Chapter 26 One Night in Town
"I originally planned to bring you to town for the New Year when I went home this time."
The firelight illuminated Xiao Qi's face, making his features half-lit and half-shadowed. He said quietly, "Now that my uncle's family is in trouble, we can't just sit idly by."
Xiao Chenggui was bedridden and most afraid of the cold wind. His house was made of mud and tile, and the cold wind would penetrate it easily in winter. It was also inconvenient to go out when the mountains were blocked by heavy snow.
Based on these considerations, Xiao Qi had some ideas.
Who knew that when they returned to the village they would be caught in a heavy snowfall, and it wouldn't be convenient to bring the person out immediately to recuperate.
"Oh, I see!"
Lin Yuesha nodded. The conditions in the town were much better than in the village, and the courtyard was detached with a high wall, so there was no fear of neighbors spying on them.
This is much better than in the village, where it's impossible to keep from the neighbors who ate meat for dinner. The older women would gather together and gossip about everyone, like old wives' tales.
Xiao Qi had barely returned to the village when he was targeted by Granny Wang.
“Brother, your master treats you well. I heard from my mother that renting a room in town costs two hundred coins a month, let alone such a big courtyard.”
Don't let the harshness of this small place fool you; renting a house here is not cheap at all. The main reason is that there are so many people moving goods that the houses are never empty.
Some families who were good at business would set aside one or two rooms in their houses specifically for peddlers who traveled the country, and help prepare their meals. This provided them with a considerable income each month.
“I help the master copy books every month, so I don’t live in the courtyard for free.”
For the first time ever, Xiao Qi offered an explanation.
There was no fire burning in the house, and the water in the water tank had long been frozen, so he had to collect some of the stored snow and put it in the large pot to use as water for washing.
Too much had happened that day. Lin Yuesha washed up quickly, her eyelids drooping, and soon she fell asleep on the kang (a heated brick bed).
In the darkness, Xiao Qi curled the corners of his lips. The little girl's troubles came and went quickly. He pursed his lips, sighed, and then the room fell silent.
Perhaps she was exhausted, for she slept without a dream. When Lin Yuesha opened her eyes, sunlight had already shone through the Korean paper.
She sat up abruptly, patted her head, and realized with annoyance that she had overslept.
"Big brother, big brother!"
Lin Yuesha put on her coat and came out of the house. She searched the study and the kitchen, but couldn't find any trace of her stepbrother.
"Could it be that he went to report to the authorities himself, then returned to the village and abandoned me?"
Thinking of this, Lin Yuesha felt extremely frustrated. Her older brother was an honest man; he couldn't possibly do something so heinous, could he?
After waiting for fifteen minutes, there was still no one in the courtyard.
Lin Yuesha endured her hunger and went to the kitchen. She found a large iron pot with a lid on the stove. She opened it and saw a white steamed bun on the shelf, half a salted duck egg with oil on the stove, and a plate of spicy and sour cucumbers.
In winter, when there are no fresh vegetables, being able to eat some appetizing pickled cucumbers is already quite good, especially since the pickled cucumbers are still very green and haven't turned black, making them look very appetizing.
Lin Yuesha poured herself a glass of water and ate breakfast while it was still hot.
After she had eaten and drunk her fill and was taking a walk in the yard, there was finally some movement at the door.
Xiao Qi entered carrying a package, and his eyes met Lin Yuesha's. He paused for a moment and said, "Little sister is awake?"
"Big brother, where have you been?"
Lin Yuesha originally intended to angrily accuse him, but then she remembered that he had at least left breakfast for her, so her accusation turned into a question.
“I’ve already reported it to the authorities, but the officials are on horseback and certainly can’t take us with them, so I went to the market.”
Xiao Qi went to the kitchen to wash his hands with hot water and saw that the dishes and chopsticks had been washed clean, so he nodded in satisfaction.
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