The two worked together to thoroughly clean the cave inside and out. Then, Bai Nianqing took out two bags of rice, two bags of flour, two bags of cornmeal, one bag of millet, and a jar of lard from her Dimension. She also brought out some cooking oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and various seasonings.
They stored the food and drinks in one cave, while the second cave was filled with oilcloth, cotton quilts, mattresses, and tools like shovels, pickaxes, and rakes.
They also took out some daily necessities such as a tin stove, pots, pans, bowls, and utensils—both large and small pots.
They made sure that even if they had to move up the mountain the next day, their basic living needs would be met.
“Husband, is there anything else we’re missing?” Bai Nianqing turned and asked.
“Take out two oil lamps and some white paper as well. It’s still too dark in the cave; pasting a layer of white paper will help brighten it up. Also, bring out two bags of charcoal. Next time we come, we’ll build heated brick beds in these two caves so winter will be more bearable,” Shen Wenhe said.
Bai Nianqing obediently took out everything Shen Wenhe had just mentioned.
After one final check to ensure they hadn’t forgotten anything, the two stepped out.
Shen Wenhe closed the wooden door of the cave and they returned to the cabin below.
Having stayed there for two days, they had already tidied up the cabin thoroughly.
“In the future, we’ll need to build a shed; otherwise, there’s no place to store firewood. We should also set up a separate kitchen—we can’t keep cooking indoors all the time,” Bai Nianqing remarked.
“I know. I’ll take care of all that. Tomorrow, we’ll go out first, buy a coffin, and come back to bury the old man properly. Then we’ll build two more log cabins. Once we have everything prepared, we can head into the mountains as soon as trouble breaks out outside,” Shen Wenhe had already planned it all out.
“Alright, but do you know how to build a log cabin?” It wasn’t that Bai Nianqing looked down on Shen Wenhe.
The truth was, even if Shen Wenhe hadn’t been favored in the past, he was still a young master. He was literate, could write, and had practiced martial arts for a few days. But when it came to manual labor, he was truly inexperienced.
“I don’t, but I can learn. After all, it’s for us to live in—it doesn’t matter if it’s perfect or not. Besides, even if I can’t do it, Chang’an might know how,” Shen Wenhe felt that even if he couldn’t manage it, Chang’an surely could.
“Fine, do as you see fit.” Bai Nianqing wasn’t very convinced by Shen Wenhe’s words.
She didn’t know where he got the confidence to think that if he couldn’t build a cabin, Chang’an would be able to. Although Chang’an was his servant and couldn’t compare to young masters like them, compared to ordinary families outside, his life had been comfortable. It was unlikely he knew how to do such things.
But she knew Shen Wenhe wouldn’t believe her if she told him now, so she decided to let him figure it out for himself.
After chatting for a while, the two had a bite to eat and went to sleep.
The next morning, they set off for home.
The journey took another three days. Fortunately, they carried the Beast Repellent Powder left by Old Man Xu Changming and encountered no dangers along the way.
When they arrived home, Xiaochun was playing in the yard with Nianchen. Seeing them return, he ran over eagerly: “Sister, Brother-in-law!”
“Miss, Young Master, you’re back,” Xiaochun greeted them promptly.
“Yes, has everything been alright at home these past few days?” Bai Nianqing said, picking up her younger brother Nianchen.
“Everything is fine at home, but these past few days, scattered refugees have begun appearing in our county town.”
“Brother Chang’an went to the city again today to gather information,” Xiaochun said.
“Oh? There are really refugees in the city already?” Shen Wenhe frowned deeply.
“Yes, when Brother Chang’an returned yesterday, he said the river outside the city is almost dry, and I heard some wells can no longer draw water,” Xiaochun reported.
“It’s already this serious? Is there still water in our manor’s well?” Bai Nianqing asked worriedly.
“Our manor’s well is a deep one, so it can still produce water, but the output has decreased significantly.”
“It yields about two buckets over a full day and night. The village wells have already run dry. Some villagers went to the mountains searching for water, but they were killed by wolf packs. When their families went looking for them, they only found torn pieces of clothing.”
“Now, no matter how severe the water shortage gets, nobody dares venture into the mountains for water anymore.”
“By the way, Miss, you didn’t encounter any wolf packs in the mountains, did you?” Xiaochun asked anxiously after finishing her report.
“We didn’t encounter any,” Bai Nianqing replied. Indeed, they had been quite fortunate this trip to the mountains, facing no dangers at all.
“That’s good then, Miss. I’ve pulled up all the vegetables from the garden. Some I’ve sun-dried into preserved vegetables.”
“And…”
As they walked, Xiaochun continued updating Bai Nianqing about everything that had happened over the past few days.
“Pulling them up was the right decision. We’re running out of drinking water for people, let alone having any to spare for vegetables.”
“Has the village situation become this difficult? I wonder how people will manage to survive going forward,” Bai Nianqing sighed.
“Yes, just yesterday someone came to our manor begging for water. She looked so pitiful, I gave her a bowl…”
While Xiaochun was speaking, a disheveled woman rushed in from outside, tightly clutching two children.
“Sister, kind sister, I beg you, please save me and my children,” the woman cried, throwing herself at Bai Nianqing’s feet and kneeling with a thud.
“Madam, what are you doing? Please get up,” Bai Nianqing said, stepping back in alarm.
Perhaps noticing the voice didn’t match her expectations, the woman looked up in confusion at Bai Nianqing.
“Elder sister, this is my young mistress,” Xiaochun explained, equally startled. She hadn’t expected the woman who came begging for water yesterday to return today and kneel on the ground.
And worse, kneeling before her young mistress.
Realizing Bai Nianqing was the one in charge of the manor, the woman immediately pulled her two daughters to kowtow to Bai Nianqing.
“Young mistress, I beg you, please save my daughters. I implore you to save my girls.”
“Madam, what has happened? How can I help you if you don’t explain clearly?” Bai Nianqing signaled Xiaochun with her eyes to help the woman up.
“Elder sister, please rise first. My young mistress has the softest heart and will surely help you,” Xiaochun said while pulling the woman to her feet.
“Young mistress, I boldly beg you to buy my two girls. Don’t let their youth fool you—they can do anything! Laundry, cooking, they can handle it all,” the woman urgently pushed her children toward Bai Nianqing.
“How old are these children? What could they possibly do? You should take them home,” Bai Nianqing frowned, looking at the timid little girls.
“They’re not that young anymore! The older one is seven, and the younger is five. They truly can work—they can do anything!”
“Young mistress, please show mercy and buy them!”
“My mother-in-law wants to sell them for food. I truly have no other choice,” the woman pleaded desperately.
“What happened at home? Why would you consider selling your children?” Bai Nianqing asked in confusion.