"Damn it. Why is the weather so cold this year?"

Mr. Su blew on his hands as he stepped outside, meeting Tong Huaqiong who complained about the weather.

Tong Huaqiong asked, "It’s almost New Year, why hasn’t Mr. Su taken a break?"

She remembered that in the past, the private school in town would always take a holiday during the twelfth lunar month, and Mr. Su was planning to extend the term until New Year’s Eve?

Tong Huaqiong thought it was unnecessary to work the students so hard.

Mr. Su rubbed his hands and sighed, "Manager Tong, you don’t know. Some students’ families either don’t have enough charcoal or are unwilling to use it, and during the break, their hands tremble from cold when writing at home, and they get sick from freezing. So I let them all come to the private school. I’m burning charcoal here, so they won’t freeze."

Tong Huaqiong understood.

Mr. Su extended the classes out of consideration for the students.

He moved all his charcoal to the private school, keeping it warm every day, so the students preferred to sleep at the school rather than go home.

But Mr. Su bought only a cart of charcoal, enough for himself to burn through winter, but not for the school.

Tong Huaqiong admired Mr. Su’s selflessness.

Tong Huaqiong said, "You’ve given all your charcoal to the school; what about your own house?"

Mr. Su smiled bitterly and said, "Yesterday, I asked the village chief to help me buy another cart from town, but there’s a charcoal shortage everywhere now. It’s not a matter of price; the key is that it can’t be bought."

Mr. Su felt a bit of regret. Tong Pandi had told him earlier that the weather would be extremely cold this year, but he hadn’t anticipated it would be this severe.

If he’d known earlier, he’d have stocked up on more charcoal.

Tong Huaqiong looked up at the sky; it was gloomy, as if another heavy snow was about to fall.

She thought it was time to release her charcoal.

Tong Huaqiong said, "Mr. Su, don’t worry. The private school isn’t just yours; it belongs to everyone. I have some charcoal here; I’ll share it with you to ensure the school’s supply, but you must also heat your own house. You’re the teacher; you mustn’t catch cold."

Just as Mr. Su was about to decline, a voice sounded from behind.

"Mr. Su, you mustn’t refuse. Manager Tong is right; you are our school’s most valuable asset. If anyone freezes, it mustn’t be you. Take the charcoal from Manager Tong and use it yourself. I’ll cover the school’s charcoal this year. I fear the cold, so I stock up a lot every year; I still have some from two years ago that hasn’t been used. It would be a waste, so I’d rather give it to the school, so the village children can study in a warm classroom."

No need to ask who spoke so generously; it must be Boss Qian from Fengle Building.

Boss Qian smiled at Tong Huaqiong and said, "Manager Tong, don’t you agree?"

Tong Huaqiong naturally agreed with Boss Qian’s charitable actions and concurred, "Yes."

Mr. Su cupped his hands and said, "In this case, I shall accept."

Boss Qian stomped his feet and said, "It’s really cold. Do you know why I stock early every year? When I was young, I experienced extreme cold weather in my hometown; many people froze to death, and the bodies couldn’t be buried in time. Come spring, the smell of the corpses attracted plagues, leaving a shadow in my memory. This weather feels like a precursor to extreme cold; if it truly is, that would be terrible."

Soon, the villagers gathered in one place, blowing on their hands, discussing the weather.

"Boss Qian, is what you say true? Can people really freeze to death?"

Most of the villagers doubted Boss Qian’s talk about extreme cold.

No matter how cold it gets, how bad could it be?

Mostly, it’s because they have no concept of extreme cold. The coldest weather in Ning City is usually just minus ten degrees, though it freezes and snows heavily, but you can grit your teeth and endure it.

Boss Qian said, "Throw a pot of boiling water, and it freezes mid-air; would you say that degree of cold can freeze a person?"

Tong Huaqiong said, "Regardless of the truth, everyone should prepare for the extreme cold Boss Qian mentioned. I advise everyone to burn charcoal, wear warm clothes, and not save money on these. If you get sick from the cold, it’s not worth it."

If the villagers trust anyone’s words the most, it’s naturally Tong Huaqiong.

Hearing Tong Huaqiong agree with Boss Qian’s talk about extreme cold, they exchanged glances.

"It’s usually a warm winter; who would’ve thought it’s a cold winter this year."

"Luckily, I added an extra layer to my house this year."

"If I had known earlier, I would have bought charcoal before winter; it’s really expensive this year. Aunt Tong said we should burn charcoal; we want to, but we can’t buy any from town now."

"They say now that even with money, you can’t buy charcoal. In past years, what I would buy would last until spring; this year, I don’t know if it will last until January."

Everyone expressed their opinions about the extreme cold weather and eventually returned to the topic of charcoal.

The issue with the charcoal now isn’t about price; it’s about availability.

Tong Huaqiong clearly knew the charcoal situation in Qinghe Bay Village households, and looking at it now, most could manage.

She wouldn’t reveal that she had charcoal at this time.

So she said, "If we truly encounter extreme cold, County Magistrate Liu will surely find a way for everyone to buy charcoal. I still say, don’t try to endure it; if the cold’s unbearable, definitely burn charcoal."

The current lack of charcoal isn’t exclusive to Qinghe Bay; it’s not just a problem in Yan Guan Town.

Tong Huaqiong sent someone to inquire; the shortage affected the entire Pingchuan County, and surrounding counties and towns faced similar situations as Pingchuan.

Tong Huaqiong had reason to suspect that the charcoal on the market was hoarded by the Zheng Family.

The Zheng Family was holding back the charcoal because the weather hadn’t reached a deadly freezing temperature yet, and people had already bought one batch without causing panic over the shortage.

In a few days, it might trigger panic over the extreme cold and charcoal shortage; at that time, the Zheng Family will release charcoal, and no matter the cost, people will buy.

Indeed, as the weather turned colder, with more frequent snow, rumors of the extreme cold spread everywhere.

This triggered panic among everyone.

The news was released by the Zheng Family as part of public opinion preparation for selling charcoal.

When the news of extreme cold weather spread, Tong Huaqiong was also prepared.

Once the Zheng Family starts selling charcoal, she will have Jufu Supermarket put out the stocked charcoal immediately, to compete with the Zheng Family.

Another heavy snow fell.

Gu Ruinian stood under the eaves, looking at the vast white snow outside, and a thrill rose in his heart.

The heavens finally sided with him.

He wished the snow were heavier, the weather colder, ideally freezing many to death, so he could prove to the Zheng Family his value, showing that his ramblings about historical records of this dynasty were accurate.

If the Zheng Family trusted him, he could turn things around.

Even if he couldn’t build heavy cannons, if he proofed his ability to predict the future, the Zheng Family wouldn’t abandon him.

These days, he saw the villagers’ panic at not being able to buy charcoal.

He knew that most of Pingchuan’s charcoal was in the Zheng Family’s hands.

When the time was ripe, the Zheng Family would sell.

He would benefit from this extreme cold weather.

A smile curved at the corner of Gu Ruinian’s lips.

Extreme cold, come more violently.