Just like that, the family suddenly had three more members.
Fang Qiang returned to the old house and moved all the usable things and food out of the snow pile.
The whole year was spent in intermittent snow. Although it was extremely difficult, everyone still used all their skills to prepare a table of dishes.
And this year, Ye Erniang was forcibly dragged over by several people to celebrate the New Year together.
Everyone except Mao was busy helping with the cooking. Mao went to Bai's place as usual. Because the weather was so cold, she didn't bring the siblings this year.
He just left for a while and came back soon.
Xiangye asked doubtfully:
"Sister, why are you back so early this year?"
Mao took off his thick hat, scarf, gloves and coat, then sighed:
"Oh, how things have really changed! Everyone's life is not going well. Not long after I went there, the Second Aunt passed away. You know, she has a big mouth. She laughed at Bai's son for being cheated on in front of me."
Xiangye widened her eyes:
"What's going on?"
"Well, it's said that Xiao Bai couldn't stand Bai always taking advantage of her mother-in-law's genealogy and cheating on her. She was so angry that she went to the north to seek refuge with a wealthy businessman."
Wen Xi was also surprised. What a big gossip!
Mao said again:
"The others I've heard about aren't doing well either. They've lost their money, and I'm afraid they're running out of food. Even Second Aunt, I think she's not as good as she used to be. She's so thin she looks like she was in exile."
Gu Shengmo went over and hugged Mao's legs to express his comfort.
Mao smiled:
"Let's not talk about them anymore. Let's live well. You're all waiting for me, right? Hurry up and get it done so we can have a reunion dinner."
Wen Xi bit her lip and said with some embarrassment:
"Mother, where is Fourth Auntie?"
Although he usually seemed to dislike Gu Shengjian, he had been his follower for so long that he had already considered him one of his own, so he was still a little worried.
"Second Auntie didn't tell her where she is. When you have time, go and take a look. If she's sad, help her."
As a result, among the Gu family, the fourth concubine Fang was the most miserable. When Mao came to the house, she learned that Fang was escorting a young lady out in early winter and was surrounded by refugees. She was injured because of protecting the master.
Although I received a generous reward, the cost of medical treatment far exceeded the reward. Furthermore, the most important thing was the loss of work. Without work, I had no money to buy food.
What Mao saw was a mother and son who were so thin that they looked like unrecognizable people.
After returning home, he sent Fang Qiang to deliver half a bag of white flour and half a bag of cornmeal before dark.
This winter was almost the coldest winter that everyone had ever experienced, but for the Mao family, it was indeed the warmest winter since they left the Gu Mansion.
Every day, the women gathered around Mao's kang, embroidering together. There was a small clay stove on the ground, boiling water.
Gu Shengmo would sometimes lie down beside him and write, and sometimes he would go to the main room to watch Fang Qiang do some small carpentry work.
People who don’t know would think that this is a wealthy family with old and young people!
Ever since the new member came in, the food supply at home has been decreasing drastically, so Fang Qiang and his friends dared not eat much at every meal.
Mao sighed:
"Don't worry, I've prepared enough food. We don't know what the situation will be like after the New Year! We all need to ensure that we have a strong body. If we are too stingy and save food, we won't be able to eat it when the drought comes. As long as we are alive, there will be food in the future."
Everyone was silent, and Fang Qiang stopped refusing. But Mrs. Du was stubborn and continued to eat less, intentionally or unintentionally. In her mind, any food she ate was a waste.
Wen Xi prepared a variety of noodles every day, ensuring everyone had enough to eat. Mao even took Fang Qiang to Old Man Qin's house to slaughter sheep several times.
The sheep, having been hungry for so long, were not as plump as before, but their prices had also increased significantly. It wasn't that Old Man Qin was raising the price, but now anything related to food was expensive.
Mao bought it without hesitation because she knew that in the next few years, she might not even have enough money to eat.
The whole family may not be fat, but they definitely eat better than everyone else in the village.
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