Fang shi first settled her parents and younger brother in the west wing, then personally brought a large basin of freshly cooked plain congee from the kitchen.
Almost everything edible in the house was grown in Fu Xin Ci's supernatural space. Even what others might consider ordinary plain congee exuded a faint aroma of rice.
Even before the flood, the Fang family had ten mu of prime arable land, but they couldn't cultivate rice like this.
The Fang family was already starving. Upon smelling the enticing aroma of the rice, each of them looked pleadingly at Fang shi.
The adults were managing, but little Fang Qingmei couldn't hold back her tears any longer.
Seeing her niece cry, Fang shi personally ladled out a small bowl of rice porridge, intending to feed her niece.
Just then, Ke'er entered with a tray. On the tray was a plate of freshly fried salted fish, a plate of salted duck eggs with oozing golden yolk cut in half, and a small dish of pickles.
The fragrance of the fish and duck eggs mingled with the congee, and even the Fang adults couldn't resist.
"Mother, you all eat. I'll feed Qingmei," Fang shi said, blowing the plain congee to a suitable temperature and feeding it to Qingmei's mouth.
The little girl was ravenous and swallowed it in one gulp.
After the child had swallowed three mouthfuls of congee, Fang shi managed to scoop some salted duck egg yolk for her.
Fang Xiaotao had already downed a bowl of congee in two gulps. After the second bowl, he followed his sister's example and put a mouthful of salted duck egg into his mouth. He couldn't help but murmur softly, "We've finally survived."
Her husband's words made He Chunxiu's guilt resurface. Especially seeing her elder sister-in-law patiently feeding her elder daughter mouthful by mouthful, she felt even more ashamed.
Why was it that of the same kin, the Fang family's relatives were more considerate than her own He family?
After finishing a bowl of congee, Fang Mu noticed her daughter-in-law secretly watching her daughter, her face flushed with shyness.
She also sighed and said, "Chunxiu, while Qingguo is sleeping, you should eat quickly. Otherwise, when Qingguo wakes up, she'll cry and fuss again."
"Mother, I know," He Chunxiu replied softly.
"Then eat quickly."
Seeing that the food her daughter had prepared was excellent, Fang Mu added, "Eat more, so that our Qingguo will have enough milk."
Fang shi, hearing Fang Mu's words, quickly patted her forehead and apologized, "Look at my memory, I forgot that my sister-in-law still needs to feed the little niece."
"Sister, this food is already very good," He Chunxiu said truthfully. Even if one were confined after childbirth in the mountains, they might not be able to eat such good food.
"This meal will suffice for now. I'll stew chicken soup for you tonight."
"Sister, no need. I'll eat the same food as the rest of the family."
"It's good for your sister to stew some chicken soup. You haven't had a good confinement. Alas, how can Qingguo have enough to eat with just plain water every day?"
"Yes, after we finish eating, we'll go kill a chicken. Since there are many people today, let's kill two."
"Xiao Yun, not that many. Chunxiu and Qingmei, just one bowl each for the mother and daughter."
"Mother, you've suffered so much these past few months, especially you and Father. You've both lost so much weight that your faces are gaunt. In Qingzhou before, we were out of reach, but now that we're in Liaodong, your daughter will surely nourish you well."
"My child, your father and I are in good health. We just need to eat enough. Why drink chicken soup? You mustn't waste food."
Fang shi was about to say more when she saw her daughter signaling to her from outside the door. She instantly understood. She didn't need to argue with her own mother. If she simply brought the chicken soup to the table at dinner, her mother wouldn't refuse to have it served.
Understanding this, Fang shi stopped dwelling on it. Instead, she spoke softly to her mother, "Mother, the hot water is already prepared. After you finish eating, go to the washroom to take a bath. Then, you can sleep comfortably. When you wake up, you and Father can go chat with my father-in-law."
"Xiao Yun, is that alright? It's already impolite that we haven't visited your father-in-law first."
"Mother, my father-in-law instructed my husband and me to do this. Please rest well."
The family was truly exhausted. They all took the clothes Fang shi had brought for them to change.
Qingmei was young, and there were no small girl's clothes for her, so they found two of Ning'er's old clothes for her.
The little girl, now full, hugged her little cousin's clothes and happily went to the washroom with her grandmother.
This afternoon, the Meng family courtyard was quieter than usual.
Even the playful Ning'er knew to tread lightly, following her brother to play in the backyard.
In the main hall of the front courtyard, the Meng father and son were talking by a square table.
"Before it freezes, let's spend money to quickly build three large tiled houses for your father-in-law's family."
"Yes, son will listen to Father. It's just a matter of where to build the courtyard."
The elder thought for a moment and then found a suitable location. "Let's build it behind your school. That way, it will be close to our home, and it will be convenient for you to look after them."
"Yes, that place is really good." Fu Yu finished speaking and was about to go out to order bricks and tiles when his old father called him back.
"Yu'er, have you thought about how to settle the He family?"
"They are refugees from Qingzhou, so of course, they will be settled by the court."
"Heh heh, my son speaks well."
"Father, you didn't see it at the time. The He family looked much more spirited than my in-laws. I don't want to say anything else, but my father-in-law and mother-in-law are so old, yet their eyes have become timid. How do you think they've lived these past few months, relying on the He family?"
"Yu'er, if that's the case, let's not build the house for now."
"Father?"
"I fear the He family will try to take advantage of our kindness or be unreasonable. Your father-in-law is a man who values his reputation greatly. I'm afraid that family will try to swindle the house away."
"Father is right. Perhaps not before, but it's possible now."
"Our house has plenty of space. Let your father-in-law's family live in the west wing for now, so we can look after them more. As for the He family, if they try to impose themselves, you and your wife should be firm."
"Yes, Father."
The father and son reached a decision and continued to sit in the main hall, drinking tea.
The elder remembered the matter of the Qingzhou refugees and instructed his son again, "Later, send some sea fish to your Uncle Song and the others. Sea fish not only goes well with meals but also strengthens the body. It's a good thing that serves two purposes."
"Mm."
"Also, ask them if there's anything we can help with. Tell Uncle Song not to be polite."
"Yes, son remembers."
After the father and son had discussed the matters, Fu Yu was about to take the donkey cart to the school to deliver a basket of preserved sea fish.
Fu Xin Ci thought of the ill-mannered younger daughter-in-law of the He family and stopped her father.