"Mm, I'll listen to Mother and go to sleep now," Fu Xin Ci said, then curtsied like her original self before leaving.
Once out of Fang Shi's sight, Fu Xin Ci finally dared to relax.
She really wanted to say she didn't want to learn those skills essential for ancient women: needlework and embroidery.
Alas, her mother was not an easy person to deal with. It was only because her mother noticed the dark circles under her eyes today that she let her off the hook so easily to go back to sleep.
Sigh, she was truly too tired, with only one thought: to return to the small building behind and sleep.
At this moment, Yu'er finally coaxed his grandfather out of the house, and holding his grandfather's small hand, they walked out together.
As they walked, Grandpa Meng chatted with his grandson: "Grandfather will take you to watch them train now, but Yu'er must remember not to run around."
"Grandfather, don't worry, Yu'er remembers."
"Mm, our Yu'er is so good."
...
Today was the first day of training for the youths. Last night, Qi Yuan Shan, along with Wang Da Bao, Xiao Lin Zi, and a few others, had devised a progressive plan for them.
When Grandpa Meng brought Yu'er out, he saw Wang Da Bao leading the youths in a slow jog around their courtyard.
Yu'er saw this and also swung his small arms, imitating Brother Qi and running around his grandfather again and again.
This made Grandpa Meng put on a stern face and act pitiful to his grandson, "Yu'er, don't run around Grandfather anymore. Grandfather is feeling very dizzy right now. Yu'er, quickly see if Grandfather is about to collapse."
Yu'er believed him and dared not run anymore. He held onto his grandfather's thigh, tilting his small face up and asking with concern, "Grandfather, Yu'er won't run anymore. Are you feeling any better?"
"Mm, Grandfather is much better now."
Grandpa Meng looked at his grandson's worried eyes and felt a moment of guilt. However, to prevent his grandson from getting cold after running and sweating profusely, his guilt lasted only a little over a breath.
When the youths moved on to the next stage of marching, Grandpa Meng also took Yu'er for a stroll in the open space before using his fatigue as an excuse to take Yu'er back inside.
It was still too cold outside, and Yu'er was too young. Grandpa Meng could not let him stay outside for too long.
Although Yu'er was reluctant, he was a filial child. If his grandfather was tired, he had to accompany his grandfather to rest. He also had to massage his grandfather's legs and back.
When Qi Yuan Shan arrived, the youths were resting in the gatehouse.
The Meng family's gatehouse was built very spacious. Inside, there were not only tables and chairs but also a large heated brick bed capable of sleeping four adults.
Dan Xiao Cong lay half-reclined on the brick bed, sighing contentedly, "If only our house were this warm."
"I guess everyone thinks the same," Er Xi added. He was very satisfied with their current life.
Last night, even though their family of four had tidied up until very late and were almost exhausted, their mood had been better than ever. His mother had a smile on her face, and his father's eyes were constantly on his mother.
His mother had jokingly called him foolish.
His father, after being called foolish, was not angry at all and shamelessly moved closer to his mother. His mother's glares flew at him one after another.
At that moment, he worried for his father. If his mother's glares could harm someone, his father would have been riddled with holes.
Sigh, he still couldn't understand his parents' mood.
Dan Xiao Cong was also happy for his friend, "Er Xi, your family will definitely get better and better in the future."
"Mm, my mother said the same thing yesterday."
By noon, Wang Da Bao called for dismissal, and Meng Qi Cheng arrived again, carrying two wooden buckets.
The first wooden bucket contained pieces of soft, steamed cornmeal buns, while the second contained cabbage soup.
Seeing the oily sheen floating on the cabbage soup, the youths' faces were filled with deep gratitude.
Regardless of their past identities, they only realized after arriving in Liaodong that it was difficult to endure the cold winter without sustenance.
Each person received a bowl of cabbage soup, and the youths drank it all, feeling warm all over.
As for the golden cornmeal buns, they barely touched them, secretly tucking them into their chests, wanting to take them home to share with their families.
Fu Xin Ci hid beside the warm shed, looking at the thinly clad youths, and thought of her own companions.
Tonight felt a little different. Perhaps it was because everyone had acquired the goods they needed last night; there weren't many people in the trading hall. Only a few were gathered, chatting about recent gossip in Longcheng.
Of course, with the crisis averted, everyone's mood had relaxed.
Captain: This situation is good; they can take this opportunity to act.
After Fu Xin Ci received the note from the captain, she realized her initial thoughts had been too simple.
The captain and the others were right. Even if she traded all this long-staple cotton to them, what could they do with it? Would they burrow into the cotton bales to keep warm?
Thinking of them all covered in white cotton fluff, Fu Xin Ci inexplicably felt a pang of sadness.
What to do?
Fortunately, the captain hadn't disappointed her and said he would think about it with Uncle Sun and the others.
Since the captain and the others were coming up with a plan, she could sleep soundly and well. Her body was still that of a child, and not sleeping well would hinder her growth.
However, after this batch of long-staple cotton was harvested, the captain and the others still hadn't come up with a feasible solution.
Looking at the mountain of cotton, Fu Xin Ci worried even more than they did. The cotton took up too much space.
As she was frowning, she happened to notice her grandfather sighing inexplicably.
"Grandfather, what's wrong?" As a considerate little cotton-padded jacket, she was very caring.
"Sigh, Grandfather is fine." Grandpa Meng felt that this matter was difficult to handle in the freezing weather and didn't want to talk about it.
"Grandfather, you always told my father that one person's ideas are short, but two people's ideas are long."
"Alright." Grandpa Meng felt that this matter was difficult to resolve, but since his granddaughter insisted on asking, he would tell her.
"I feel sorry for those children training outside. Look, the weather hasn't even reached the severe cold of the ninth month, and they're hugging themselves every day. What will happen when it's the coldest time of winter?"
Grandpa Meng sighed more and more as he spoke, "It's all due to poverty. I've been watching carefully these past few days; their padded jackets are thinner than each other. If I see one that's thick, it makes a sound when thrown on the ground!"
Fu Xin Ci: Grandfather was quite eloquent. Instead of saying the cotton was matted, he said it made a sound when thrown on the ground.
Was that still cotton?
Grandpa Meng didn't expect his granddaughter to respond; he just wanted to vent his frustrations to avoid bottling them up.
After listening to her grandfather's complaints, Fu Xin Ci suddenly had an idea for a way to consume the cotton.