Gu Yunshen was waiting in the courtyard of the Gu house. When he saw that Gu Qingyao was back, he hurriedly asked, “Where have you been? Why are you so late?”
Gu Qingyao had told him that she was going out, but had not said where she was going.
Now that it was snowing so heavily, Gu Yunshen was naturally worried about his daughter.
If the girl still did not return, he would have to go out and search for her.
“Father, I’m fine. I went out to do something. Hurry up and bring some hot water. These children are almost frozen.”
Gu Yunshen frowned when he saw the child in Gu Qingyao’s arms. “What’s going on?”
“The child is sick, and it’s quite serious. I’ve given him some medicine and I’ll brew some herbs for him later. He should be all right by tomorrow.”
Gu Yunshen looked at the three children next to her. There were a youth and a younger child. Both were almost purple with cold and they gaped at him.
The youth was carrying another child on his back.
Gu Yunshen moved aside to let them in before he remembered who they were. “You’re Jiang Xun? From the Poplar Brigade?”
He had met Jiang Xun, who had come to the Qing River Brigade several times.
Jiang Xun nodded. “Uncle Gu, it’s me, Jiang Xun. The sick one is my younger cousin. His name is Mu Mu.”
They went into the storeroom where there was a fire burning. Jiang Xun and his two younger brothers immediately huddled around the fire. Gu Qingyao tried to put Mu Mu down, but he was clutching her clothes tightly and refused to let go.
The light was much better in the room, and Gu Qingyao was startled when she saw the child’s face.
Why did he look so much like Little Xu?
She had already noticed it when she met them on the road, but it had been too dark and it was snowing heavily. She had only taken a hurried look before bundling the child into her jacket. Now that she could examine him carefully, she saw that he bore an uncanny resemblance to Little Xu.
“Mu Mu, be good. Lie down and take your medicine and you’ll be fine! Be good!”
Gu Qingyao coaxed him for a while before she managed to unclench his fist and place him on a small bed. Gu Yunshen was also startled when he came over to take a look.
“Why… does this child look so much like Little Xu?”
Gu Qingyao glanced at him and shook her head. “I don’t know. Let’s treat him first.”
“Oh, have you eaten?”
This question was directed at Jiang Xun and the others.
Jiang Xun blushed faintly and seemed embarrassed.
“I… I’ve eaten…”
“No!”
Before he could finish, Jiang Jing, whom he had just woken up so he could wash his face, interrupted. Jiang Jing looked at Gu Qingyao and spoke that one word in earnest.
Gu Qingyao laughed. Children were much simpler.
“There’s still food in the kitchen. I’ll go and get it for you. Father, take care of them for a while.”
Gu Yunshen nodded. “All right!”
Gu Qingyao went to the kitchen. Actually, there was not much to eat in the kitchen. But Gu Qingyao had plenty of food. She took a few steamed buns from her interspace and filled a few bowls with seaweed and egg soup, and added a small plate of salted vegetables.
The buns were made of wholemeal flour and not pure white flour. But to these children, the egg soup was already a delicacy.
Jiang Jing’s eyes brightened when he saw the egg soup. But he did not dare to take it. He felt that it was such a rare item that he was embarrassed to take it.
Gu Qingyao smiled. He was so sensible even though he was so young and desperately hungry.
“This is for you. Hurry up and eat it. You’ll feel warmer when you’ve eaten. You can spend the night at my house. Your Aunt Gu is nearby! But she’s probably asleep by now.”