Qiao Qingyu had regained her energy and was busy cooking in the kitchen when He Xiuyu helped He Xuerong take off her coat and put on a cotton vest to wear at home, telling her to go read comics on the kang.
He Xiuyu then went to the kitchen and hugged Qiao Qingyu from behind, affectionately kissing the corner of her mouth and asking with concern, "Feeling better now?"
Qiao Qingyu rolled her eyes, "What do you think?"
He Xiuyu laughed, whispering, "Then I'll go to my bedroom and warm up the kang."
After saying that, He Xiuyu left the kitchen and went outside to fetch the cornstalks he had chopped into sections.
In Xichuan, there are no forests, thus no wood to burn. It was remarkable to even gather a few bags of leaves in the fall.
The usual fuel was cornstalks and the roots beneath.
And then there was coal.
