Seeing Granduncle Qi rushing back to the garrison, Grandpa Meng did not stop him, but let him take the fifty jin of wild boar meat back. He also told him, "When you've finished telling him, come back. I'm waiting for you for dinner."
"Got it, Uncle."
As soon as his father's back disappeared outside the gate, Qi He couldn't wait any longer. He pulled Yu'er and looked at Grandpa Meng with a smile.
Grandpa Meng knew that these two boys waiting until this half day was already quite a feat. He smiled and said to his granddaughter, "Ci'er, go help them get the duck down jackets."
"Yes, I'll get them right away."
Fu Xinci finished speaking and went to her parents' room.
On the large heated kangs by the window, there was a row of bundles. Without even looking, she knew which bundles belonged to Qi He and Yu'er.
She easily slung two bundles over her shoulders and walked out.
Qi He was waiting outside with a smile. Seeing Fu Xinci come out, he quickly took the two bundles from her.
"Sister Fu, I'll carry them."
Fu Xinci did not politely refuse. She hummed and handed all the bundles to Qi He.
"These bundles, why do they feel so warm when I hold them?"
"The jackets are all duck down, of course they're warm."
"Duck down jackets?" Qi He didn't know what duck down was, but he vaguely guessed it had something to do with ducks.
When they entered Grandpa Meng's room, Qi He placed both bundles on the edge of the kang.
Fu Xinci then opened the two bundles one by one in front of them.
Both duck down jackets were a fresh green color, and apart from their sizes, their styles were the same.
Fu Xinci knew their usual mischievous nature and had deliberately chosen this style. The hem had two-inch slits on both sides, so their movements would not be restricted.
She helped them put on the jackets, and then helped them put on black, non-slip, waterproof snow boots.
"Beautiful, truly beautiful." Grandpa Meng had been watching the whole time. Once the two boys were dressed, he immediately praised them.
Fu Xinci, however, felt something was missing. She went back to check the bundles and took out the wheat-colored green scarves inside, tying them around their necks.
"Grandfather, does it look better like this?"
"Yes, it looks much better."
Grandpa Meng believed his granddaughter had excellent taste. The jackets and cotton boots she chose for him were all things he greatly admired.
Grandpa Meng then looked at the two eager boys. He put on his own short jacket and suggested taking them out for a stroll.
Fu Xinci did not say much, only helped her grandfather tie a black scarf before letting them go out.
...
In Wu Jia Village, in the courtyard of the Shan family, Madam Huang stood under the eaves, urging the two girls to sweep the courtyard.
"This is just the first snow. Sweep it clean, girls, or more snow will fall, and how will we manage then?"
Shan Yinyin, the elder daughter, who had fewer patches on her clothes, couldn't help but retort when she heard her mother nagging incessantly, "Mother, you nag about this ten or twenty times a day. It's not that we're not sweeping, it's just that a gust of wind blows and the courtyard is covered again. How can we possibly keep up?"
"You child, why are you so stubborn? What if you slip and fall if the courtyard isn't swept clean!"
"We don't have any three-year-olds at home, who would step on the snow for no reason?" Shan Yinyin became more and more indignant. She snorted, threw down her broom, and went back into the house.
"You child." Madam Huang was so angry her liver ached, but she dared not shout loudly. Her daughter was of marriageable age, and for her daughter's reputation, she could only endure.
Shan Yinyin saw her elder sister throw down her broom and run into the house, and she wanted to do the same, but she dared not.
Madam Huang glanced at her, then lowered her head to continue sweeping the courtyard with her younger daughter, feeling resentful. Suddenly, she heard the sound of running footsteps approaching from outside. Then, the main gate of their house was pushed open from the outside, and a figure darted in.
Seeing the person who had entered, Madam Huang showed a rare smile. "You rascal, where have you been getting into mischief again?"
"Mother, look." Shan Xiaocong proudly showed Madam Huang the wild boar meat in his hand.
"Oh my, where did this pork come from? And it's fresh. It couldn't be...?" Although Madam Huang also craved meat, she was more afraid of her son stealing from someone. Her face immediately changed.
Shan Xiaocong was afraid his mother would misunderstand. He quickly said loudly, "Mother, this is wild boar meat, and it was given to me by Second Master Meng."
"Xiaocong, why would Second Master Meng give you wild boar meat for no reason?" Madam Huang was still uneasy, and her words were spoken cautiously.
"Mother, it wasn't for no reason." Shan Xiaocong didn't keep her in suspense. He recounted exactly what he had said at the entrance of the Meng family's courtyard to Madam Huang.
"Oh, my son is so clever, he knows how to talk. Your father gave you a truly good name."
The mother and son chattered away in the courtyard, but the old lady sitting on the kang in the east room talking with her son grew impatient.
"Huang Shi, it's quite cold outside. Hurry and let my grandson come in."
"Yes." Madam Huang dared not complain about her mother-in-law's words and quickly brought her son in to talk.
Before entering, Shan Xiaocong secretly winked at his sister, signaling her to come in quickly.
Since Kaoshan had returned, Shan Shishi quietly put down her broom and followed her brother into the room.
Madam Wu was squatting in the main hall (which also served as the kitchen), preparing dinner. She had heard her son return long ago, but for her son's sake, she maintained her proper place and continued with her work.
Only when her son entered the main hall and greeted her, "Aunt, I'm back," did she respond.
"It's good you're back. Go into the room quickly and warm up."
"Yes." Shan Xiaocong knew he shouldn't be too close to his aunt, so he didn't say anything more. He carried the half jin of wild boar meat into the east room to show off to his grandmother and father.
The earthen kang in the east room was quite spacious. Shan Dongchen, with two pillows behind his back, leaned against the head of the kang, while Old Mrs. Shan sat beside him, talking with her son.
Shan Yinyin, still puffing out her cheeks, sat at the end of the kang, sulking.
"Grandma, Father, Sister."
Shan Xiaocong greeted everyone in the room one by one, and then proudly showed the wild boar meat in his hand to his grandmother and father.
Old Mrs. Shan and her son had heard Shan Xiaocong's conversation with Madam Huang in the courtyard just now.
However, even after hearing it, when Old Mrs. Shan saw the fresh wild boar meat in her grandson's hand, she was so happy she clapped her thighs.
"My grandson has gained the favor of Second Master Meng, and he will surely have a good future." After speaking, the old lady turned to her son, "Dongchen, you must get better quickly. Take our Xiaocong to thank Second Master Meng, otherwise, we won't be able to eat this half jin of wild boar meat with peace of mind."
"Yes, Mother, I will get better as soon as possible."
"Ah, that's good." After comforting her son, the old lady took the wild boar meat from her grandson's hand and put on her shoes before going to the main hall.