Jin Xiaoqi took the two heavy greatcoats. They felt warm to the touch, and thinking of his decision during the day, her heart felt even warmer.
Meng Erge was indeed an upright official, always thinking of the common people and them, the soldiers guarding the border.
At the same time, in the Meng family's courtyard, the first squad had just finished dinner and were escorted out by Meng Qicheng on behalf of his uncle.
After the Meng family's gate was closed behind them, Shan Xiaocong took out a crumpled piece of oiled paper from his pocket. He then wrapped up the cornmeal vegetable bun he had been holding for more than half of it, stuffed it back into his pocket, and ran home with excitement.
The few old men, having eaten their fill, also walked home, chatting and laughing. Meng Qihua silently followed behind them.
Finally, he arrived home. The old couple who had been worried sick inside knew their son was back when they heard the knock.
"Hua'er, you're back. Are you alright?"
"Dad, Mom, I'm fine." Meng Qihua said as he turned to bolt their own courtyard gate.
"Hua'er, let Mom have a look." In the darkness, the old woman, with the help of the faint starlight, examined her son carefully from head to toe.
"Mom, I'm really fine. Let's go inside and talk."
After the family of three entered the house, Meng Qihua carefully took out half of a fine cornmeal pancake from his pocket. He broke it into two halves and gave them to his parents.
Smelling the pure corn fragrance, Meng Lao Liu did not take it. "Hua'er, eat it. You're still growing."
"Dad, I ate my fill at Uncle's. Please eat it quickly."
Meng Qihua felt a little regretful. He still wasn't thick-skinned enough to be like that boy from Wujia Village, who had grabbed a vegetable bun right before the meal was over.
When he left his uncle's house, he had clearly seen that boy take out oiled paper from his pocket, wrap up more than half a vegetable bun, and run off with it stuffed in his clothes.
"Hua'er, you brought this pancake back for your mother and me. What did you eat?" Meng Lao Liu was still worried, fearing his son had gone hungry to save a bite for his parents.
"Dad, don't worry. Your son has eaten his fill. Touch me if you don't believe me."
Meng Lao Liu, afraid his son hadn't eaten enough, really did touch his stomach. Indeed, his son hadn't lied. His stomach was bulging.
However, both he and his wife were reluctant to eat the fine cornmeal pancakes in their hands. They discussed with their son: "Hua'er, your mother and I have already eaten dinner. You keep this pancake for tomorrow morning."
"Dad, Mom, please eat the pancakes. Don't save any for me. My cousin Yu will bring us food tomorrow when we go to the mountain pass."
Fearing his parents wouldn't believe him, Meng Qihua told them about his day.
"Did your uncle really ask your cousin Yu to bring you food?"
"Of course. Not only did he bring us food at noon, but we also ate dinner at Uncle's house. Uncle also said there would be enough food, but we're not allowed to waste it."
"Your uncle is right. We must not waste grain." Meng Lao Liu thought about how he had never had the chance to see his second brother before. It was only on the road of exile that he was fortunate enough to meet their family.
He had thought his second brother was like that person from the main branch, but he later discovered his second brother was different.
He had also heard the guards say that his second brother was a good official who benefited the local people.
Thinking of this, he hesitated. Should he pay a visit to his second brother for his son's sake?
In the darkness, seeing his father silent, Meng Qihua went to the outer room to wash up. He was very tired and wanted to sleep.
However, before going back to his room to sleep, he shared his plan: "Dad, you should go to the mountain pass tomorrow. You can eat two full meals a day."
"Since you can get full meals, you should go. Otherwise, your mother and I will still worry that you won't have enough to eat at home."
"Dad..."
"Go to sleep. You've had a long day."
Meng Qihua knew he couldn't argue with his father, so he could only agree and buried himself in sleep.
Anyone who went to the mountain pass today was exhausted. After washing up, Grandpa Meng also went to bed early.
Lying in the warm bed, the old man finally relaxed. His last thought before falling asleep was to drive the Tatars out of Liaodong as soon as possible.
In the cold night, all was silent, only the stars in the sky were quietly blinking their tireless eyes.
However, Fu Xinci couldn't sleep. She had just exchanged notes with her friends in Longcheng. Longcheng was colder than last year, and many people were in urgent need of cold-weather supplies.
For example, cotton clothes, cotton shoes, and cotton quilts.
She had plenty of these items in her space. In the past, her plan was simple: if the members of their mercenary team used them sparingly, they could last for a long time.
But now it was different. The base leader had Yang Xinjie relay a message to her, asking her to ensure that at least everyone in Longcheng could survive the winter safely.
She was about to curse again. Wasn't this making things difficult for her?
She, who wanted to live a quiet life as a "rice worm," had to shoulder such a great responsibility. It was truly asking too much of her.
Thinking of the people in Longcheng, and then of the people under Yingzuaiya.
Fu Xinci felt her head spin.
They say the bigger your head, the bigger your hat.
Likewise, the bigger your stomach, the more bowls of rice you can eat.
With her small belly, one bowl of rice per meal was enough, yet she was expected to take care of the daily lives of so many people.
Damn it, with her small frame, this was going to be the death of her!
Fu Xinci began to hum with a toothache. "Ah, ah, ah, ah!!!"
Xiaobai: "Squeak squeak." You're not sleeping and you won't let this white one sleep either. I've never seen such a pest as you.
"Really?"
"Squeak squeak." What else! There's also Dad!
Fu Xinci froze for a moment. She hadn't expected Xiaobai to know about parents. She couldn't help but grab Xiaobai's fluffy little body and rub it vigorously. "Xiaobai, you're a genius!"
"Squeak squeak." Help! This human might be crazy.
"Hahaha." After playing with Xiaobai for a while, Fu Xinci's depressed mood eased slightly.
"Squeak squeak." Don't disturb this white one's sleep. This white one won't go crazy with you.
"..." Fu Xinci deflated. Even a snow ferret dared to defy her. Was her life really that miserable?
"Sigh!" With another sigh, the sleepless Fu Xinci entered her space again and squatted in the planting area, deep in thought.
However, she couldn't think of anything useful for a while. On a whim, she went to rummage through the seeds her father had collected.
"Hmm?" Her eyes suddenly fell on a sealed container. She saw that the label indicated it was for long-staple cotton seeds.
"Hehe, Father really hasn't abandoned me."
It was winter now, and everyone lacked cold-weather supplies. Therefore, planting long-staple cotton should be a very good choice.
After all, the things stored in her space would eventually run out. If she didn't think of a solution, she would only be consuming what she had.
Once she realized this, planting long-staple cotton was immediately put on her agenda.