Chapter 21: Landing at Xiangcheng

This is also the reason that has kept her persisting all these days!

"Big sister, what is this fruit? It's so delicious!"

A child's emotions come quickly and go just as fast.

Shen Yubai gnaws the bright red fruit, juice streaming down.

He has never tasted this flavor before, not even in the past.

"This is a tomato, a foreign… vegetable, very nutritious, even the weak can eat more of it. Grandmother, you should eat too."

"Alright, we little ones love Grandmother the most…"

While they were eating, she took out warm clothing, which she had just bought on a chance in the System Mall.

Three sets of thermal underwear.

Three sweaters.

And cotton boots…

Although this is easy to doubt, she cannot stand watching her relatives freeze helplessly.

In her previous life, she had a system but it stayed shut down due to depleted energy, unusable, leaving her to watch her relatives die miserably.

In this life, she will never repeat that mistake! Even if it raises the risk of exposure, she will spare no effort!

As she produced more and more items, even the simpleton Shen Yubai noticed something was off.

How could such a small bundle hold so many things?

A sharp glint flashed in the old woman's eyes; she stopped Shen Yubai who wanted to ask, changing the subject, "Don't just stare, put them on quickly, the two doctors will be back soon."

The obvious meaning was: don't let them keep asking.

Lin Shi hurriedly began, first dressing the old woman.

"Sister, you eat, I'll take care of it."

Ning Shi stopped her, then together with Shen Qingquan helped the old woman dress.

Shen Qingquan looked at Grandmother's hands and the exposed feet, both frostbitten, and felt deep sorrow.

Grandmother is so old yet has to endure such suffering; she feels both heartache and sadness.

The old woman seemed to sense her emotions, her aged hand grasped hers, offering a soothing, kind smile, "Grandmother is fine; as long as we little ones are fine, Grandmother will be fine."

Shen Qingquan's eyes reddened again, a sour feeling, a warm current surged to her heart.

She grasped her hand, pressed her head against it, and, just like in childhood, nestled on her knee.

The old woman smiled, patting her head, her voice indulgent, "Our little one still loves to act cute with Grandmother just like when she was a child."

"Little one is willing to dote on Grandmother for a lifetime…"

Her voice was thick with a nasal tone, both coquettish and soft, no longer the previous coldness.

Brother and sister are watching, and you, as the older sister, aren't embarrassed?

She laughed, pinched her nose, and Shen Qingquan, with a righteous expression, said, "What's there to be embarrassed about? If brother and sister coo at me, then I can only coo at Grandmother~"

"You…''

Her playful look seemed to return to the former Shen Family's pampered eldest daughter, Miss Shen Qingquan.

Shen Chengjuan watched, feeling heartache.

He knew his daughter was doing this to amuse her mother; for many days she had shown a maturity and composure completely different from before, unknowingly becoming the family's backbone.

But if she hadn't endured so many calamities, how could she have suddenly grown up overnight?

Her daughter is only sixteen now, an age that should be like a blossoming flower, innocent and carefree, yet forced to bear the family's burdens.

Soon, the three of them put on thick clothing, and after a short while their bodies warmed up.

Having eaten and feeling warm, fatigue quickly rose.

Just then, the old man Huang Laotou and his grandchild finally returned.

The family together lifted the old woman onto a handcart and left Denggu Alley.

…

After a incense stick's time.

They arrived at Xiao Huang's dwelling.

It was a dilapidated courtyard.

The walls had collapsed, many houses were wrecked, barely the main hall and a side room remained usable.

Half the house was frozen, as was the ground; as they walked, they were essentially on ice. The icy road was slippery, so they dared not go too fast, which is why it took so long to arrive.

Thus it took them so long to get here.

"This is the residence of a fellow doctor from my clan; I occasionally stay here."

Xiao Huang said, his expression slightly gloomy. Unfortunately, his friend had been injured by refugees half a month ago while gathering herbs outside the city and had died; he was alone, with no wife or children, and now this place had become deserted.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help feeling sad.

"Thank you, Doctor Xiao Huang. I have some food and cookware here; it's almost noon, let's prepare something to eat first, and deal with the rest later."

"The kitchen has collapsed; we may have to set up a pot in the courtyard."

She glanced at the wall and said, "Later I'll find a way to repair the wall, so it will be safer."

"There are many fallen bricks and tiles nearby; perhaps we can use them."

She nodded; for now they could only make do with this.

After properly settling Grandmother, she took the medicine and soon fell asleep.

One person stayed to guard, while the others helped repair the wall in the courtyard; Ning Shi and Lin Shi were in charge of the noon meal.

At present, the only food was millet porridge and sweet‑potato buns; Shen Qingquan thought that later she would check and buy other seeds from the system.

She scanned the system with her mind and found she had only 23 Gold Coins left, having spent a lot on clothing for Grandmother and the others.

Fortunately, she kept farming nonstop, harvesting, farming… otherwise they might not even have 23 Gold Coins.

Before long, the scent of rice porridge drifted from the small courtyard, along with the aroma of freshly steamed Sweet Potato and buns.

Luckily this place is remote; otherwise they wouldn't dare light a fire in the courtyard.

Originally Huang Yuanchang thought they'd just make something simple, but when he saw the pot of golden, thick Millet porridge, plus the white buns and the reddish Sweet Potatoes, he was instantly stunned.

At this moment, they actually had fine grain? And they cooked so much at once?

He hesitated briefly, then swallowed his question, and the grandparent and grandchild exchanged glances, thinking of a reason to step out for a while.

"The meal is ready, come and eat quickly."

Shen Qingquan stopped what she was doing and said to the two, "Let's go, eat first."

"Miss Shen, we… don't need to. Actually Ding and I have something to discuss, so we'll head over first."

These days, what's most important?

Food.

They wouldn't be shameless enough to mooch off someone else's meal, especially when it's fine grain!

Shen Qingquan glanced at the two, then smiled, "Come along, after you finish eating I'd like you both to check my family's wounds. Moreover, my grandmother's illness is being treated by you, consider it a consultation fee."

At that point, the two had nothing more to say.

Old Huang turned back to look at his gaunt grandson, and in the end he still didn't utter a refusal.? This novel first appeared on 17K Novel Network; read the official version right away!