Chapter 63

Editor: Atlas Studios

With the gloomy sky overhead, Mu Shi looked up at the dark clouds and said to Mu Yangling, “It’ll probably snow again tomorrow. I wonder how your eldest great-aunt’s family is doing. Tomorrow, I’ll wake up early and go to her house to take a look. At the same time, I’ll clean up the roads in the mountains.”

“Father, it’s very dangerous to walk on the mountain path in such heavy snow.”

Mu Shi smiled and stroked her head. “Since the snow in the mountains fell upon the trees instead, there’s less snow on the road than outside. Even if the mountain path is difficult to walk on, with my experience, I won’t fall.”

Mu Yangling turned around and glanced at Shu Wanniang. She said in a low voice, “Father, you have to come back quickly. Mother has been a little uneasy these past few days.”

Mu Shi also turned around to look at his wife. There was still about a month before she was due to give birth. He did not know if the sudden change in the weather was the reason for Wanniang’s discomfort, but she had been frowning for the past two days and could not sleep at night.

Mu Shi didn’t dare to leave the house for too long, so he said, “Don’t worry. Father will be back soon. If your mother isn’t feeling well, go find your eldest great-aunt and the others and ask them to help.”

Although he said that, Mu Shi did not want to hand his wife over to others. Therefore, the next day, when Shu Wanniang was still sleeping, he got up and dressed. Without eating breakfast, he climbed the mountain to West Mountain Village.

It usually took Mu Yangling 45 minutes to cross the mountain. Even though it was difficult to walk on the snowy road, it still only took Mu Shi 45 minutes this time. When he arrived at West Mountain Village and saw Madam Ma-Liu’s house, Mu Shi’s entire face turned cold.

The left half of the Ma residence had been crushed by the snow. Xiuhong’s two children were wearing cotton-padded jackets and seated around the brazier. However, since there was wind leaking from one side, even if there was a fire, the two children were still snuggled up tightly.

Mu Shi looked around but did not see Madam Ma-Liu. His gaze darkened as he strode into the Ma residence. “Xiuhong, where’s your grandmother?”

Ma Xiuhong looked up in surprise, her eyes red as she shouted, “Uncle!”

When Ma Xiulan saw Mu Shi, she burst into tears.

Xiuhong wiped her tears and said, “Grandma went to look for the village chief because our house collapsed. Grandma went to look for the village chief yesterday and wanted everyone to help build a simple house. However, the village chief said that many families in the village were also affected by the snow and couldn’t spare time to help us for the time being. Last night, we sat around the brazier for the entire night, and Grandma didn’t ask us to sleep. The minute dawn arrived, she went to look for the village chief.”

The village chief of West Mountain Village was also the patriarch of the Ma family. Mu Shi knew very well what the Mas were like. Moreover, every family had indeed suffered from the snow disaster this time. Nearhill Village fared okay only because Liu He was around. That person took the clan’s well-being as his responsibility and valued his reputation the most. That was why he always placed his family at the lowest priority and helped others tide over their difficulties first.

The patriarch of the Ma family did not have such high morals. Most importantly, Liu He enjoyed prestige in Nearhill Village. As for the patriarch of the Ma family, recalling how Ma Dagui dared to point at the patriarch’s nose and scold him, Mu Shi did not think that they would help his aunt build a house.

Looking at the weather, it would probably snow heavily again this afternoon or night. If they really spent the night in such a house, even if they managed to stay awake, they would either die or fall seriously ill.

Mu Shi said, “Pack up. Uncle will bring you back to my house.”

Xiuhong’s eyes lit up, but then dimmed. “I don’t know if Grandma will agree…”

“Just take out everything in the house. I’ll talk to your grandmother later.”

Ma Xiuhong knew where the valuables were. The aged Madam Ma-Liu feared that she would suddenly die one day, so she had told her eldest granddaughter where the money and deeds were hidden.

The Ma family only had a couple things that were valuable. Besides that, there was only their food, clothes, and the smoked meat that Mu Yangling had sent over previously.

Ma Xiuhong took a large basket and packed all these things. By the time Madam Ma-Liu returned, she had almost packed everything.

“Stay at your house?” Madam Ma-Liu widened her eyes and glanced at her two granddaughters. After hesitating for a moment, she nodded and said, “Alright, but there are so many things at home. It’s going to take some time to bring them over.”

The only issue was that the Ma family’s grains were piled up in the house. Mu Shi definitely wouldn’t be able to carry everything over.

Mu Shi said with a smile, “Aunt, why don’t we store these grains here first? When the clan frees up some time later, my cousins and I will come over and help you rebuild the house.”

Madam Ma-Liu wiped her tears and nodded, her voice choked. “Alright, I’ll listen to you.”

Madam Ma-Liu brought two rabbits over to look for Madam Ma-Zhang and asked her family to help safeguard the grains left in her house first.

Madam Ma-Zhang had benefited a lot from Mu Yangling during this period of time. Seeing that Madam Ma-Liu was accompanied by Mu Shi and that she had brought a gift, she was naturally willing. She immediately called her husband to help Mu Shi carry the grains over, and also invited a few nearby families to be witnesses.

With Mu Shi’s strength, it merely took him a few trips. Worried about leaving his wife at home, he said to Madam Ma-Liu after transporting the grains to Madam Ma-Zhang’s house, “Aunt, let’s go.”

“Are we walking through the mountains?” Madam Ma-Liu glanced at the snow on the trees on the mountain.

“I’ll carry the two children. Don’t worry, Aunt. Nothing will happen.” Since the big basket was not full, Mu Shi simply placed Xiulan in the basket. Although she was already seven years old, she was of about the same size as Bowen, so she fitted right in the basket.

Mu Shi instructed Xiulan, “Hold onto the ropes on both sides of the basket tightly later. Don’t be afraid. If there’s anything, tell Grandma and Uncle, understand?”

Xiulan nodded carefully.

Mu Shi wanted to carry Xiuhong, but she said, “Uncle, I can walk by myself.”

Mu Shi did not force her. He helped Madam Ma-Liu and Xiuhong walk forward. Whenever they reached a narrow spot, he would turn sideways to help them down. By the time the four of them made it out of the mountain, they were more or less in a sorry state. Fortunately, it only took them slightly more than an hour.

Seeing that their lips were turning blue from the cold, Mu Shi said, “Let’s hurry home so that you can warm up.”

There were a total of five rooms in the Mu family. Other than the one in the middle that was used as the central room, the one on the left was occupied by Mu Shi and Shu Wanniang, the one on the right was occupied by Mu Yangling and Little Bowen, and another one was filled with miscellaneous items. The last one was used as a backup.

Shu Wanniang had originally planned to move Little Bowen out of the room next spring and let him stay in a separate room.

As the siblings grew older, it would not be appropriate for them to stay in the same room anymore.

Therefore, that room was very clean, complete with a brick bed, blanket, and other necessities. The three of them only needed to tidy up a little before they could live there.

Mu Yangling boiled hot water in the kitchen to warm them up. “You’ll feel better after taking a bath.”

Ma Xiuhong shrunk back in shame and said softly, “Thank you, Cousin.”

Mu Yangling glanced at her wet shoes and mended cotton clothes, then smiled. “Cousin, why don’t you help me start the fire? I’m not good at housework.”

Ma Xiuhong said happily, “Alright. Cousin, go and rest. I’ll start the fire.” Ma Xiuhong pulled her sister to squat in the kitchen to start the fire.