"There are more than 40 people from your family here. That's almost one train carriage full of people. There's not enough rooms for them in one guest house. My father has arranged for them to split up into groups and stay in separate guest houses. The guest houses are all run by people we know and nothing will happen to them. They'll be well taken care of," Xia Xing said, feeling exhausted.
"That won't do! Why didn't you let them stay at Grandfather's place! That place is so big and there's definitely room for them!" Shao Yin said anxiously.
Shao Zhuang and Bian Duo valued their reputation the most. Although they were born and bred in a small county city, they considered themselves to be part of a big clan. They had done quite well for themselves in the county city and the rest of the Shao family looked up to them.
The Shao family liked to trumpet the fact about Shao Yin marrying into the Xia family. The rest of the people in the county city surely had some complaints about the Shao family at one point or another after living in the same place for such a long time. However, even if they ever had any gripes, they would not voice it now. What if they needed help from the Xia family in the future? It was better not to offend anyone.
"Grandfather's place can only accommodate 20 people at most. There's still not enough room to house everyone, so why trouble Grandfather?" Xia Xing said.
Shao Yin immediately said, "How can there not be enough room! Surely they can squeeze into all the rooms? You should have asked Grandfather to move in with Qiao Mei's grandfather. Anyway, the two of them are good friends, so they won't mind living together! The Xia family's old house belongs to Qiao Mei now, so it's her job to wait on the Old Master! I think they just purposely don't want us to let us stay there! They're just making things difficult for us!"
Xia Xing walked forward and raised his hand to slap Shao Yin. No matter how difficult the situation was at home, he would never have any designs on Xia Jun, nor would he allow anyone to do that. He had not been filial to Xia Jun for even one day, so how could he have the cheek to ask Xia Jun for anything?
Shao Yin was a woman after all. In the Xia family, the men did not have a habit of hitting the womenfolk. Xia Xing retracted his hand sheepishly.
Xia Xing was not Xia Jun's favorite grandson. If he really went to raise this issue with Xia Jun, it would be a slap to his own face! He was not that stupid.
"Xia Xing! You actually want to hit me because of this!" Shao Yin looked at Xia Xing's hand in disbelief.
Shao Yin, who had been eavesdropping outside the door, hurriedly pushed the door open and entered the room. She originally thought that it was normal for the young couple to bicker and that an argument could even bring them closer after that, but she would not allow someone to get beaten up!
"Don't touch my younger sister!" Shao Yin rushed in and said.
Xia Xing took two steps back and stood far away, watching the two sisters pretend to get along harmoniously. It was the Shao family who had insisted on marrying one of their daughters into the Xia family, so how could everything be his fault now.
The Zhou family and the Shao family got along well. Bian Duo was also Zhou Luo's classmate, so how could Zhou Luo not know what the Shao family members were like? If Shao Yin had wanted to marry Xia Lu or Xia Yan, Zhou Luo would definitely disagree vehemently. As for Xia Xing, she did not bring him up personally, so it did not matter to her who he married.
Shao Yin was actually quite an obedient child. She behaved like a tyrant in her own home, but when she went out and met other people, she was like a mouse which had seen a cat and did not dare to speak loudly at all. It was easy to control such a person. The worst thing she could do was to cause some minor trouble in the Xia family. Zhou Luo did not mind that at all.
However, Zhou Luo had never imagined that Shao Yin was so stupid.
"Elder Sister, why are you here?" Shao Yin cared very much about her reputation. Over the past few days, she had not wanted Shao Le to see any weakness in her. If Shao Le found out that she was not doing well in the Xia family and told other people at home, she would become a laughing stock. She would put up a pretense forever if she had to.
"I was already going to bed, but I heard the two of you arguing. I was worried that something might happen to you, so I came to take a look," Shao Le said nervously.
"I'm fine. I was just fooling around with Xia Xing. It's getting late. Elder Sister, go back and rest," Shao Yin said politely, as if the person in front of her was just a guest and not her elder sister.
Shao Le looked at Xia Xing and then at Shao Yin. She sighed and returned to her room. Xia Xing did not have the strength to argue with Shao Yin. He simply washed his face and lay down to sleep.
While Xia Xing fell asleep fitfully in his room, it was not at all peaceful at the Shao family's end. Shao Zhuang and the others were currently sitting in the guest house, discussing what happened today!
"Elder Brother, in my opinion, the Xia family simply looks down on us! They don't respect us at all!" Shao Tu said unhappily.