Chapter 165 The Warmth of Jishui Village
Xiao Ran came over right after we saw them off.
Seeing the carriage gradually disappearing into the distance, and the two familiar figures on horseback, he understood what was going on.
It must be Sister Jiang providing them with supplies again.
Jiang Ling waved to him: "Young Master Cheng and Young Master Zhao invited us to the capital for a few days. Xiao Ran, do you want to come along?"
Xiao Ran's eyes lit up instantly: "Really? Can I come along too?"
Jiang Ling nodded, her tone certain, "Of course! Let's go together."
Being in an unfamiliar place, having Xiaoran by your side means you can look out for each other.
"That's great!" Xiao Ran was so excited she almost jumped up.
The farthest place he's ever been in his life is the county town; he's never been to the capital.
Jiang Ling patted his shoulder: "Help me move the table out. We brought in some fabric this time, so we're giving some benefits to the villagers."
"Alright!" Xiao Ran was full of enthusiasm and immediately started helping.
Jiang Ling purchased 10,000 bolts of cloth from the fabric factory, and deliberately set aside 300 bolts. This batch of cloth was different from the last one. The last batch was only suitable for making thermal underwear, but this batch of cloth was thicker and more suitable for making quilts or cotton-padded clothes, which would provide better warmth.
She thought that since she had taken care of the refugees, she should at least take care of the villagers of Jishui Village first.
Just like last time, each household in Jishui Village only needs to spend one coin to buy a horse.
As soon as the tables and chairs were set up, three hundred bolts of cloth were brought out one after another and neatly piled up at the entrance of the shop.
Just then, Xiaoyi also came down the mountain.
He was still wearing the old cotton-padded coat that Xiao Ran had given him before. It was a bit faded from washing, and the cuffs were rolled up twice, revealing his thin but clean wrists.
Upon seeing Jiang Ling at the shop entrance, his eyes lit up instantly, and he quickened his pace.
She called out joyfully, "Sister! Brother Xiaoran!"
Three days ago, Xiao Ran went to Bailong Temple early in the morning.
Xiao Yi was picking up fallen firewood on the back mountain when a senior brother ran up to him and said that someone had come to see him.
He thought it was his older sister, but when he came out, he realized it was actually his older brother, Xiao Ran.
He stood timidly at the door, unable to suppress his fear of Xiao Ran.
It wasn't until Xiao Ran's brother told him that Sister Jiang had decided to take him back, but not now, because Sister Jiang's shop was too small to accommodate two people.
Sister Jiang has already bought the land in front of the house, and will pick him up after the house is built.
Hearing this, Xiao Yi was somewhat incredulous. He thought he would have to stay on the mountain for the rest of his life. Just two days ago, his master had asked him if he wanted to be ordained as a monk.
He thought his sister would forget him in a few days, just like the other kids said.
He was ready to accept life here, but he never expected his sister to take him back.
He stood there, stunned, even thinking he had misheard and that what he was seeing was just a dream.
It wasn't until Xiaoran frowned and asked him, "You don't want to?"
Xiao Yi then realized that he hadn't misheard; this wasn't a dream!
His mouth stretched from ear to ear in a wide grin, and he immediately ran to Xiao Ran, saying happily:
"I do! I do! I will work hard at the temple and wait for my sister's house to be built so she can come and take me back!"
Xiao Ran rolled her eyes at him:
“Who said you’d work at the temple? Sister Jiang has spent so much money on you, so of course you have to work at the shop. When the shop is closed, you’ll sweep the floor and find fodder to feed the horses. But you’ll have to go back to the temple to sleep at night. You’ll come down during the day and go back when it gets dark. Sister Jiang has already spoken to the monks at the temple.”
"Really? I can go down the mountain right now?" Xiaoyi could hardly believe it.
Xiao Ran stood up, her tone calm but not as cold as before: "Let's go back and feed the horses."
"Okay!" Xiaoyi replied happily. She felt there could be no happier moment than this.
He followed Xiao Ran down the mountain step by step, but never dared to get too close, always lagging behind by a step or two.
Xiao Ran seemed to be walking ahead on her own, but she would occasionally glance at him to see if he was keeping up. If he was far behind, she would slow down.
Xiao Yi felt that at this moment, Xiao Ran, the older brother in front of her, didn't seem so scary anymore.
Jiang Ling looked up and saw Xiao Yi's figure, and called out to him, "Xiao Yi, you're here. Go and tell everyone that each household in the shop can buy a bolt of cloth for one coin."
"Okay! I'll go right away!" Xiao Yi happily agreed and immediately ran off.
Before long, the shop entrance was crowded with people.
The villagers clutched a copper coin in their hands, their breath dissipating quickly in the cold air, but it couldn't hide the anticipation in their eyes.
Off-white cotton and gray-blue linen were folded on the table, and the morning light shone through the window lattice onto the fabric, giving it a soft sheen.
Grandpa Zhao, wearing a thick cotton-padded coat, maintained order: "Everyone, don't rush, line up in order! Miss Jiang said that each household will receive one copper coin and one bolt of cloth. Take only what you need, don't take more than you need, leave some for the people behind you!"
As the villagers lined up, they repeatedly thanked Jiang Ling, their faces beaming with gratitude and joy.
"Oh my! This fabric is even better than the fabric shops in the county town! Look at the texture, so dense and even, it feels warm to the touch!"
"Yes, yes! The fabric I bought last time made a cotton-padded jacket for my son. It's so soft and warm against his skin, much warmer than the coarse cloth he wore in previous years!"
The queue was long, but orderly.
The money box was placed on the table, and each villager who received a piece of cloth would put a coin inside. No one bothered to count it to make sure it matched.
Jiang Ling smiled as she handed out the fabric, occasionally reminding everyone: "Cotton is suitable for making innerwear, it's soft to wear next to the skin; linen is durable and can be used as an outerwear to block the wind. Choose according to your needs."
Just then, Aunt Chen came over carrying an empty basket and joined the end of the line. When she saw Jiang Ling looking over, she smiled a little shyly.
“Miss Jiang, I…I want to buy a bolt of cloth for Xiao Ying as well. He lives alone, so does that count as a household?”
“Of course it counts,” Jiang Ling nodded without hesitation, handing her the cloth as she asked with concern.
"How is Xiaoying now? Has her fever completely subsided?"
Aunt Chen's eyes lit up instantly, and her tone became cheerful, "It's gone! It woke up yesterday and could speak! Dr. Sun came to see me and said he's recovering very quickly and well. He can now drink half a bowl of rice porridge and his spirits are much better."
Jiang Ling carefully instructed, "You've just woken up and your body is still weak. Feed you some liquid food and soup first. Don't rush to feed you hard foods like rice or cornbread, as they are hard to digest."
Aunt Chen quickly agreed, "Yes, I'll remember."
Jiang Ling asked again, "Is there enough medicine? If not, I have more here."
Aunt Chen lowered her head somewhat embarrassedly, "Yesterday's medicine... is finished. But that medicine looks very expensive, and I was too embarrassed to ask you for more, so I asked Doctor Sun to prescribe a few doses of traditional Chinese medicine, which I'm brewing right now."
Jiang Ling thought for a moment. Although traditional Chinese medicine is slow, it is gentle and suitable for people who are just recovering.
He's out of danger now; he just needs to recover gradually.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com