Gu Jinli picked up a straw hat and sneakily followed Qin San Lang.

Qin San Lang noticed her and stopped in a secluded spot: "Xiao Yu, go back quickly, it's snowing, too cold. If you have any questions, I'll talk to you when you come to deliver dinner."

Gu Jinli nodded, trotted over, stood on her tiptoes, and placed the straw hat on his head: "To block the wind and snow, take it off when you get to someone else's house."

She also asked: "Do you need some chili water? It can make you tear up."

Qin San Lang shook his head: "No need, it's cold, and with little clothes on, the corners of the eyes and the nose are all red, looking like crying. Hurry back home, don't catch a cold."

Even though she was dressed like a little cotton ball, the falling snow would wet her clothes.

Gu Jinli nodded: "Okay, you go quickly, I'm heading home to make you something delicious."

After speaking, she turned and ran away first.

Qin San Lang looked at her retreating figure, smiled, and continued walking forward.

After Gu Jinli returned home, she dived into the kitchen to cook for Qin San Lang.

Third Grandma said: "San Lang likes grilled fish. Grill a few for him. And make some dried meat, he loves that too."

"I got it, Third Grandma, I'll make all of it for him, won't let him go hungry."

Third Grandpa instructed: "Make some dried bamboo shoots with salted meat; your Grandpa Qin likes salty meat. Also, stew some salt pork and radish porridge for him. He hasn't been feeling well these days, not much appetite, drinking some porridge will help his digestion."

"Uh-huh, I'm already on it." Gu Jinli said, bustling in the kitchen with Xiao Ji.

Gu Jinxiu, Sister Li, and Zhu Chahua came to help as well.

Mrs. Cui and the others were still busy at the Qin family, dismantling the mourning hall and collecting the white cloth, not at home. Brother Cheng was young and a bit scared after seeing a death in the Qin family, so he came to the kitchen to be with his elder sister and second sister.

"Second Sister, will Brother Er Lang never come back?" Brother Cheng felt a bit sad; although Brother Er Lang was very fierce and often went crazy, he didn't want Brother Er Lang to die.

Gu Jinli was cutting salted meat and said: "Everyone has their fate; some people are just meant to die. But don't be sad, Brother Cheng, Qin Er Lang has reincarnated and will live a better life than in the village."

That's right, he's reincarnated, and there will no longer be a person called Qin Er Lang, only another young person who believes himself to be noble.

She then told Sister Li: "Your knife skills are good, kill the three fish in the bucket, I want to grill them shortly."

"Okay." Sister Li complied and started to kill the fish.

Brother Cheng asked: "Reincarnated? Does that mean Brother Er Lang can't come back as a ghost to find us?"

Gu Jinli almost burst out laughing and said to Brother Cheng: "What are you thinking about? He won't become a ghost to find us. If he were to look for someone, it would be the tiger."

Gu Jinxiu was worried Brother Cheng would be scared, held him close to the fire, and comforted him: "Don't be afraid, Brother Cheng. Brother Qin from the Qin family won't harm us, Good Brother An will sleep with you tonight. If you're scared, just hold on to Good Brother An."

"Mm-hmm." Brother Cheng nodded, then turned and touched Gu Jinxiu's forehead, asking, "Are you better now, Eldest Sister? Don't be sick, being sick can lead to death, Brother Cheng doesn't want Eldest Sister to die."

Gu Jinxiu smiled and said: "Eldest Sister has been well for a while, don't worry, Brother Cheng. Our whole family will be with Brother Cheng, no one will die."

Brother Cheng felt much relieved after hearing this.

Gu Jinli could very much understand Brother Cheng; children inevitably feel scared when someone familiar dies.

Her movements were fast; within half an hour, she prepared a table full of dishes. She left half for her family and packed the rest in a basket, taking it to the Qin family.

Gu Dashan and his son, Father Luo, Gu Dalin, and the others were dismantling the mourning hall at the Qin family, having finished and ready to go home.

Seeing her carrying things over, Gu Dashan commanded: "San Lang hasn't returned yet, take the food to the kitchen and heat it up in the pot, so it won't be cold by the time San Lang gets back."

"Alright, father and mother go back to have your meal first. I'll head back after Brother Qin returns, no need to wait for me."

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Cui quickly said, "Mother will stay to keep you company."

Gu Jinli replied, "There's no need, mother, Xiao Ji is here, so please don't worry."

Mrs. Cui glanced at Xiao Ji, thought for a moment, and finally nodded, following Gu Dashan back home.

Before long, Qin San Lang returned, and upon learning that Gu Jinli had brought food, he went straight to the kitchen, "Xiao Yu."

"Brother Qin, you've returned." Gu Jinli was pleased, pointing to the food that had been kept warm on the stove, "Are you hungry? You can eat now."

Then to Xiao Ji, she said, "Take the food to the main hall, and take some charcoal from the stove to the brazier there to stoke the fire."

Xiao Ji looked at Qin San Lang, then at Gu Jinli, always feeling that her Young Master was deliberately trying to send her away to do some mischief.

She shook her head, "I won't go. I want to stay with the Young Master."

This was what the Dong Family's Madam and Nanny Tao had instructed her to do.

Gu Jinli narrowed her eyes and said, "Your martial arts haven't improved at all recently. If you don't obey, I'll have to replace you."

Xiao Ji was most afraid of being replaced by Gu Jinli. Hearing this, she hurriedly said, "I'll go do the work right away; Young Master, please don't get rid of me."

She immediately swept the still flaming charcoal into a pottery bowl, carried it with a rag to the main hall.

Gu Jinli asked, "Did your Second Brother run away? Are our families safe now?"

Qin San Lang nodded, "Yes, Er Lang has successfully faked his death. He will head to Yangji Prefecture next, although I don't know what identity he will use. We'll have to wait for his letter to find out."

Gu Jinli wasn't concerned about that, "As long as he doesn't implicate any of our families, that's fine."

She paused, then looked at Qin San Lang and asked, "Will you leave in the future, too? Like your Second Brother, assume a different identity to act?"

Qin San Lang knew she would ask this question; he wanted to say he wouldn't leave, but he didn't want to lie to her. He honestly said, "I probably will."

He still had revenge to seek.

He added, "But I'll come back."

Upon hearing this, Gu Jinli didn't speak, just smiled her usual smile... Brother Qin was a very good friend to her, but now that was all it could be.

Seeing that she was silent, and her smile was not as genuinely joyful as before, Qin San Lang felt a bit panicked. He wanted to say something, but felt if he couldn't keep a promise, it was better not to make one.

For a moment, the kitchen was very quiet.

"... Young Master, may I come in?" Xiao Ji, having stoked the brazier, returned to the kitchen door, holding up her hands, "I swear I haven't heard anything."

What she really thought was seeing the two of you standing there looking at each other like idiots was quite sickening, and she had to speak up to break the awkward silence.

Gu Jinli said, "Hurry in and serve the food."

To Qin San Lang, she added, "Brother Qin, you bring the roasted fish, and I'll take the salted pork and radish porridge."

"Eh." Qin San Lang complied, and the three of them served the food in the main hall, calling Grandpa Qin to eat.

Seeing his favorite dishes, Grandpa Qin smiled, "Xiao Yu is thoughtful. It's getting late; you should go home for dinner too."

"Mmm, Grandpa Qin, you all enjoy your meal. Xiao Ji and I will leave first." Saying this, Gu Jinli, with Xiao Ji, departed.