The two parted on bad terms.
Each walked towards their respective wives and children, eventually sitting down at the far left and far right, separated by Aunt Cai, Madam Xi, and the children.
When the two men returned,
Aunt Cai and Madam Xi fell silent, exchanging glances before attending to their children.
They gathered the children into their arms, fearing they would freeze.
The temple fell quiet.
Only the occasional crackle of burning wood and the fading light remained.
And.
The howling of the blizzard outside and the dropping temperature.
Everyone, in unison, thought of how those caught outside would freeze to death, and their fear intensified. They looked once more at the two children snuggled together, at their still somewhat childish faces, and at their remarkable maturity and judgment.
No one believed they could have been as decisive as the two children.
Wang Daming included.
He had only stated what he observed of the sky, and even he found the conclusion somewhat absurd. How could the weather change so drastically, deteriorating to this extent in just a few days?
But the two children believed it and made the decision in time.
Thanks to them, everyone could shelter in the temple from the blizzard with some measure of peace.
Truly fortunate.
Cheng Hao still couldn't sleep. He dozed off briefly, then checked outside.
Hearing the wind and snow subside slightly,
He promptly arranged for people to clear the snow from the entrance, lest it become completely blocked.
He also had more firewood brought in.
Uncle Ji, watching the horses in the shed, heard movement outside and hurried out. Seeing the snow had lessened, he rushed to the temple and reported to his young master, "Oh my, the weather has suddenly turned so cold! I don't know how long this will last. I fear the horses and mules won't survive!"
The old man was also badly frozen, his face tinged blue.
But he didn't attend to himself.
He remained concerned.
Worried about the horses freezing to death, he wrung his hands and sighed.
Cheng Hao told him not to worry for now.
Su Miaomiao woke up when everyone else got up to clear the snow. She rubbed her eyes, yawned, and said upon hearing them, "Then let's bring the horses and mules inside. There's plenty of space in the temple for them."
Cheng Hao stretched his body, unused for a long time, and said to Uncle Ji, "Listen to Miaomiao. Bring the horses and mules in, settle them on the other side, and move some firewood inside to create a barrier about half a person's height."
Anyone who found the smell unpleasant could return to their own rooms.
However, their rooms were likely even smaller, and with fewer people, they wouldn't feel as safe. Trapped in a small room, they would likely be terrified.
Therefore,
It was foreseeable that many people would move their bedding here.
People liked to gather together.
As for the smell,
With so many people, the smell wouldn't be pleasant anyway. But the benefit was that it was very cold now, so the smell wouldn't be too noticeable. It would be better with the horses and mules around too, not as unbearable as in the summer, and everyone could accept it.
Uncle Ji immediately agreed, finding it an excellent plan, and busied himself with fetching the horses.
Seeing the old man so busy, Cheng Hao and Su Miaomiao quickly called out to him, telling him to take care of himself. Uncle Ji merely replied that he was fine.
And then resumed his work.
The young couple, seeing this, followed suit, wanting to help move the horses and mules first.
After all, they would rely on them later.
There could be no accidents.
As for the others, they took advantage of the slight lull in the blizzard to clear the snow, even from the roofs, to prevent them from collapsing.
Everyone went out to work in the less severe wind and snow, carrying tools. The people from Shan'ao Village, in particular, had ready access to tools.
Some used bamboo poles to poke the snow off the roofs, making it easier to clear. In just a short while, a thick layer had accumulated, and everyone worked diligently, clearing it quickly.
It was truly cold.
Everyone exhaled heavily, rushing to finish the work so they could rest with peace of mind.
Aunt Cai and Madam Xi also took the opportunity to boil hot water, wash the dishes, and stew another pot of meat. They also made some flatbreads. Finally, they moved the large pot into the temple and placed it near the makeshift stove.
This way, they could stay warm while the meat heated, ensuring they would have food later.
This time, when stewing the meat, the two women added many chestnuts. It would be delicious later. The chestnuts could also fill their stomachs, tasting sweet and satisfying.
Everyone had their own tasks.
They busied themselves again.
When the wind and snow intensified once more, they hurried back to the temple.
This time, however, many people moved their bedding and some food.
The temple housed five deity statues, those of the five grains: rice, millet, sorghum, wheat, and beans. Thus, the temple was exceptionally large.
It could accommodate this portion of the people. The people appeared small before the statues, allowing them to find their own resting places.
Cheng Hao dared not let Su Miaomiao spend the night in the carriage.
With such heavy snow,
The carriage could be blocked in a moment, which was impractical. They had to stay in a house.
Uncle Ji was also called in.
Some of the food supplies were moved inside as well.
The Cheng family head also considered moving, but he disliked staying with the horses.
So he didn't come.
Instead, he had his wet nurse and maids retrieve some things and set up a separate meal in his room.
The others didn't bother with him.
As long as the Cheng family head was happy.
However, it was more comfortable here.
Cheng Hao declined the offer from Xiao Wuzi and Xiao Liuzi to help make the beds, choosing to do it himself. He had Su Miaomiao hold a pillow while he quickly finished.
Uncle Ji thoughtfully arranged for a simple curtain to be put up for the two of them.
Having some privileges as masters was still possible.
The others simply found a suitable spot, spread out some dry grass, laid down their bedding, and lay down to sleep. They weren't as particular.
In such freezing weather, people could truly freeze to death. At such a time, what was there to be particular about?
With so many people gathered together, there were advantages. They could take turns tending the fire and constantly monitoring the wind and snow. When it subsided slightly, everyone had to go out and clear the snow; slacking off would greatly increase the danger.
But with so many people, they could take turns, and there was no fear of the fire going out.
At such a time, if the fire went out, people could truly freeze to death, and they might die in their sleep, unknowingly, which was the most terrifying thing.
Now, with so many people here, one person from each team could take turns, and there would be no fear of the fire going out. Others could sleep soundly.
After these preparations were made,
As the wind and snow picked up again outside, everyone was no longer as fearful.
After all, they had gained some experience.
They would go out to clear the snow at appropriate times, and those on duty would make sure to add fuel.
This was the way to survive.
In such a large space, there were more than one large fire, and care was taken to leave ventilation.
This made them feel much more secure.
Everyone could breathe a sigh of relief, exchanging knowing smiles.
It had truly not been easy.