Chapter 82
Chapter 82
Xiao Jingmo watched the two men curl and writhe on the ground without the slightest pity.
Since entering the Northern Frontier, they had faced obstacle after obstacle, teaching him one truth.
The less civilized a place was, the more brutal and primitive its methods of solving problems became.
The strong devouring the weak was the basic law of the jungle.
If they failed to subdue their enemies completely the first time, more people would challenge them later.
Reason did not work here. Only by beating these people into fear could they force obedience.
If the Xiao Family wanted to establish themselves in this Garrison without being controlled by others, they had to use overwhelming force and bring everyone under their command.
Moreover, in less than two hours here, Xiao Jingmo had already discovered everyone’s fatal weakness.
Food. The hunger for food here was even more desperate than on the road into exile.
If the Xiao Family controlled food and some essential supplies, these people would obey them. That control would be the foundation for quickly securing their position.
Stockpiling food was therefore their first priority.
They did not have much time.
Eldest Brother’s letter said the Capital was about to change hands. Prince Cheng was now regent, and his people knew Jin Bao had reached the place of exile. From this point onward, there would be no peace here.
To confront a colossus like Prince Cheng, they had to seize the Northern Frontier before he could spare the effort to deal with the Xiao Family.
With Old Han’s help, Xiao Jingmo had memorized the entire map of the Northern Frontier during their journey and formed a preliminary plan. Their first step was to take control of the Garrison.
Even if Jin Bao had not collapsed the building, he would have urged Father to kill the guards.
His little sister had given them an excellent start. They were already halfway there.
“Third Brother, come gather supplies with me. Take everything useful into the underground hut.”
Holding Jin Bao, Xiao Jingmo headed toward the Garrison ruins.
Xiao Jinghao glanced at the two men on the ground. “Second Brother, what about them? Won’t they freeze to death?”
“Ignore them. They won’t die. Even if they do, they brought it upon themselves. That’s the price of disobedience.”
Xiao Jinghao stopped worrying about the men and followed.
Since reaching the Garrison, Second Brother seemed like a different person, inspiring trust without effort.
At the ruins, Xiao Jingmo put Jin Bao down.
“Little Sister, play nearby while Second Brother searches for useful things. Then we’ll have somewhere to sleep tonight.”
“Okay! Baby will help. Baby is very capable.”
Xiao Jingmo handed her a wooden pole pulled from the debris.
“Use this to poke around, but don’t hurt yourself.”
Jin Bao blinked and nodded.
Xiao Jingmo and Xiao Jinghao began sorting through the wreckage.
Jin Bao wielded her pole like an excavator. Dust billowed wherever she passed. The ruins, dangerous to any ordinary person, were as soft as tofu before her.
“Second Brother, look! What is Little Sister doing?”
Xiao Jinghao straightened, turned, and stared in astonishment.
Xiao Jingmo looked over and laughed.
“Third Brother, we don’t need to struggle anymore. Just follow Little Sister and pick things up.”
Xiao Jingmo had spent ages moving one stone slab, while Jin Bao had already cleared an entire path.
Xiao Jinghao scratched his head, embarrassed. “Second Brother, why do I feel our family wouldn’t get anywhere without Little Sister?”
Xiao Jingmo smiled. “She’s the blessing our ancestors accumulated for us, a benefactor sent by heaven. Protect her well so no one steals her away.”
Xiao Jinghao immediately grew serious. “Of course. Anyone who touches Little Sister will have to go through me.”
Seeing Jin Bao enjoy herself, the brothers did not interrupt. They followed behind her and collected useful items.
“Firewood! So much firewood! Second Brother, this must have been their woodshed. Everything Little Sister uncovered is firewood.”
Xiao Jinghao was delighted.
Fuel was what they lacked most. Without it, half the people here would freeze to death this winter.
“That’s right. Carry it back quickly. We need to warm the hut so Grandmother can recover.”
Each brother carried an armful into the underground hut.
Xiao Jingmo told everyone how Jin Bao had helped search.
Apart from Lu Shuangshuang and Pei Wanqing, who remained with Old Madam Xiao, everyone went out to move supplies.
It took them almost an hour to search the entire Garrison ruins.
They carried back everything worth taking.
Xiao Che released the women Hong Wu had forced into his dwelling.
Now only the Xiao Family lived in the hut.
The underground structure consisted of three connected rooms.
With so many family members, they needed partitions for privacy. They would live here for some time, and the place required a thorough cleaning.
After drinking hot water, color slowly returned to Old Madam Xiao’s face and her limbs were no longer icy. Lu Shuangshuang entrusted her to Pei Wanqing, then joined the others in cleaning.
The beds consisted of damp grass mats. Anyone sleeping on them would fall ill sooner or later.
Old Han had grown up in the Northern Frontier and knew how to build a heated kang bed. But at this time of year, even if they found suitable earth, they could not dig it. A hammer striking the frozen ground would throw sparks.
“Father, it’s too late today. We’ll make do for one night.”
“I gathered plenty of wood ash. Spread it on the ground to absorb moisture.”
“These grass mats are useless. Throw them all away.”
“I found an ax. Split some dry wood into thin pieces and lay them neatly over the ground, then cover them with bedding. That will suffice for tonight.”
It was the best solution Xiao Jingmo could devise.
Everyone immediately divided the work.
Xiao Che split wood while Old Han spread wood ash.
Xiao Jinghao and Xiao Jingmo hung the salvaged hides over the walls.
Once the fire warmed the hut, its frozen walls would thaw and seep water.
The hides would keep the room from becoming even damper.
Lin Fengchun had not fully recovered. After the grueling journey, he had survived only because Lu Shuangshuang cared for him.
They settled him against one wall to rest.
Wearing a face covering, Nanny Chen fumigated the hut with mugwort alongside Lu Shuangshuang.
After considerable effort, the dwelling was transformed.
The unpleasant odors gave way to the faint medicinal fragrance of mugwort.
Several fires gradually dried the clammy air.
Once dark and cold, the space now glowed in warm amber firelight, its walls covered in furs.
“Father, the floor is ready. Let’s spread out the bedding.”
After Xiao Jingmo and Xiao Jinghao leveled the wooden slats, Xiao Che laid down the bedding taken from the Garrison.
“Mm. It finally resembles a home.”
Xiao Che surveyed it with satisfaction.
They helped Old Madam Xiao onto the temporary bed and covered her with the fur quilts used on their journey. Wrapped in warmth, she gradually grew sleepy.
Nanny Chen and Lu Shuangshuang set up a stove and began cooking.
No one had eaten all day, and everyone was starving.
They gathered snow outside and melted it directly in the pot.
Dinner was meat congee made from the meat and grain found in the Garrison.
The Garrison’s stores were surprisingly abundant.
They found two hundred catties of rice, one hundred of white flour, three hundred of mixed grains, three hundred of smoked meat, two sacks of dried vegetables, and a small bag of coarse salt…
Judging from the quantities, this was supposed to be the winter ration.