Xiao." Shi Xiaolan greeted An Jing and Xiao Changyi as soon as she came in.
Xiao Changyi did not even look at Shi Xiaolan and continued making wooden horses for his sons.
Shi Xiaolan was already used to Xiao Changyi always acting as if she did not exist and thus did not mind his current behavior.
Wu Xiaoshan felt quite uneasy but still followed Shi Xiaolan’s lead and greeted them, "An Jing, Brother Xiao."
An Jing was looking after the children in the yard. Upon seeing them, she warmly invited them to sit, asked Meng Lanqing to pour them some tea, and brought out some Candied Sweets and peanuts for Yu Yu and Niuniu to eat.
Niuniu, already a year and a half old and walking quite well, was initially eating her Candied Sweets obediently with her sister Yu Yu, but then she noticed the wooden horse that Xiao Changyi had finished in the corridor and clamored for a ride.
Yu Yu also saw it. Being just over four years old and at a playful age, she wanted a ride too but just kept looking longingly, not saying a word until she saw Niuniu making a fuss about it. Then, she also started clamoring for a ride.
Seeing that Yu Yu and Niuniu were fussing about wanting a ride, An Jing was about to bring out the wooden horse for both of them to ride, but before she could say anything, her husband Xiao Changyi, like a protective father, took the wooden horse into the main room and even closed the door of the main room, clearly not allowing Yu Yu and Niuniu to ride.
The atmosphere immediately became very awkward.
Shi Xiaolan and Wu Xiaoshan were extremely uncomfortable, both trying to soothe the two children who were crying because they couldn’t see the horse. Wu Xiaoshan even comforted them, saying he would make one for them when they got back home.
Hearing Wu Xiaoshan say he would make one for them, Yu Yu and Niuniu finally stopped crying and fussing.
Xiao Changyi was someone who did not understand the ways of the world, and his refusal to let Yu Yu and Niuniu ride the wooden horse might have seemed petty and childish, but he had the purest and most sincere heart.
He would not give in to their crying and let Yu Yu and Niuniu ride the horse because it was made for his children, and none of his four children had yet ridden it. How could he let someone else’s children ride it first? Absolutely not!
He was just that protective!
Aside from his wife’s opinions, he did not care about anyone else’s. He was indifferent, and he would do as he pleased. That’s why he had made the childish move of taking the finished wooden horse into the main room.
Watching Xiao Changyi go back to continue making wooden horses, An Jing found it both amusing and sweet.
She could understand why her husband was so "stingy."
"Xiao Lan, I’m sorry," An Jing apologized. "You know a bit about what my husband is like. That horse was made for Jing’er and the others, and since it is for them, he definitely won’t let others ride it. I’m really sorry."
Shi Xiaolan shook her head and said, "An Jing, don’t talk like that. What father doesn’t love their own child, and what father doesn’t wish to give their child the very best? There’s nothing to apologize for. It’s my Yu Yu and Niuniu who are not sensible, fussing to ride... I’m the one who should apologize to you."
An Jing laughed and said, "You just said it yourself: Yu Yu and Niuniu are not sensible. What’s there for you to apologize for? Let’s not mention this anymore. Anyway, what brings you here today?"
Shi Xiaolan exchanged a glance with Wu Xiaoshan before speaking, "Brother Xiaoshan and I have come to thank you. Young Master Wang has already rented us four acres of land. We really owe it all to you. Thank you."