After the discussion was over, it was deep into the night.
Guessing that Xiao Changyi and An Jing must have gone to sleep, the village chief did not immediately go to find them but waited until the next morning.
An Jing and Xiao Changyi had just finished breakfast when they saw the village chief coming toward them with two men, which made An Jing somewhat impatient.
When would these people ever be done!
Xiao Changyi still had an expressionless face, acting as if the village chief didn’t even exist.
An Jing glanced at her man and her mood instantly improved. Her man was still such a sight for sore eyes~
After what had happened the day before, the village chief didn’t dare to come alone and brought two men to bolster his courage. Seeing An Jing and Xiao Changyi, he felt a bit intimidated, but still greeted warmly, "An Jing, Changyi, you guys haven’t left the house yet, that’s great, I have something I want to talk to you about."
An Jing didn’t invite the village chief into the house but stood with Xiao Changyi in the courtyard and said bluntly, "Obviously you’ve timed your visit perfectly; of course, we haven’t left."
The smile on the old village chief’s face stiffened for a moment, and since An Jing wouldn’t let him in, he had no choice but to talk with them in the courtyard. Making another effort to smile, he said amiably, "I’ve come today, and I’m sure you both know what it’s about."
"Uh-huh, we know," An Jing nodded slowly, her tone light and airy, "It’s just about the shameless way you’re coming to ask us for the method to make the black flowers non-toxic, isn’t it."
Being called shameless again made the village chief incredibly angry. He really wanted to turn around and leave, but remembering he had come to persuade them nicely, he suppressed his anger and forced another smile, saying kindly, "An Jing, we’re all from the same village. Let’s talk nicely, okay?"
To get the recipe, the village chief really could swallow his pride—he carried on smiling and speaking so nicely to her even though she was ... An Jing felt disdainful yet quite pleased inside.
The village chief didn’t expect Xiao Changyi to speak, and seeing An Jing silent, he thought his amiability had an effect and continued, "I’ve already spoken with everyone, and as long as you share the method to make the black flowers non-toxic, everyone will still be good neighbors and kinfolk to you."
An Jing nearly laughed out loud. She marveled at how the old village chief could say such a thing! When had these neighbors and kin ever been kind to her and her man? Good neighbors and kinfolk? My foot!
Seeing that An Jing was still not speaking, the village chief thought his words of persuasion were working even better and smiled more naturally, "Girl, if you reveal the method, it would be a contribution to the village. If word gets out, it would do wonders for your reputation. Isn’t a good reputation all people want in life? Now you’ve got such a great opportunity, girl, don’t be foolish. You must seize it. This chance is really rare, you—"
An Jing couldn’t listen anymore and pointed straight to the door of the courtyard, "There’s the door, I’m not seeing you out."
The smile on the village chief’s face immediately froze. All the things he had just said were for nothing?
The village chief had just started to speak when An Jing cut him off again, "Don’t put on that concerned-for-us act; you all just want a piece of the black flowers too! You’re only looking out for your own interests, yet you speak so prettily. Have some shame, will you! Also, look at how you’ve treated us in the past—I already have a saint’s heart for not having poisoned you to death, and you still expect us to tell you the method? Dream on! Get lost now, just seeing your disgusting faces makes me want to throw up!"