“Yu’er forgot, the Han family has a big yellow dog and puppies.”
“Oh.” Yu’er remembered. They had asked for two puppies from the Han family.
Thinking of how cute and cuddly the puppies were that Qi ge and Jiejie had described, Yu’er instantly forgot his fear. He even had an urge to get off the bed, put on his shoes, and go see the puppies.
Grandpa Meng, being an old fox, could see his grandson’s intentions. He quickly spoke to coax him, “Even if Yu’er wants to see the puppies, he has to wait until the snow stops, and Grandpa will take you.”
Yu’er was a sensible child. Seeing that his grandfather promised to take him, he obediently sat by his grandfather’s side.
When Fu Yu’s figure appeared in the sight of the grandfather and grandson, Yu’er didn’t recognize him at first glance. His little eyes seemed to say: Who is this old man?
Grandpa Meng looked at his son, covered in snow, and felt his heart ache. He was about to get up, put on his shoes, and get a broom to sweep the snow off his son.
Just then, his daughter-in-law quickly came out of the kitchen and began sweeping the snow off her son.
Yu’er watched his parents talking and laughing. He then toddled to the windowsill, his two chubby little hands started patting the glass window, and he shouted loudly, “Dad, Mom.”
“Coming.”
All the snow on Fu Yu’s body was swept away by Madam Fang before he entered his father’s room.
“Yu’er, how is it?”
“Father, fortunately I went. The Han family’s three thatched huts looked precarious.”
“Really?”
“They were swaying when I looked just now. Son didn’t dare to linger, and urged them to pack their things quickly. Otherwise, son feared that if they lingered any longer, the house would collapse.”
Grandpa Meng also felt a lingering fear after hearing his son’s description. If the house collapsed in such cold weather, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Fu Yu knew his old father was kind-hearted, so he quickly recounted the situation of the Han family elders returning home.
“Before I went to Wujia Village, I had启城 (Qi Cheng) start a fire in the room adjacent to theirs. When son just looked, that room was also emitting heat. They should be able to stay there tonight.”
“That’s good.”
In the third side room, the Han family elders were packing their belongings with tears in their eyes. They could only shed tears in secret, not daring to let their little grandson see.
Han Zhi squatted by the stove, helping his grandparents heat the kang. With each branch he added, the flames grew stronger.
The firelight made his little face glow red, and a smile was always on his lips. Occasionally, he would look up and say to his grandparents, “Grandpa Meng is a good person, Uncle Fu is also a good person, Aunt Da is also a good person. And Sister Xin Ci and Yu’er are also good people.”
“Yes, they are all good people.” After speaking, Grandma Han looked at her old man again and said, “Old man, after we finish packing these things, we’ll go to the main house and kowtow to Master Meng the Second and his son.”
“Yes.” Grandpa Han agreed, and then seemed to mutter to himself, “We must thank them properly. With our three dilapidated houses, we might not even make it through tonight.”
“Yes.”
Hearing his grandparents talk, Han Zhi felt particularly content. He also secretly told himself that in the future, he must work harder for everyone in Grandpa Meng’s family to repay Grandpa Meng’s kindness.
The snow was still falling. Although the snowflakes became smaller after nightfall, they fell for the entire night.
The next morning, as the first rays of dawn broke through, Fu Yu asked a question from his heart.
“Father, in Liaodong, does every snowfall reach up to the knees?”
Grandpa Meng didn’t know how to answer.
“Almost.” Old Jin, who had just entered the courtyard, helped to answer.
I also need to tell everyone that after Qi Yuanshan was promoted to Qianhu, he promoted Old Jin to be the Bazong of Yingzuoya Garrison.
Old Jin was very busy after becoming a Bazong. Grandpa Meng didn’t expect Old Jin to come so early, still covered in snow. He invited him into the house to warm up.
“Brother Meng the Second, no need. I’ve been so busy lately that my hair is standing on end. I’ve even been neglecting the looms. Today, since everyone is clearing snow and there’s no training, I ran over to do more work.” After speaking, Old Jin went to the storeroom.
Grandpa Meng disagreed, “Old Jin, it’s not that you can’t afford to take a moment even when you’re eager to work. Have a cup of hot tea to warm your stomach first.”
“Brother Meng the Second, I’m fine. Once I start working, I won’t feel cold.”
As Old Jin spoke, he took off his outer cloak, picked up his tools, and began to work.
Meng Yuluo knew that Uncle Jin had arrived and ran over to help him.
“Good boy, that’s excellent.”
Old Jin didn’t expect that this eight-year-old boy could help him work so skillfully. He liked him more and more.
A thought arose in his heart, “Boy, how about becoming my godson?”
Meng Yuluo thought he misheard and stood there foolishly, looking at Old Jin.
Old Jin thought the child was unwilling and began to persuade him energetically, “Boy, it won’t hurt you to be my godson. I’ll not only teach you carpentry skills, but I’ll also give you my entire fortune in the future.”
Meng Yuluo: …
“Although my fortune isn’t much, it’s more than enough to marry a wife for you.”
Madam Tian happened to be carrying a teapot and tea bowls. She heard Old Jin’s words clearly and stood outside the storeroom, not daring to go in.
Seeing that the boy hadn’t responded yet, Old Jin began to act pitiful, “Boy, you don’t need to take care of me too much. Just help me get buried after I die, and remember to burn some paper for me on holidays.”
Meng Yuluo felt that Uncle Jin was a very good person. Being able to be his godson was a blessing from his previous life.
Moreover, what Uncle Jin just said sounded so pitiful. He wanted to tell Uncle Jin that he would reply after discussing it with his mother.
However, before he could say it, he caught sight of his mother standing at the storeroom door out of the corner of his eye. He quickly called out, “Mom.”
Madam Tian felt as if she had been caught eavesdropping, and her face slowly turned red.
Old Jin also didn’t expect that while he was trying to entice the son to call him father, he was caught by the mother. His old face instantly felt like it was covered with a large announcement.
Fortunately, he was tanned, so it was hard to notice if one wasn’t paying attention.
Madam Tian lowered her head, not daring to look anywhere. She put down the teapot and tea bowls and turned to run.
After the sound of footsteps faded away, Old Jin dared to peek.
He hadn’t noticed before, but today he saw that this young woman was quite beautiful.
Seeing that no one else was around, he glanced at the傻小子 (foolish boy) beside him, who didn’t know what to do. A plan to kill two birds with one stone flashed in his mind.
He wasn’t in a hurry to make the loom anymore. He put down the tools in his hand and ran like a gust of wind towards the room where Brother Meng the Second lived.
Meng Yuluo: What’s wrong with Uncle Jin? He ran so fast.
Old Jin: Except when chasing Tatars, I’ve never run this fast before.