As Jiang Qiao sat in the car listening to everyone's conversation, someone suddenly said in a somewhat dejected tone, "It's a pity we didn't buy any fish. We haven't heard anything about them getting fish here. Sigh, it feels like something's missing if we don't have a plate of fish for the New Year."

The others chimed in, "That's right, we can't do anything about it. We can't even buy chicken, let alone fish. We'll just have to make whatever we can get."

Some people even secretly asked others what the man had gone out to do this time and why he hadn't come back yet.

"Jiang Qiao, do you know what your dad and the others went to do?"

Jiang Qiao shook her head, her eyes slightly sad. "I was hoping to wait for my dad to come home and spend the New Year with us. Who knows when he'll be back? If he doesn't come back soon, I should probably go back myself."

The other military wives teased Jiang Qiao, saying, "You can come over and live with your parents."

Jiang Qiao shook her head, looking very responsible. "I can't do that. A person has to have a conscience. My grandfather raised me, how can I abandon him? I still have to take care of him in his old age."

Faced with the women's praise, Jiang Qiao just smiled and shrank back, no longer participating in their conversation.

The old women's enthusiasm didn't subside until they got off the bus, and Jiang Qiao followed behind Meng Yuzhi with a basket on his back.

"Auntie, are your relatives spending the New Year here?"

Meng Yuzhi nodded with a distressed expression. "I'm so worried! There are only three of us in the family with enough food to eat. Now so many people have come all of a sudden. No matter how much I try to save, it's no use. Sigh—"

Every family has its own troubles, and Jiang Qiao just listened without really understanding why. There were too many similar situations. Fortunately, at least they could still eat. She knew what was going on; she had brought back quite a bit of grain last time.

Jiang Qiao and the others returned in the afternoon, feeling extremely hungry. They quickly went back to their room, made a cup of milk, and ate some bread to tide them over. While eating, she was still thinking about Gu Zhengfeng. Once her father returned, the two of them would have to go to that warehouse to rearrange the items in their spatial storage and bring back what needed to be brought home, since the lease term there was limited.

With something in her stomach, she started rummaging around. She took some meat and fish from her spatial storage and froze them in the snowdrift. She planned to pour some water on them that night, creating a natural icebox that could preserve the food for a long time.

She also took out quite a few eggs, which she was saving for her mother to nourish her body.

Jiang Qiao was preparing medicinal wine inside when Wen Jingwan returned, accompanied by another person.

"Qiao'er—"

Hearing the voice, Jiang Qiao looked up in surprise, "Grandpa? What brings you here?"

Wen Jingwan happily explained to her daughter, "Your maternal grandfather came to see me and is planning to spend the New Year with us. Dad, come sit on the kang (heated brick bed). It's too cold outside. You live in the south all year round, and you won't be able to get used to the temperature here for a while."

Jiang Qiao quickly got up and happily pulled the old man onto the kang (a heated brick bed).

When Wen Songtao saw what was on the ground, the old man understood immediately. "Hehe, good stuff! Looks like I arrived just in time. This stuff isn't easy to get these days. Girl, you're amazing."

Jiang Qiao smiled modestly, "What's the big deal? As long as you find a way, you can definitely get it. It's just that you haven't found the right connections. I went to the city today, so I got these things. Grandpa, take some of these with you later. It's enough for my dad to drink by himself."

Then Jiang Qiao looked at the old man with a suspicious expression and asked, "Grandpa, is something wrong? It's almost Chinese New Year, why aren't you at home, the head of the family, running around here?"

Wen Songtao sighed, then shook his head with a smile. "You silly girl, there's no food at Grandpa's house, so I came over here to mooch some food, okay?"

Then he pulled Jiang Qiao to sit next to him and examined her carefully, before looking at her with a serious expression.

"Qiao'er, tell Grandpa, is life at home very difficult? You look much thinner than the last time I saw you."

Wen Jingwan gave a wry smile. "He's not just much thinner, he's incredibly dark-skinned and skinny. Dad, what would you like to eat? I'll make it for you."

Jiang Qiao grabbed Wen Jingwan's arm. "Mom, sit down too. You keep my grandpa company. I'll cook in a bit. Everything's ready, so cooking will be quick."

Grandpa, you're out of food? Really?

Wen Jingwan was still complaining from the side, "Dad, the house is already in such a state, why did you still bring things over?"

Jiang Qiao had just seen the old man carrying a large bag when he came in, but she didn't know what the situation was like at his home. Especially since the old man had come so suddenly and said everything was fine, she didn't believe him.

Wen Songtao scoffed, "What do I need that kind of food for? Girl, you still haven't answered my question."

Jiang Qiao shrugged. "I'm exhausted. Ever since I left your place, I've traveled to so many places and didn't come back until winter. Then I skipped a grade and went straight to junior high. How could I not be tired?"

This time, Wen Songtao was surprised. "You're in your third year of junior high? There's no need to be in such a rush. Can't you learn slowly?"

Jiang Qiao sighed, "I've got nothing better to do anyway, so I figured I should just finish learning as soon as possible. That way I can learn other things later, and I can also learn healing from my Grandpa Qiao. That's how it is—"

After hearing this, Wen Songtao sighed and said, "Why is this child in such a hurry? You're still so young. It's not too late to learn after you finish your studies."

Wen Jingwan nodded in agreement, "That's right, it breaks my heart to see this child like this. He just won't listen to advice."

Wen Songtao glanced at his daughter and said, "You're not much better than your daughter. You're heavily pregnant and still working. Go and rest. The family doesn't need your little bit of money."

Wen Jingwan chuckled, "Dad, we were talking about Jiang Qiao, why are you bringing me up again? Please sit down first. I just took a short break and I'm going back now. We can talk about it tonight."

Seeing his daughter slip away, Wen Songtao sighed, "Look how old your mother is, still causing so much worry. I even doubt if she could raise this child on her own. Sigh, so many children, so many worries."

Jiang Qiao looked directly at the old man and asked, "Grandpa, did you come here just to see my mother?"

The old man nodded. "What, you still don't believe what your grandpa says? Your grandma is worried about your mother's condition. That's why I had to make this trip. I was afraid this girl would only report good news and not bad."

"Qiao'er, you've traveled to so many places, can you tell Grandpa how you felt?"

Jiang Qiao sighed softly and shook her head. "Not good. Although the mountains and rivers are beautiful, there are disasters everywhere. How can things be good?"

"Is there anything else?"

Jiang Qiao smiled playfully, but her eyes were more inquisitive. "Grandpa, what do you want to hear? If I know, I'll tell you."

Wen Songtao paused for a moment, then suddenly laughed, "You silly girl, alright then, Grandpa's asking you, do you think it can be like this next year?"

Jiang Qiao shook her head. "How should I put it? Anyway, as long as we have enough food at home, we won't panic. What's wrong, Grandpa? Have you run out of food?"