Dinner was still stewed mushrooms and meat with flatbread, enough to fill the Cheng family's caravan.
The Jin family and the people of Shan'ao Village were also doing alright, at least they weren't going hungry.
The aroma of meat from the Cheng family's caravan wafted throughout the temple hall, making everyone's mouths water. However, no one stepped forward to ask for any. Although the Cheng family didn't share their meat broth, they did distribute ginger soup for free, for which everyone was already very grateful.
After dinner and a warm cup of ginger soup, everyone felt much better.
They huddled together in twos and threes, some sleeping, others whispering in low tones. But as it grew darker outside, and with the night watchmen assigned, everyone else retreated into their blankets to sleep.
Soon, they all fell asleep.
Su Miaomiao also lay on the soft bedding. She was covered by a thick quilt, with another layer underneath. Her boyfriend, whom she had known since childhood, lay beside her. She placed her hand on his chest, directly against his warm body.
Cheng Hao had also closed his eyes and fallen asleep, letting her have her way. He simply held her waist with his arm, afraid that she might get restless in the night and roll out of the covers.
Su Miaomiao wasn't that sleepy, but the warm bedding was just too comfortable. She could see Cheng Hao's enlarged, handsome face from above. His features were perfect from every angle, and she found him endlessly endearing. She buried her head again on his chest.
Listening to his steady heartbeat, she unconsciously drifted off to sleep.
Seeing that the young couple were no longer whispering, Ji Bo knew that his young master had rested and signaled for his servants to be quiet as well.
Laifu then relayed the message to Xiao Wuzi and Xiao Liuzi, and it was passed down one by one, signaling them to be quiet. Everyone immediately gestured back, indicating they were asleep!
Although their lives were nomadic, they found them more interesting than before.
Even though the servants felt tired, they also experienced a novel feeling. They squeezed together, sleeping side by side.
Their relationships had become much closer.
**
The next day.
The blizzard finally stopped, but the entrance was already covered in thick snow.
Everyone quickly got up to clear it.
Ji Bo had distributed clothes to everyone earlier, so they could temporarily withstand the temperature. They were all dressed in three layers.
Cai Shi and Xi Shi also dressed their children in layers of clothing.
Cheng Xiaotian complained that it hindered his movement.
Cai Shi held a thick piece of clothing for him and said, "It's good enough not to freeze at this time. You're being picky? Do you want a beating? Be content! Hurry up and put it on. You'll know you were wrong when you get sick. Hurry!"
As a mother, she was urging her children to get dressed early in the morning. She quickly put on her outer jacket and then tied up her hair, ready to start work.
Xi Shi also came out with a thick padded cotton coat and said with a smile, "Indeed, Xiaotian. Never mind whether it's convenient to work or not. It's freezing outside, as long as you don't catch a cold. Auntie, I couldn't even afford such good clothes before. I wore thin clothes with patches!"
She said that in winter, she wore even more layers!
Being clumsy was better than freezing to death.
She was used to it.
Cheng Xiaotian, as the only son of Cheng Fengtai, whose family ran a small business, naturally wouldn't be mistreated. Therefore, his clothes had no patches.
Upon hearing Xi Shi's words, he felt that this aunt was not having an easy time. He then looked at Xiao Niuniu over there, who, despite her young age, was already dressed neatly by herself.
Cheng Xiaotian then said, "It's not that I dislike the clothes, it's just that it's inconvenient for work. But mother and aunt, you're both right. I can't get sick. I'll be clumsy if I wear so many layers."
After speaking.
He then asked curiously, "Auntie, you said you used to wear thin clothes with patches. What about Xiao Niuniu? Are her clothes also old clothes?"
Xi Shi saw that he was so concerned. He was a half-grown boy, and he cared so much. She couldn't help but laugh and tease, "Oh, are you really concerned? My Xiao Niuniu has a difficult life like me. Her old paternal grandmother only cares about her few golden grandsons. My Xiao Niuniu doesn't have new clothes either. She wears hand-me-downs from her older brothers and sisters."
Speaking of this.
Xi Shi couldn't help but feel resentful. Other children could go to school or wear new clothes, but her own children, let alone Xiao Niuniu, even her sons could only wear what others had left behind, and they had no money for school. Thinking about it was truly unfair.
She sighed.
She then told Cheng Xiaotian to go play, while she followed Cai Shi to prepare meals.
Seeing her mother about to leave, Xiao Niuniu immediately followed to help.
Cheng Xiaotian also hurriedly said, "Wait for me, I want to help!"
Xiao Niuniu looked back at him and smiled sweetly, knowing that he had cared about her earlier. She then followed her mother and left.
Cheng Xiaotian eagerly put on his shoes and socks. His sister, Cheng Xiaohua, was combing her hair and braiding it. Seeing him like this, she grinned and mocked him, "You're so slow, no wonder even Sister Niuniu can't keep up!"
Cheng Xiaotian didn't mind his sister's teasing. Instead, he saw that her braid was beautifully done and said, "Sister, can you teach Xiao Niuniu how to braid hair next time? I think she'll look beautiful when she braids it too. She doesn't know how to braid. Auntie doesn't manage this for her. Or you can teach me!"
Cheng Xiaotian thought that if he learned, he could braid Xiao Niuniu's hair.
Cheng Xiaohua didn't understand her brother's thoughts. She quickly braided her pigtail and replied, "What's so difficult about this? I'll help her braid it later!"
However, Xiao Niuniu was introverted, and she couldn't get close to her so quickly.
Cheng Xiaotian grinned, happily saying, "Then I'll thank you on her behalf first!"
Cheng Xiaohua initially said, "What's there to be polite about?" Then, seeing her brother run away in a flash, she reacted and couldn't help but exclaim, "Hey, that's not right! Who are you the brother of?!" She even thanked her on behalf of someone else. What was going on?
The other two children had already run off with Xi Shi. It was only her, who was more concerned with her appearance, that took a little longer to braid her hair. But once it was done, she also quickly followed to help.
In the temple hall, except for the night watchmen who were catching up on sleep, sleeping like pigs with heavy snoring, everyone else had already woken up and gone to work.
Ji Bo found these children quite amusing. Children were indeed interesting.
The elderly man also continued to be busy after waking up.
Cheng Hao had also gotten up and was putting on his clothes. Before getting out of bed, he quickly put the hot water bottle and hand warmers into his spatial storage and then plugged them in one by one to charge.
He could use them again in the evening.
Last night, both of them slept very soundly, and these hand warmers were instrumental.
With Ji Bo's help in pulling the curtain, these hand warmers could be used with peace of mind.
When Su Miaomiao woke up, she always had to sit up to clear her head. At this time, she was soft and very playful. Cheng Hao pinched her cheek. It was plump, soft, and Q-bouncy. This finally woke her up.
Before he could say anything, Su Miaomiao shook her head herself to wake up, and then said, "The snow has stopped today, and there's a lot to do. We'll be busy."