When Nian'er heard that she had to sleep here, she immediately frowned and ran to her mother, pleading, "Mother, can we not sleep here? It's the middle of nowhere, Nian'er is scared!"
Zhang Xiue smiled and hugged Nianjie in her arms to comfort her, saying, "Nianjie, be good. Look, you are the oldest sister here. Your younger brothers and sisters don't make a fuss. Why are you making a fuss first? Go and get some nails for your mother. They're in the box."
Li Qiang's wife stood up, wanting to go and help, but Zhang Xiu'e stopped her.
"Children always need to be trained. Let her go by herself; she'll get it."
Li Qiang's wife shook her head with heartache, "These children have suffered a lot. We just hope they can settle down in Xinzhou soon. Even if they have to eat chaff and wild vegetables, at least they'll have a peaceful life and won't have to travel back and forth anymore."
Zhang Xiu'e smiled but didn't say anything. After Nianjie brought back the nails, Zhang Xiu'e fixed the curtain to the ground.
Qin Xiaoniang laid out several mats and started a fire with some dry firewood. The firelight made the surroundings brighter and the temperature less cold.
“These small branches won’t last long! I’m afraid they won’t even last an hour before the fire goes out. I think we should find some thicker sticks so that they can burn until the middle of the night.”
As she spoke, Qin Xiaoniang got up to go into the woods.
But they were stopped halfway by Chunrao and Chundi.
"Mother, you should stay and look after the child! Fourth Sister and I will go. It's so dark, Huan-ge'er will cry again if he can't see you!"
Qin Xiaoniang was still worried about the two girls going into the woods, so she kept hesitating in place.
Li Qiang's wife put the two children into the tent, then came over. "I'll go with them. With more people around, they won't be afraid, and we can come back faster."
Qin Xiaoniang nodded, and then the three of them walked into the woods.
After laying out the quilts, Zhang Xiue folded the children's clothes and placed them inside her own clothes to weigh them down, so that they wouldn't be too cold the next morning and the children would be comfortable to wear.
"I wonder how the general and the others are doing..." Zhang Xiu'e suddenly blurted out.
Qin Xiaoniang paused for a moment, then looked into the distance. The flames outside the tent were rising high, making their low tent appear long and thin.
“Young lady, I know you are heartbroken over the general, but... in a few days, we will eventually reunite with those men. Even in times of wealth, life is not easy, let alone in times of poverty. Even if you are heartbroken over him, you must put on a brave face for Huan-ge’er’s sake, and especially do not let that Madam Li gain the upper hand. If she bullies you again as before, fight back fiercely!”
Qin Xiaoniang didn't know why Zhang Xiue would suddenly say such a thing.
However, her original intention was good. She simply didn't want Qin Xiaoniang to be bullied by the main wife again, so she advised her not to be too aloof. She suggested that as long as she was polite and accommodating, it wouldn't be too late to turn against the old general after Li Shi died.
"Zhang Niangzi, I understand everything you're saying. Don't worry, I'm not afraid of that shrew!"
Song He'er smiled at her stepmother, "Maybe the eldest daughter-in-law and Song Chanxing won't make it to Xinzhou alive!"
"You little rascal, go to sleep!"
"My fourth and fifth aunts haven't arrived yet, I can't sleep..."
Zhang Xiue looked outside and vaguely saw three figures moving in the woods.
After seeing their faces clearly, he immediately walked out of the tent happily.
"So? Did you find it?"
Li Qiang's wife deftly threw down the wooden sticks she was carrying on her back.
"Is this stuff easy to find? Chunrao, Chundi, go wash your hands and then go to bed. I'll add some firewood for us."
Chunrao glanced at the crowded tent, hesitated for a moment, and replied, "I think I'll sleep in the carriage with Fourth Sister. Anyway, that place is just sitting there, why should we squeeze in?"
Qin Xiaoniang was the first to refuse them, "No, that carriage wasn't sealed properly. If the wind blows in at night, you'll all catch a cold! Come on! Come sleep here!"
However, to be fair, the tent was indeed small. Apart from the children sleeping comfortably, the adults had to curl up to sleep, and couldn't even turn over, which was extremely cramped!
Song He'er wished she could take out a military tent used by the General's Mansion when they were on the battlefield. It was spacious and warm, but she was powerless to do so now. If she took it out, she would have to spend a lot of time explaining it. It would be better to make do for now and take it out when she had the chance.
After thinking for a while, Chunrao decided to let Chundi sleep in the carriage. They could lie down with thick clothes on, and although it was windy, they could stay warm by wrapping themselves up tightly.
With that in mind, she didn't argue with anyone and got into the carriage.
Qin Xiaoniang shook her head helplessly, turned over and went to sleep.
Everyone slept soundly and happily that night. It was the most relaxing night since leaving the palace. Although the conditions were not good, things were finally back on track, and there was no longer any fear.
The next morning, Qin Xiaoniang fetched clean water from the river for everyone to wash their faces.
Zhang Xiue boiled water and filled a kettle for use on the journey.
Because the environment here is different from the desert, there is no need to prepare much water. The melted snow on the mountain can be used to solve the immediate problem, so everyone traveled light and started heading towards the mountain.
Zhang Xiu'e gave everyone a warmed-up naan bread, and after eating it, everyone would have to wait until evening to cook their next meal.
"Third Aunt, conditions on the snow mountain are harsh! There's practically nothing growing there, so we need to stock up on food for the journey, including potatoes! Have we bought any potatoes yet?"
While eating, Zhang Xiue glanced at Qin Xiaoniang.
"Did you buy it?"
"I bought it! Potatoes are so cheap in Xizhou, I bought over ten pounds! What's wrong? Why do you have to eat potatoes?"
Before Song He'er could speak, Zhang Xiu'e interjected, "Because potatoes can be boiled and stored, while other vegetables will turn sour in less than a day after being boiled. Also, potatoes are filling; one will keep you full. Other vegetables are digested in just a few hours. Let's boil the potatoes and carry them with us. We can eat them whenever we're hungry. Even if we don't have firewood to start a fire, we won't go hungry!"
Qin Xiaoniang nodded, expressing her great admiration, "Zhang Niangzi, you are truly a virtuous woman. If I were a man, I would also be willing to marry you!"
Zhang Xiue laughed so hard she almost fell over. "Alright! Stop teasing us! When we pass by the fields later, let's ask the farmers if they have any potatoes or sweet potatoes left, so we can take some more!"
......
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