The temperature dropped suddenly today, and a thick layer of frost fell in the morning. The sun was covered by thick clouds after a brief glimpse in the morning. A few rays of light poured out from the clouds, adding some vitality to this cold and lonely early winter.

There are not many people on the village road. In winter, most of them stay at home, chat with their families or take a break. Farmers don’t have many days to rest. In the past few years, there have been wars year after year. Even though Cangnan Village is located in the center of Xia State, it has not been peaceful. Most of them are sad. Now, they can finally stop.

The sound of a carriage appeared on the official road. Meng Yunshu, who was sitting on it, was holding two new pottery jars in his arms. From time to time, he glanced at the man driving the carriage in front of him, and then lowered his head to look at his almost brand new clothes, which formed a sharp contrast with the clothes with traces of mending on the man’s body. He felt complicated.

 He had just arrived at the Yu family, and the clothes he was wearing were also bought by Yu Jinhuai in the county. This time they went to the town to buy cans of malted milk and milk powder, but they never thought that the man would buy him a blue headband when they passed by a stall selling hair accessories.

At this time, the headband embroidered with auspicious clouds was tucked into the lapel of his chest. Meng Yunshu licked his dry lips, silently moved his body and sat next to the man, looking at the way home with him.

“Brother Huai, where are we going to get soil later?”

Yu Jinhuai did not look away, but his fingers holding the rope tightened a little. His body was stiff, and he said in a deep voice: “Just dig some soil when you pass by Cang River.”

Meng Yunshu did not notice Yu Jinhuai’s abnormality, and nodded obediently when he heard it.

 At home, they agreed that the milk powder and malted milk were to be placed in a pottery jar. When asked by family members, they said that Yu Jinhuai’s friend when he joined the army got them from the nomadic tribe and gave them to him. The soil on the pottery jar was collected when it was buried in a box full of soil in order to make it easier to carry it out. In this way, it was considered a clear way.

Soon they arrived at Cang River. Yu Jinhuai pulled the reins to stop the carriage. He looked around sharply to make sure no one would pass by before looking at Meng Yunshu.

Meng Yunshu put down the jar in his arms. With the experience of the last time, he easily let the two jars fall into his arms this time.

The pottery jar was cleaned in the shop after they bought it, so it was convenient for them to pour the malted milk and milk powder into it.

“Brother Huai, smell it.” Meng Yunshu opened the malted milk first. He held the jar in front of Yu Jinhuai, and looked at him expectantly with almond eyes.

 As early as when he opened the lid, Yu Jinhuai smelled the faint milk and sweet smell in the air. He was really curious and wondered how these yellowish particles could emit such a sweet smell?

So when Meng Yunshu invited him to smell it, he did not hesitate to get close to it and smelled it. The closer he was, the stronger the milk smell was. A trace of surprise flashed in his starry eyes. When Meng Yunshu opened the milk powder again and smelled the milk smell that was stronger than before, his eyes became brighter.

Then he thought again that if there were these three years ago, would Ah Ning be fatter? Would he be in better health than now? Would he be the same as children of the same age?

“Brother Huai, do you want to taste it?” Meng Yunshu poured milk powder into the pottery jar and looked at Yu Jinhuai who was doing the same thing as him, and suddenly asked.

It has been a long time since he smelled the milk fragrance, and he was greedy. His mouth was unconsciously secreting saliva. He looked at the milk powder in the pottery jar with greed, imagining the taste of the brewed milk. He wanted to lick it now.

 Yu Jinhuai looked up at him. He saw his little thoughts but didn’t point them out, and nodded.

With someone to accompany him, Meng Yunshu felt at ease to taste a little milk powder, and also signaled Yu Jinhuai to taste a little malted milk. The two of them took a mouthful each with the spoon in the jar. Even though the amount was small, the two flavors remained in the hearts of both parties. Even Yu Jinhuai, who didn’t like sweets, felt good, not to mention Meng Yunshu.

Smearing the soil on the surface of the pottery jar, Meng Yunshu surrounded the two jars in front of him, not as tightly as before, but leaving some space, for fear of dirtying his cotton coat.

Meng Yunshu was looking after the two pottery jars along the way and had no time to look at the road. He raised his head slightly and took a glimpse, and found that he was almost home.

Although the carriage was padded with a layer of straw, it was still uncomfortable to sit on. Meng Yunshu moved his sore butt and looked at the door that was getting closer and closer. He couldn’t help but mutter in his heart that he was finally home.

The carriage stopped at the door of his house. Meng Yunshu couldn’t wait to jump off the car. At the moment when Yu Jinhuai opened the door, several children in Yu Jinyue’s house across the street heard the sound and happily opened the door and rushed out. Yu Zhining rushed over like a small cannonball to hug Yu Jinhuai’s thigh. It was obvious how happy he was.

Yu Jinyue and Yu Jinlan trotted over behind him. There were two wolfhounds guarding the door at home, so it didn’t matter if the door was ajar.

Although they were curious about the two pottery jars on the carriage, they knew that now was not the time to ask. Children were naturally big-minded and looked at them secretly.

 After driving the carriage all the way, he was inevitably covered in dust. Yu Jinhuai reached out to stop Yu Zhining’s movements. He was always dignified. Yu Zhining was brought up by him, so he was not afraid of him.

Yu Zhining stood still obediently, waiting for him to open the door, and walked into the yard first.

Yu Jinhuai turned around and led the carriage in. Meng Yunshu and the other two followed him in. Yu Jinyue, who came in last, closed the door quickly.

When leaving home, there was still warm water in the pot. Meng Yunshu asked Yu Jinlan to get a basin of warm water and put it in the yard. After washing his hands, he waved to Yu Zhining and the others and said, “Ah Ning, Xiao Yue, Xiao Lan, follow me.”

The three children followed him into the kitchen obediently.

The two pottery jars had been moved into the kitchen by Yu Jinhuai and placed under the chopping board, which was very conspicuous.

 Meng Yunshu called them and started a fire with a fire starter. In the past two days, his fire-making skills have improved a lot, and he soon started the fire. He stuffed some straw and thin branches into the stove, and when the fire was big enough, he could change it to coarse firewood.

Clapping his hands, Meng Yunshu stood up and looked at the three people surrounding the two pottery pots. He walked to the cupboard with a chuckle and found an almost new wooden spoon, and asked jokingly: “Did you see anything?”

Yu Zhining moved closer, moved his nose, looked at the pottery pot and wanted to reach out to touch it, but when he saw the soil on it, he took it back and looked up at his third uncle, “Third uncle, did you see anything?”

As soon as he said this, even Yu Jinhuai, who had just entered the door, looked at him, waiting for his answer.

 Being looked at like an ant on a hot pot by the whole family, Yu Jinyue swallowed nervously. He fingered the patched seam on his pants, quickly glanced at Meng Yunshu with a smile on his face, hesitated for a moment, and said honestly: “I can’t see it.”

The mouth of the pottery jar was tightly blocked, without any gaps. He also smelled it, but couldn’t see anything.

Meng Yunshu smiled, turned around and saw Yu Jinhuai sitting in front of the stove watching the fire. The bottom of the pot was also changed to hard wood. He just checked that there was not much water in the pot, and it would boil soon.

Seeing this, he didn’t keep it a secret, and took two larger basins, walked between them, and reached out to open the pottery jar.

In an instant, the air was filled with a strong milky aroma, attracting the attention of the three children.

“It smells sweet.” Yu Zhining leaned on his chin and poked his head out.

 There are not many children in farming families who have ever drunk goat’s milk or cow’s milk. Mothers do not have much breast milk, so most of them drink rice porridge. Only those with good conditions can drink cow’s milk or goat’s milk.

Jinyue drank milk brought by his classmates when he was a child. Now, smelling this smell, the smell in his memory was aroused. He asked hesitantly: “Is it milk?”

“Brother, how do you know?”

Yu Jinyue scratched his hair shyly and said embarrassedly: “My classmate let me drink it when I was in school.”

That was the first time he drank milk. The milk in his memory had a faint fishy smell and tasted sweet when he drank it. The classmate said that honey was also added to it. Whether it was milk or honey, it was difficult for farmers to buy it.

“Xiao Yue is right, it is milk.” Meng Yunshu scooped three spoonfuls of milk powder and malted milk into two basins respectively, and covered them again. He said: “It’s just milk powder made from milk. Wait until the water boils and you can drink it after mixing it.”

Hearing the voice, the three children who couldn’t wait looked at Yu Jinhuai who was sitting in front of the stove.

 Yu Zhining was the first one who couldn’t wait. He asked anxiously, “Uncle, is the water boiling?”

Yu Jinhuai looked up at the pot and replied, “Almost.”

After he finished speaking, he turned around and saw Meng Yunshu raising his eyebrows, with a hint of a smile in his almond eyes. He looked at him with a teasing look on his face. Yu Jinhuai lowered his eyes, and his eyes darkened.