In Daxia, commoners rarely wore winter clothes filled with willow catkins.

Instead, they layered multiple cloth garments, which provided more warmth than the wind-permeable catkin-stuffed winter coats.

Wealthy households, on the other hand, wore fur coats or silk-padded jackets.

With charcoal fires burning in their homes, the rich had no trouble making it through winter.

But for the impoverished, who could barely fill their stomachs, buying warm clothing was out of the question.

This year, refugees were everywhere.

Many of them still wore straw sandals and thin, tattered clothes. Even though it hadn’t snowed yet, people were already freezing to death.

Shen Qingwan dared not imagine how many more would survive once the snow came.

Daxia had yet to cultivate cotton, so although Shen Qingwan didn’t think highly of these winter garments stuffed with reed fluff and willow catkins, she had no choice but to buy them as an emergency measure.

Next year, she was determined to plant cotton on a large scale.

She wanted the people of this land to be well-fed and warmly dressed.

Once the world stabilized, she would travel and enjoy the mountains and rivers.

When she grew old, she would return to Dahe Village to live out her days in peace.

The thought of such a life was rather appealing.

After completing the transaction with Shopkeeper Li, Shen Qingwan paid him for the goods.

Initially, Shopkeeper Li refused the money, saying that Second Master Bai had instructed him not to accept payment.

However, Shen Qingwan insisted—if he wouldn’t take the money, she wouldn’t take the goods.

Left with no choice, Shopkeeper Li finally accepted the payment.

Shen Qingwan was not lacking in silver, nor did she wish to keep taking advantage of Second Master Bai.

After collecting the goods, she returned to Suzhou City at the end of November. To her surprise, the northern region welcomed its first snowfall of the year.

Within moments, the fluttering snowflakes blanketed the entire land, draping the desolate northern territory in a coat of white.

The snow not only arrived suddenly but with an unstoppable force.

Shen Qingwan had wanted to return to Dahe Village to deliver more winter clothes and bedding, but the heavy snow prevented her from going back.

Fortunately, she had already prepared a batch of winter clothing for the village before the season began.

Additionally, Dahe Village was near a forest, and every household had heated brick beds (kang), ensuring they would not freeze to death.

Ever since the villagers had witnessed the warmth of Shen Qingwan’s heated bed, nearly every household had installed one.

Once the fire was lit, the entire house became warm, and the bedding was toasty at night.

That winter, the villagers had food, drinks, and warmth, making their lives much more comfortable.

Meanwhile, the porridge shelter outside the city continued to operate, but the second young lady of the Jin family had long abandoned her post.

In such freezing weather, she naturally wouldn’t personally distribute porridge outside the city.

Fortunately, Master Jin was not a fool and promptly assigned others to take over, allowing the porridge shelter to continue its work.

Despite her efforts, Shen Qingwan’s winter clothes arrived a step too late. By the time she returned, it was already afternoon, and snow had begun falling in Suzhou City.

Before nightfall, the snow had accumulated several inches thick.

When she transported the supplies to the city outskirts, the sky had already turned dark.

Though she quickly sought out Zhao Zhuo for assistance in distributing the winter clothes overnight, some people still didn’t receive them in time.

They sought shelter wherever they could, and with the recent cancellation of the city entrance fee, large numbers of refugees had entered the city, unaware that winter clothes were being distributed outside.

That night, Shen Qingwan’s people handed out over ten thousand winter garments and more than a thousand blankets.

Yet, by the next morning, more than a thousand people had still frozen to death.

Upon hearing the news, Shen Qingwan could only sigh.

She had done everything she could—now, it was up to fate.

She was not a savior and could not rescue everyone.

Though saddened by the loss of so many lives, she felt no guilt. She had done her best.

After a long and exhausting night, Shen Qingwan collapsed into bed upon returning home.

Ye Minglan was concerned for her, but knowing how tired she was, she refrained from disturbing her.

The winter clothing distribution outside the city continued, but Shen Qingwan’s supplies were strictly for the refugees.

Only those with household registration proof could receive them.

Even if some local citizens were dissatisfied, she paid them no mind.

While their lives were hard, they were not in immediate danger. Compared to those with homes, the refugees were the ones in true need.

She was saving lives, not alleviating poverty. Moreover, her resources were limited—she couldn’t help everyone.

After the heavy snowfall, Shen Qingwan’s name spread far and wide. No one knew how many lives she had saved.

Zhao Zhuo was increasingly grateful to her, especially after hearing that over three thousand refugees had frozen to death overnight in Yanzhou City. His admiration for Shen Qingwan grew even stronger.

Perhaps he had truly begun to see Shen Qing as his future son-in-law, for Zhao Zhuo became fonder of him by the day.

Even Zhao Jing’er grew increasingly attentive toward Shen Qing.

Just as Zhao Zhuo was considering inviting Shen Qing for a meal to discuss marriage arrangements, Zhao Jing’er spotted Shen Qing and Jin Qianqian entering Xiangyun Restaurant together.

A surge of anger overwhelmed Zhao Jing’er as if someone had stolen what was rightfully hers.

Before her maid could react, she stormed into the restaurant.

Shen Qingwan had just requested a private room from the shopkeeper when a loud slap echoed from behind her.

Turning around, she saw Zhao Jing’er furiously grabbing Jin Qianqian’s arm, while Jin Qianqian clutched her reddened cheek in shock.

“Jin Qianqian, Shen Qing is the one I fancy! If you don’t want to be slapped again, stay away from him!” Zhao Jing’er, known for her spoiled and unruly nature, was too blinded by anger to care that she was making a scene in public.

Seeing Jin Qianqian struck, Shen Qingwan immediately pulled her behind for protection. “Zhao Jing’er, what madness is this?”

She glared coldly at Zhao Jing’er. Meanwhile, Jin Qianqian, feeling protected, lowered her eyes.

“You’re defending her, Shen Qing?” Zhao Jing’er hadn’t expected him to yell at her for Jin Qianqian’s sake. Her eyes reddened with rage.

“Qianqian is my friend. Should I be protecting you instead?” To Shen Qingwan, Jin Qianqian was not only a business partner but also half a friend, making her naturally closer than Zhao Jing’er.

Hearing this, Zhao Jing’er grew even more infuriated.

She pointed at Shen Qingwan, as if accusing a heartless betrayer. “Shen Qing, my father intended to betroth me to you! You’re supposed to be mine! How dare you protect Jin Qianqian and even dine with her?”

The more Zhao Jing’er spoke, the angrier she became.

Meanwhile, Shen Qingwan was utterly dumbfounded. Betrothal?

After the initial shock, she realized that since she had always dressed as a man without clarifying her identity, the magistrate must have mistaken her for one.

Clearly, Zhao Jing’er had fallen for this illusion as well.

Shen Qingwan originally intended to explain her true identity, but before she could say anything, Zhao Jing’er ran off in tears.

Shen Qingwan was speechless.

Though she dressed as a man for convenience, she had never deliberately concealed the truth—she didn’t wear a fake Adam’s apple, her ear piercings remained visible, and her skin was far too fair and delicate for a typical man’s.

She never thought there was a need to clarify.

What was supposed to be a business discussion about restaurant renovations had turned into an unexpected spectacle.

With half of her face swollen, Jin Qianqian could no longer stay, so after a brief word with Shen Qingwan, she left in a hurry.