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

"What? Xiaoman wants to eat this?" Yang Ersao looked at the newly sprouted Cistanche deserticola at Jingzhichun's feet with a surprised expression.

She naturally recognized it; it was often seen in the sandy areas of Northwest China.

"People only dig these things up to fill their stomachs when they're starving. Although they're not poisonous, they're very drying. It's common for them to have nosebleeds and a burning throat! How can a child stand this? Madam Shen, you absolutely mustn't give this to the child..." Yang Ersao advised.

Cistanche deserticola is a medicinal herb that tonifies the kidneys and strengthens yang. It is warm and drying in nature, so eating too much of it will cause internal heat.

However, since it concerns medicinal herbs, Jing Zhichun does not intend to discuss the details with the Yang family for the time being.

Even if she kept saying it, the herbal medicine shops in this Great Zhou Dynasty wouldn't recognize Cistanche deserticola as a medicinal herb; they all considered it to be a tree root.

"Sister-in-law Yang, thank you for reminding me, but I know what I'm doing," Jing Zhichun said. "I'll just keep it in reserve and eat a little bit occasionally; I won't eat much more."

Seeing Jing Zhichun say this, Yang Ersao and the Yang brothers stopped trying to persuade her.

Come to think of it, Jing Zhichun is skilled in medicine and can treat any minor ailments her child might have, unlike farmers who tend to tough it out.

"Then let us help you dig," Yang Xiaoniu said, already pulling out his dagger and squatting down in front of Jing Zhichun to get to work. "Luckily, this is sandy ground, so it's easy to dig. If it were frozen loess, it would be a real struggle to dig this thing out."

Yang Ersao and Yang Erniu also came over, and soon discovered the purplish-brown stem tips of several more Cistanche deserticola plants under the thin snow.

"Thank you so much! Brother Yang, Second Sister-in-law, Brother Erniu, I won't stand on ceremony. I see there are quite a few growing in this area, I'll go look for some more."

Jing Zhichun did not refuse the Yang family's help.

There's quite a lot of Cistanche deserticola here. If she were to dig it up by herself, it would take her a lot of time. But if the Yang family members helped, it would be much faster.

"Oh, Mrs. Shen, why are you being so polite with us..."

After exchanging a few polite words, Jing Zhichun began walking towards the red dot marked by the system. She then deftly brushed away the snow, revealing the tops of each Cistanche deserticola plant.

This would make it easier for the Yang family to identify the object and also make digging easier.

After clearing out all the medicinal herbs marked with red dots, Jing Zhichun also joined the team digging for Cistanche deserticola.

The sand here is loose, making digging much easier.

What's even more surprising is that the Cistanche deserticola here is unusually large.

Yang Xiaoniu dug out a Cistanche deserticola that looked to weigh about 7.8 jin (3.5-4 catties), and it looked like it had come to life.

Jing Zhichun's smile never stopped as she looked at the ever-growing pile of Cistanche deserticola in front of her.

Who would have thought that such an unexpected joy could occur on this snowy and icy journey home?

This trip was definitely worthwhile.

About an hour later, all the Cistanche deserticola and a few scattered Cynomorium songaricums were dug up and piled up on the ground in a small heap.

The mechanical voice from the system in Kyoto Haru's mind reappeared.

"Ding! 25 catties of wild Cistanche deserticola, valued at 1200 wen, have been discovered. Do you wish to sell?"

"Ding! Found 1 jin of wild Chinese medicinal herb Cynomorium songaricum, valued at 200 wen. Sell?"

Jing Zhichun burst into laughter inwardly, "Hahaha, I'm rich!"

She never expected to earn so many copper coins in just one hour.

However, she ignored the system for the time being, as her basket was already full and there was no room for the medicinal herbs.

Jing Zhichun could only turn to Yang Xiaoniu and say, "Brother Yang, my basket is really full. Could you put these in your basket first?"

I owe a lot of favors today.

It was freezing cold, and people stayed with her digging here for so long.

With this extra copper coin in the system, I'll definitely buy myself two pounds of meat to properly thank the Yang family.

Yang Xiaoniu waved his hand readily and carefully packed the Cistanche deserticola into his basket: "It's nothing, Madam Shen, no need to be so polite."

"Shall we hurry home?"

"Okay, go home quickly."

When the four of them set off again, the snow was still falling, obscuring the sun. They didn't know if it was because the sun was about to set, but the road was much darker.

An hour later, when they returned to the exile village, it was already completely dark.

The group hurried towards the Yang family's courtyard.

Jing Zhichun was thinking about Xiaoman.

They have been separated for ten days.

I wonder how the little girl has been these past few days.

Oh, right, and... her son.

Jingzhichun also really wanted to see him. Xiaoman usually took good care of the child, and the child was very well-behaved and didn't have a strong presence. So, sometimes Jingzhichun would forget that she had such a hungry son.

When the group arrived at the Yang family's door, Yang Xiaoniu raised his hand and began to knock on the door.

As the knocking began, Yang Dawang's voice quickly came from inside: "Who is it?"

"Father, we're back!"

A moment later, the courtyard gate was pulled open, and a face appeared.

When Yang Dawang saw that Jing Zhichun and his second daughter-in-law had returned safely, he was first taken aback, and then his face lit up with joy.

It's truly pitiful for him, an old man like him. When he learned yesterday that Madam Shen and her second daughter-in-law had stayed in the city, he was almost scared to death.

He was truly afraid that Madam Shen would abandon her two children and run away.

Fortunately, Madam Shen was not a fool.

Yang Dawang quickly and enthusiastically said, "Madam Shen is back too? Great! Come inside and warm up!"

Jing Zhichun was about to ask Xiaoman how she was doing.

I was suddenly bumped into by a small, round figure wrapped up in blankets.

"Mom! You're back!"

Without even looking down, just by listening to that crisp, clear voice, Jing Zhichun knew who it was.

She quickly put down her basket and picked up Xiaoman to examine her closely.

The little girl was wearing a wolf-skin coat, her cheeks were rosy, and she looked even better than when she left home; her face even seemed a bit rounder.

"Who made this coat for you?" Jing Zhichun touched the wolf fur coat.

"It's Aunt Gao!" Xiaoman hugged Jingzhichun's neck, her face beaming. "She said she used the wolf pelt we sent to make a large suit for Mother, and the remaining fabric was used to make one for me and one for my brother!"

Spring in Beijing warmed my heart.

Sister-in-law Gao's thoughtfulness shows that the Yang family has been treating Xiaoman and her brother very well these days.

She looked up, about to thank Aunt Gao, when she saw another woman, Sister Gao, coming out of the house.

"Aunt Gao!" Jing Zhichun, holding Xiaoman, quickly stepped forward and sincerely thanked her, "You've really gone to so much trouble! Thank you for making the jackets for Xiaoman and her brother."

Sister-in-law Gao laughed and said, "Mrs. Shen, don't say that! In this cold weather, you'll only feel at ease if the children are dressed warmly, right? Besides, Xiaoman is a very well-behaved child. She helps me with the fire and chores every day. She's even more diligent than my maid. I like her very much."

At this moment, Yang Dawang also came over. "Madam Shen, don't stand in the yard anymore. There's some hot porridge cooking on the stove. Come inside and have a bowl to warm up! You must be freezing from the journey!"

Jing Zhichun nodded and carried Xiaoman into the main room of the Yang family.

The heated kang (a traditional heated brick bed) inside was warm and cozy, dispelling the chill from my body.

The three children of the Yang family were on the kang (a heated brick bed). After greeting Jing Zhichun, they went outside.

After putting Xiaoman down, Jingzhichun looked around the room but didn't see the little figure.

"Xiaoman, where's your little brother?"

"My little brother is asleep on the kang (heated brick bed) in the inner room, and Grandma Yang is watching him," Xiaoman answered obediently. "I just fed him some formula, and he fell asleep after he finished eating."

As they were talking, Sister-in-law Gao and the third daughter-in-law of the Yang family brought the brown rice porridge into the house and placed it on the kang table on the kang. They also cut a plate of pickled radishes.

"Madam Shen, I'll go get your son. We'll start eating shortly."

"No need, no need to tell your sister-in-law. I won't eat. I'll just take the child and go back to my home as soon as possible. I won't trouble you any further." Jing Zhichun quickly waved her hand.

These days, food is precious to everyone, so she was really embarrassed to stay at the Yang family's house for a meal.

At that moment, Yang Dawang also entered the house.

"Madam Shen, please don't stand on ceremony with us! My eldest and second sons both told me that if I hadn't saved the three of them at Wild Sheep Pass, I'm afraid I would be the one to bury my children now."

This life-saving kindness will be forever etched in the hearts of our Yang family! You absolutely must stay today, so our family can express our gratitude. It's just our humble farm food, nothing fancy, please don't mind."

Sister-in-law Gao chimed in, "Yes, Madam Shen, the porridge is all cooked, the radishes are chopped, and there are steamed mixed flour buns and meat soup in the pot, all warm. In this freezing weather, if you take the children back to that cold house, it'll be too much trouble to start a fire and cook, and the children will go hungry and cold. Just make do here and warm yourselves up."

Yang Ersao came in from outside at this moment, carrying a basin of meat soup. "Shen family lady, don't refuse. My father is right. If it weren't for you, my elder brother, Erniu, and I wouldn't be alive today. What's a simple meal? Come on, stay and try our food."