Chapter 111 Still Needs Wood and Rice

Xia Xiaoxiang was caught off guard and was scolded by the third concubine, leaving her completely bewildered.

After she understood the whole story, she cried out that she was wronged: "I was clearly talking about something that happened last year!"

"last year?"

“Last winter, Mao Mao and I hadn’t come to the Marshal’s Mansion yet.” Xia Xiaoxiang rolled her eyes at her. “We are an orphan and a widow. How easy is it for us? I’m the only one who does the work at home. Last winter was so cold. Just buying firewood for heating emptied my wallet.”

Xia Xiaoxiang said, "I told Mao Mao that once we come to the Marshal's Mansion, my daughter and I will have no worries about food and clothing. Would I be so hypocritical as to complain after getting such a good deal?"

"So that's how it is."

"You insulted me without even knowing the facts, which really startled me."

The third concubine was not ashamed at all and said confidently: "Who told you to be so stingy with even a few cents? You used up all the tin left of a box of face cream and even squeezed a little bit out of it."

Xia Xiaoxiang didn't argue with her.

She didn't think she had done anything wrong.

Now that life is better and we have more money, does that mean all those things from before don't count?

Being thrifty is ingrained in her very being; she knows exactly where to save and where to spend.

After dawdling for a while, it was getting late, and the third concubine had no choice but to go out.

She shivered as soon as she stepped out the door: "Why is it so cold today?"

"It's so cold, are you still going out?"

"Of course." The third concubine stroked her newly permed curls, her makeup was exquisite, and her eyebrows were drawn in a delicate curve, making her look both charming and pretty: "Those fashion salons can't do without me."

With that, she pulled her coat tighter around herself and went out the door with high spirits.

Looking at her slender and graceful back, Xia Xiaoxiang felt extremely impressed.

In winter, she and Mao Mao share the same habit: if they don't have anything to do, the two of them like to stay in one place without moving.

It was so cold that even with a brazier lit inside, people were still shivering and reluctant to get out of bed. Less movement meant slower hunger, and they could eat less food.

Of course, now that we have plenty to eat and drink, we don't need to worry about calories anymore.

Xia Xiaoxiang went back to help the First Madam with her work.

As the weather gets colder, the First Madam is going to donate some winter supplies to the orphanage in Haicheng. She and the Second Madam are helping the First Madam sort them out.

Not long after the third concubine left, Lou Hongjian also prepared to go out.

He went upstairs and changed out of his bathrobe, still wearing a dashing suit, only this time the material was imported wool. Even in winter, his shirt was still not buttoned up properly at the collar, revealing his long, slender neck.

Compared to his sister, who was bundled up like a little dumpling, his outfit looked really freezing.

Lou Yansui was writing furiously in the small living room.

His confidence as a new teacher was severely shaken, and he accepted Lou Heming's suggestion to incorporate arithmetic into his stories.

He was determined to teach Mao Mao arithmetic, and he wrote with great concentration, not even noticing when someone approached. His pen left a string of elegant characters on the snow-white manuscript paper.

Until suddenly someone grabbed the hem of his clothes and a cold hand touched his back.

Lou Yansui shivered from the cold and almost jumped up to hit someone: "Third Brother!!!"

Lou Hongjian chuckled and hid away.

Mao Mao raised her head in confusion, and then heard the big white cat next to her meow. Its tail bristled and it darted away in a white blur. Immediately afterward, a pair of cool hands cupped her little face.

Mao Mao shivered from the cold, her eyes wide open.

Lou Yansui cried anxiously from a short distance away, "Third Brother, you're not allowed to tease Mao Mao!"

"Haha." Lou Hongjian withdrew his hand and put it in his pocket. He sighed, "This awful weather. It wasn't even this cold yesterday. I really don't want to go out."

"Third Brother, are you going out?"

“Someone commissioned a painting from me, and I have to go and discuss the details.”

"Then could you go to the bookstore and see if they have this book?"

"no problem."

Lou Yansui wrote the book title on a piece of paper and handed it to him. Lou Hongjian took it and glanced at it, almost making his head spin.

"...What kind of number?" Lou Hongjian glanced at it several times, still unable to remember the term; it was probably related to mathematics. "A-Sui, why are you looking at this?"

Lou Yansui: "I'm just curious, taking a look around."

Lou Hongjian: "..."

He also went to high school, so why don't you remember learning this in high school?

Lou Hongjian put the note into his pocket, then looked down and asked his sister, "Mao Mao, is there anything you want? I'll bring it back for you too."

Mao Mao thought for a moment: "I need wood."

Not far away, Lou Yansui, who had originally intended to continue writing the story, raised her head in confusion.

Lou Hongjian asked in bewilderment, "Wood? Mao Mao, what do you need wood for?"

"Let's start a fire," Mao Mao said obediently. "Brother, it's so cold in winter, we need to burn lots and lots of wood."

Lou Hongjian chuckled, “We don’t burn wood, we burn coal! Besides, why would I need to buy wood? We’ve already prepared it before the weather even gets cold.”

"Brother is cold."

Mao Mao said longingly, "Brother's hands are cold, and Mao Mao's face is cold too."

Lou Hongjian was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "Brother isn't cold."

Lou Yansui interjected, "Mao Mao, don't mind him. He doesn't know the temperature in winter."

Lou Hongjian was shocked: "Do you want me to wrap myself up like everyone else, like a bear? No way!"

That would be too uncouth and would damage one's image.

As the most fashionable person in Haicheng, he absolutely cannot compromise his principles for the sake of warmth.

So what if it gets colder? We can handle it!

Lou Hongjian's hands had been warmed up in his pockets for a while. He took them out and rubbed his sister's soft little face, feeling as if he were holding a cup of hot chocolate.

"Anything else? What else does Mao Mao want?"

"We need more rice."

"Want rice?"

Lou Hongjian thought for a moment and said, "Oh, I know, you want to eat, right?"

Mao Mao has no other hobbies; her favorite thing is eating.

Lou Hongjian ruffled Mao Mao's hair: "When Third Brother comes back, he'll bring you something delicious."

Lou Hongjian put on his coat and went out the door. A gust of cold wind blew in his face, making his carefully styled hair tremble.

Looking at the gloomy sky, he rationally put the keys to his convertible back.

After he left, Lou Yansui originally wanted to continue writing the story, but as soon as she picked up her pen, she put it down thoughtfully.