RWNEFE -Chapter 145 The Arrival of the County Officials

Liu Yanhui walked in with his hands behind his back, cheerful. “Of course I bought it. Do you think I could’ve run up the mountain and hunted it myself?”

Shen Yuanjing looked at the big iron pot in the middle of the courtyard, white broth bubbling and steaming, and his mouth watered.

These past few days, to save money, the family had only been eating cornbread, cabbage, and pickled vegetables. Those who stayed home ate only two meals a day, while men going out to cut firewood got three meals.

In addition, each man who practiced martial arts or cut wood got an extra egg. If they didn’t, they ate like everyone else—two meals, no egg.

Although Shen Yuanjing had three meals and an egg each day, at his growing age, he needed fat and protein to sustain himself—and he craved meat.

“Big sister…” Shen Yuanjing, along with his siblings, ran quickly into Shen Lanxi’s courtyard.

Qiushuang raised her hand, blocking the entrance.

“Quiet! The young master is practicing martial arts!”

Shen Lanxi always dressed in men’s clothing. Her two maids were used to calling her that, and to avoid drawing attention from the people of Hongliu Village, she hadn’t changed the form of address.

Shen Yuanjing quickly clamped his mouth shut.

Inside the courtyard, the air was filled with the sound of whooshing strikes. The siblings wanted to peek but didn’t want to disturb her. They had to tiptoe, straining to see over the walls.

Unfortunately, this stone house had the highest courtyard walls of all the stone houses.

“Come in!”

Shen Lanxi had already heard them and casually propped her staff in the courtyard, calling them over.

“Big sister, I caught a rabbit in the mountains! Sergeant Wu said we’re not official soldiers, so we don’t need to turn it in!”

Shen Lanxi smiled at her younger brother proudly showing off his catch.

“Well done!”

The children chuckled sheepishly at the praise.

“Big sister, this rabbit is for you!”

Shen Lanxi didn’t take it immediately and smiled. “If I take it, does your family know?”

They hadn’t gone home yet; Zhang Liao had just let them return and they rushed here.

“Seeing how you are, I’m sure they don’t know!”

Shen Yuanjing and the others avoided eye contact.

“Big sister, you’ve helped the family so much. Taking a rabbit won’t make them say anything!” Shen Yuanjing said confidently, though he wasn’t entirely sure.

Shen Lanxi raised an eyebrow. “Why don’t you go ask your family?”

Shen Yuanjing insisted, “No need! I caught the rabbit, and I say it’s for big sister—then it’s for big sister. If you hadn’t protected us, we might have lost it as soon as we left the capital!”

“Yeah, big sister! Just take it! I’ll hunt more rabbits for you in the future!”

“I’ll hunt too…”

Shen Lanxi’s lips curved slightly. “Good. I accept your intentions. Tonight, everyone stays here for dinner!”

Thinking of the big pot of stew next door, their stomachs rumbled uncontrollably.

“Big sister, we’ll eat at home tonight, so we won’t come over!” Shen Yuanjing said, wavering in his heart but speaking firmly.

“Big sister, I won’t come either. We have food at home!” Shen Yuanqing’s voice wasn’t even as loud as the wind outside.

Seeing her children so contradictory, Shen Lanxi’s tone was light: “Alright, you’ve all worked hard today. Go to Chunxue and get some pastries!”

Once they left the courtyard, their earlier excitement drained away, leaving them listless.

“Brother, I want meat!”

“Me too!”

“Two huge pots of meat—they can’t finish it all. Why doesn’t big sister let us take some?”

“Shut up! You can’t say things like that again. That food isn’t just for big sister. She’s already done a lot for us!”

“But they clearly all listen to big sister!”

“Say that again, and I won’t take you to practice martial arts tomorrow!”

…

At night, some of the children tossed and turned in bed.

“Brother, I want meat!”

“Sister, me too!”

“Are you coming to the latrine with me?”

“No, it’s too cold outside!”

“If you don’t go, I’ll go alone. Don’t regret it later!”

After about half an hour, several figures appeared outside Shen Lanxi’s courtyard.

“Brother Yuanxu, you came too?”

“Shh, keep your voice down~”

The courtyard gate was open, and they quietly slipped in.

Chunxue carried large trays of bones, giving them a side-eye, then pushed the door open.

“Wow! There’s still more, and it’s hot too. We knew big sister was thinking of us!”

That voice sounded familiar.

Shen Yuanxu and the others pushed the door open and were startled.

“Yuanjing, Yuanjun, Yuanqing… it’s you?”

Footsteps came from behind. Looking back, they saw…

Goodness, those who claimed they wouldn’t come this afternoon had all shown up!

It had snowed continuously for five days. In places no one had cleared, the snow had piled higher than the houses.

Each day, Zhang Liao organized people—men, women, old, and young—to clear the first snow, piling it outside Hongliu Village.

The village was effectively surrounded by snow. Outsiders couldn’t enter, and insiders couldn’t leave.

“When will this snow ever stop?”

“Good thing we collected plenty of firewood before, or we wouldn’t last the month with only charcoal!”

“Use the charcoal sparingly. Once the snow stops, we need to gather more firewood!”

This was the shared concern of all the exiles.

Unexpectedly, despite the weather, at noon, another group of exiles arrived at Hongliu Village.

Along the way, the county officials shouted curses constantly. Once they entered Hongliu Village, things calmed down a bit.

Zhang Liao knew these officials and quickly invited them inside to warm themselves by the fire.

“Old Liu, did you offend someone? In this snow, they still sent you out?”

Old Liu shivered, warming his hands over the fire before speaking.

“I almost froze into an icicle!”

Zhang Liao laughed.

“The new county magistrate brought his people. When they came, they targeted us, making us handle the annoying task of escorting exiles. If someone refused, they were told to leave!” Old Liu looked helpless.

Zhang Liao patted his shoulder and pulled two sweet potatoes from the fire.

“These were buried by my wife this morning. Eat them.”

Old Liu was deeply touched. He knew Zhang Liao didn’t have an easy life either, and his stomach felt like ice. A little warmth was a blessing.

“Thanks, brother. If anything good happens in the future, I’ll remember you!”

Zhang Liao said cheerfully, “We’re all family here—no need for formalities!”

Just then, Liu Yanhui entered, carrying a basket.

“Brother Zhang, yesterday we smoked some meat at home, so I brought a few pieces for you!” He lifted the cloth on the basket, revealing three strips of meat and four or five bones with meat hanging on them.

Madam Wang looked at Old Liu with some reluctance.

Zhang Liao felt the same. Thinking he might need Old Liu later, he reluctantly took a bone from the basket and handed it to him.

“Roast some meat. This one has enough fat!”

Old Liu looked at Liu Yanhui, then at the meaty bones. He hesitated, but couldn’t resist.

He took it and immediately thanked both Liu Yanhui and Zhang Liao.

Liu Yanhui then moved a small stool to sit and reached out to warm himself by the fire.