Xiao Yao and Liu Xiaoyun were both stunned: "This, this won't do. New fabric is very expensive, and children grow so fast. You keep it, and I'll make new ones for the children later!"
Mo Qianshang chuckled: "When will that happen? Just do it. Consider it your payment for making clothes for our family. I won't give you anything else!"
Little Yao sat there blankly, looking at the new fabric in her hand. She couldn't bring herself to refuse, but she was thinking that she should help out more in the future to make up for the money spent on the fabric.
"Actually, sleeping in this tent is not bad. I didn't feel any wind at night. It might even be warmer than that thatched hut."
Little Yao didn't know what kind of house Mo Qianshang wanted to build, and subconsciously thought it was a thatched house: "Or we can build a thatched hut that can fit a tent, that way it will be warmer to put the tent inside?"
Mo Qianshang was both amused and exasperated by her words: Who builds a house just to live in a tent?
"Don't worry, I've already had someone build it. I'll make sure you and Xiaoyun both have a place to stay!"
She opened the paper package and took out the two large pieces of meat she had bought: "Put the pot on, we're going to stew meat today!"
Little Yao looked at the pork with its marbled fat and lean meat in her hand, her mouth watering. But she quickly came to her senses. Although she had reminded herself to speak and ask less, she couldn't help but remind Mo Qianshang: "If you ask me, even if you have some savings, you should be more frugal. We don't have any land allocated by the village now, and we have no income!"
Mo Qianshang wasn't worried at all: "Don't worry, I have plenty of ways to make money, I live off the land."
In Xiao Yao's mind, making a living by living on the mountain meant gathering firewood and hunting. Although the wild vegetables on the mountain were edible, they were only for filling one's stomach and not for earning money.
She didn't even consider hunting.
“The mountains are a treasure trove; they have medicinal herbs and animals. Don’t worry, leave the family support to me.”
Little Yao stared at her for a while, then chuckled: "You really do look like the head of the household, but Xiaoyun and I can't rely on you forever. Once the house is built, I'll go and see if there's any work I can do nearby."
Mo Qianshang touched her nose. Actually, she didn't want Xiao Yao to go out to find work. After all, there were only the two adults in the family. If Xiao Yao wanted to go out to work, she wouldn't be able to go down the mountain as she pleased and leave her to take care of the children.
Although it's a bit unfair, even Xiao Yao herself probably wouldn't want to work too hard.
She did some mental calculations and said to Xiao Yao, "Hey, how about this? You help me take care of my four children, clean the house, cook, and do chores. I'll provide you and your daughter with food and lodging, and I'll give you ten coins a day, plus five coins for Xiaoyun."
This time, Xiao Yao's eyes widened in shock. It took her a while to react, and she almost dropped the bowl in her hand: "This, this is just a small thing, there's no need for wages, and you're even giving us food and lodging, this won't do!"
Mo Qianshang was exasperated: How could anyone pass up a good deal? Besides, she didn't feel like she was losing out; wouldn't it be a win-win situation?
She sighed deeply: "Living in the mountains is somewhat dangerous, and I have many children. If you don't do it, I'll have to hire someone to do it, which will cost me money. Besides, if they can't live with us, the back-and-forth travel might cost me twenty coins!"
It would be too easy for Mo Qianshang to fool the ordinary farmers here. When Xiao Yaoshi heard that she would have to spend more money to hire others, she suddenly felt that she might as well help them herself, and she would definitely do her best!
"Then, then Xiaoyun and I will do it. Don't worry, you can let me do anything!"
Mo Qianshang laughed and said, "Alright, it's the beginning of the month now. Remember to remind me at the end of each month to pay you and your daughter your wages!"
As she spoke, she took out her money pouch from her bosom and counted out half a tael of silver: "However, we are both newcomers here, so I'll give you an advance for the first month!"
Xiao Yao refused again, but Mo Qianshang didn't want it to happen every time, so she seriously told her to accept it first.
Half an hour later, they were all gathered around the fire, each holding a bowl of rice mixed with meat broth. Mo Qianshang had added plenty of salt and seasoning, which made Xiao Yao feel quite sorry for them.
But once she tasted it, she felt it was the most delicious thing she had ever eaten in her life!
"Now you know what this tastes like. From now on, we have to cook our meals to be delicious. Don't skimp on oil and salt. If you don't eat well, you won't have the energy to do anything, and your children won't grow tall. It will affect your health."
Little Yao nodded, but felt that even if she were given so much salt, she still couldn't make Mo Qianshang taste the same.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but feel sorry for Mo Qianshang. Such a good person, yet she didn't have many good days before becoming a stepmother to four children. Although the children were all well-behaved and adorable, what woman wouldn't want to marry someone who cares about her and have her own children?
Little Yao ate quickly, and after finishing, she went to fetch water nearby. This was a stream she found when Mo Qianshang went to the county town. Although it wasn't even a proper stream, it was enough for the group of them.
After finishing a bowl of rice, Qin Heming ladled himself a bowl of soup without any meat, and drank from it, asking, "Mom, where did Uncle Qin go?"
Upon hearing her son mention Qin Baiyi, Mo Qianchang was taken aback, but then put on a nonchalant expression and said, "Uncle Qin has his own things to do."
The children were a little disappointed when they heard this. They hadn't seen their father recently and thought he had only left for a few days. They didn't expect that even though they had arrived here, their father still hadn't appeared.
Qin Zixuan's disappointment was palpable: "When will he come next time?"
Mo Qianshang drank the last mouthful of soup: "Mother doesn't know either. I'm afraid he doesn't know that we've settled here. Even if he wants to find us, it might not take long."
She gently tapped Qin Zixuan's forehead: "Besides, they have nothing to do with us, so why would they come all the way to this remote mountain forest to look for us?"
After she finished speaking, she went to pack her things, leaving the children looking at each other in bewilderment.
Qin Zixuan touched his forehead and couldn't help but pout: How can it be okay? He's their father!
But after hearing what their mother said, the children became even more frustrated. What if their father really couldn't find them and they would never see them again?
Seeing that they were all dejected, Qin Heming quickly comforted his younger brother: "It's okay. Didn't Father find us on the way before? This time it will be fine too. Mother said that Father has his own things to do. He will come back naturally when he finishes his business!"
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