Chapter 12: Do You Have Winter Clothes?

Leng Tian stared at the wooden shelves laden with an array of food, both astonished and delighted.

He touched one item, then examined another, occasionally looking up at the cured meat, salted fish, and sausages hanging from wooden hooks on the wall. His expression shifted through a kaleidoscope of emotions, though joy and contentment dominated.

“Sister-in-law, is there really this much left from today?” Leng Tian asked, unable to believe his eyes.

Today’s meal had been better than any New Year’s feast he could remember, and he never imagined there would still be leftovers.

In the village, not only was such a lavish meal unheard of, but even having enough cornmeal porridge with vegetables to feel full was rare for many.

How much of her spiritual power must Sister-in-law have expended for this?

She was truly too good to them.

Wen Nuan Nuan wanted to explain that because she lived alone, she had bought a top-and-bottom door refrigerator instead of a double-door one. This was already the most she could manage to pack after using her wits.

But she couldn’t say that—she had established herself as a little fairy.

And thankfully, she had bought this refrigerator. If it had been a double-door model, it might not have followed her here.

So she was quite content. One shouldn’t be too greedy.

Thinking that Leng Tian might feel her treasure didn’t hold enough, Wen Nuan Nuan explained, “Yes, I was afraid we’d get tired of eating the same things, so I prepared a variety of ingredients in smaller quantities. I also stored some snacks in my room.”

“To have saved this much on just the first day… Sister-in-law, you must hide your treasure well. I’ll do everything in my power to protect it! We won’t go hungry this winter.” Joy nearly overflowed from Leng Tian’s dark, earnest eyes.

He didn’t mind going hungry or eating poorly himself, but whenever he thought of Eldest Brother having to scrimp and save at the Academy, returning on breaks not to study but to hunt and gather herbs in the back mountain to earn silver for them, or of Second Brother and Little Brother, still so young, often falling asleep hungry because they hadn’t eaten enough—he felt utterly useless!

If only he were as capable as Eldest Brother, or even half as capable—able to hunt and gather herbs for silver, ensuring that he, Second Brother, and Little Brother had enough to eat, and freeing Eldest Brother from worries at the Academy.

What he couldn’t achieve, Sister-in-law had accomplished.

She truly had come to save them.

“Yes, it feels wonderful not to worry about hunger or basic needs. So we must guard the kitchen well. Let’s not let Second Brother and Little Brother see for now. I was thinking that after we return from the city, if they discover it, we can say we bought the supplies then. What do you think?” Realizing that Eldest Brother wasn’t concerned about scarcity, Wen Nuan Nuan relaxed and shared her thoughts, seeking his opinion.

Leng Tian nodded. “That works.”

This year’s poor rainfall had led to generally poor harvests in the village. Now, during the agricultural off-season, entire families went out daily to forage for wild vegetables, hazel mushrooms, and wild fruits at the edges of the back mountain, preparing for winter.

With every household struggling to eat their fill, their family having such an abundance of good food must remain a secret—no one could know!

“How about after we return from the city and explain things, we move the rice, flour, oil, and salt into mine, Second Brother’s, and Little Brother’s rooms?” Leng Tian suggested.

The laws of the Ling Kingdom were still quite strict. Sneaking into a kitchen might happen, as one wasn’t necessarily caught, but entering someone’s room to steal carried much greater risk, especially in a household with several people.

His great strength was well-known in the village, which was why local ruffians and bullies generally didn’t dare harass their orphaned family.

Wen Nuan Nuan had no objections. “Good.”

This was, after all, the future greatest general of the Ling Kingdom—renowned for his military prowess, conquering every battle he fought. Listening to him was surely the right choice.

Although Eldest Brother’s success was largely due to the guidance of Leng Xiao, the mastermind behind the scenes, Leng Xiao wasn’t here now. As someone who had crossed over, how could she possibly understand things better than the original residents? It was safer to follow Eldest Brother’s advice.

Moreover, what Eldest Brother said made perfect sense.

Even in the era of rapid economic development she had lived in, theft was unavoidable.

Living alone, she had three locks on her front door. After returning home, she would immediately lock all of them, and at night, she would also bolt her bedroom door.

Now, with a courtyard, a main hall door, a bedroom door, and three younger brothers—especially Eldest Brother, who was incredibly strong—she felt much more at ease than when she was alone.

It felt so good not to be alone.

“I’ve poured the canned yellow peaches, waxberries, and oranges into bowls. Eldest Brother, you take them to the main hall first. I’ll bring some fruits over.”

“Okay.”

Canned yellow peaches held an irreplaceable place in Wen Nuan Nuan’s heart. When she was sick as a child, her grandparents would give her canned yellow peaches, which she felt were more effective than medicine.

This was a staple food in her home. The large bottle was kept in the refrigerator, and she had poured out two bowls. The waxberries and oranges were in small bottles, one bowl each.

When she arrived at the main hall with the selected apples, peaches, longans, and grapes, she saw Leng Tian, Leng Chen, and Leng Yun sitting in a row, eagerly waiting for her arrival.

“Why haven’t you started eating yet?” Wen Nuan Nuan asked in surprise.

Little Brother Leng Yun replied with a grin, “The three types are different. We wanted to wait for Sister-in-Law to choose first.”

Wen Nuan Nuan’s lips unconsciously curled into a slow smile, and her small face lit up with a sweet expression. “I’ll take the yellow peaches. You can decide among yourselves for the rest.”

Wen Nuan Nuan thought the three brothers would decide who chose first based on age or by playing rock-paper-scissors.

Surprisingly, they didn’t use either method. Instead, the three of them shared the food in the bowls, taking turns so that each of them tasted every type.

So, even at such a young age, they were already united and of one mind. No wonder, whether in good times or bad, they never acted selfishly.

It was truly wonderful.

“I’ve noticed the weather is getting a bit chilly in the mornings and evenings. About how much longer until frost and snow arrive?” Wen Nuan Nuan asked, voicing her doubts.

When reading the book, she had only skimmed the descriptions of the environment. She only knew that the place where the male lead, Leng Xiao, originally lived was in the north, where heavy snow would block the mountains for four or five months a year, making travel impossible.

But seeing that Eldest Brother and the others were still wearing short-sleeved clothes, she wasn’t sure exactly how much time they had left.

“About a month. Frost will likely start by late September or early October,” Second Brother Leng Chen lowered his gaze slightly, a hint of worry flashing across his pale, thin face before he quickly concealed it.

“Oh, so soon?” She had thought there was still plenty of time. “Then we need to hurry and make winter clothes.”

“Make winter clothes?” The three of them looked up at Wen Nuan Nuan in surprise.

Wen Nuan Nuan asked, puzzled, “Don’t you have winter clothes? Don’t you need to make them?”

Little Brother Leng Yun shook his head vigorously, like a rattle-drum, and stammered, “But making winter clothes requires cotton, fabric, and hiring someone to sew them. With so many of us brothers, the cost would be huge…”

The further he spoke, the softer his voice became, as if even he felt he wasn’t worthy or deserving.

“We can gather more firewood and burn a few more kilns of charcoal. In winter, we can manage with just the quilts. After all, there’s not much to do in winter anyway. Staying on the kang without moving around won’t make us feel hungry, so eating two meals a day will be enough. That’s how most families in the village get by,” Second Brother Leng Chen continued.

Seeing Eldest Brother Leng Tian about to offer his own advice, Wen Nuan Nuan quickly spoke up first: “Winter clothes are absolutely essential! Not just winter clothes—inner garments, padded vests, hats, shoes, and socks must all be prepared.

I’ve thought it through. For inner garments, comfort is the priority, so we’ll use cotton cloth. I have several bolts of cotton cloth in my trunk, which should be enough for all of you.

The fabric for winter clothes doesn’t need to be too fine; mulberry hemp will do. It’s not expensive and won’t cost many coins. We can exchange for it along with the cotton when the time comes.”

After saying this, Wen Nuan Nuan secretly winked at Eldest Brother.