Chapter 468: Snow Disaster

Chapter 468: Snow Disaster

Just two days after the Lantern Festival, snow began to fall again, drifting down continuously without stopping.

Wei Pozi, seeing the continuous snowfall, began to worry.

The Yu family had purchased several estates in the suburbs. Yu Laotou, along with Yu Daniu and Yu Erhu, often went to these estates to tend to the crops. They had also built fences around the estates, raising chickens, ducks, geese, pigs, sheep, and cattle.

The meat served during the New Year's Eve dinner all came from the Yu family's own estates.

When the snow first began, Yu Laotou couldn't stay idle and took his two sons to the estates. Unexpectedly, the snow grew heavier, and Yu Laotou, Yu Daniu, and Yu Erhu were stranded at the estates. They sent word that they would return once the snow ceased.

But the snow continued for two days.

Wei Pozi was also concerned that Li Chunhua, who was pregnant, might worry about Yu Daniu at the estate and affect her health. However, when she went to the Qingpu Courtyard of the first household, she found Li Chunhua with Xingxing, Mian Ge'er, and Xu Ge'er, sitting around a charcoal stove roasting sweet potatoes.

Seeing Wei Pozi arrive, Li Chunhua was pleasantly surprised. With a bit of ash on her lips, she stood up to greet Wei Pozi: "Mother, why did you come out in such heavy snow? But you're just in time. We're roasting sweet potatoes. Come, let me pick a well-roasted one for you."

—Seeing her carefree demeanor, Wei Pozi was initially speechless but then smiled.

Well, this was better than worrying and harming her health.

Wei Pozi sat down by the stove. Xingxing had already picked a golden, oily sweet potato, placed it on a small plate with chopsticks, and eagerly handed it to Wei Pozi: "Grandma, try this. It's very sweet."

On the charcoal stove, chestnuts with slits were also roasting, occasionally popping and cracking, filling the air with a rich, sweet aroma. The raging snow outside seemed distant.

Paired with a cup of hot tea, Wei Pozi felt that even a heavenly life couldn't compare to this.

The snow stopped on the third night.

Early in the morning, the servants of General of the Western Garrison's residence began clearing the snow from the paths. Additionally, they had to remove the thick snow from the eaves to prevent the roof beams from collapsing.

Wei Pozi went out for a walk and returned with a grave expression: "...The snow is too heavy. They say many places are suffering from snow disasters."

"Houses have been crushed."

"At the city gates, wealthy families are already distributing porridge."

The Yu family was shocked.

The snow disaster was indeed severe.

Wei Pozi couldn't help but worry about Yu Laotou and his two sons, who were trapped on the mountain estate.

Fortunately, by evening, Yu Laotou, Yu Daniu, and Yu Erhu returned from the estate, trudging through the deep snow.

Wei Pozi urged the maids to bring warming ginger soup while scolding them: "...You had to go out in the snow. See, you almost got trapped on the estate, didn't you?"

"Mother, don't mention it," Yu Daniu said. "It's a good thing we were there with Father. Our estate almost had a disaster."

Wei Pozi immediately sat up straight: "What happened?"

It turned out that the continuous snowfall had crushed the tenants' houses, burying many alive. Yu Laotou and his sons, along with people from several estates, had worked together to rescue those still alive and temporarily housed them on the estate. Later, Yu Laotou opened the estate's granary and lent grain to those whose houses had collapsed to help them through the crisis.

The tenants, with their families, knelt before Yu Laotou and his sons, weeping with gratitude.

Yu Laotou and his sons had given them a lifeline.

Wei Pozi listened, still shaken, and nodded repeatedly: "That's how it should be, that's how it should be."

Having experienced hardship themselves, they knew that these seemingly occasional natural disasters could truly be deadly.

And once people are pushed to the brink, there's no telling what they might do.

Wei Pozi thought for a moment and discussed with Yu Laotou: "...I see people distributing porridge at the city gate. Should we find some familiar households and set up a porridge stall too?"

Yu Laotou had just downed a bowl of ginger soup, wiped his mouth, and nodded: "Alright, it's up to you."

Setting up a porridge stall was a significant undertaking. Wei Pozi let the pregnant Li Chunhua rest and called Bai Xiaofeng, Su Rouer, and Ah Wu to discuss the matter.

Ah Wu, who had been staying in the capital all along, thought for a moment: "Distributing porridge actually comes with a lot of challenges. Maintaining order, preventing disturbances or looting... If our family wants to save trouble, we can directly give the grain to the charity house. They are very experienced in such matters."

This was a viable option. Wei Pozi nodded upon hearing this: "Then tomorrow we'll see the situation and decide whether to set up a porridge stall or give the grain to the charity house. We must do something to feel at ease."

Everyone nodded.

The situation in the capital took a turn for the worse the next day.

There were always numerous small villages and towns surrounding the capital. The recent snow left farmers, who had just recovered from past disasters, suddenly destitute again.

Many disaster victims flocked to the capital.

Numerous households set up porridge stalls.

The most notable was the porridge stall set up by the Duke of Xinguo's mansion.

They set up ten porridge barrels to distribute the porridge.

Bai Xiaofeng relayed the news she had gathered to the family: "...I heard that the eldest young madam of the Duke of Xinguo's mansion had suffered a miscarriage, and the Duke's mansion is doing this to accumulate blessings for the unborn child."

Xingxing was taken aback upon hearing this, recalling the lantern festival night when the eldest young madam of the Duke of Xinguo's mansion had blood streaming down her legs...

Xingxing pursed her lips.

Bai Xiaofeng tutted: "I went to see the porridge stall of the Duke of Xinguo's mansion. Goodness, the crowd was enormous. The eldest daughter of the Duke's mansion was personally distributing porridge at the stall, dressed as if she were a fairy descending from heaven."

Wei Pozi paused, considering this.

It seemed that many wealthy households in the capital had established porridge stalls.

If the Yu family also set one up, it might appear as though they were merely following the trend.

Moreover, with numerous porridge stalls, some individuals would go from stall to stall seeking porridge and grain. This way, those truly in need might be deprived of resources.

Wei Pozi felt they lacked experience and that managing such matters would be quite challenging.

"Perhaps we should simply donate the grain directly to the charity house?" Wei Pozi said, "We've never set up a porridge stall before; let's not get caught up in this rush this time."

Ah Wu said: "That's fine too. The charity house also looks after some elderly and young orphans. Donating the grain there can also assist them."

Wei Pozi nodded repeatedly and had someone call her second grandson, Yu Yongbai, to handle the matter.

Yu Yongbai agreed.

However, when Yu Yongbai was about to go out to handle this, Xingxing caught up and stuffed a stack of banknotes into his hand.

"It's very cold," Xingxing whispered, "Second brother, take this money and donate it to the charity house for me, let them buy some cotton clothes for those in need."

Yu Yongbai's expression softened, and he gently patted Xingxing's little head: "Our Xingxing is so kind."

And so it was decided.