No need to go up the mountain to see her off, Qiao Xiaoni felt she could finally get a good night's sleep. She greeted her third aunt, closed her eyes, and began to sleep.

I woke up again to the sound of firecrackers outside.

"They're sending people up the mountain," Zhang Ru explained to Qiao Xiaoni, covering the child's ears with her hands.

Looking at her watch, it was just past four o'clock. Qiao Xiaoni sat up and rubbed her eyes: "How long will it take you to be back?"

"It's cold now, so I probably won't be back for a while. I'm going out to check on things outside and see how things are going. I haven't gone out all day, and if I don't go and take a look, people will definitely gossip."

"It must be very cold outside after the sun sets," Qiao Xiaoni quickly said, trying to stop them.

"Why go out? There are so many people helping out there. We don't even need you to cook. You can't go out in the cold wind with your health condition."

If someone catches a cold, the child will catch a cold too.

Zhang Ru sat down again: "That's true, let them say whatever they want! I have to think about my son. He's never been sick since he was born, and he goes to sleep after nursing once at night. He's so easy to take care of."

It wasn't until it was almost dark that the people who had gone up the mountain gradually returned.

Qiao Xiaoni saw Su Chenhao in the group through the window. They weren't married yet. Was it okay for them to go up the mountain like this? She couldn't help but wonder.

Dinner was still meat soup. After the helpers finished eating, they went home, and then it was time for their own families to eat.

This meal was quite lively, with everyone gathered around, talking and eating at the same time.

Qiao Xiaoni noticed that Qiao Lingling was no longer kneeling in the yard, and wondered where she had gone.

Su Chenhao whispered to her, "He was locked in a small room. It was my second uncle's request."

Qiao Xiaoni nodded to indicate she understood. Thinking about how there was no fire in the hut, and that someone would have to freeze inside all night, they wouldn't die, but they would definitely suffer frostbite. She wondered if she was regretting it now.

Side room.

Qiao Lingling was diligently licking her bowl clean. She hadn't eaten all day; she'd only been given a bowl of soup, not even a steamed bun. After finishing it, she felt even hungrier than before. She licked the bowl clean, then casually placed it on the ground, stood up, and sat on the wooden bed.

The scene of stealing money here a few months ago involuntarily flashed through my mind. I must have been out of my mind back then. If I had known it would turn out like this, I wouldn't have stolen the money. I wouldn't be in this situation now.

The door was locked. She was cold and hungry, and had no money. Even if the door wasn't locked, she wouldn't have the courage to escape.

It was pitch black all around, and I suddenly remembered the legends of ghosts. I was so scared that I quickly grabbed the blanket next to me and covered myself with it.

Instead of feeling warm, I felt even colder. Only then did I remember that this blanket was the one my grandmother used to use. I quickly threw the blanket aside, hugged my knees, and huddled in a corner, trembling with fear.

...

There are many people in the family, so we can only squeeze together to sleep at night. Tomorrow is the main day, and we can go home after the banquet.

I only found out this during a conversation that evening: you can't make money by handling funeral arrangements in the countryside.

There were too many people sleeping at night, so Qiao Xiaoni didn't sleep well and woke up early. She got out of bed, put on her shoes, washed her face, and then thought about going back to the kitchen to help cook, but Li Meihua chased her back to her room.

She said she'd just cook a pot of porridge and have a simple meal. The banquet was prepared by someone else, and the guests arrived shortly afterward, so she didn't need to worry about it.

Qiao Xiaoni had no choice but to go back inside and stay with her child.