Jiang Cheng had a bowl of steaming hot noodle soup, and felt warm all over.

"Alright, finish eating and go to sleep. We’ll talk tomorrow!"

"It’s so late already!"

Grandma Shen started urging.

It was indeed very late.

Jiang Cheng agreed with a smile, chatted a bit with a few people, and then went back to the place next door with her bag.

As soon as she opened the door next door, the heat hit her face.

The stove was already set up.

Above the stove was a chimney pipe as thick as a thigh, extending to the window.

A hole had been opened in the window, and the pipe extended out, with its edges sealed with yellow clay.

It wasn’t pretty, but it was very warm.

In the corner, there was a basin of water to add humidity to the room, otherwise with both the stove and the bed heated, it would be too dry inside.

Jiang Cheng put down her bag, quickly washed her face, brushed her teeth, and then comfortably threw herself onto the bed.

On the bed was a peony-patterned quilt and a blue-and-white checkered blanket, paired with curtains featuring small blue bamboo patterns, giving off a nostalgic vibe.

Jiang Cheng took off her outerwear, slipped into autumn clothes and pants, and crawled into the cozy quilt.

"Ah—so cozy!"

She rubbed herself against the quilt twice contentedly, sighed afterward, settled into a sleeping position, covered herself, and went to sleep.

The exhaustion of the whole body gradually disappeared surrounded by warmth.

Drowsiness crept in.

There was a feeling that she could fall asleep the moment she closed her eyes.

Her eyelids were still struggling, but her brain had already stopped functioning.

When Jiang Cheng opened her eyes again, it was already bright outside.

Through the not-too-thick blue bamboo curtain, she could vaguely see someone walking around in the yard, and even hear voices.

Jiang Cheng lazily turned over, not wanting to get up for the first time.

Just as she thought of this, she persuaded herself to accept it calmly.

There was no choice—the temperature in the bed was just right.

It was like a charming little demon, trying every means to tempt her.

Jiang Cheng lay there for another ten minutes or so.

"Hey—your bladder says it’s time! You have to get up!"

Jiang Cheng began putting on her clothes layer by layer.

After dressing up, she put on her army coat and with a creak, opened the door.

Cold air immediately rushed into her nostrils, and her warm nasal cavity felt frozen for a moment.

"I’m up."

"Morning, Grandma Shen! I’m going to the bathroom!"

"Hurry up then!"

Sitting at the door, Grandma Shen placed the needle she was holding into the sewing basket.

She patted her legs, got up, held the sewing basket, and went indoors to prepare food.

After Jiang Cheng returned, she went directly into Grandma Shen’s room.

There were only the two of them left at home.

Shen Xing and Shen Yue had gone to school, and Shen Que had gone to the machinery factory early in the morning.

Grandma Shen placed a bowl of wonton on the table and grinned gossipily, "You didn’t see it, I was planning on cooking breakfast this morning, but Shen Que insisted on making wonton, saying reheated food isn’t as tasty as freshly cooked wonton."

"The way he cares... I can’t bear to look."

Grandma Shen spoke disparagingly, and Jiang Cheng listened with a bright smile.

"He’s thinking about me, not bad at all."

"Did Shen Que say anything else? Did he miss me when he didn’t see me this morning?"

Grandma Shen glanced at Jiang Cheng, dismissing it, "You are something else. Other girls would blush hearing this."

Jiang Cheng proudly said, "What’s there to blush about! This is what it means to be liked for my abilities!"

Grandma Shen was amused by Jiang Cheng.

"You, half of the wrinkles on my face are thanks to you."

Jiang Cheng immediately flattered, "These are the traces of wisdom, not wrinkles!"

The old and the young teased each other.

After eating, Jiang Cheng rushed to clean the dishes,

While Grandma Shen stood watching, she urged, "Hurry up. There are plenty of things waiting to be discussed."

Jiang Cheng’s eyes gleamed with excitement as she asked, "A lot of things?"

"That there are!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Cheng became even more enthusiastic.

With a few scrubs, she cleaned the dishes, placed them nicely, and waited eagerly for Grandma Shen.

Grandma Shen pointed in the direction of next door, "Head to your room; the bed is warm!"

"Alright!"

Jiang Cheng went out to return next door, first tidying up the ashes from last night’s stove.

She used a fire poker to remove the cover and rings from the stove, then lifted the grate with the poker.

With a clatter, the coal ash fell down.

After removing it with a dustpan, she reassembled the stove.

A layer of corn cobs, corn stalks, added some crushed corn kernels, small branches, and lastly some pieces of coal.

They were quite extravagant; most families mixed coal ash with yellow clay to make coal balls.

With the stove lit, Grandma Shen carried over some fabric, a sewing basket, and a bag of cotton.

Jiang Cheng immediately came to help.

"What’s this for?"

"Making your cotton pants."

Grandma Shen replied, placing the items on the bed and looking at the stove Jiang Cheng lit.

"Great! You’ll stay warm yourself."

Jiang Cheng put down the things in her hands and gave Grandma Shen a bewildered smile.

"I can’t quite tell if you’re praising or criticizing me."

Grandma Shen comforted her like a child, "Praising! Praising!!"

Jiang Cheng shook her head with a begrudging smile and said, "I can do quite a lot of chores, but you all never let me do them!"

"This time, once I leave, I don’t even get the chance to fetch wash water if I get up a little later."

"If I hadn’t refused several times, Sister Lian would have even washed my feet!"

Grandma Shen nodded repeatedly, looking Jiang Cheng up and down, making her a bit uneasy.

"What is it? Has the coal dust ruined my beauty?"

Grandma Shen was caught off guard by Jiang Cheng’s comment.

"Don’t talk nonsense. With your personality, you’d use coal dust as makeup!"

Jiang Cheng quickly laughed and nodded in agreement.

Grandma Shen looked at Jiang Cheng and said:

"It’s strange, I don’t know why, but you seem so capable outside the house, and completely useless at home?"

Jiang Cheng showed an exaggerated expression, summing it up with:

"Great! I have the kind of face that doesn’t need to work but is still understood!"

The two couldn’t help but gaze at each other and burst into laughter together.

After the laughter, Grandma Shen placed a blackened kettle on the stove.

Jiang Cheng cut an apple, grabbed some oranges and a handful of White Rabbit candies, placing them on the small table on the bed.

Grandma Shen took out a thin string, inviting Jiang Cheng.

"Come over, let me measure you. The cotton pants need more room; they’re different from regular clothes."

Jiang Cheng obediently came over and extended her arms.

After measuring, the two of them removed their shoes and climbed onto the bed, chatting and working together.

Grandma Shen drew lines and started cutting the fabric with red floral patterns, while Jiang Cheng held onto the fabric across from her.

With a swift motion, the scissors sliced from one end to the other, cutting out a piece of fabric.

"Let me tell you, Lin Jiaojiao is back."

Jiang Cheng, bowing her head, responded with a "Hmm," then looked up and frowned.

"She went back to the Lin Family?"

Grandma Shen nodded and spread out the cut fabric, beginning to layer the cotton (meaning layering cotton one layer at a time).

Jiang Cheng watched eagerly, waiting.

"Oh my goodness, Grandma, don’t leave me hanging like this. Speak up!"

Grandma Shen raised her head and sighed.

"Lin Jiaojiao... her face is ruined."