The daily struggles of divorced women in ancient times

On the tenth day after Chen Dasao and Chen Susu left, the valley welcomed the first snow of this winter.

Large flakes of snow fell, creating a different kind of scenery.

"It's snowing so heavily, mother." Yu Jie'er stood at the door holding a cup of hot milk tea.

"Yes, it's snowing so heavily..." The temperature in the valley was not as cold as she had imagined. When the snow fell, it did not collapse the houses like in the north.

With such heavy snow, there was no place to practice martial arts, but Zhou Chengze's classes did not stop. It was just that Zhou Chengze would now focus on learning with Chen Ge'er and Xiao Wu's two half-grown children.

The two children were talented and willing to work hard, so Zhou Chengze paid close attention to them. Originally, one of the two children was called Xiaozhuang and the other was called Xiaoyuan. Zhou Chengze thought that if they wanted to study, they would have to have a good name, so he gave them two names. The taller child was called Zhou Zifeng, and the younger and shorter child was called Zhou Zichu.

When he was studying, Zhou Chengze no longer called Chen Ge'er by his nickname, but called him Yi Chen like the other two children.

Yu Jie'er didn't like to learn from Zhou Chengze because she had no interest in what Zhou Chengze taught her. Yu Jie'er was willing to read books, but she only liked to read strange stories and miscellaneous notes.

However, Xia Mianwan had a lot of books, so Yu Jie'er could read them by herself.

This wooden house had neither floor heating nor kang. Xia Mianwan felt the temperature was too low, so he put a brazier in the house and placed wire mesh on it.

In the past few days, Xia Mianwan had not eaten properly at home, and sat by the stove every day without getting up. In order to save trouble, he also placed a charcoal stove next to the brazier, and a small copper kettle on the stove.

Scented tea or milk tea is often brewed in the copper kettle.

There are also various kinds of food on the wire mesh, sometimes rice cakes, sometimes steamed buns, and sometimes a small iron plate is placed on the wire mesh. On the iron plate are various vegetables: green vegetables, cabbage, leeks, bean sprouts, etc.

Speaking of which, the Chen family's house was vacant. Xia Mianwan thought that it would be empty anyway, so she discussed with Madam Zhou about turning the house into a greenhouse.

At first, Mrs. Zhou didn't understand what it was, so she went back and told Zhou Chengze, who then explained it to her.

For no other reason, the only things grown in the mountains in winter are cabbage and radish, and at most some bean sprouts made from soybeans, as well as some mushrooms and yams left over from before.

In winter, there are braziers burning everywhere, and there are no green leafy vegetables to be seen. I always feel uncomfortable all over.

Xia Mianwan could eat it herself, and occasionally give some to Chen Ge'er and Yu Jie'er, but she couldn't give them too much. Chen Ge'er and Yu Jie'er had grown up, and they were both smart children. Xia Mianwan no longer dared to take food from the space as recklessly as before.

There was no way to get clay or anything to build a kang in this valley, so Xia Mianwan and Zhou Chengze thought about getting some charcoal basins or something. Anyway, there was enough firewood for the whole winter, and before entering the mountain, in order to live comfortably in the winter, Xia Mianwan asked Xiaowu to bring in a lot of charcoal.

No one had any experience, so we just discussed and figured it out.

I didn't expect that after a while, they really figured it out.

It was a pity that it was snowing and the soil in the mountains was frozen. Xiaowu, Xiaoqi and Xiaoba went to dig some, but they didn't know if it would succeed.

Xiaowu made a large square open box, filled it with soil, buried some rotten mud in it, and finally planted a few vegetable seeds.

These vegetable seeds are everyone’s hope.

Therefore, every day different people come in batches to take a look inside to see if the vegetable seedlings have sprouted.

After the first snow stopped, Xiaowu prepared to go hunting in the mountains with a few good hunters. Xia Mianwan knew that Xiaowu and his group were going out for several days, so he thought about preparing some convenient food for everyone.

The first thing that Xia Mianwan thought of was instant noodles.

During the day, you can eat some bread or something, and at night when you return to the cave you are staying in, you must drink something hot. After Xia Mian opened the package of instant noodles, he packed the noodles and seasonings in a bamboo box.

Xia Mianwan packed twenty packets of instant noodles in one go.

After taking care of the big head, Xia Mianwan thought about bringing some homemade bread and cakes, since there was a ready-made oven.

The night before summer hibernation, food was prepared for Xiaowu and his group.

Before leaving, Xia Mianwan prepared two water bags for everyone, one filled with Erguotou and the other filled with hot water.

Xiaowu also prepared some things himself, so when they set off, the backpacks of several people were filled to the brim.

"Be careful!" Xia Mianwan warned.

Xiao Wu nodded and said, "Don't worry, Sister Xia, it's okay."

Madam Zhou was still a little worried. "It just snowed so heavily. Is it really okay?"

Seeing how worried Madam Zhou was, Xiao Wu quickly said, "Don't worry, godmother. We are all experienced. We have been to the forest many times in the past two years. You know my abilities."

Upon hearing this, Madam Zhou said no more. She watched Xiaowu and his men leave, and then Madam Zhou and Xia Mianwan walked home together.

Seeing that Madam Zhou was still worried, Xia Mianwan said, "Sister Zhou, Chengze is also in class, why don't you come to my house and we can make some honey cakes together?"

Zhou Chengze has a sweet tooth, and Madam Zhou is a little tempted. "Do you have the ingredients?"

The honey cakes were made before summer hibernation and were often sold on Xiaowu's donkey cart. However, he was always busy after entering the mountains and rarely made them to eat.

Xia Mianwan's sudden words immediately made Madam Zhou interested.

They did what they said and went back to Xia Mianwan's house together. Yu Jie'er had a sudden urge to go watch acrobatics with Xiuxiu today, so she was not at home.

"It's just right. Sister Yu is not here, so there's one less glutton." Xia Mianwan said with a smile.

Madam Zhou laughed and scolded, "How can you say that about your own daughter? I think Sister Yu is very nice and considerate."

Xia Mianwan smiled and shrugged, then brought Madam Zhou to the kitchen.

"The eggs and honey are in the cupboard. I'll go make a fire." Xia Mianwan said.

"Okay, I'll make the cake." Honey cake is not very difficult to make. Xia Mianwan taught Zhou Niangzi when they lived in the city.

"It's a pity that although there is fun in the mountains, I'm afraid it will waste time." Madam Zhou sighed.

Madam Zhou suddenly sighed, and Xia Mianwan couldn't help but feel curious, "Sister Zhou, why are you sighing like that?"

Madam Zhou didn't stop moving her hands at all, and quickly cracked a few eggs, "I thought of Chengze mentioning Brother Chen."

"Brother Chen? What's the matter?" Xia Mianwan asked curiously.