Chapter 50: Shouldn’t They Be Back by Now?

The sudden drop in temperature over the past two days gave Wen Nuan Nuan a profound taste of the bitter cold of the north.

It was nothing like the chill she had experienced in the Jiangnan region where she used to live.

The wind here didn’t just feel cold—it stung her face, and she realized she needed a hat, as the icy gusts made her head ache.

Back in Jiangnan, wearing two layers of clothing was enough during the ninth month of the lunar calendar.

But here, it already felt like winter, with snow likely to fall at any moment.

If it was already this cold now, how much worse would it be during the depths of winter?

Wen Nuan Nuan felt she had been naive and narrow-minded before, never truly grasping just how severe northern winters could be.

One thing she wholeheartedly praised was the kang. After the temperature dropped, the two little ones started heating it.

It completely overturned her expectations—dry and warm, wearing thin cotton clothes indoors while eating chilled canned yellow peaches. It was pure comfort.

There was a line from a song she remembered: “You’re in the sunny south with snowflakes swirling, I’m in the cold northern night with spring all year round.” With her limited imagination, she had never understood what it meant.

Now, having experienced it firsthand, she fully agreed!

But stepping outside was a different story— “You’re wrapped in furs up north, I’m baring my waist down south,” each with its own charm.

She hadn’t experienced the latter, though. Having lived in the Jiangnan region, where winters lacked heating and were damp and bone-chillingly cold, all she remembered was freezing like a dog.

Ugh, in comparison, she realized she had relied solely on sheer willpower to endure the harsh winters before!

Never in her life did she imagine she would experience a snowy winter while wearing light clothing and enjoying chilled food. It was a level of comfort she could never have dreamed of in the past.

“Sister-in-law, the wild chives are all cleaned up,” Leng Chen said, carrying a large wooden basin of wild chives into the kitchen and placing it on the counter.

Wen Nuan Nuan looked at her second brother, his cheeks flushed red from the cold, and moved aside to make room for him by the fire. She felt a pang of sympathy. “It’s freezing outside. Come warm up by the stove.”

Despite the cold these past few days, the three of them at home hadn’t been idle at all.

Especially the two little ones.

They said it would only get colder from here, so they needed to stock up on as many winter supplies as possible before the snow fell.

The two of them had a clear division of labor and worked together seamlessly: while Second Brother went outside to chop wood, Little Brother stayed home to clean, tidy the yard, and stack the dried firewood. When Second Brother worked on handicrafts indoors, Little Brother went outside to gather grass, preparing winter and next year’s fodder for the horses.

These wild chives were something she had discovered among the grass Little Brother had pulled.

It wasn’t just wild chives—before this, she had also found dried mugwort. Discovering it had delighted her. Mugwort was excellent for soaking in baths or foot baths to dispel dampness. After starting work, she often bought it online, but now she had it readily available and for free, so she naturally saved it.

Little Brother had also discovered wild sesame, bringing back the dried stalks along with it. Although many of the sesame seeds had already fallen out, gathering what remained still yielded a small half-bowl.

Wen Nuan Nuan had tasted a bit—the wild sesame had a richer, more fragrant flavor than the roasted sesame she had brought with her!

She stored the rest in the storage room, planning to use it as seeds once they settled down. If the harvest was plentiful, they could even press it for oil. Sesame oil was perfect for cold dishes—so delicious.

While Rapeseed Oil was great for stir-frying, sesame oil was undoubtedly the best choice for cold dishes.

“Second Brother, there are roasted sweet potatoes in the stove pit. Could you use the fire tongs to check if they’re done? If they are, call Little Brother in to have some first to tide you over. I’ll start pickling the scallions now—dinner will be a bit later today.” Wen Nuan Nuan had originally intended to tell the two little ones to eat dinner first, but after several previous attempts where they absolutely refused, she changed her words at the last moment to say they’d eat together later.

The two little ones were particularly strict about “respecting their elders.”

Leng Yun, hearing there was food in the yard, hurriedly trotted into the kitchen and eagerly asked, “What are we eating?”

Sister-in-law cooked delicious meals for them every day and often made snacks to satisfy their cravings. Every evening had become his most anticipated time of day!

Taking a wrinkled, roasted sweet potato from his third brother, he peeled off the skin to reveal the golden, soft, and glutinous flesh inside. Leng Yun took a big bite—then yelped from the heat!

But even though it burned his mouth, he couldn’t bear to spit it out! Finally swallowing a mouthful, he exclaimed in amazement, “Sister-in-law, this sweet potato is so sweet! How is it even sweeter than adding sugar?”

Wen Nuan Nuan wouldn’t tell him—this was Liù’áo honey sweet potato! Fragrant, sweet, and without any fibrous strings, it had an exceptionally good texture.

Leng Yun quickly finished the small sweet potato and asked eagerly, “Sister-in-law, the little potatoes you roasted before were also delicious. Are we roasting any today?”

“No, because we’re having potato and cured meat claypot rice for dinner.” Wen Nuan Nuan was at the cutting board, picking up the scallions and placing them on a small bamboo tray to drain, answering without looking up.

Leng Yun knew his sister-in-law’s habit of trying not to repeat foods within the same day, so he didn’t ask further. Instead, he leaned over the cutting board to look at the wild scallions.

Watching Wen Nuan Nuan add seasonings one by one, Leng Yun was extremely curious. “Sister-in-law, aren’t wild scallions for seasoning? What are you doing with them?”

“There are too many, so I’m pickling some to change up the flavor. Try it once it’s ready—I think this way of eating them is really delicious!” Wen Nuan Nuan continued working without pause, turning to recommend it to Little Brother.

Even she, who wasn’t particularly fond of scallions, loved this preparation.

Hearing about food, Leng Yun’s eyes sparkled as he stood guard nearby, watching his sister-in-law’s every move like the most diligent student.

Wen Nuan Nuan first mixed a seasoning in a small wooden basin.

Chili powder, soy sauce, minced ginger, minced garlic, salt, and a little sugar for umami. She stirred it evenly and thickly coated the roots—otherwise, the scallions could have a spicy bite—then lightly coated the leaves as well.

This was her adjusted version based on her own taste. At first, for authenticity, she had added fish sauce and shrimp paste, but her Huaguo palate just couldn’t get used to it. After two or three adjustments, she found that just these few seasonings made incredibly delicious pickled scallions.

“Sister-in-law, can I try some?” Leng Yun already found it refreshing and appetizing just by looking.

“Of course.” Wen Nuan Nuan took two scallions, winding the leaves around and around until they formed a small bundle around the bulb, then handed it to Little Brother.

Leng Yun stuffed the whole thing into his mouth. The tangy, crisp, and delicious flavor was a scallion taste he had never experienced before. He immediately nodded, pulled Leng Chen over, and enthusiastically recommended, “Third Brother, it’s so good! You have to try it too!”

Wen Nuan Nuan chuckled. She had always considered herself a qualified foodie, but she never realized Little Brother wasn’t just qualified—he was a fanatic!

She rolled two more small bundles for the two ultimate cheerleaders. “They haven’t fully absorbed the flavor yet. They’ll be even more delicious in a couple of days when they’re properly pickled.”

“Wow, it can taste even better in a couple of days?! Tomorrow I’m going to pick every last wild scallion from that patch. Sister-in-law, make plenty and save it so Eldest Brother and Second Brother can have some when they come back!” Leng Yun was not only a little foodie who loved delicious food, but also a good younger brother who loved recommending and sharing.

Mentioning Leng Xiao and Eldest Brother who had gone into the mountains, Wen Nuan Nuan visibly paused for a moment.

In the warm and cozy kitchen, with hot meals in the pot, firewood burning brightly in the stove, and two younger brothers competing to help with chores, she spent each day joyfully and contentedly. But what about the two of them, deep in the mountains far away?

With the sudden drop in temperature, would it be even colder in the deep mountains?

Was the food they prepared enough to eat?

Had they… gotten hurt?

They had already been in the mountains for over ten days. They should be coming back soon…