Chapter 200: Making Masks

Before Yan Yu could come out, Nanny Rong rushed to the kitchen and started heating a pot of vinegar.

The acrid white smoke circled around the ox cart, lingering for quite a while.

Yan family’s uncle and nephew coughed from the sourness.

Only then did Nanny Rong leave, satisfied.

Yan Yu waved her little hand and cautiously approached.

“Dad, what’s going on?”

Yan Lao’er let out a long sigh and explained the situation in Crouching Tiger City. Yan Yu immediately grew anxious.

“Uncle has official duties and can’t come back. What are we going to do? If the epidemic doesn’t subside, will Crouching Tiger City remain sealed off? Dad, why didn’t you ask more questions? Do they have enough food in the city? Enough medicine? How many doctors? Are they skilled?”

She was about to complain that they might be as useless as Physician Cui when she caught sight of him running over to watch the commotion. She quickly shut her mouth.

The villagers, having been called over by Yan Lao’er’s loud voice, broke into discussions upon hearing about the epidemic.

“Oh, thank the heavens we left early and didn’t get caught in it. If we had run into the disaster victims from Gufeng, what if we got infected?”

“The scholar is still in the city! So is Liang Tongsheng! What should we do?”

“Didn’t Yan Lao’er say that the masks they wore were effective? The fieldwork is almost done, and the men can handle the house construction. Let’s all gather the clean fabric from home and sew more masks for Yan Lao’er to take to the scholar.”

“Should we also try not to go out as much? If we ration our grain, we should be able to get by for a while. The officials in Crouching Tiger City are kind—didn’t they distribute a lot of rations to us?”

“I wonder how bad things are outside. It all sounds so terrifying!”

Village Chief Luo clumsily climbed onto a large rock.

He wanted to stand higher.

Luo San quickly supported the old man, giving him a lift so he could get up smoothly.

“Listen to me, all of you,” Village Chief Luo called out. The noisy discussions gradually quieted.

The old chief’s authority was not to be questioned.

“We are far from both Crouching Tiger City and Gufeng City. As long as we don’t go out, the disease won’t reach us. So put your hearts at ease and stop worrying unnecessarily. Those of you who haven’t finished your fieldwork, hurry up! It’s been so many days—how are you still not done?!

Even our village’s donkeys and mules don’t get to rest this much!

This is the only good weather we’ll get for two months. The nights are already getting chilly—don’t you feel it? While the soil is still easy to dig, help each other out and finish building the houses quickly.

The women at home, once you’ve finished your own chores, gather at the big rock. The scholar’s business is the whole village’s business. We can’t help in other ways, but we can at least sew!

I don’t care about other people, but in our village, every household must send at least one person—no exceptions!”

The old man spoke with great authority.

Then, he stretched out his hand.

Luo San, perceptive as ever, immediately helped him down.

The news spread quickly. Those who hadn’t been at the scene heard about it from others.

Many came to help. Women who barely knew each other, young ladies and newlywed wives rarely seen in public, all arrived with sewing kits and freshly washed fabric.

The area around the big rock became an impromptu women’s gathering.

Some of the newcomers looked uncertain.

The village women warmly welcomed them. The chief’s words had been directed at their own people, but outsiders had come voluntarily—because they were grateful.

They hadn’t forgotten the scholar, the Yan family, or the kindness the village had shown them.

These were people worth befriending.

Before, even though they had traveled together and settled nearby, it was as if an invisible river separated them.

But now, that river felt shallow—they only had to step across.

Everyone understood this in their hearts.

Li Xuemei brought out all the coarse cloth and hemp fabric from her home.

A whole bolt of fabric immediately stunned the women gathered around the big rock.

All eyes turned to her, making Li Xuemei feel a little embarrassed.

But she knew this wasn’t the time to hesitate.

Madam Qi came over and naturally linked arms with her.

Li Xuemei felt the warmth of her hand, a quiet but firm encouragement.

Her shoulders relaxed, and her expression became even more sincere.

“This should have been just our family’s responsibility, but now everyone is helping. Thank you all. My husband and I have discussed it—we can’t let you work for nothing.

Some of you might have heard about the work points my little Er invented. This time, we’ll use the same system. Our family will offer scented soap, dried meat, charcoal, red bricks, and our homemade gray mortar—we call it cement—in exchange.

If it were any other time, it wouldn’t matter. But right now, everyone is building houses. If these things are useful to you, we’ll trade them as a token of our appreciation.”

Her words were sincere and straightforward, bringing joy to the other women.

They hadn’t come expecting anything in return.

But Madam Yan wasn’t wrong—who wouldn’t want scented soap? And those red bricks and cement were essential for construction.

If the Yan family offered silver, they wouldn’t accept it.

But taking goods was different—it was a gesture of gratitude, proof that their kindness was remembered.

As for the work points, they had heard about them from their children. The kids might not understand, but the women did—this was the Yan family’s way of quietly supporting them.

“Sister-in-law, you’re being too formal! We’re just doing some sewing, and you’re giving us all these good things, haha!

But to be honest, I never have enough scented soap! My two brats aren’t as considerate as Luo’s kids, who always remember to trade for a bar for their mother. Today, I won’t wait for them!

I’m fast with a needle—let’s get started, sister-in-law! I can’t wait!”

Madam Cui even brought her own stool and sat right in front of the big rock. Not only did she have her sewing kit, but she had also brought scissors.

Talking about the scented soap, she beamed with excitement—clearly, she had been eyeing those work points for a while.

Li Xuemei thought, No wonder my husband calls her “Sister Cui.” Only now do I see how good it is to have her around. She lightens the mood, smooths things over, and does it all naturally.

With her leading the way, it was much easier for Li Xuemei to continue.

“These masks have two layers—an inner layer of washed and softened cloth, and an outer layer made from my fabric. We’ll sew two ties on each side so they can be worn over the ears.

I was also thinking of adding some mugwort leaves between the layers. It’ll make them smell fresher.”

Li Xuemei was considering what Yan Lao’er had said about nausea being a symptom. Adding mugwort wouldn’t take much effort, but it could make a big difference for those wearing the masks.

Yan Lao’er had already borrowed several straw mats.

Everyone sat on the mats, opened their sewing kits, and got to work.

The process wasn’t difficultP