When Mrs. Xiao returned to the house, she was noticeably more enthusiastic towards Anning.

Anning took a quick glance at Xiao Yuan when no one was looking, and Xiao Yuan gave her a look, indicating he had confessed to his mother.

"There’s not much at home, just some homemade stuff. Help yourselves, don’t be shy."

Mrs. Xiao handed a handful of walnuts to Anning, thoughtfully offering a nutcracker too.

Anning quickly smiled and thanked her, "Thank you, Auntie. You don’t need to trouble yourself, I can get them myself."

Just then, Mr. Xiao returned with some meat and pre-made dishes.

He put down the meat and vegetables and said to Mrs. Xiao: "I’m going to the town to pick up Dayan and Er Yan."

"Go ahead."

Mrs. Xiao waved her hand: "Bring back some drinks when you return."

"Got it."

Mr. Xiao said before riding off on his motorcycle again.

Mrs. Xiao turned back and smiled at Anning, "Well, Erhu’s sisters are on their big weekend, and your uncle went to pick them up."

Anning got up and followed Mrs. Xiao, "Auntie, let me give you a hand."

Mrs. Xiao was a bit startled, "No need, no need. The kitchen is quite messy, and you won’t know where things are, you won’t be much help. Go and have a break in the house."

As Mrs. Xiao spoke, she called out to Xiao Yuan, "Erhu, you stay with the guests."

Xiao Yuan agreed readily.

Mrs. Xiao then turned and went into the kitchen.

Si Linna was sitting inside the room with nothing to do, so she cracked some walnuts. When Anning came in, she placed them in front of her to eat.

Xiao Yuan came in and sat beside Anning. He was on his phone looking up the map of Fengtai Village. After finding it, he and Anning started discussing which plot of land to lease and what plants to grow.

Si Linna was quite interested in the conversation and joined in to discuss.

After discussing for a while, Anning jokingly said to Xiao Yuan, "So at home you’re called Erhu, huh? I never expected you to have such a rural-sounding name."

Xiao Yuan sighed, "My parents are terrible at naming. They didn’t know what names to give us, so they just called us randomly. My older brother is called Dahu, I’m Erhu, and my younger brother is Sanhu. My two younger sisters are Dayan and Er Yan. We were called that when we were little. When we grew up, we thought the names weren’t nice, so my dad said, anyone who doesn’t like it can change their name themselves. He couldn’t come up with nice names, so we changed them ourselves. I changed to Xiao Yuan, my brother is Xiao Chang, my younger brother is Xiao Huai, my older sister is Yan Rong, and my younger sister is Yan Meng."

Anning found it quite amusing, "Can I call you Erhu from now on?"

Xiao Yuan: ...

What could he say?

She’s his wife, after all, or he really would have wanted to hit someone.

Si Linna, sitting beside them, laughed, "Be content. Your parents named you Dahu and Erhu, but they didn’t go with Xiao Jin, Xiao Yin, Xiao Tie, or Xiao Tong, so that’s something."

Well, that’s true.

But Anning still found it particularly amusing.

At Hai University, Xiao Yuan was this aloof campus hunk, the dream guy of many female students. Yet, at home, he was so down-to-earth. If he put on a big cotton jacket and trousers, it would make for a hilarious skit.

Just looking at her, Xiao Yuan knew what Anning was imagining.

"Quick, seriously think about what should be grown in the fields."

He tapped Anning to urge her, so she wouldn’t keep dwelling on his name, Erhu.

Anning immediately turned serious.

She pondered, "Along the way, I noticed that your roads here are well built. Although it’s a remote place, the environment is great, with mountains and water. If you want to attract tourists, at least the environment and transportation need to be good."

Xiao Yuan nodded.

Si Linna also nodded.

Anning continued, "I figured we could start by improving the environment, beginning with Fengtai Village. Plant some ornamental plants to attract tourists and also grow some high-quality, nutritious fruits and vegetables. Tourists can pick them, or they can be sold to high-end hotels and restaurants."

While talking, she pulled out a map on her phone, pointing at Fengtai Village’s reservoir, "You can raise fish and shrimp here, and also plant some lotuses."

She then pointed to the surrounding small hills of Fengtai Village: "Fruit trees can be planted here, peach trees on this hill, pear trees on this hill, and apple trees over here..."

Anning pointed at the flat lands, "This can be turned into a continuous area for planting vegetables, under the banner of seasonal green vegetables. The sandy land here can be used to plant those plants I mentioned that can grow in deserts."

Her plan was well laid out, and as Si Linna listened, she nodded along, "If it really works out, our village could be developed into a tourist destination."

Anning thought about it and added, "Trees and flowers should also be planted along the road leading into the village."

Xiao Yuan went into the room to grab some paper and pen and began sketching according to Anning’s plan.

Since he studied landscape architecture, sketching wasn’t a problem for him.

"We can also build some faux historical residences and construct some pavilions and terraces along the entrance road. The river water quality here is quite good, the riverside can also be developed. I remember Fengtai Village has some master craftsmen. Sister Shi could invite them to make some handicrafts."

The three of them brainstormed and supplemented ideas, and before Mr. Xiao returned, they had a rough framework planned out.

As the group discussed, Xiao Yuan sketched alongside, and by the time they were done brainstorming, he had drawn over a dozen sketches.

Si Linna gathered up the drawings, "I’ll discuss it with the village head later."

Mr. Xiao returned with the two daughters, and Mrs. Xiao had nearly finished cooking.

The weather was just right, with the setting sun casting a glow, so Xiao Yuan simply asked Mr. Xiao to bring the large round table from home out into the courtyard. They also brought out some stools, and everyone sat around in the yard to eat.

Si Linna and Anning didn’t stay long after the meal; they drove away.

After they left, Yan Rong and Yan Meng helped Mrs. Xiao clean up the dishes.

While cleaning, Yan Rong remarked, "Sister Anning must have been the school beauty. She’s so pretty, I never understood the phrase ’a feast for the eyes’ until I saw Sister Anning."

Mrs. Xiao chuckled, "Isn’t she? If she wasn’t that pretty, your brother wouldn’t be interested."

Yan Rong was startled for a moment, "So she’s my brother’s girlfriend?"

Yan Meng gave Yan Rong a sideways glance, "Are you silly? It was so obvious, and you couldn’t tell? I figured it out long ago. During dinner, our second brother constantly looked after her, and the way they exchanged glances, it was clear there was something going on."

Mrs. Xiao smacked her, "What are you talking about, girl? What do you mean by ’something going on’? How can a young girl like you speak so carelessly without feeling embarrassed?"

Yan Meng stuck out her tongue, "We’re at home, so why would I be afraid?"

Si Linna and Anning drove to Fengtai Village, reaching the front of the old house in no time.

Calling it the old house was fitting; it was quite aged, likely having stood for decades. Mr. and Mrs. Shi had renovated it once, but it looked quite worn from lack of use over time.

Fortunately, Si Linna had called ahead to the village, informing a few aunts she still kept in touch with that she was coming back. Some people had helped clear the grass from the yard and tidied and cleaned the house.

A few of the aunts, who had a good relationship with Mrs. Shi, had even brought over some new quilts and bedding from home to leave there.

Thus, Anning and Si Linna had no worries about having a place to stay when they returned.