"Aren't you all tired? Please, have a seat. I'll get you some water." Ji Huan directed this at Ma Liugun.
Ma Liugun was itching to get into her room. She waved a hand dismissively. "I'm not tired. Let them sit. I'm just going to pop in for a look."
When she saw Ji Huan blocking the doorway, refusing to budge an inch, Ma Liugun grew impatient.
"A visitor is a guest! Is this any way to treat people who've come to your home? We just want to have a look inside. Why won't you let us? It's like you're treating us like thieves!"
This was entirely her own doing, yet she insisted on dragging everyone else into it, making it seem as if Ji Huan refusing her entry meant she considered them all thieves.
Ji Huan gave a faint, humorless smile. "You're quite the kidder, Ma Liugun. We're fellow villagers, not guests. Neighbors are much closer than guests. You see, a guest would never show up empty-handed, but a neighbor can."
'Never mind empty-handed, they're acting like a bunch of bandits.'
