Chapter 332: Sheep! Sigh! Sheep, Sheep, Sheep

Chapter 332: Chapter 265: Sheep! Sigh! Sheep, Sheep, Sheep

After a comfortable night’s rest at the owner’s house, Ni Bingyan woke up the next day just as dawn was breaking.

After washing up and getting ready, she stepped out of her room and saw the owner’s daughter-in-law coming in through the main entrance, carrying a basin of plump, white rice noodles.

She had prepared a batch for the shop and brought a basin back for the family’s breakfast.

“Good morning! Did you sleep well last night?”

She greeted Ni Bingyan with a wide smile before the latter could even speak.

“Good morning. I slept soundly all night. Thank you so much to you and your family!”

“Ah, you people from Rongcheng City are great, but you just love to say ‘thank you’. We used to have a regular customer who was also from Rongcheng City. I’d bring her rice noodles, she’d say ‘thank you’. I’d get her a spoon, she’d say ‘thank you’. Even when she paid and left, she’d still say ‘thank you’. Just incredibly polite.”

This was the first time Ni Bingyan had ever heard someone say that, and she had never thought about the issue before.

‘No matter where someone is from, isn’t it only natural to say a quick ‘thank you’ when someone helps you or does you a favor?’

‘How has that become a regional characteristic?’

Ni Bingyan looked at her, her eyes filled with confusion.

Ever since she was little, elders had nagged in her ear that “you can never be too polite.” Even in her past life at the orphanage, the matron had taught her these principles.

It had become a habit, so she never thought it was anything special.

“Oh, I was just making a casual comment. People from different places have different customs. I-I just think you’re very formal.”

It wasn’t that she was cold, just that there was an indescribable sense of distance.

‘Considering she wasn’t that close to the family, being a little distant was normal. Her bringing it up was what seemed strange… ‘

This often happened when acquaintances who weren’t quite friends tried to chat.

One wrong topic, and they both felt awkward.

Ni Bingyan emphasized her words, stressing that she was being sincere:

“No, no, I’m not being formal, really. Even my dad and I often say ‘thank you’ to each other! I just feel it’s more polite…”

‘Great, now it sounds like I’m implying they’re impolite.’

‘This topic is just awful!’

The owner’s daughter-in-law immediately changed the subject:

“The fresh rice noodles for today are ready, and customers will be arriving soon. The shop is busy in the morning. No one else knows how to cook the noodles, so both Yu Meng’s dad and I have to be at the shop. My in-laws went to buy supplies and should be back soon. Later, Mom will make lamb rice noodles. I’ll wake Yu Meng up, and after she eats, her grandpa will take her to school. The snow is thick today, so we’re worried she might slip and fall. What are your plans for today? Mom will keep you company.”

The owner’s daughter-in-law’s stream of words dissipated the earlier awkwardness.

But Ni Bingyan could tell right away that the family hadn’t expected her to wake up so early.

They had a guest, yet everyone was busy, leaving her all alone. They most likely felt quite bad about it.

They were so busy running a guesthouse and restaurant during peak tourist season, yet they still made time to host her. Ni Bingyan felt a little bad herself.

“You don’t need to worry about me. Once my companions arrive, I’m going with them to see the snowscapes. By the way, what time did you all get up?”

Ni Bingyan had woken up before six, but she hadn’t expected to be the second-to-last person in the house to get up. It was a bit embarrassing.

“My husband and I got up at four in the morning to make the rice noodles. My in-laws left around five.”

“I’m sorry to have troubled you all.”

“Not at all. We have workers at the shop, so we’re usually not that busy. It’s just that no one else knows how to make the rice noodles yet, and my in-laws always handle the purchasing themselves.”

The owner’s daughter-in-law didn’t say much more, just gave her a “you know what I mean” look.

Ni Bingyan chuckled, understanding completely.

The rice noodle recipe was most likely a family secret. It was just like her own family—many dishes were known only by her father and a few of his senior apprentices, and they would never let an outsider touch them.

Besides, an untrustworthy person handling purchasing could easily take kickbacks and might not even buy quality goods. It had to be done by a family member.

The two exchanged a few more words, and after placing the basin of rice noodles on the table, the owner’s daughter-in-law went into her daughter’s room.

A moment later, a child’s sleepy voice could be heard, “Mommy, what time is it?”

With nothing much to do by herself, Ni Bingyan simply went back to her room to pack her luggage.

After packing her things and tidying the room, she hesitated for a moment before slipping a red envelope under the pillow.

After tucking it away, she worried the family might be displeased, so she took out a pen and paper and wrote a sincere note, thanking them for their warm hospitality despite the bad weather.

Just as she placed the note with the red envelope, she heard a noise at the main door.

Her door wasn’t closed, so she could clearly hear the people talking outside.

“HACK, HACK, COUGH—”

The owner let out a deep, phlegmy cough and sighed in a gruff voice, “Ai! What a heavy snow!”

“This year’s snow is thick, which means a great wheat harvest next year. It’s a good thing, a good thing.”

The owner’s wife, wearing thick, fur-lined boots, stomped her feet at the entrance before coming in, her footsteps heavy.

She answered casually, then lowered her voice to remind him:

“Shh, be quiet. I’ll go make breakfast first. You rest for a bit.”

Knowing they were afraid of waking her, Ni Bingyan quickly went out to help them prepare the vegetables.

After breakfast, Pei Jin and the cameraman arrived by car.

After saying goodbye to the owner’s family, Ni Bingyan shouldered her bag and got into the car.

The snow had fallen for half the night and had now stopped, leaving the world a vast, beautiful expanse of white.

As usual, Ni Bingyan sat in the back seat, while Pei Jin and the cameraman sat in the middle row.

As soon as she got in the car, she saw Pei Jin holding another camera, filming her.

The temperature outside was around ten degrees below zero Celsius, but the car’s heater was on. When she got in, the cold air hitting the warmth made her face feel clammy.

“Here!”

Handing over yesterday’s camera, Ni Bingyan couldn’t help but complain:

“I’ve shot so many movies and TV series and been in plenty of variety shows, but this is the first time I’ve had to carry a camera and film myself.”

“Haha! How about I give you a cut of my salary?”

The cameraman, having grown more familiar with her, was starting to joke around.

“That won’t be necessary. I’m just worried the footage I shot is unusable.”

Pei Jin took the camera and started reviewing the footage Ni Bingyan had filmed.

As he watched, he burst out laughing.

“What are you laughing at? I just set the camera to the side, so the angle might not be that great sometimes…”

Ni Bingyan was genuinely worried they wouldn’t be able to edit it into a proper final cut, but after a quick look, Pei Jin couldn’t help but praise her:

“I think the cameraman and I are a bit redundant. You might as well film it yourself. The result might even be better.”

Ni Bingyan’s eyes went wide. “How is that possible?! Come on! Dude! We’re a legitimate production team, fully licensed and everything, the kind that airs on TV! Can you please not be so half-assed about this!”

“Haha! I suddenly understand why Sister Wei always says that interesting things happen whenever you’re alone. I’m serious, what you filmed yourself yesterday was especially effective.”

Ni Bingyan knew what audiences liked to see, so she didn’t argue.

“Sigh, let’s not talk about it anymore. I don’t know how things always end up like that.”

Perhaps it was just her talent.

After a moment of silence, the driver spoke up. “Where to today?”

The car had left the guesthouse’s street, and the question was which way to turn.

Ni Bingyan had already made up her mind. “It snowed today, so we can’t go to Lao Gua Village. I want to go see Director Luo, and then take a tour around the county town to see what’s different from last year.”

It had long been decided that she would call the shots on the itinerary. Hearing her plan, the car made a turn and headed toward the county government building.

Along the way, they saw many construction sites, a picture of thriving prosperity. Ni Bingyan marveled at the sight as they drove, and the camera faithfully recorded it all.

“So many new buildings have gone up. This place is really developing.”

Just as she was remarking on this, the car turned a corner, and the county government’s dilapidated office building came into view.

Before she could comment, a group of people came running out of the office building, chasing a sheep.

The person in the lead was especially frantic. “The sheep! Hey! Sheep, sheep, sheep! Quick, catch it! Don’t let it get away!”