Gu Jiu returned to the clothing shop.
“Shopkeeper Hu, the county is likely to fall into chaos. The barbarians will be attacking soon,” Gu Jiu told him about the notice she had seen.
Shopkeeper Hu’s expression turned serious after hearing this. He thanked her for the information and reminded them to be careful on their way home.
That notice had been posted the previous afternoon—nearly a full day had already passed. If anyone in the city intended to cause trouble, they might already start acting today.
Gu Jiu didn’t dare linger. She quickly picked up her younger siblings and went to meet Feng Daquan.
Although Gu Rong and Gu Xiaoman were still young, they understood what war meant. After all, their original father, Gu Laosan, had been conscripted by the imperial court and died on the battlefield.
Seeing their sisters’ panicked little faces, Gu Jiu gently comforted them.
“Don’t worry. I’m here.”
“Elder sister, what do we do if the barbarians come?” Gu Rong asked anxiously.
“Most likely, Grandfather Feng will hear the news today. We’ll first see what the village elders decide. In any case, I’ll protect you all,” Gu Jiu replied.
When the four of them reached the donkey cart, the two village women had already returned from shopping and were happily chatting about how cheap their purchases were.
If they had known war was coming, they probably wouldn’t be smiling anymore.
“Uncle Daquan, let’s head back to the village,” Gu Jiu said, placing the basket and sack onto the cart. She then lifted her two younger sisters up before getting on herself while holding her younger brother.
Seeing Feng Daquan’s normal expression, she guessed he hadn’t heard the news yet. She planned to tell him after returning to the village.
As for the two village women, she didn’t want to talk to them for now, just to avoid unnecessary noise on the way.
The two women noticed the heavy basket and sack. Liu Guihua, in particular, was very curious about what they had bought.
“Jiu girl, you went to buy grain, didn’t you? If you’d told Auntie, I could’ve taken you—no one would’ve cheated you,” said another woman, Luo Xiulan.
Gu Jiu didn’t want to draw attention, so she only nodded without speaking.
Luo Xiulan quickly added, “Sister Luo, don’t you know? This girl inherited her father’s hunting skills. She won’t lack food in the future—especially meat for her siblings!”
Though it sounded like praise, Liu Guihua’s tone carried clear jealousy.
“Jiu girl really is capable! Even after splitting from the family, she can still raise her siblings well. If you need help, just tell Aunt Luo!”
Hearing that Gu Jiu could hunt, Luo Xiulan immediately became flattering.
Gu Jiu understood their motives well and took the opportunity to respond.
“Aunt Luo, I actually do need help. I bought fabric and want to make clothes and shoes for my siblings, but none of us know needlework. I’ve been worrying about it.”
“I used to work in an embroidery workshop when I was young. Making clothes and shoes is nothing difficult!” Luo Xiulan said proudly. “I can finish them for you today if needed.”
She wasn’t lying—she had indeed been a skilled seamstress before marriage.
“I won’t let you work for free,” Gu Jiu said. “I’ll pay you for each piece. I just need them done quickly.”
Luo Xiulan readily agreed and said she could finish everything by the afternoon.
Liu Guihua felt a pang of regret. If she had known Gu Jiu had money, she wouldn’t have offended her—she could’ve earned some sewing work too.
But then she thought maybe Gu Jiu didn’t actually have much money left and might not even be able to pay.
The donkey cart bumped along the road. As they neared the village, a light rain began to fall.
Feng Daquan drove the cart into the village center so everyone could head home more easily.
Gu Jiu handed the fabric to Luo Xiulan, and she left quickly with Liu Guihua.
“Uncle Daquan,” Gu Jiu said quietly, “when I was in the city, I saw a notice saying the barbarians will reach our area within three days.”
Feng Daquan nearly fell off the cart in shock.
“Jiu girl, is that true? Did you really read the notice clearly?”
He didn’t actually believe a young girl could read, but still hurried the donkey cart home to discuss it with his father.
Gu Jiu wasn’t bothered by his doubt. The village leaders would verify the truth themselves.
She first took her siblings home.
By noon, smoke was rising from the village chimneys. The children were already hungry.
She checked the house—nothing was missing—then quickly started cooking lunch.
From the basket, she took out some white rice. While her siblings weren’t looking, she secretly added a five-jin pumpkin, three green peppers, and one jin of pork tenderloin as if taken from the basket.
From her hidden storage, she also took out a clay jar filled with pork lard—essential for cooking.
She sliced the pork and peppers into strips, minced scallions, ginger, and garlic, and cut the pumpkin into chunks for soup.
A large spoonful of lard went into the wok, immediately releasing a rich aroma.
The smell made the children swallow their saliva.
“Elder sister, you even bought lard! And pork!” Gu Rong exclaimed happily.
Gu Xiaoman also leaned closer to the pot, eyes shining. “And pumpkin, my favorite!”
Gu Jiu smiled faintly, enjoying their excitement.
Soon, a plate of stir-fried pork with green peppers and a big pot of pumpkin soup were ready.
There was also leftover roasted lamb from the previous day. Gu Jiu worried it might spoil in the heat, but Gu Rong insisted on keeping it. After checking it, there was no bad smell, so they reheated it for lunch.
“It smells so good! The pumpkin soup is so sweet!” Gu Xiaoman said happily as she ate.
“Elder sister, don’t spoil Xiaoman. We spent a lot today—we need to save money,” Gu Rong said sensibly, taking over feeding Gu Changle so Gu Jiu could eat.
Gu Changle squirmed eagerly, trying to grab the food himself.
“Rong’er, you should start teaching him to eat on his own,” Gu Jiu suggested.
“I’ll feed him a few more days. He still can’t even hold chopsticks,” Gu Rong replied.
Gu Jiu thought of the adaptive children’s chopsticks and plates she had seen in her past life—something she could make later to help.
Just after they finished lunch, the sound of gongs echoed through the village.
Gu Jiu guessed the village head had verified the news and was gathering everyone for discussion.
She told Gu Rong to stay home and took off for the village center alone.
Meetings led by the village head were always held under the big banyan tree in the center of the village.
When she arrived, many villagers were already there, still holding their bowls.
“What happened, Village Head? Why did you call us so urgently? I haven’t even finished eating!” someone complained.
The village head looked extremely serious.
“Wait until everyone arrives. Then I will explain.”
More villagers gradually arrived, grumbling along the way.
Gu Jiu found a stone to sit on and saw Old Master Gu and Gu Lao’er also present.