The sky was gloomy all the way out of the village.
An experienced farmer can tell at a glance that the temperature may drop sharply at night and it will snow in the early morning.
Unfortunately, there were no decent farmers in the team. Liu Ji drove the carriage and felt colder and colder. He muttered, "Traveling in this winter is really unbearable."
Suddenly, I thought of the days when I went to the northern border to deliver food last year. In a blink of an eye, it turned out to be a year ago.
A year didn’t seem like a long time, but during this year, there was first a locust plague and then a famine, and the whole place was in chaos.
But their village was like a paradise. They had a stationery factory, roads, and the villagers all built big houses. It was simply too good to be true.
But as we left the village and headed towards the city, we saw several waves of beggars going out in the freezing wind.
It seems like every year, the people who work hard to make a living still cannot live a life with enough food and clothing.
Those thatched huts have remained the same for ten years without any change.
The house looked the same as it did the last time I went to the provincial capital to take the exam, and it still looks the same now in the cold winter.
"My dear, you are really the lucky star of our village!"
Qin Yao, who was sitting in the car, warming herself by the fire and drinking hot tea, suddenly heard such a flattery. It was not deliberate, but it was definitely intentional.
"What?" she asked bluntly.
Outside the thick cotton curtain, Liu Ji chuckled, "Madam, please use your precious hands to help me find a thick piece of clothing. It's really cold outside, and my hands are almost numb from the cold."
Qin Yao sneered and taught him, "Next time, just say what you want to say and don't waste my time."
It was a rare opportunity for her to leave the village and be alone for a quiet moment. She just wanted to listen to the whimpering of the cold wind outside the window and immerse herself in her own loneliness.
Now that she was interrupted by Liu Ji, she became upset. While searching for his clothes, she was thinking about her plans after arriving in the city.
First I went to see Aunt Qi, then went to settle accounts with Jiang Wen of Fulon Commercial Bank, and finally strolled around the city for half a day, bought all the gifts the children wanted, bought some New Year's goods, and then went home.
By this calculation, I have to stay in the city for at least three days. Including the round trip journey, nearly half a month has been wasted.
When she returns to the village, she still has to deal with the matter of Carpenter Liu withdrawing his shares. Just thinking about this, Qin Yao wants to just lie down and give up.
Liu Ji didn't bring much luggage, just two sets of clothes. Qin Yao took out a thick gown and casually shook it open and threw it out. She was in a very bad temper.
Liu Ji didn't realize that he had interrupted other people's peace and quiet. He took off the long gown that was covering his head and heated by charcoal fire, feeling confused.
But I dare not complain. I can only coax her well to avoid the tragic end of being abandoned in the wilderness.
"My wife, it's not getting any brighter yet, and I don't know what time it is now." Liu Ji asked curiously.
The person in the car lifted the curtain and came out. Liu Ji felt a warm sensation on the back of his head, but was blocked by the hanging cotton cloth. When the cold wind blew, he shuddered and wondered what kind of heavenly life she was living in the car.
He consciously moved aside and left a seat for Qin Yao.
The cold wind was howling outside, and her hair was lying crooked on her head and flying wildly around her cheeks. Liu Ji almost gasped when he saw her. Qin Yao seemed fine, as if she couldn't feel the cold outside.
She looked up at the sky and frowned slightly. "It's already past noon and the sky is still dark, which means the clouds are very thick. There may be a big drop in temperature in the afternoon, and it may snow tonight."
The driver in front heard this, turned around and asked politely, "Madam, are you sure it will snow tonight?"
Qin Yao responded affirmatively. In the apocalypse, various extreme temperatures occurred one after another, and the signs before them were not easy to detect. But later, after experiencing more, she slowly figured out the pattern.
Seeing such an obvious omen, Qin Yao was sure that she was not wrong.
Qi Xiangguan came out from the car window, with his scarf, hat and earmuffs intact, revealing only a fair and delicate little face, just like a squirrel. Liu Ji laughed as soon as he saw him.
After being glared at by Qin Yao, he coughed and clenched his fists.
Qi Xianguan asked: "Madam, if it snows tonight, will it affect tomorrow's schedule?"
Qin Yao said calmly: "It's okay, it's just a little snow. It will melt when the sun rises. It won't affect your trip, but it's best to stay indoors tonight."
Qi Xiangun breathed a sigh of relief and asked Qin Yao if she was tired. When she replied that she was not tired, he ordered the guards to continue their journey at noon and speed up their journey so that they could arrive at the Daguan Posthouse smoothly in the evening so that they could deal with the drop in temperature tonight.
Liu Ji watched his junior brother make the decision all by himself and almost bit his gums to pieces - the driver's life is not a life?
But just when his cold hands were about to freeze, Qin Yao pulled him away and took the whip, "Get out!"
Liu Ji only felt that the flowers were blooming before his eyes, and the warm spring sun instantly fell on his heart, melting the ice.
"My lady, your word 'roll' is the most touching word I have ever heard." Before getting into the carriage, he did not forget to make a sarcastic comment.
Qin Yao was completely convinced. She shook her head and laughed helplessly. She whipped the horse and increased the speed. In an instant, she caught up with the Qi family's carriage in front.
The weather was just as she had expected, and by mid-afternoon it was noticeably colder.
Fortunately, before dark, everyone arrived at the largest official post station nearby.
With the help of the Qi family, Liu Ji and Qin Yao lived in this official post station for the first time, which ordinary people could only watch from afar and dare not approach.
Because it is the largest posthouse on the way from Kaiyang County to the provincial capital, it not only has luxurious rooms, but also a bathhouse where people can take a bath.
Liu Ji put his arm around his junior brother's shoulders, and called the inn clerk to ask about the procedure. The clerk answered carefully:
"The distinguished guests must first go to the backyard bathroom entrance to get a badge. If there are more than five people, the kitchen will immediately boil hot water, and the guests can take the badge and enter the bathhouse to take a bath."
Taking a bath is not as simple as soaking in hot water, the temperature must be maintained, so hot water needs to be added continuously. It is winter now, and if it is only for one person, it would be too extravagant to waste so much firewood.
But the threshold of five people was equivalent to nothing for the nobles with their attendants.
Qi Xiangun was just hesitating whether this was too high-profile, when Liu Ji had already gone to the bathroom door. It was unknown how he had managed to collect a basket of bath cards and gave one to each guest in the inn.
So, at the request of the guests, the bathhouse was opened, hot water was poured into the pool, and taking a bath became a natural thing.
"Teacher, let's go! Pack your clothes and let's go take a bath!"
Gong Liangliao, who was having dinner in the house, had just put a mouthful of rice into his mouth when he was abducted by Liu Ji who came over like the wind.
After a series of crackling sounds, the only thing left in the room was a pair of jade chopsticks that had fallen to the ground.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
