Famine and Chaos: Weaving Cloth in Exile to Escape the War

While processing the pheasant, Kyoto Haru noticed that the wound on the pheasant's wing was very obvious, although the blood had frozen.

However, she still noticed that the pheasant was injured by something.

It was an arrow wound.

I reckon Xiaoman got lucky.

Xiaoman warmed her hands and then joined Jingzhichun in processing the pheasants.

The mother and daughter quickly processed the pheasant.

Jingzhichun chops the chicken into appropriately sized pieces, puts them in a pot of cold water, and blanches them to remove blood foam and impurities.

After taking them out, rinse them clean with warm water.

Put the chicken pieces into the pot again, fill it with clean snow water, add a few slices of ginger, a section of scallion, and a few crushed garlic cloves.

Then, from the package of supplies sent by the original owner's sister, she found some dried mushrooms, soaked and cleaned them, and put them in as well.

Finally, cover the pot and let it simmer slowly over low heat on the stove.

As time went by, the aroma of chicken soon filled the thatched hut.

Xiaoman stayed obediently by the stove, warming herself by the fire and helping to watch it. Her little nose would occasionally sniff the increasingly rich aroma in the air, her face full of anticipation.

The baby on the tatami seemed to be soothed by the warm fragrance and slept very peacefully.

Jing Zhichun estimated the time and felt that the chicken soup was almost ready, so she lifted the lid to take a look.

The soup had turned a pale orange-gold color, and the chicken was so tender that it fell apart with just a gentle poke of chopsticks.

She sprinkled some salt in to season it, and just as she was about to take a bowl to scoop some out and taste it, Xiaoman, who had been sitting quietly in front of the stove, suddenly burst into tears.

The crying came suddenly, startling Kyoto Haru, who quickly looked over.

"What's wrong, Xiaoman?"

Xiaoman frantically rummaged through the inner pockets of her cotton-padded jacket, only to find them empty.

She looked up, her face filled with panic.

"Mommy...Mommy! The rainbow candy you gave me...is gone! It's in this pocket...it's gone! It must have...it must have fallen in the snow when I was running...Waaah...my candy..."

Xiaoman grew increasingly upset. "It's all my fault...it's all my fault for running too fast...sob...those pretty candies...I didn't even finish eating them..."

Kyoto Haru thought the child was injured, which gave her a big fright.

It turns out they just lost the candy.

"If it's lost, it's lost. Mom will get you another one."

As he spoke, he took out the other half of the rainbow candy from his pocket.

Little did Xiaoman know that upon hearing Jingzhichun's words, she not only did not stop crying, but became even more anxious, struggling to rush towards the door: "No! Mother, I... I have to go find it! It must have fallen not far away! I can't bear to lose such a big candy."

Jing Zhichun reacted quickly, pulling her back with a swift movement. "It's already dark outside, the wind is strong, and the snow is so thick. Where are you going to look? What if you encounter a wolf again for a little candy? Is it worth it?"

"But...but..." Xiaoman wiped away her tears, "I can't bear to part with him."

Ugh.

Seeing Xiaoman like this, Jingzhichun was inexplicably reminded of her childhood memories from her past life.

In her past life, when she was a child, she would always hide away any delicious snacks or candies she received, reluctant to eat them right away, always wanting to save them to enjoy slowly.

But the result?

They often either get damp and spoil after being left out for too long, or they are accidentally lost, or other family members find them and eat them; in any case, they never end up in our own mouths.

The frustration and disappointment I felt as a child are so similar to Xiaoman's current state.

"Alright, stop crying." Jing Zhichun sighed and placed the candy in Xiaoman's hand. "Look, Mom has more here. The one you lost, just consider it as it went to play in the snow for you. If you can't find it, it's okay. Hold onto this half carefully, and don't lose it."

Xiaoman held the familiar candy, thinking of the wolves outside. Her crying subsided a little, but tears still streamed down her face. She looked out the door again, still looking unwilling to give up, as if she wanted to dig in the snow.

Seeing this, Jing Zhichun was afraid that Xiaoman would sneak out again when she wasn't paying attention. She deliberately put on a stern face, "Xiaoman! Listen to me! I said you can't go, and that means you can't go! It's dark, and it's dangerous outside. Have you forgotten what I just told you? You're willing to risk your life for a little candy?"

Perhaps it was Jing Zhichun's unusually serious face that had the effect, because Xiaoman obediently nodded: "Mom, I won't go looking for her anymore, so you won't worry about me."

Seeing that Xiaoman had taken her words to heart, Jingzhichun's expression softened. She wiped Xiaoman's tears with her sleeve and said earnestly, "Xiaoman, remember what I'm saying. From now on, if you have something delicious, eat it right away. Don't always think about saving it or hiding it. In this world, good things can't be kept forever; only what you eat is truly yours. Like today, saving it only leads to losing it—what a pity! You didn't even get to taste it, don't you think?"

In fact, what Kyoto Haru was afraid of was letting the other people in this place of exile discover something.

This incident taught her a lesson: she shouldn't give Xiaoman too much candy; if she does give her something, she should watch Xiaoman eat it herself.

To avoid taking it out and causing trouble if others see it.

Xiaoman looked up at Jingzhichun through her tearful eyes. She understood some of her mother's words, but not all of them. However, she remembered the saying that what she had swallowed was what truly belonged to her.

Remembering her original intention in hiding the candy, she choked back tears and confessed, "Mother... I... I originally thought that the candy was so sweet and so pretty, I wanted to keep it... for you to eat when you get better... Who knew... Waaah..."

It turned out to be the case.

Kyoto Haru sighed.

This child, though desperately craving it himself, still kept thinking about saving some for her.

"Silly girl, your mother doesn't like sweets. Back when we were in the manor, did you ever see your mother eat any pastries or candies? What's given to you is yours, so just eat it without worry. Seeing you eat makes your mother happier than if you left it for her."

Xiaoman thought about it carefully in her mother's arms, and it seemed... it really was true.

When we were in the capital, whenever beautiful pastries and candies were sent over, my mother would not eat them. She was indeed not like other ladies and young ladies who loved sweets.

"I understand, Mother. I'll eat right away."

"Um."

Jing Zhichun took the rainbow candy from Xiaoman's hand and gave her a small piece. "Eat these first, and I'll keep the rest for you. I'll get you more whenever you want. It won't get lost if you keep it here."

Xiaoman nodded quickly and repeatedly: "Okay, I'll listen to Mother."

With the sugar controversy over, the aroma of the chicken soup reached its peak.

When Jingzhichun lifted the lid of the pot, the aroma of chicken soup immediately wafted out.

She served herself and Xiaoman each a large bowl, with plenty of chicken and mushrooms in the soup, and the mother and daughter began to eat dinner.

The chicken soup was quite flavorful, and the pheasant meat was firm and chewy. In short, it was delicious.

Both of them were extremely hungry and craving food, so they ate without lifting their heads or uttering a single unnecessary word.

Both of them had big appetites, but a chicken weighing over three pounds, plus mushrooms and soup, was quite a large portion.

Even after they had eaten until their bellies were round and they couldn't eat anymore, there was still a little bit of chicken soup and a lot of chicken left in the pot.

"I'm full, really full." Xiaoman patted her bulging belly and let out a small, satisfied burp.

Jing Zhichun also put down her bowl: "Keep the rest, we can reheat it if we get hungry tonight."

She was about to get up and clear the dishes, intending to move the pot aside to cool.

Sudden-

"Bang bang bang! Bang bang bang!"

After a few knocks, someone was heard knocking on the door outside.

Immediately afterwards, Shen Wangshi's voice came into the room.

"Sister-in-law! Open the door! It's me, your sister-in-law!"

"I know you're home! I can smell the delicious aroma! Open the door!"

Kyoto Haru paused, her brows immediately furrowing.

Shen Wangshi?

Why is she here again?

And why this time?

Judging from the force and tone of the knocking, the visitor was clearly up to no good.

Xiaoman was startled and grabbed Jingzhichun's hand tightly. "Mom...it's...it's Auntie...she must have come because of the smell...she wants to eat our chicken..."

As she spoke, she recounted how Shen Wangshi had almost stolen her pheasant that day.

Kyoto Haru's face darkened upon hearing this.

I never expected that Madam Shen would be so shameless, an adult actually snatching food from a child.

It seems they've come here to cause trouble.

She would never allow Lady Shen to enter the house.