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Once the cotton was ready, everyone worked through the night to make thick cotton clothes, ensuring everyone had two sets of warm clothing.

With some cotton and fabric remaining, Qiao Mai had them made into adult-sized clothes and sent them to the Qian family. These were not for Mayor Qian but for the beggars in town.

Fortunately, everyone responded promptly. Shopkeeper Lu allowed the beggars to stay in the small courtyard where Qiao Mai used to live and refrained from using Qiao Mai’s store.

Qiao Mai supported Mayor Qian by donating cotton clothes and buying winter food for them.

She had Mayor Qian post notices in the town, allowing families in need to come to the mayor’s house to receive food. For elderly people who were poor and lacked clothes, she would deliver food and firewood to them.

Qiao Mai was not concerned about their food supply but rather about the possibility of a snow disaster. She feared they would be trapped in their homes if heavy snow fell. Therefore, she sent out food and firewood in advance.

It’s often said that officials who take action lead to the well-being of the people.

With Qiao Mai’s support, Mayor Qian dispatched guards and carriages to deliver food and firewood to needy households in the villages he was responsible for.

Some came to collect it themselves, creating a two-way flow. In a few days, they had all been provided for.

Yuan Jiaqi returned at the end of the month. When he left, he had only taken thin cotton clothes and returned freezing.

Qiao Mai quickly sent him the newly made thick cotton clothes and medicines for treating colds and fevers. She labeled the medicines with their names and uses on the bottles.

“I’ve been busy these days and might not be able to take care of you. If you don’t feel well, see a doctor. These two bottles of medicine are for you to take to the academy. There’s also a new set of clothes.”

“Don’t worry, I can take care of myself.”

After Qiao Mai left, Yuan Jiaqi changed into warm cotton clothes and pants, removed his shoes, and climbed into the warm bed.

Home was the best place; having a caring woman at home was even better.

Qiao Mai might be busy, but she never neglected him.

Wrapped in a thick cotton coat and looking like a round ball, Chuan’er entered with a small cloth bundle on his back.

“Dad, can I sleep with you tonight?” “You’ve gained weight again. Did you eat well in the capital?”

“Hehe, I had good food every day.”

He spread the good things he had brought from the bundle and introduced them to Yuan Jiaqi, occasionally feeding his father some.

“Dad, are you hungry? Shall I find you something delicious in the kitchen?”

“I’m not hungry. Let’s eat together at noon.”

“Okay. Mom is in the backyard reinforcing the greenhouse with the maids.”

“Can you tell me about what happened in the capital?”

“Of course.

In the warm room, the father and son cuddled together. Yuan Jiaqi listened to his son vividly recounting Qiao Mai’s activities in the capital.

Sometimes he laughed, sometimes he was moved, and sometimes he felt proud.

Once his body warmed up, he went to help in the backyard.

The old couple didn’t dare to come outside. They were afraid of the cold, and going out in such weather was asking for trouble.

The outside temperatures dropped sharply in early November, and Yuan Jiaqi reluctantly left for the academy. The howling north wind cut through his face like a knife.

Compared to previous years, Tianshui Town had entered winter almost half a month earlier. The villagers had just planted their wheat crops. They were uncertain whether they could withstand this sudden change in weather.

Although Qiao Mai was not a deity or a fortune-teller and couldn’t predict the future, she took precautions by instructing people to stockpile grains.

This happened shortly after they paid their grain taxes. Not only did they store grains, but they also continued to purchase firewood and charcoal.

In the martial arts training ground, a significant portion of the space was dedicated to storing firewood and charcoal.

It wasn’t just Qiao Mai; many other households found this situation abnormal and started hoarding grains and fuel. Even ordinary villagers, fearing they might freeze or starve during the winter, began buying with whatever money they had.

As a result, grain and charcoal prices skyrocketed. There were instances of grain and charcoal shortages in various places.

Coincidentally, the rubber trees Qiao Mai had harvested from her last space excursion came in handy. In the middle of the night, while everyone was asleep, she had the training ground stacked high with neatly cut thirty-centimeter pieces of firewood, making it convenient for usage.

On the sixth day of November, heavy snow blanketed the town. Not a soul could be seen on the roads, and the cold was biting.

Qiao Mai ordered the eatery to close and instructed the shopkeeper and staff to rest well. They could sweep the snow off the roofs when they had nothing else to do, but there was no need to continue business.

Every two hours, people would climb up ladders to scrape the snow from the roofs of their houses to prevent the snow from causing structural damage.

Although the houses were new, they needed to be maintained.

This heavy snowfall continued day and night and then turned into moderate snow, lasting another day before becoming lighter.

When people finally emerged from their homes, the snow had reached a person’s height. If this snow were to melt, Tianshui Town would face severe flooding.

Many villagers were worried about next year’s harvest. They even considered the possibility of a crop failure. Despite their concerns, they had to focus on the present.

After the snow stopped, Mayor Qian promptly ordered the clearing of snow. However, it was a daunting task. There was snow everywhere, and they didn’t know where to put it.

They could only clear narrow pathways for walking as there was no space to store the accumulated snow.

Qiao Mai thought about using her space but hesitated. Snow was essentially water, and manipulating the fundamental aspects of the environment could lead to unforeseen consequences.

She didn’t dare to try it as she couldn’t bear the responsibility.

Instead, she led her people to compact the snow in open areas around her home. She piled snow from other places onto these mounds until they resembled small hills. In this way, they managed to clear the warm sheds, poultry coops, and roads.

At the entrance to the Qiao family’s residence and in front of their shop, Qiao Mai and her family similarly cleared the snow.

After compacting all the accumulated snow, the piles grew from the height of one person to two or three people. This was the routine they followed daily.

The townspeople followed suit, observing what Qiao Mai had initiated.

It was essential to clear the roads. Without the movement of traders and the local population, there would be no income.

With his servants and guards, Mayor Qian also joined the effort.

With the combined strength of the townspeople, they cleared about ten miles to the north and twenty miles to the south.

Snow depth varied from place to place, indicating that the snowfall was unevenly distributed across the region.

In many other areas, similar efforts to clear snow were underway. An imperial decree mandated that roads must be kept open in times of rain and snow.

It wasn’t until the end of November that the roads were finally cleared. Yuan Jiaqi’s school had suspended classes due to a shortage of firewood and charcoal. They would wait for further notice.

With no need for classes, Yuan Jiaqi finally had the opportunity to rest at home.

When he wasn’t working, he spent time with Old Master Wang, discussing academic topics over tea.

The children didn’t venture outside much. They practiced calligraphy and played games indoors.

During this time, Mayor Qian kept himself busy. Since the roads had been cleared, he led his guards to inspect the villages. He recorded houses that had collapsed, rendering them uninhabitable.

Fortunately, this year’s preparations had been timely. There were only a few households in such dire situations. Mayor Qian covered the expenses for their relocation, sparing Qiao Mai and the other merchants from further trouble.

Qiao Mai had already done a lot by donating grain and firewood. Without her, many households in the town and surrounding villages would have struggled to survive.

Liu Ye and Liu Hai had delivered a cartload of grain and firewood to their home before the snowfall.

These two had been stranded in the small town for a month. They spent their days helping the townspeople clear the snow..