After everyone in the family took a few strings of candied haws, Xiaokang and Xiaogoudan took Liu Da to find their friends.
Xiaokang, wearing a red cotton-padded jacket, was like the old man in the west giving gifts to children, walking while shouting, "Eat candied haws! Who wants to eat candied haws?"
Before I had gone far, I was surrounded by a group of children.
"Mom, I want to eat candied haws. Mom, Xiaokang's candied haws look so delicious! They look better than those sold in the county! They must be delicious too." A child who came out to visit neighbors with his mother held on to his mother tightly and refused to leave.
Her mother was so pestered that she had no choice but to go up to Xiaokang and ask, "Xiaokang! How much are your candied haws? I want to buy a bunch for your little brother Xiaoshan."
Xiaokang turned to look at Liu Da, who knowingly lowered the straw target. Xiaokang reached out and pulled out a string of candied haws, handing it to Xiaoshan.
He said proudly, "Brother Xiaoshan, this is made by my sister. It's delicious. I'll treat you to it. It's free. We are good friends, and good friends don't talk about money."
Xiaoshan took the candied haws with a smile and thanked his mother without her reminding him, "Thank you, Brother Xiaokang."
Xiao Shanniang, who was standing by, felt embarrassed to take something from a child for free, so she took out two candies from her pocket and handed them to Xiao Kang. "Xiao Kang! I don't have much good stuff at home, so please don't despise these two candies!"
"I don't mind, thank you, Auntie." After Xiaokang thanked her, he unceremoniously stuffed the candy into the small bag at his side.
The small bag was the same as Tian An's. Xiao Kang saw Tian An carrying a bag all day, so he asked Mang Zhong to sew one for him. He also carried it all day like Tian An, and put some of his own small things in it on weekdays. It was quite convenient.
When the other children saw Xiaoshan exchanged candy for candied haws, they hurried home to ask their parents to bring something to exchange with Xiaokang.
During the Chinese New Year, every family will prepare various snacks. Some will bring candies, some will bring pastries, and some will even bring eggs directly from the chicken coop.
Soon Xiaokang's bag was filled with various snacks and eggs. Finally, he couldn't carry it anymore, so he asked Liu Da to carry it for him.
After everyone had finished their candied haws, Xiaokang shared the snacks he had received with everyone. A group of children chattered and their laughter spread to every corner of the village.
Afterwards, Tian An and Xiaokang were very glad that they chose to make candied haws on this day, and they also took out the candied haws to share with other children, because this might be the last string of candied haws that some children would eat in their lives.
Tian An was worried about the flood all day long, but unexpectedly, the flood did not come, but a snow disaster came first.
In the middle of the night, Tian An had just fallen asleep when he heard someone knocking on the door. After a while, there was a commotion in the yard.
Faintly, she seemed to hear someone say that the heavy snow had crushed the house and some people were buried alive.
Tian An suddenly opened his eyes and sat up from the bed. Sure enough, he heard a loud noise outside the room.
Without thinking too much, she pulled back the quilt, grabbed the coat from the bedside, put it on casually, and walked out the door.
Hearing the sound of a door opening behind him, Zhao Yiming turned around and saw Tian An walking towards him with his clothes a little messy.
Zhao Yiming moved faster than he thought, striding towards Tian An. His tall figure completely covered her. Without giving it much thought, he immediately helped her tie her clothes.
Tian An was stunned and realized that his clothes were inappropriate.
Zhao Yiming kept working while explaining everything.
It turned out that the snow had fallen so heavily that night that several families in the village still lived in thatched huts. Because their houses had been in disrepair for a long time, they were crushed by the heavy snow and people were buried inside. The village chief sent someone to notify the rescue.
"The snow is still falling. Go back to the house and stay home. I will take the rescue team."
He finished his words and was about to finish his work. Then he turned around and led his people out.
Tian An only had time to say "Be careful" before the group disappeared into the darkness with snowflakes flying.
All the men went to the rescue, leaving only the women and children at home. But with such a big incident, no one could sleep, so they all gathered in the main room.
Xiaokang has grown sensible now. Tian An has told him that snowstorms can kill people, just like how Zhao Yiming's mother died. He has come to understand the meaning of death: once a person dies, they are gone, just like his mother, who will never come back.
Children without mothers are very pitiful, just like him and his sister, and his brother-in-law.
Xiaokang felt uncomfortable when he thought that someone else would become like them. He leaned on Tian An and grabbed her clothes tightly.
The atmosphere in the main room was very depressing. Even the usually noisy little dog, Xiaodan, lay quietly in his mother's arms.
After a long silence, Tian An suddenly stood up.
"Chunxi, Zhenniang, you two take people to clean up the village school, leaving a clean room. For the rest, find some quilts and mattresses to make beds for those who have nowhere to live because their houses collapsed.
Grain in Ear, Dongru, you two are responsible for food. Go to the warehouse and get some grain to make porridge. The rescuers will be hungry when they return. And those in distress won't have anything to eat for a while. Also, make some of the cold prevention medicine we prepared earlier. We must not get sick at this time.
Deng Xue, have someone notify Brother Yiming. If there are any injured people, carry them to the village school first. I can handle it.
..."
Tian An finished explaining everything in one breath, and then everyone reacted and everyone in the room immediately became busy.
Tian An went back to her room, took the bag she had used as a cover, and was about to go to the village school. Xiao Kang thought for a moment, went back to her room to put on her deerskin boots, and quickly followed Tian An, "Sister, I can help too, please let me go too!"
Tian An agreed without thinking too much. "Let's go!"
The snow tonight is indeed exceptionally heavy. At this moment, heavy snow like goose feathers is still falling from the sky. The cold wind blowing on my face feels like scraping flesh with a knife.
Tian An pulled Xiaokang's scarf up to cover his face, leaving only his eyes exposed. Then, holding a lantern in one hand and holding Xiaokang's hand in the other, they walked in the snow, one step deep and one step shallow.
Xiaokang was short, and the snow on the ground was almost up to his thighs. He was struggling to walk, so Tian An had no choice but to let him hold the lantern while he carried him on his back.
The snow was thick and the ground was slippery, and the lanterns were not bright enough. Tian An almost fell several times, but fortunately he finally arrived at the village school without any danger.
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