Chapter 99: Wen Nuan Nuan Suddenly Awakens

In the following time, the two little ones picked off the withered and old leaves from the dandelions, washed them clean, and laid them out in the courtyard to dry.

Wen Nuan Nuan, meanwhile, took the new gauze jackets sent by Auntie Zhu and Sister-in-law Jiang and meticulously sewed two hidden pockets on the inner sides of each. One pocket was for storing medicinal powder to repel mosquitoes and insects, along with small pieces of broken silver, while the other was for keeping pills to treat heatstroke and other commonly used medicines.

For each piece of clothing belonging to the four members of the Leng Family, the collar and hem areas had already been completely opened, thin gold pieces or fine gold threads inserted inside, and then meticulously and securely sewn back up.

These gauze jackets were newly made. The weather was too hot, and Leng Xiao and Leng Tian needed to sit on the carriage frame to drive, exposed to the sun. Gauze was breathable and sweat-absorbent, making it comfortable to wear.

She also took the opportunity to make two sets for Leng Chen and Leng Yun. They didn’t have many summer clothes to begin with, barely enough for changing and washing. With these two sets, they would have enough to wear on the journey.

After the three of them finished their respective tasks, they gathered all the winter undergarments, cotton-padded clothes, jackets, heavy cloaks, snow hats, and so on. Those that could fit into wooden chests were packed into wooden chests; for those that couldn’t, bamboo baskets were used. They also sorted out items like cotton quilts, mattress pads, bedsheets, and quilt covers that wouldn’t be needed in the summer.

They didn’t realize how much they had until they started packing—it was shocking!

It almost filled the entire main hall, piled up everywhere!

Wen Nuan Nuan had an especially large number of clothes and belongings. Before the New Year, she had made three large cotton quilts for the three little ones, along with two sets of bedsheets and quilt covers, as well as several new cotton-padded jackets and other items.

Moreover, after they had more silver, all the animal pelts hunted during the winter were kept instead of sold. The five of them had additional jackets, heavy cloaks, snow hats, hand warmers, and so on made, with Wen Nuan Nuan having the largest share.

Just the winter clothing for the family of five was piled up all over the floor.

Wen Nuan Nuan once again experienced the feeling of complaining about having nothing to wear in daily life, only to discover during seasonal changes that she actually had an enormous amount of clothes.

And this wasn’t just a seasonal change—it was moving!

There were even more, messier, and more cluttered items to pack.

After laying the clothes out in the courtyard to air briefly, they were brought back into the main hall. Wen Nuan Nuan stored them one by one in the third section of the lower level of the storage room. Now she fully realized the benefits of having previously worked hard to increase Leng Xiao’s favorability!

Even after putting away so many things, it still felt spacious and empty.

It seemed that whenever there was an opportunity, she should continue to work on increasing Leng Xiao’s favorability. The ding-ding-ding notification sounds were pleasant to hear, and having a large storage room to use was even more delightful!

Leng Tian and Leng Yun watched from the side as items disappeared one by one, stored away, their eyes wide with amazement.

No matter how many times they saw their sister-in-law storing things, they still found it utterly magical.

Sister-in-law said this treasure was called a ‘refrigerator,’ used by people from her place to store food.

They didn’t know what a refrigerator was, but it was precisely because of this magical treasure that they had an ample water supply when others were controlling their water intake. It was also because of this treasure that they could eat their fill at every meal and bring all their household items along without having to discard or leave anything behind.

At the same time, they became even more determined never to reveal its existence under any circumstances!

A refrigerator that continuously supplied various fresh and delicious food every day—once others learned of it… No, it must never be known!

Wen Nuan Nuan walked around once more and stored away the red clay small stove, small iron pots, iron mesh sheets, bathtubs, wooden basins, bamboo baskets, and various other small miscellaneous items that weren’t needed at home, leaving only the daily essentials.

This way, once Leng Xiao and Leng Chen returned, the five of them could travel light.

When they reached the eaves, Wen Nuan Nuan fell silent as she looked at the adorable little red clay bear-shaped oven.

“Sister-in-law, do you want to take it with us? We can make a new one when we get to the capital,” Leng Tian suggested, seeing his sister-in-law staring at the soot-blackened oven.

The bear really looked ugly now.

It would be better to make a new one in the capital anyway—digging up clay would be convenient anywhere.

Wen Nuan Nuan nodded. “The storage room can fit it. It’s still in good condition, and I don’t want to leave it here all alone. It would be so pitiful.”

Over the past few months, they had used the little bear oven to bake batch after batch of crispy pancakes, rabbit meat, skewers, and a large quantity of thick, dry naan bread. Its modest size was just right for their family, and leaving it behind felt both wasteful and heartbreaking.

Leng Yun circled the little bear oven, inspecting it carefully, then happily suggested, “We can use the back of the kitchen knife to slowly chip away the connection between the bottom layer of the bear oven and the ground. The dried clay is easy to break. Later, we can go up the mountain and bring back some red clay of the same color to take with us. Once we settle down, we can mix some clay and patch up the connection.”

Then it would be a good little bear oven again!

Wen Nuan Nuan was very pleased. “Good, I’ll go get the kitchen knife.”

“Sister-in-law, I’ll do it,” Leng Tian said, then dashed into the kitchen ahead of her to fetch the knife. He crouched down and skillfully chipped away the connection.

What a capable worker! Wen Nuan Nuan inwardly praised.

By evening, Leng Tian had chopped down thin trees and brought back red clay. Leng Yun sat in the yard, sharpening each piece of wood to a fine point, cutting them into varying lengths, and planting them within a three- to four-meter radius inside the courtyard wall.

Even someone with excellent skills jumping down from the wall wouldn’t be able to avoid stepping on them.

Dinner was early and simple: green vegetables cooked with rice cake and glutinous rice cake, paired with braised beef from the refrigerator, previously prepared mushroom sauce, and cold-tossed Malantou. The three of them ate heartily.

Wen Nuan Nuan absolutely loved wild vegetables, especially Malantou. After being cold-tossed, she could eat almost half a plate by herself. And rice cake and glutinous rice cake were truly convenient—easy to make, filling, and without much odor.

She had already cooked a large water vat and two small water vats’ worth of rice cake and glutinous rice cake in advance and stored them away. Filling, with broth, and without a strong smell, they were perfect for eating on the road.

Wen Nuan Nuan’s top priority now was ensuring they were well-fed. The three of them ate their fill at every meal.

If they didn’t eat enough and lacked strength, encountering evil people would mean certain death.

During this time, they needed to secretly build up their strength so they could be safer and more secure on the road.

Develop discreetly, don’t take risks.

When they slept at night, the axe and firewood chopper were placed beside the kang, and the sturdy wooden sticks Leng Tian had found in the mountains were kept close at all times.

Leng Yun placed lime, chili powder, and the medicinal powder prepared by Leng Chen in conspicuous spots around the house.

Wen Nuan Nuan stored the kitchen knife in the storage area. She believed in the saying: No matter how skilled you are in martial arts, you still fear a kitchen knife!

Over the next few days, the three of them worked together to take out the reed mats previously woven by Leng Chen and modify the carriage.

They used finely woven reed mats to cover the sides of the carriage as much as possible, leaving only the windows. This extra layer provided better sun protection.

The reed mats were covered in sharp thorns to prevent others from climbing onto the carriage.

They had stored countless ice blocks during the winter, which they would later place inside the small carriage. Even under the scorching sun along the way, it wouldn’t get too hot, and the melted water could be drunk or given to the two horses.

There were also snow blocks, which had been packed tightly with a shovel at the time. They had stored them all away without wasting a single piece.

“Sister-in-law, the courtyard gate is securely closed. If all goes well, Eldest Brother should be back tomorrow.” Leng Yun bounced in, looking much more relaxed.

Wen Nuan Nuan also felt a great sense of relief. If things went smoothly, Leng Xiao and Leng Chen would return tomorrow. Although it was uncertain whether there were dangers on the road, it was fortunate that nothing had happened at home during this time.

She instructed the two younger ones, “Keep the daily necessities you need at hand. We’ll load them directly onto the carriage before we leave. Pack everything else properly, and I’ll store it all in the storage room.”

“Understood, Sister-in-law. We’ve already packed everything, just waiting for Eldest Brother and the others to return tomorrow.” Leng Tian brought in the sharpened firewood axe and hatchet.

The three of them carefully inspected both inside and outside the house, making sure nothing was overlooked before heading indoors. Leng Yun bolted the main hall door.

Wen Nuan Nuan lay down on the bed fully clothed. For days, they hadn’t dared to undress for sleep, fearing that refugees might come to rob them at night and that dressing would waste precious time.

Fortunately, they had remained safe and sound, with no unusual incidents. It seemed her earlier assumptions were correct.

As long as they made it safely through tonight, Leng Xiao would be back tomorrow.

Late at night, the moonlight flickered between brightness and shadow.

Faint sounds of barking dogs, screams, pleas, and fighting drifted in from the distance.

Suddenly, a sharp cry echoed from the courtyard—so close it felt right at their doorstep!

Wen Nuan Nuan jolted awake.