After finishing the meal, Shen Zhao returned to her room.
She took out her own toothpaste, toothbrush, and washbasin, and came out to ask He Xiaolan for hot water to wash up.
After brushing her teeth, she put her things back.
The kerosene lamp in the room had already been extinguished, and the He family members had all returned to their rooms to rest.
In the countryside, there were no lights at night, and everyone was tired from the day's work, so they usually went to bed very early.
Only He Xiaolan and the fire pit still burning in the main hall remained, emitting a faint light.
It was probably left there intentionally for her.
Shen Zhao took out her flashlight and turned it on.
She then found a red hair hoop that she had taken from Shen Wan and went to the main hall to give it to He Xiaolan.
"Could you please boil another pot of hot water and bring it to my room? I'd like to wash up."
The light in the room was dim, so the color of the hair hoop wasn't very noticeable.
He Xiaolan was still very surprised but didn't reach out to take it. "This... is too kind of you. Next time you need anything, just tell me directly, you don't have to do this..."
"It's fine," Shen Zhao directly put the hair hoop into her arms. "I won't be able to use it here."
She didn't want to use Shen Wan's things; the reason she took them was to prevent Shen Wan from having them.
"Then, I'll go boil some for you right away. Wait for me a moment." He Xiaolan's face was flushed red by the firelight.
This kind of hair hoop wasn't sold at the supply and marketing cooperatives in their small town; you could only buy them at department stores in big cities.
And each one cost several yuan.
Educated Youth Shen is so generous!
She went to the kitchen. The fire in the stove hadn't completely died out, so she grabbed a handful of pine needles and threw them in.
Then she placed the fire bucket under the pine needles and blew into the air vent, and the fire caught.
All that was left was to boil the water.
Shen Zhao stood at the kitchen doorway and watched.
She didn't know how to make a fire, but she would have to do it herself in the future, so it was a good opportunity to learn.
"Oh, right, I brought my own enamel basin and a thermos. You can use mine to hold the water later."
She was unwilling to use the He family's things.
He Xiaolan turned back and replied, "Okay."
Shen Zhao returned to her room and took out three enamel basins. One was for soaking her feet, one for washing her face, and one for washing her body.
She also had two green plastic-covered thermoses; these could keep warm and were quite magical.
She took the three basins and the thermoses to the kitchen and set them down. The water had just finished boiling.
He Xiaolan quickly used a wooden ladle to scoop water into the basins for her.
"Educated Youth Shen, you don't need the bathwater to be this hot. Use these for now, and I'll continue boiling the rest of the water and fill your thermos for you."
"Okay, thank you."
Shen Zhao carried a basin of hot water into the room.
He Xiaolan helped her carry the remaining two basins into the room. "Take your time washing. Call me later, and I'll help you empty the water."
After closing the door and confirming that the windows and door were locked, Shen Zhao began to undress.
She had only taken a bath the night before getting on the train; the conditions on the train were limited.
Let alone bathing, she couldn't even wipe herself clean and had endured it until now.
Without a bathtub, she could only wipe herself down, and she didn't feel completely clean.
It seemed she should order a large bathtub tomorrow.
After wiping herself down, she washed her hair as well.
She used the shampoo and conditioner she brought from the Shen family's place, which she didn't really like.
She would have to buy some tomorrow, as well as things for her hands and face...
She thought about what she needed to buy tomorrow while washing.
When she calculated it, it was quite a lot, but she had no more coupons, so she had to think of a way.
After her bath, Shen Zhao changed into her pajamas and felt a bit cold.
She took out a golden fox fur cloak and put it on, then sat by the bed to dry her hair. With a surge of Internal Energy, it dried quickly.
As soon as she opened the door, He Xiaolan came out from the next room.
It was dark inside, so she didn't clearly see the luxurious cloak Shen Zhao was wearing.
She lowered her voice and said, "Educated Youth Shen, don't move. It's cold outside, and you might catch a cold easily after just taking a bath."
Shen Zhao nodded. "Then I'll hold the flashlight for you."
She held up the flashlight and watched He Xiaolan empty the water.
She then helped her carry the thermos filled with boiling water into the room.
Hmm... her movements were quick, and she did things cleanly.
She should observe her character further.
She subtly withdrew her gaze and, after He Xiaolan left, got up and bolted the door.
She then took out two glass hot water bottles from her space, filled them with water, and put them in the quilt before getting into bed.
The fatigue from sitting on the train for two days instantly washed over her, and she fell asleep quickly.
The next morning, around five o'clock.
The He family members were already up.
Some were cooking, some were chopping wood, in short, there was no peace.
Shen Zhao was woken up and couldn't fall back asleep.
She put on her clothes and got up.
She poured a pot of water from the thermos into a kettle and used the rest in the washbasin for washing up.
For breakfast, they still had sweet potato porridge with pickled bush beans. These were pickled in the summer and stored until now; they were sour and soft, not crisp and refreshing.
It didn't taste very good.
Shen Zhao only took a bite.
In the end, she only ate her egg and a little less than half a bowl of rice.
Seeing He Xiaoshan looking longingly at the egg, but not speaking or behaving rudely.
She gave him another White Rabbit candy. The happy little child immediately changed his address to "Sister."
His expression suggested he wished Shen Zhao were his own sister.
He Dashan looked enviously. White Rabbit candies cost several yuan per jin; he had never eaten them in his life.
At most, he would get one or two pieces of rock sugar or some loose mint candies during the New Year.
But he was already 15 years old and felt too embarrassed to be as shameless as his younger brother, so he quickly lowered his head to eat.
Seeing this, He Xiaoshan quietly slipped the candy into his brother's hand.
Shen Zhao saw their small actions and the corners of her lips curved. She had to admit that the He family's children were quite well-behaved.
They didn't make her feel annoyed.
The house was also kept very clean, and their cooking skills were good.
This was also why, after what happened last night, she was willing to stay.
After breakfast, at seven in the morning, everyone went to work.
Even children as young as He Xiaoshan were no exception.
He was responsible for gathering pig grass, which earned him two Work Points a day.
Shen Zhao borrowed a bamboo basket from the He family and carried it to the village entrance.
This bamboo basket was woven from bamboo; it wasn't very attractive, but it was convenient for carrying things.
As she walked, she noticed that besides trees,
there were the most bamboo, with almost every household having a small bamboo forest behind or beside their houses.
Unlike the neatly trimmed bamboo forest in her imperial garden, the bamboo forests here were more wild, growing freely, and the bamboo was thicker.
There should be... Winter Bamboo Shoots.
Shen Zhao thought as she walked. In previous years, the imperial kitchen would serve Winter Bamboo Shoot and Old Duck Soup every winter.
She didn't like duck meat but enjoyed the Winter Bamboo Shoots in the soup.
They were fresh, crisp, and refreshing.
When she saw Gu Qiu waiting at the village entrance, she quickly withdrew her scattered thoughts.
She didn't know what Winter Bamboo Shoots looked like, and besides, these bamboo forests belonged to the public; she couldn't just dig them up.
"Shen Zhao, you're finally here!"
Gu Qiu, also carrying a bamboo basket, hopped over with a naive smile.
"Aren't they coming?" Shen Zhao didn't see Wen Yixun and Ji Bai.
Gu Qiu shook her head. "They all complained the road was too difficult to walk. I'll bring it back for them."
"Then let's go."
Shen Zhao didn't say anything and walked ahead first.
Gu Qiu quickly followed, subconsciously falling a step behind. "I asked someone this morning. If we follow the main road all the way, it will take about an hour to get to town."
The so-called main road was actually a winding mountain path wide enough for two people.
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