Chapter 14 - 14 0014 My Own Home 2_1

Chapter 14: Chapter 0014: My Own Home 2_1 Chapter 14: Chapter 0014: My Own Home 2_1 “What is it? Just speak up, if I can help, I certainly won’t refuse.” The implications of Feng Shuanzhu’s words were clear, if he couldn’t help, he couldn’t be blamed for not helping, especially in regards to the grain. Feng Shuanzhu was aware of Feng Qingxue’s family affairs, but every household had its own difficulties, he couldn’t interfere with theirs. Not only Sister Qingxue was starving and freezing, so many people had succumbed to hunger and cold that he had become numb to it. Feng Qingxue smiled, then sighed, “It’s not much, I’m asking you to pity Qingyun and me, and to assign us one of our production team’s vacated decrepit houses.” At this point, Feng Qingxue wiped her eyes, which looked to others as though she was wiping away tears. “Qingyun is young and relies entirely on me to beg for food to sustain her. Occasionally, we come across a good Samaritan who provides us a meal. But we can’t keep living in a makeshift shack, the weather is getting colder, and we don’t even have bedding to keep us warm. So, I thought of those abandoned houses at least they have walls to shield us from the wind.” Before Feng Shuanzhu could speak, Feng Qingxue hastily said: “We don’t need anything big or fancy, as long as it can block the wind, shelter us from the rain, at least it would be a home.” Feng Qingxue made this request upfront to not allow Feng Shuanzhu to make a scene. She had already planned to secretly send Feng Shuanzhu a gift, nothing more than a bag of grain. But not now, giving it later would be seen as repaying a favor; giving it now has the stigma of bribery and could lead to a reporting incident. Although everyone was living a tough life, no one would hold this against them on this matter. As expected, as soon as she finished speaking, the villagers sunbathing nearby spoke up. “Chief, just agree to her, as she said, at least it would be a home.” “We all live hard lives, but this is something we can help with, Qingyun is only five years old!” “A five-year-old child looks just like a two or three-year-old, how pitiful!” “Yes, yes, Shuanzhu, just agree to it. We aren’t envious of the two sisters getting a house.” Hearing the commotion, Feng Qingyun ran out barefoot from her uncle’s house. “Sister!” Running to Feng Qingxue, Feng Qingyun stopped and clung tightly to her leg. Although many people were walking barefoot, seeing such a skinny child, dressed in worn-out adult cotton-padded clothes and barefoot, made everyone feel pity. Feng Qingxue quickly picked up her sister, “Qingyun, I didn’t go looking for you, why did you come out.” “Sister!” Feng Qingyun clung tightly to her neck, her large eyes warily watching the crowd. Seeing this, Feng Shuanzhu let out a deep sigh. In fact, many people wanted those vacant houses to live in, but he had never given his approval. Like Feng Qingxue’s brother and sister-in-law, who share three thatched huts between two families, have had their eyes on the houses left by deceased families in the production team. In things like this, one leads to another, so Feng Shuanzhu couldn’t agree. But as everyone said, the sisters Feng Qingxue were different. They had been expelled from their home and were setting up their own household, a young girl taking care of a little one. “Since everyone is saying so, I’ll find a ruined house left by deceased families for the two sisters to live in. As everyone said, not for anything else, just so they have a place to shield from wind and rain. But, if anyone else comes to ask, I won’t agree, unless they bring food or goods to exchange at the production team.”