Although there was still food stored at home, Bo Xi felt increasingly uneasy. The winter showed no signs of ending, and every trip outside revealed the same worrying scene: villagers dressed in thin, worn clothes, their faces pale from hunger and cold. Even if their own stores were not yet in danger, she knew it was wiser to prepare early rather than regret later.
Father Han and Han Fei were the ones who usually handled the cooking, so they had the clearest understanding of how much grain remained. Father Han, feeling somewhat ashamed that they were relying so heavily on Bo Xi's provisions, had quietly mixed their own coarse grain with her refined grain whenever he cooked.
In the past, their meals had been simple, mostly coarse-grain porridge with dried vegetables or salted pickles. Meat was rare, and refined grain was saved for special occasions. Now, although Bo Xi insisted on better meals, the older habits were hard to change.
Bo Xi herself had difficulty eating pure coarse grain. The rough texture made it hard to swallow, so Han Fei had taken to mixing coarse and refined grains together, trying to make the food stretch while still keeping it edible for her.
That morning, after checking the storage jars again, Bo Xi made her decision.
"Fei, I'm going out to buy some things. I'll be back soon," she said as she began putting on her thick outer clothes.
Han Fei immediately looked up, worry written across his face.
"Where are you going?" he asked. He clearly did not want her to go out in such harsh weather.
"To buy more food," Bo Xi answered calmly. "It's better to store more while it's still available."
She tightened her cloak and continued,
"Everyone's clothes are too thin. I see people shivering even during the day. I'll bring back some thicker clothing as well. I don't think this disaster will end anytime soon. We need to be more prepared."
Han Fei hesitated, then slowly nodded. He knew she was right. The winter had already lasted longer and been harsher than anyone expected.
After a moment, he spoke quietly.
"Maybe we should reduce our meals from three a day to two. The food is disappearing quickly."
His voice carried a trace of worry.
Bo Xi shook her head firmly.
"There's no need for that."
Seeing the concern in his eyes, she softened her tone.
"But we should be more careful. From now on, we'll cook only once a day and heat the food later for the other meals. The too frequent smoke from our kitchen might have attracted some trouble."
Han Fei thought about it and nodded.
"That sounds better."
Bo Xi adjusted the strap of the money pouch at her waist.
"Don't worry too much," she said gently. "We still have enough. I just want to make sure we stay ahead of things."
Han Fei walked her to the door.
"Be careful," he said quietly.
"I will."
Bo Xi stepped outside into the biting cold, pulling her cloak tighter as the wind brushed against her face. The sky was gray and heavy with snow, a reminder that this long winter was far from over.
Bo Xi bought mainly grains, asking about prices as she went. She had harvested a great deal in her space and planned to bring some out gradually to sell or exchange later.
Afterward, she visited the pharmacy and purchased a large bundle of herbs, some for medicine, some for daily health tonics. Then she stopped at a fabric shop and selected several bolts of cloth, choosing sturdy material for work clothes and a softer weave suitable for Mother Han's garments.
Just as Bo Xi finished paying the fabric shopkeeper, the sky suddenly darkened.
A cold wind swept through the streets, carrying dust and scraps of paper into the air. The chatter in the marketplace stopped almost instantly as people looked upward in alarm.
Then the hail began.
Large chunks of ice fell from the sky with terrifying force, striking roofs and stone pavements with sharp cracking sounds. People shouted and ran in all directions.
Several passersby rushed into the fabric shop for shelter. The shopkeeper reacted quickly and slammed the door shut behind them, dropping the wooden bar into place.
The hailstones struck the roof like a rain of stones, loud and relentless. Some were as large as eggs. The entire building seemed to tremble under the assault.
Bo Xi stood near the doorway, watching through a narrow gap in the shutters. The street outside was nearly empty except for overturned baskets and scattered goods.
The storm lasted for nearly an hour.
When it finally stopped, the air felt unnaturally still.
Bo Xi let out a quiet breath. She felt fortunate; if the hail had begun while she was on the road, she could easily have been injured.
As soon as the shopkeeper reopened the door, Bo Xi lifted her bundles and stepped outside.
The ground was littered with melting ice and broken debris. Some roof tiles had shattered, and branches lay scattered along the street.
Moving quickly with her heavy loads, Bo Xi walked toward home. An ordinary person would have struggled under such a weight, but thanks to her Qi cultivation, her steps remained steady and light.
Soon, her house came into view.
But something was wrong.
Around the yard, sticks and stones had been piled into crude barriers. Broken branches were stacked against the walls as if forming a makeshift defense.
Bo Xi's heart dropped.
Her grip tightened on the bundles as a cold unease spread through her chest.
She hurried forward and knocked urgently on the door.
No response.
"Fei! It is me!" Bo Xi shouted.
For a moment, there was only silence.
Then the window shifted slightly. A narrow gap opened, and someone peered out cautiously.
The door was unbarred and opened just enough for her to slip through.
"My wife…" Han Fei stepped forward, his eyes red and swollen as if he had been crying.
Bo Xi immediately caught his hand.
"What happened?" she asked, her voice tense.
"Let's talk inside," Father Han said gravely. "Help her in."
Han Bei and Han Li quickly came forward and took the bundles from Bo Xi's arms.
Bo Xi stepped inside.
The sight made her frown.
The tables and benches had been dragged away from their usual places and pushed against the doors and windows. Scrape marks lined the floor where the furniture had been moved in haste.
Sticks leaned against the walls like makeshift weapons. Stones had been piled near the doorway within easy reach.
Even the water jar had been relocated to the corner as if someone had prepared for a long defense.
The entire room carried the tense atmosphere of people who had been expecting trouble.
Bo Xi's expression turned serious.
Something had clearly happened while she was away.