Seeing Qi He's foolish look, Fu Xinci held back a laugh.
Qi He: "The day before yesterday, I think I heard someone say that the big yellow dog next door to their house just gave birth to a litter of puppies, and the family didn't have enough food and didn't want them."
"Who said it? Think carefully."
"Mm." Qi He raised his eyebrows slightly and said with some uncertainty, "It seems like Dan Xiaocong said it."
"Then should we go and talk to him?"
"Let's talk. Otherwise, what if his neighbor throws the puppies away? They'll freeze to death in this cold weather."
"Okay, shall we go now?"
"Let's go now."
"Okay, I'll go tell my mother."
After Fu Xinci finished speaking, she entered the courtyard and informed Fang Shi that she was going to Wu Jia Village with Brother Qi.
Fang Shi wanted to say that it was getting dark and they should go tomorrow, but Fu Xinci had already run out.
"Alas." Fang Shi shook her head. Her daughter had her own ideas, and sometimes as a mother, she didn't have as many ideas as her daughter.
Yu'er was a clever little boy. After listening to Brother Qi and his sister's conversation, he became very interested in the puppies they were talking about.
"Sister, sister, I want to go with you."
Looking at the little guy's hopeful eyes, Fu Xinci immediately agreed.
"Sister is so good." Yu'er hugged his sister's leg and smiled with his eyes curved.
"Auntie." Bao'er was a little anxious when he saw that everyone had stopped playing rattan ball.
Meng Qiren quickly took his hand, "Bao'er, it's time to go back and eat."
"Eat." Hearing such an important matter, Bao'er no longer wanted to play and immediately hurried home, even waving goodbye to everyone, "See you tomorrow."
Meng Yulin also went back with them.
As dusk fell, Qi He picked up Yu'er and ran forward, "Sister Fu, let's go quickly and come back quickly."
"En."
Yu'er lay on Qi He's back, tucking his chubby hands into his sleeves and clinging to Qi He's shoulders.
Fu Xinci saw this and had another thought. After they returned, she should draw a pair of padded mittens (cotton gloves) and have her mother make them for Yu'er to wear, so his hands wouldn't freeze in the cold winter.
Children's hands were delicate and could not be damaged by the cold.
When they went to Wu Jia Village, they didn't encounter many people on the road. One reason was the cold weather, and the other was that it was mealtime.
Dan Xiaocong had told Brother Qi their approximate location when they were chatting, and Qi He had a good memory. Carrying a guess, he actually guessed it correctly.
In front of them were three thatched huts made of mud bricks, with two side rooms to the west. The courtyard had no walls, only a circle of tree branches as thick as an adult's arm. The wooden gate was also quite distinctive; if it were a little looser, Yu'er could have squeezed through.
"Is anyone home?" Qi He's voice was quite loud, and the family eating in the house heard him.
Dan Xiaocong not only had a good brain but also good ears. Before Qi He could call a second time, he recognized who it was.
"Shishi, hurry and open the door, it's Qi He!"
"En." Following his brother's instructions, Dan Shishi put down his bowl and ran out.
Although it was late, it was difficult to see clearly from a distance.
However, Dan Shishi felt she had seen the three people standing outside the gate: one was the son of the commander, and the other two were the young lady and young master from the Meng family courtyard.
But she never dreamed that the three of them would come to her house today.
Dan Xiaocong shuffled out in his slippers. Seeing the three of them arrive together, he quickly greeted them, "Little He, Xinci, Yu'er, you've come."
"Mm."
Huang Shi and Wu Shi, who came out later, heard the children talking in a familiar tone and were even happier in their hearts.
Huang Shi walked a few steps forward and immediately invited the children into the house, "It's too cold outside, come inside and warm up."
"No, thank you, Auntie. It's already dark, we'll just say a few words to Xiaocong and then go back."
Qi He politely refused Huang Shi, and then told Dan Xiaocong about their wish for two puppies.
"This is easy, I'll go talk to Grandpa Han next door later. Otherwise, their family is also short on food, and I'm really afraid they'll throw the puppies away."
"It doesn't matter if they're short on food. I'll bring them a few catties of grain tomorrow, and tell them not to throw the puppies away."
"En, en." Dan Xiaocong hadn't expected Xinci to offer grain. Grandpa Han's family was just an old couple with a grandson. They had no strong laborers and could not farm much land.
When the weather was warm, it was fine; they could dig more wild vegetables and mix them with cornmeal to eat. But in the dead of winter, there was nothing in the fields. Even if they dried vegetables in the fall, they would eat them one by one.
Alas, the lives of this family of three were very difficult.
As it got darker, Fu Xinci noticed the struggle and pity on Dan Xiaocong's face. This reminded her of the family next door, and she guessed that their lives must have been very difficult.
Qi He saw that it was getting darker and their business was concluded, so he said goodbye to Dan Xiaocong, "Xiaocong, we're going back now. Come and play at our place when you have time."
"En, walk slowly." Dan Xiaocong knew it was getting dark and his family would be worried, so he didn't insist.
The way back was much faster. Fu Xinci secretly activated her wood element power and pulled Qi He's arm forward.
Qi He was startled and held Yu'er's waist tightly, not daring to let go. Yu'er wanted to laugh happily, but Fu Xinci stopped him.
It was already dark, and you couldn't laugh so loudly. What if a wolf was attracted?
Yu'er covered his mouth and shook his little head, resolutely refusing to make a sound.
Fu Xinci: Children were so easy to fool.
When they reached their own door, they saw Meng Yuluo standing at the door waiting for them.
"Hurry and wash your hands and face, it's time for dinner."
"En." The three of them had been out for a long time and were really hungry. They responded and went back to their rooms to wash up.
Qi He saw that his father was still asleep, snoring loudly, so he carefully wet a cloth and wanted to wipe his father's face.
Qi Yuanshan was still quite vigilant. When Qi He approached him, he opened his eyes. "En?"
"Dad, you're awake. Hurry up and take a bath. There's hot water in the washing room."
"This is not good."
"Dad, don't worry, I'll stand guard for you."
"Mm." With his son taking care of his worries, Qi Yuanshan simply washed himself.
He looked much better than before.
Grandpa Meng heard movement in the west room and knew that Qi Yuanshan had woken up.
He told his son to put the low table in place, "Let's all have a good meal today."
"En."
When Qi Yuanshan came over earlier, Grandpa Meng had told his daughter-in-law to add more dishes today.
"These past few days have been caused by the Tatars, and we haven't had a good meal."
"That's right." Fu Yu thought about how busy he had been helping to deliver meals these past few days.