Tonight, the area below Eagle Beak Cliff seemed lively, with oil lamps lit in almost every household and the women busy making cotton clothes or quilts.
Neighbors out to relieve themselves could still hear laughter from the adjacent houses.
It was truly not often one could hear such heartfelt laughter during the season when snow covered the land.
Fu Xin Ci was unaware that the people in both villages were speaking highly of the Meng family's second master.
Within her space, Fu Xin Ci was reading a note passed to her by the captain.
Seeing the contents of the note, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
It turned out the captain and his companions, while on a mission, had discovered the warehouse of a textile factory. The fabrics inside were all intact, and they had brought them back.
They had agreed beforehand to use their spatial rings to transport the fabrics secretly, not daring to let the base commander, Da Lian Mao, know, fearing he would confiscate them or use them to curry favor.
Thinking of how the captain had said they were keeping these fabrics for her, Fu Xin Ci felt quite expectant.
When the fabrics were finally traded over, Fu Xin Ci's eyes widened with admiration. They were all pure cotton fabrics, her favorite.
Moreover, they were wide-width and came in a full range of patterns.
These fabrics would be ideal for making cotton-padded quilts and quilt covers.
However, thinking of her companions' recent request, she felt a bit troubled.
Alas, it was her own lack of skill in needlework that caused this. When her companions asked her to use the newly grown long-staple cotton to make a few new quilts, she felt discouraged.
Asking her mother to help seemed too much to ask. After all, her mother managed the affairs of a large family daily, and with Zhong Shi and Tian Shi, she was busy from dawn till dusk with washing, cooking, and cleaning, never having a moment's rest.
Alas, what to do? How to proceed!
After pondering for a long time, she couldn't come up with a better solution. She decided to go to sleep first and leave the rest for her grandfather tomorrow.
Not long after breakfast, Grandpa Meng sat with Yu'er and Xiao Zhi by the kang table, telling them ancient tales.
Seeing his granddaughter approach with a frown, he knew she had encountered some unsolvable problem.
However, after listening to his granddaughter, the old man chuckled, "I thought it was something major, but it's such a small matter, how could it trouble you?"
"Is this a small matter? I don't think so."
Hearing his granddaughter's words, Grandpa Meng chuckled, "Isn't it because you're unwilling to settle down and learn needlework?"
Fu Xin Ci: It felt rather like lifting a stone only to drop it on her own feet.
Seeing his granddaughter's furrowed brow, Grandpa Meng patiently lectured her, "A young lady must know needlework. Even if you don't make clothes for others, you should at least make your own, shouldn't you?"
Fu Xin Ci: She would need to think about this carefully.
Seeing his granddaughter not respond, Grandpa Meng continued, "In these times, a woman's reputation is paramount. Can you be at ease with others making your clothes? Don't forget that hearts are separated by skin. Even if you hold some people's indentures, there are still those who betray."
"Grandfather, you are absolutely right. I will diligently learn needlework from my mother from now on. But what about the current matter?"
"You, you usually are called clever, yet you can't think of a solution for such a small matter."
"Indeed."
Seeing his granddaughter humbly accepting his advice, Grandpa Meng offered a suggestion, "At this season, no woman has much work."
As her grandfather spoke, Fu Xin Ci understood. "Grandfather, you want me to hire two women to help me make quilts?"
"Exactly! Whether it's money or grain you use to pay them, you won't be short of either, Ci'er."
Fu Xin Ci secretly smiled. She had grain, so money and grain were easy matters for her.
Seeing his granddaughter smile, Grandpa Meng offered another suggestion, "You don't even need to look elsewhere. Your few cousins next door have nothing to do. If you ask them, they can surely help you finish quickly."
"..." It was cold, and she hadn't gone out much. If her grandfather hadn't mentioned her cousins, she would have nearly forgotten about them.
"Grandfather, I'll go now." Fu Xin Ci said, then turned and walked out.
Grandpa Meng, watching his granddaughter's cheerful smile through the glass window, couldn't help but say, "This child is good in every way, but her temper is a bit impatient."
If Xiao Bai knew, he would add: her face is sour, and she can turn hostile faster than flipping a book.
In the east room of the Meng family's eldest branch, Madam Li was sitting by the kang, helping her granddaughters refill the cotton in their padded jackets.
Last night, they had stayed up late making a new padded jacket for Yu Tang, much to the boy's delight. Today, wearing it, he exclaimed loudly, "It's so warm, warmer than my old jacket!"
This made Madam Li exclaim with joy as she held the cotton. She then said, "Second daughter-in-law, this cotton is truly excellent. We never saw such good cotton even when we were in the capital."
"Indeed. I remember when Yu Jiao got married, her mother went through connections at the Imperial Household Department, and it was said to be for palace use."
"At that time, this old woman also said that cotton was good, but it can't compare to this cotton."
"Yes, I wonder how much money my second uncle spent this time to benefit the people of both villages."
"Yesterday, I also heard people from Wu Jia Village say that with such good cotton for their padded jackets, getting through this winter won't be difficult."
Meng Yu Yan, recalling what she had overheard yesterday, felt uneasy.
Before their exile, they had no idea of the hardships of the common people.
Now, for every meal, her grandmother and mother were counting the grains of rice to cook porridge.
As the three women were talking, they heard a knock on the door. "Is Second Aunt here? I need to talk to my sisters about something."
Hearing Xin Ci's voice, Meng Yu Wu hurried over to open the door.
"Sister Xin Ci is here, please come in and sit."
"Sister Yu Wu."
Fu Xin Ci followed Meng Yu Wu into the east room and saw Madam Li and Madam Liu refilling cotton. Cotton fluff was flying everywhere, and both Madam Li and Madam Liu had cotton fluff sticking to their hair.
Madam Li was fine; with her age and more white hair, it wasn't very noticeable.
Madam Liu, however, looked comical. Her jet-black hair now appeared streaked with white.
Madam Liu herself didn't realize it. Seeing Fu Xin Ci arrive, she quickly greeted her, "Xin Ci, come in and sit."
Fu Xin Ci looked at Madam Li, bowed respectfully, and then replied to Madam Liu, "Second Aunt, I won't sit. I came today to ask my sisters to help me with some work."
"My child, for your sisters to help you with some work, there's no need for asking. Besides, the three of them are bored at home, and a visit to your courtyard might give them some relief."
Madam Liu finished speaking and looked at her three daughters, instructing them, "The three of you, go with Xin Ci now."
"Okay." The three girls responded and followed Sister Xin Ci out the door.