The Empress Dowager and the Empress both promised to take good care of Qiuqiu and keep the gifts she gave her safe.

Chiu Chiu then gave the fireflies to the Crown Prince and the Emperor respectively.

After listening to Qiuqiu's account of the snow disaster, the Emperor ordered the Imperial Observatory to observe the celestial phenomena.

However, the Imperial Observatory did not notice anything unusual.

Such natural disasters can only be understood by the gods.

Others wouldn't be able to tell.

Although the emperor trusted Qiuqiu, he still had to consider the opinions of the common people when issuing decrees.

An official announcement made hastily would inevitably cause public panic.

Moreover, if the snow disaster had not occurred, the people would have lost trust in the imperial court.

To ensure everything went smoothly, the Emperor instructed the Crown Prince to spread the word that a snowstorm was imminent and that everyone should prepare plenty of food and firewood.

When people on the street heard this news, most of them ignored it.

"Hey, have you guys heard? There's some quack doctor saying there's going to be a major snowstorm in a few days. He's telling us to prepare for winter in advance."

Someone squinted at the bright sun in the sky and said, "Maybe he's just a charlatan. Can you really believe what he says?"

"Exactly! Look at this, the sun is so bright, and it's snowing? If it even drops a drop of rain, I'll call it grandpa! Hahaha!"

"Hahaha!"

Everyone burst into laughter.

"Yes! Who would be so arrogant? We wouldn't say such a thing even in our dreams!"

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince, who was dressed in plain clothes not far away, couldn't help but sigh.

Crown Prince: Fortunately, Father Emperor instructed us to inform them in this way. If the state had intervened, who knows what they would have been saying behind our backs.

The attendant beside the prince comforted him, saying, "Your Highness, we have done our best. There's nothing we can do if they don't believe us."

The Crown Prince: "Yes! People only believe what they believe."

The emperor was also making preparations for both scenarios.

On the one hand, rumors were being spread outside.

On the other hand, he began to order people to prepare for the winter.

Sufficient supplies of grain, charcoal, and winter clothing and quilts are needed.

Fortunately, all of this was done secretly.

Otherwise, if those ministers found out, they would submit memorials to dissuade the emperor from believing the words of folk sorcerers.

Perhaps, the charlatan will even suffer some misfortune as a result.

After returning home, Qiuqiu also started getting busy.

She took Xiaofeng to the street and bought a lot of food, cotton clothes and quilts, and charcoal.

Xiaofeng asked the shop owner to move these things to an empty, deserted place.

When no one was around, Qiuqiu collected all the supplies into her shrine.

Fortunately, her temple was large enough to hold a lot of things.

Moreover, you don't have to worry about the food and drinks you eat or drink spoiling.

In the temple, time stands still.

Therefore, the food will look exactly the same way it is when you take it out, no matter how it is inside.

Qi Jiating's family also heard the rumors circulating outside.

During the meal, Qi Jiating said to Xiao Zhenzhen, "Go and prepare some food for winter and some cotton clothes. In case the rumors outside are true, they might come in handy."

Xiao Zhenzhen glanced at Qi Jiating, put down her chopsticks, and said, "You don't actually believe what's going on outside, do you? How could it snow so heavily in this hot weather?"

Qi Gaoming: "Yes, Dad, it's the height of summer!"

Qi Jinlan glanced outside, but didn't say anything, continuing to eat with her head down.

Qi Jiating: "You guys figure it out. Anyway, I see some people have already made preparations."

Xiao Zhenzhen: "Who will prepare this?"

Qi Jiating: "Look at you all, even a little Qiuqiu knows to prepare for this, how come none of you care?"

Xiao Zhenzhen laughed heartily and said, "So that's who would do something so stupid! It was that idiot!"

Qi Jiating slammed the bowl down on the table and said, "You're not allowed to talk about her like that!"

Xiao Zhenzhen stood up and said, "What? You've already protected her so quickly?"

Qi Jiating: "This is utterly unreasonable! I'm full, I'm not eating anymore!"

Qi Jiating pushed the bowl away and turned to leave.

Xiao Zhenzhen persisted, saying, "Stop right there! Explain yourself!"

Qi Jia ignored her and turned to leave.

A perfectly good meal ended in a very unpleasant way.

Chiu Chiu and Xiao Feng were strolling outside.

A loan shark is beating a ragged woman.

The woman held her child tightly.

The baby in her arms was still crying loudly.

The woman cried out, "Mr. Meng, spare my life! Spare my life!"

Boss Meng: "You wretched woman, if you can't pay back the money you borrowed, I'll sell you to a brothel tomorrow!"

As he spoke, Boss Meng kicked and punched the woman.

Chiu Chiu saw it and said indignantly, "Stop!"

Boss Meng turned around and saw the little chirp.

She laughed and said, "Little kid, do you think you can save someone from me?"

Boss Meng raised his hand as if to chop on the chick.

Xiao Feng strode forward, grabbed Boss Meng's hand, and pulled it behind his back.

Boss Meng screamed in pain.

Boss Meng: "It hurts, it hurts, it hurts! Let me go!"

Xiao Feng twisted the knife again: "Still being stubborn, huh?"

Boss Meng: "Young lady! No, grandma, I was wrong, I was wrong, okay?"

Xiao Feng released Boss Meng and pushed him aside.

Xiao Feng looked at Boss Meng and said, "Get out—"

Boss Meng scrambled to his feet and said, "Yes, sir, I'll get out of here right away!"

Chirp: "Wait!"

Chiu Chiu called Xiao Feng over and whispered something in her ear.

Xiao Feng said to Boss Meng, "Get back here!"

Boss Meng nodded and bowed again, saying, "Yes!"

Xiaofeng: "Can you lend money there?"

Boss Meng: "Yes!"

Xiaofeng: "We want to borrow it!"

Boss Meng: "But, but our interest rates are very high!"

Xiao Feng stepped on the boss's foot: "What? Are you afraid we can't afford it?"

Boss Meng: "No, no! How much do you need, young lady?"

Xiaofeng: "Borrow as much as you have. Grandma has plenty of money to pay it back!"

Boss Meng: "Yes, young lady. You're absolutely right!"

Chiu Chiu ran up to the woman and took out a bag of pastries for the child in her arms.

The child looked at Qiuqiu, took the pastry, and began to eat it in large bites.

Xiaofeng looked at the child and said, "How much money did they owe you? We've paid it back! You're not allowed to cause them any more trouble!"

Boss Meng held up five fingers.

Xiao Feng took out fifty taels of silver and gave it to Boss Meng.

The woman said, "Thank you, young ladies! But we only owe five taels of silver!"

Boss Meng said fiercely to the woman, "With interest compounding over so many days, it's already reached fifty taels!"

Woman: "You, you've gone too far!"

Xiao Feng snatched the silver and gave ten taels to Boss Meng.

"Here, take these. This is already double the price! If you ever dare to bully us again, I'll make you regret it!"

Boss Meng curled his lip.