Chapter 129
The north wind grew increasingly fierce, and just as the snow had begun to melt slightly, another heavy snowfall arrived.
The snow on the rooftops couldn't be cleared in time; as soon as it was swept off, it piled up again, layer after layer.
Heavy snow blocked the roads, and the continuous snowstorms caused widespread panic in the village.
Villagers couldn't leave, and people from neighboring villages couldn't enter; even the family's dyeing workshop was temporarily closed.
Countless thatched huts in the village were crushed by the weight of the fire, and the dining hall was so crowded that it was almost impossible to squeeze in.
For Bai Qiqiu's safety, Mu Jin stopped him from running here through the nearly knee-deep snow.
Although Lin Huzi and Lin Nuo's house had its roof repaired some time ago, the thatched house was still not sturdy enough and collapsed under the weight.
Considering they were family laborers and the two children were hardworking and sensible, Mu Jin had Zhou Lin take them home and settle them in the back room for the time being.
The continuous heavy snow has silenced the village's usual hustle and bustle. People frowned as they watched the endless snowflakes falling outside.
Although the house was newly built, Zhou Lin was worried that it might not withstand such heat, so he swept it again and again.
The snow was heavy, and the weather was getting colder and colder.
But when the snow melts, it will probably be a tough time.
Zhou Lin patted the snow off his head as he was sweeping snow in the yard.
He sighed deeply, "If it keeps snowing like this, I'm afraid there will be a major snow disaster."
Mu Jin was sitting in the main room making winter shoes when Wen Zhaoran moved the small ceramic stove from the kitchen over and placed a small iron mesh, which he had bought in town last time, on it.
Last time, when I sent wild boar meat to Mu Nianjun, I also gave her a small basket of persimmons and peanuts from a relative's family.
Wen Zhaoran and Wang Li are grilling it up there right now.
Huang Pang'er stopped going out for a stroll and instead stayed by the stove with Ye Xiao Xuan Ying, dozing off.
The downstairs rooms are paved with bluestone slabs, so they are fireproof.
Upon hearing this, Mu Jin glanced outside and saw a vast expanse of white, stretching as far as the eye could see.
"Alas, the winter wheat we planted next year will probably not yield a good harvest."
Snow covers the wheat like a blanket, but if it's too thick, the melting snow will freeze the wheat roots when it's too cold.
Every farmer who knows how to farm knows this.
That's why the villagers are so worried, not only about their houses, but also about the wheat in the fields.
Wen Zhaoran handed the hot roasted persimmons to Mu Jin, "Brother, don't worry. If there really is a snow disaster, we should plant some sweet potatoes and potatoes next spring. They both produce a lot, and that should be enough to fill our stomachs."
Mu Jin sighed. If only it could be that easy.
Disaster breeds wicked people. Their family stored all their harvest in the granary, enough to feed the family until the following autumn.
In order to sell more grain for money, the villagers stockpiled enough grain to last until the summer harvest.
After the snow disaster, if there is another freezing disaster or flood, people who are starving will not care about anything else and will burn, kill, and loot. The village will probably not be peaceful.
Their home is close to the foot of the mountain, and when the snow melts in the mountains, their family is the first to be affected.
Some families in the village have begun to pray to heaven for blessings and worship various gods.
Zhou Lin pulled up a chair, sat down next to the pottery stove, and warmed himself by the fire for a while.
"If I had known this would happen, I should have brought the midwife home sooner."
Zhou Lin's brows were so furrowed they could trap flies. With the snow falling so heavily, he wondered if the midwife would be able to come when Mu Jin gave birth.
Upon hearing this, everyone in the main room became worried.
Mu Jin comforted him, "We have one in our village. Although he's a bit old, he's very experienced. Other villages can't hire one. When the time comes, A Lin, you can carry him back yourself. What's there to be afraid of?"
Zhou Lin finally felt a little relieved. "I had completely forgotten about Master Zheng."
Mu Jin smiled and then turned to Wang Li, who was peeling peanuts, and said, "Brother Li, is it delicious? Let your older brother have a taste."
Upon hearing this, Wang Li scooped up a handful and placed it in Mu Jin's palm.
Mu Jin's eyebrows curved slightly. She was worried and anxious, but there was nothing she could do. Making plans and living well in the present was the most important thing.
The villagers were all hoping the snow would stop, but fate was unkind. The snow continued to fall for more than ten days before finally turning into light snow.
The winter wheat in the fields is definitely doomed; the thickest snow has reached up to the hibiscus's thighs.
A once-in-a-century snow disaster struck the entire town of Qingshui.
As soon as Zhou Lin saw that the snow had lessened a bit, he took Lin Huzi and shoveled the snow piled up at home onto a cart and took it out.
He had even poured snow into the fields before, fearing that the wheat would lack water in the spring. Now, looking at it again, it was all a complete waste of his time.
When the snow melts, it's the coldest time. Zhou Lin didn't dare to be careless with all the snow he had accumulated at home. He hauled it away, cart after cart, to the foot of the mountain to pile it up.
To keep the poultry and livestock warm, Mu Jin also kept busy, using the straw from the wheat harvest that she hadn't burned to weave several thick straw curtains.
They hung up the straw on the chicken coop, duck coop, pigsty, and cowshed. Zhou Lin swept the snow off the ground, and Mu Jin quickly covered them with layer after layer of thick straw.
Zhou Lin's old clothes served as a nest for Huang Pang'er and Ye Xiao Xuan Ying.
If it gets too cold, we have to go to the pigsty, chicken coop, and cowshed to make a fire and warm them up.
Otherwise, they would really freeze to death.
The small stove in the main room was always burning during the day, used to boil water, bake steamed buns and dried fruit, and Wen Zhaoran even baked pastries on it.
However, it does have a unique charm.
It was also thanks to Lin Huzi and Mu Youyu that they had stocked up on a whole woodshed full of firewood a few days ago because of their family's dyeing workshop.
Otherwise, even a small stove wouldn't be able to withstand burning like this every day.
The snow finally stopped, and the villagers were heartbroken about the wheat in the fields, but there was nothing they could do. They could only hurry up and clean their homes first.
Two days later, the sun finally peeked out, and the snow began to melt a little.
The village roads were covered with thick snow, making them impassable. The villagers who lived in the dining hall were still huddled together for warmth.
Although Bai Qiqiu lived not far from Mu Jin, he still couldn't come over.
Zhou Lin and Lin Huzi made trip after trip, hauling snow for five or six days, before they finally managed to move all the snow out of their house.
The entire courtyard has been completely transformed, revealing its original appearance beneath the snow.
"I never knew that it would be so beautiful without snow at home."
Wen Zhaoran sighed, put on two cotton-padded coats, held the warm and cuddly yellow baby in her arms, stood at the gate of the courtyard, and looked at the endless white in the distance.
It was so cold that Wen Zhaoran couldn't bear to see Huang Pang'er get cold, so these past few days she would use a cloth to gently wipe Huang Pang'er with hot water before going to bed.
Then he pulled her into the quilt and slept with her. Huang Pang'er slept with him, nestled in the thick, warm quilt, which was warmer than sleeping alone.
The sun came out, but it got even colder.
Zhou Lin was worried that Mu Jin would catch a cold and be unable to come over, so he didn't let him leave the house.
Zhou Lin brought in hot water and hot food for everything, from washing up to meals.
Now, Mu Jin is living the life of a pampered noblewoman, with food served to her and clothes left unattended.
There were two thick quilts covering the bed, and the food was placed on the small square table that Master Zhou Lin had brought when we moved into the new house, so it didn't get cold at all.
Zhou Lin scooped a spoonful of steamed egg custard for him and carefully brought it to Mu Jin's lips.
Mu Jin said helplessly, "If I keep lying like this, I'll soon forget how to walk."
"It's very cold outside, you need to be careful. Are you bored?"
Mu Jin nodded emphatically, "We can't even get enough people to play mahjong."
Zhou Lin gently blew on the steaming porridge and handed it to Mu Jin.
"After lunch, I'll call Zhaoran and Li Ge'er up to keep you company."
Mu Jin nodded. Having someone to talk to was better than being alone outside all by herself.
A heavy snowfall shut out every household in Mujia Village, and the children's laughter and joy of the past were also silenced by the snow.
Every household stayed indoors, avoiding going out.
Aside from the fact that the village roads were impassable, it was also too cold, so everyone stayed indoors and didn't want to move.
For a time, the entire Mujia Village was completely silent except for the occasional bark of a dog.
Wen Zhaoran was snuggled in bed, fast asleep with Huang Pang'er in his arms. Wang Li went to Lin Nuo's place, and Zhou Lin knocked on the door but no one answered. Helpless, he took out a storybook that Mu Jin had read many times from the bookshelf to entertain him.
He went downstairs by himself to look after the livestock and poultry at home.
Mu Jin lay on the bed, sighing helplessly. She had used up all the paper she got from Manager Liu, and there was nowhere left to copy books.
Mu Jin put down the book she could almost recite by heart, took the sewing basket from the top of the cabinet, and started sewing the remaining sole of the shoe again.
The north wind howled, and the thick cotton curtains blocked the cold wind that was about to blow into the house.
In the stillness, the howls of wolves seem incredibly abrupt.
Zhou Lin, who had just finished cleaning the pigsty with Lin Huzi, immediately stiffened upon hearing the sound.
"The wolf is coming down the mountain, Tiger. You and Nuoge'er, lock the door tightly, take a sickle and go back inside, just in case. Don't come out!"
Lin Huzi was startled. He nodded repeatedly, put the wooden shovel he was using to shovel manure aside, and hurriedly went back to the yard to give Lin Nuo some instructions.
Zhou Lin hurried back to the courtyard, checked the gate, and then picked up two thick wooden sticks from the woodshed to prop up the gate.
The back gate was also tightly closed. After circling the courtyard wall and finding no place where wolves could run, he picked up the sickle, which he had sharpened to an unparalleled edge during the autumn harvest, closed the front door of the house, and went back inside.
Mu Jin looked anxious and uneasy. "Has the wolf come down from the mountain?"
Zhou Lin nodded. "I've locked all the doors tightly, and our courtyard walls are high, so I don't feel at ease."
"I wonder how they are doing?"
Although Mu Jin did not name names, Zhou Lin, having been married to her for two years, had developed a tacit understanding and naturally knew who she was referring to.
"The wolf howls are loud. The houses where Zhaoye, Si'er, father-in-law, master, Musheng, and the hunter Mu live are all very sturdy. As long as they close the door tightly and don't come out, they will be fine."
Zhou Lin didn't mention the Zhou family, but they had lived there for so many years. As long as they didn't do anything reckless and stayed at home, they could withstand the wolf attack.
Mu Jin sighed, "What's going on?"
Zhou Lin took off his coat and lay down on the bed. "Once this period is over, everything will be fine."
Mu Jin leaned against him, closed her eyes, and nodded gently.
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