Especially when his granddaughter pointed to a pair of black leather short boots, saying they were for him, Grandpa Meng immediately picked them up and examined them carefully, even reaching out his large hand to feel the inside of the shoes.
"Oh my, the inside of these shoes is still soft, and it's really warm in here. If I wear these, they'll definitely be warm and comfortable."
The more Grandpa Meng looked, the more he liked them. By the time they were almost home, he finally let his granddaughter put them away and then they brainstormed together.
"Ci'er, let's find an excuse to go to town again tomorrow. Then these things will have a clear purpose."
Grandpa Meng thought it was increasingly feasible.
Fu Xin'er was a little worried, "Grandfather, will my father agree?"
"I'm his father, he'll have to agree even if he doesn't want to." The elder had the capital to be willful in front of his son.
Hearing this, Fu Xin'er quickly flattered, "Your granddaughter thinks Grandfather is the most decisive and strategic."
Her granddaughter's words immediately made Grandpa Meng beam with joy.
The next day, the grandfather and granddaughter, bundled up warmly, drove the donkey cart across the small river, leaving Fu Yu standing at the door of his own house, worrying about his old father's retreating back.
He couldn't understand why his old father was still so keen on going to town when the weather had turned cold.
Grandpa Meng drove the donkey cart and, seeing only two soldiers on guard at the entrance to the衛所 (wèisuǒ - military sub-station) and not Qi Yuanshan, breathed a sigh of relief.
Otherwise, he would have had to tell his son the lie again.
The donkey cart finally emerged from the mountain pass. Looking at the snow-covered wilderness around them, Grandpa Meng once again sighed, "The winter here is truly cold. Even with so many clothes on, I can still feel the bone-chilling cold."
"Grandfather, you should wear the down jacket." Fu Xin'er said as she took out two men's down jackets from her space, which she had prepared long ago.
One down jacket was long, and the other was short, both with black fur collars, and both in a silver-grey color, very suitable for a man of his age.
This color was both solemn and steady, without appearing deliberately stiff.
Grandfather's attention was completely captivated by these two jackets. He weighed them in his hands and was surprised to find, "Ci'er, these jackets are so light, can they be warm?"
Fu Xin'er didn't explain further, but used practical action to let the elder experience for himself what warmth was.
With his granddaughter's help, Grandpa Meng put on the long down jacket.
After his granddaughter helped him zip it up, fasten the buttons, and put on the hood, Grandpa Meng stood on the open road and stretched his arms and legs, moving about.
The more he moved, the more he couldn't hide his joy. "Oh my, Ci'er, this big jacket is wonderful! It's so much warmer than the cotton-padded jackets we used to wear, and it's not heavy. It's so comfortable to wear."
After speaking, Grandpa Meng did not forget to add, "The most important thing is that it's easy to move in."
"Of course. Although this one is long, it's much more convenient than those long robes and cloaks."
"Mhmm, mhm." Grandpa Meng became more and more delighted and urged his granddaughter to change into one as well. "With these clothes, even if the winter here gets colder, we won't be afraid."
"Mhm." Under her grandfather's urging, Fu Xin'er also changed into a light purple down jacket with a white fur collar. The little girl put it on and stood properly in front of her grandfather to show him.
"Beautiful, beautiful, our Ci'er looks so good in this jacket."
Grandpa Meng looked at his granddaughter's gradually fairer face and it seemed as if he had returned to the days before his family was implicated by the Duke's Mansion.
Fu Xin'er, however, guided her grandfather to stop thinking about the past, "Grandfather, we will get better and better, much better than before."
"Yes, that's for sure. Our family is considered landowners now."
As they spoke, Fu Xin'er helped her grandfather put on the cotton boots she had prepared for him, which made the elder walk several laps in the snow again.
Otherwise, considering his age, Grandpa Meng would have wanted to run a couple of laps in the snow.
"Oh my, these boots are the best and most comfortable boots Grandpa has ever worn!"
Grandpa Meng was so excited that only the words "best" and "most comfortable" remained in his mind.
Fu Xin'er stood by, watching her grandfather's obvious joy, and her heart felt as sweet as if she had eaten honey.
"Ci'er, our family can be considered to have benefited from misfortune. Grandfather is content, and we must cherish this good fortune."
"Mhm, Grandfather is right, we must cherish our blessings."
The grandfather and granddaughter got into the donkey cart, chatting and laughing. With their bodies warm, their thoughts were also different from before.
"Ci'er, when our donkey cart reaches town, we'll turn back."
"Mhm, everything our family needs is in the small world that the old immortal left behind."
Grandpa Meng's thoughts of the small world left by the old immortal for his granddaughter made him even happier.
Looking at the vast white expanse ahead, Grandpa Meng pondered his granddaughter's incredible encounters and how their family had benefited greatly.
He had truly experienced the feeling of joy descending from heaven.
The grandfather and granddaughter chatted about everyday things, both looking forward to a beautiful future.
The little donkey pulling the cart seemed to sense its owner's joy. Without Grandpa Meng needing to flick its reins, it trotted along the desolate mountain path.
Grandpa Meng hadn't expected his little donkey to be so energetic; he would give it extra fodder when they got back.
When the grandfather and granddaughter arrived in town, they went around. The only item Fu Xin'er bought was oil paper.
Seeing the thick stack of oil paper his granddaughter had bought, Grandpa Meng smiled.
On the way back, the little donkey walked even faster. It was only when the town was no longer visible that Fu Xin'er took out the down jackets and cotton boots she had prepared for her family.
She couldn't bring out the shoe boxes and packaging bags, so she had to use some cotton cloth as wrapping to bundle up the items separately.
The little donkey knew to head towards the 衛所 without being directed. Grandpa Meng idly watched his granddaughter pack the items.
However, when he saw his granddaughter take out a set of clothes with a peculiar color and style, and place them with a pair of black leather boots, he guessed that they were for Qi Yuanshan.
"Ci'er, are these for your Uncle Qi?"
"Mhm, these clothes are resistant to wear and tear, and are more suitable for fighting." Fu Xin'er thought of Uncle Qi's weapon, a large saber, and decided that when she contacted her companions tonight, she would ask them to help find a large saber and then have Uncle Xu and Xu Jiacan imbue it with their metal-element abilities.
This way, when Uncle Qi went to the battlefield, with a swing of his saber, it would be like cutting through vegetables and melons.
"Hehehe." He chuckled with delight.
"Ci'er, what are you so happy about?"
"Grandfather, I'm planning to get Uncle Qi a large saber, and I'm sure Uncle Qi will be overjoyed when he sees it."
Hearing his granddaughter's words, Grandpa Meng was also happy. But at a crucial moment, he didn't forget to remind his granddaughter, "Ci'er, when that saber is brought over, you must show it to Grandfather. Grandfather needs to take a look at it and find a suitable excuse to present it."