Chapter 27

Chapter 27

After passing the county-level imperial examination, the County Government Office would distribute a certain quota of rice, flour and silver coins every month. Liu Yizhu was just taking this opportunity during his monthly break to deliver things and left the next day.

In addition, Wu Dong’s matter was even more explosive, so many people’s attention was drawn there. His affair with Li Mingwei was talked about for a while before eventually dying down.

Li Mingwei hid at home for a good number of days. Whenever someone came to see her, she would pretend to lie in bed sick. When no one was around, she could walk around freely in the house.

She had originally planned to take this opportunity to earnestly practice her copying skills and increase her speed. So she had Dong Lei bring back the books she needed to copy from the village school. But she had underestimated the chill of winter. After just a short while, her hands would become numb.

Mr. Jin was getting on in years and could not tolerate the cold well, so he had long ago prepared a stove. Whenever Li Mingwei felt cold copying books at the school, she would go borrow his stove and warm herself. The Dong family did have a stove, but no charcoal.

“Sister Chunhua, where can I buy coal around here? Let me go buy some.”

Wang Chunhua refused, “No, coal is expensive. The price goes up as soon as it turns cold. It’s several pennies per catty now. Burning five or six catties a day, how much would that cost for the whole winter!”

She led Li Mingwei into the kitchen, added some water to the pot, lit some firewood, and had Li Mingwei sit in the fire-warming spot.

“Warm yourself here when you’re cold. When the water boils later you can also soak your hands in hot water.”

Li Mingwei's expression was somewhat reluctant. This spot was warm but she couldn’t copy books here. There were piles of firewood around her feet and hands, without even room for a table.

Wang Chunhua would also be cooking here later. She really didn’t want the children asking her next semester why the new books smelled like food.

“Sister, why don’t I just go buy some coal after all. We can move the stove into the room, it’ll be more comfortable and warmer.”

Wang Chunhua firmly shook her head, “If you put the stove in the room, won’t you have to open the windows? Let me tell you, the family in front was afraid of the cold so they put the stove inside and sealed off all the doors and windows. The whole family suffocated to death.”

“Let’s just use firewood, it doesn’t cost anything.” She pointed at the neatly stacked firewood under the courtyard wall, “Your brother-in-law has prepared so much, it’s enough.”

Li Mingwei could not persuade Wang Chunhua otherwise, so she gave up her copying plans for the next few days. She really was cold too, so she stayed in the kitchen the whole time.

Wang Chunhua came to accompany her, holding Little Yan. The three of them crowded together.

Looking at the falling snowflakes outside, Li Mingwei felt somewhat worried, "Did Big Brother Dong go up the mountain again? It's snowing again, won't it be too cold?"

"It's fine, he's been hunting for so many years, he knows his limits. If it gets too difficult he'll come back, don't worry."

“Mm, sister don’t worry. I’ll be watching him.”

Having received her guarantee, Wang Chunhua was fully satisfied. She handed the child to Li Mingwei to hold and got up, lifting the pot lid. The water inside had long boiled.

“Let’s cook some rice porridge for lunch?”

“Sure.”

Wang Chunhua first ladled out some hot water, poured the rinsed rice into the pot, stirred it, then added a bit of cool water to the hot water she had just taken out to moderate the temperature. She washed two radishes that would be cooked to eat along with the porridge.

With just one vegetable dish, it was plenty for the three of them.

Looking at the radishes, Li Mingwei thought of the mutton soup Wang Chunhua had stewed last time. The radishes in there were also delicious, making her somewhat drool in anticipation. She tentatively asked, "Sister Chunhua, do you all only eat lamb soup when the first snow falls?"

"No, we can eat it at other times too. Eating it when the first snow falls is for good luck." Sensing what was up, Wang Chunhua quickly replied with a smile, "What, are you wanting to eat lamb soup now?"

With her little wish seen through, Li Mingwei felt somewhat embarrassed, "Just a tiny bit."

"Now with the cold weather, there should be more people selling lamb meat. Let me go take a look after our rice porridge if there's still any for sale. We'll drink the porridge first for now."

"I'll go, I'll go."

Since she was the one with cravings, how could she let Wang Chunhua go buy? And if Wang Chunhua went she certainly wouldn't accept Li Mingwei's money.

Li Mingwei put down the child, having her lean against the wall and sit properly. She then hurriedly went back to grab some money before trotting off with a clip clop clip clop out the doorway. Wang Chunhua quickly called out upon seeing, "Your foot is still injured!"

"It's fine, I'll just limp when going out."

She limped towards the marketplace. On the way some kind-hearted sisters-in-law wanted to help prop her, but Li Mingwei waved them off, "It's fine, it's fine. I can walk slowly."

The enthusiastic sisters-in-law also advised her, "Alright, since you've come from the south you may not know snow paths well. Pay more attention next time, and choose appropriate shoes too."

"Thanks, I'll remember. Much appreciated for the reminder, sisters."

That night, Li Mingwei finally got to drink her desired lamb soup. After lightly finishing a bowl, she complained that only allowing lamb soup on the first snowfall was a silly custom. There should be lamb soup arrangements following every snowfall, that would make life better.