Qiao Xin turned around and looked at his always gentle face.

She couldn’t help but want to reach out and mess it up, but after thinking for a moment, she didn’t dare to act on it.

This kid was cunning—better not to provoke him.

“Mother, why are you looking at me like that?”

“Are you upset? Don’t keep pulling that face, you’ll age faster! If you have something to say, just say it. It’s not like I can’t take criticism.”

“I wouldn’t say I’m angry, but I just don’t get it. Do you not see bad people at all? Why do you trust others so easily? That guy may not have real skills, but the way he speaks and acts so secretively clearly means trouble!”

“That old man—sure, he might fake other things, but his knowledge of medicine is real. Look at his tiny home. Even the straw mat he uses is more particular than the average person’s. That mat is woven with mugwort and rush grass.

The technique is a little rough, but it works—it repels mosquitoes, prevents odors, and keeps bugs away.

There are kudzu roots and yams hanging from the beams—both medicinal ingredients that can also serve as food in times of famine.

The medicine he was grinding in the stone mortar lacked one key ingredient: blood-clearing herbs. That means it was for stopping bleeding and cooling heat. So, his medical skills shouldn’t be fake.

As for whether he’s trouble or not—who in this day and age doesn’t come with some kind of trouble? What seems like a huge problem to common folk might be solved with just a word from the powerful.”

Of course, Qiao Xin wouldn’t trust someone based on just a few words.

This was simply a case of mutual need and survival.

In extreme weather, children were the most vulnerable to death.

Having someone with medical knowledge as a cover made it easier for her to explain any miraculous life-saving pills she might take out later.

“If we don’t help this family, they probably won’t make it through the winter. This snow disaster is unlike any before—it’s covering an unprecedentedly large area. We need to hurry and prepare. Keeping Old Mo alive is better than letting him die—consider it for the sake of the children.”

Qiao Yunqing thought this made sense.

In his past life, the first half of his winters had been nothing but suffering.

Later, when he returned to his family’s main house, though life was full of schemes and hardships, at least he never had to worry about food or drink.

It was an extreme shift from one side of life to another.

For over a decade, he had lived in luxury—whatever he needed, a single command would get it done. Now that he was back in the difficult days of the past, he hadn’t yet adjusted.

Qiao Xin, on the other hand, was fully prepared for everything.

He had never experienced something like this before.

Compared to Old Mo’s place, the Shi Yazi family’s situation was even worse.

The old man had been eating only tiny portions of coarse grain for half a month, just to save more for his grandson.

When he was too hungry, he chewed on grass roots.

Now, the grain was gone, and even the grass roots were running out.

The elderly grandmother had already gone without food for more than two days.

If they had come any later, she might not have survived.

As soon as he heard they were willing to exchange grain for firewood, Shi Yazi immediately knelt before Qiao Xin and knocked his head against the ground three times.

“Honored one, could you please spare some food first? My grandmother won’t last much longer. I have ten loads of firewood at home—I’ll bring them over right away!”

Qiao Xin quickly helped him up.

Looking at the young man—who was clearly two years older than Dalang but not even as tall as his shoulders—then at the dilapidated house that let in both wind and snow, she felt a pang in her heart.

The elderly woman was covered only with a straw-filled linen blanket.

Shi Yazi wore straw sandals, walking directly on the snow, his thin pants barely covering his ankles.

This was just like the Qiao children when she had first arrived!

Qiao Xin fell silent.

This family wouldn’t survive on just a little grain.

“I need a young boy to run errands and an old woman to help with laundry. Food and shelter will be provided, but there’s no money. Would you be willing?”

Shi Yazi’s eyes lit up. “Yes! We’re willing!”

He rushed to his grandmother, who lay on the straw mat, grabbing her thin, withered hands and crying.

“Grandmother, did you hear that? We’ll have food and a place to stay! Please, hold on—you can’t leave me alone!”

The old woman had heard Qiao Xin’s words and tried to get up to kowtow, but she was too weak.

After two failed attempts, she gave up and pulled Shi Yazi’s hand instead.

“Quick, kowtow to the honored one!”

Qiao Xin disliked such formalities and quickly stopped him.

“Enough, that’s unnecessary. Just make something for her to eat so she can recover. Move in tonight—this place isn’t livable anymore.”

With the villagers’ help, the two families moved quickly.

In truth, they didn’t have much to bring—a single small bundle contained all their belongings.

Qiao Xin instructed Madam Xu to find rooms for them in the front courtyard.

No matter how broken those rooms were, they were still warmer than the places they had come from.

The doors and windows needed some fixing, but at least they wouldn’t let in wind from all four sides.

A little repair, a straw curtain, and a fire pit would make the place much cozier.

Following Qiao Xin’s orders, Madam Xu personally brought two quilts and some warm clothes for Old Mo.

The old man hadn’t expected them to be so generous right away, and his heart felt much more at ease.

Looking at his cracked hands, covered in dust from days of neglect, he hesitated to take the clean items.

He was afraid of dirtying them.

Madam Xu pretended not to notice and simply placed the things down.

“The mistress said to settle in first. Once you’re ready, go to the kitchen for food.”

He hesitated. “Wouldn’t that break the rules?”

“In this household, whatever the mistress says is the rule. Just follow her orders.”

Old Mo nodded in understanding.

Seeing that he had no further questions, Madam Xu left to check on Shi Yazi’s family, giving them the same instructions before heading off.

“Father, are we really staying here from now on?”

After taking his medicine, Mo Jiaquan’s fever subsided, and he finally became clear-headed.

He had witnessed everything earlier but had been lying on the heated bed inside, while Old Mo had been speaking with Madam Xu in the other room.

He hadn’t expected the Qiao family to be so kind, giving them a room with a heated bed and even providing clothes and quilts.

They couldn’t remember the last time they had such things.

The Qiao family seemed like good people.

But plenty of people were good at putting on a front.

No rush—he would wait and see.

“Yes, for now, we’ll stay here.”

Mo Jiaquan lay back in the warm blankets, listening to the sound of snow falling outside. For the first time in a long while, he felt at peace.

How wonderful.

That evening, the Qiao family finally settled into their new home.

It had taken so long because Qiao Xin had bought an overwhelming amount of supplies—rooms full of grain and charcoal, countless kitchen and household items, clothing, and other necessities.

Qiao Yunting clicked his tongue. “Big brother, Mother really doesn’t hold back when spending money!”

Qiao Yunxin clapped him on the back. “You brat, stop complaining! Who do you think all this is for? It’s not like she’s buying it just for herself.”

Nearby, Qiao Yirui smirked. “Third Uncle, should I go tell Grandma that you think she’s wasting money?”

Qiao Yunting jumped up immediately. “You brat! Don’t talk nonsense! This is her own hard-earned money—she can spend it however she wants!”

Qiao Yirui solemnly nodded. “Exactly. Besides Grandma, we’re all just freeloaders.”

Qiao Yunting: …

Qiao Yunxin: …