Mr. Shi was just about to sit down when he heard a guest was arriving. He immediately got up, craning his neck to look out the window toward the courtyard, especially in the direction of the spirit screen.
"No one's coming in." The sun was out, and in the courtyard, Shen Yamei was hanging quilts to dry. 'With a guest outside, wouldn't she go greet them first? Even if her hands were full, Xiao Xue is back from the neighborhood office. I don't even have to guess; that young comrade is surely keeping watch in the gatehouse right now.'
"Oh, you're full of it!"
"Listen again. There's the sound of a car approaching. Isn't it getting closer? Listen... it's stopped. Now wait. It'll be soon, a minute at most."
Mr. Shi immediately cocked his ear to listen. After a moment's pause, he retorted, "Maybe it's just Little Gu and the others driving back. Who says a car stopping right now has to be a guest?"
