Jing Shu packed her things. She didn't bring much, and her luggage looked about as simple as a guy's. A phone, a charger, some tissues instead of a razor, a change of clothes, and that was basically it. Since she wasn't going to be away long, a few pairs of underwear were enough.
Her main luggage was a luxury single-person tent designed for wind and cold, complete with a sleeping bag, a cushion, and a moisture-proof mat. That small, stuffed bundle was all her personal gear.
As for the other two big suitcases—one was for cooking and daily supplies. Inside was her compact cooking kit: a multifunctional pot stand that could double as a barbecue rack, a set of handy seasonings, enough alcohol fuel to last for days, a portable water filter, a first aid kit, and a thermos so she could have hot milk tea whenever she wanted. She even packed a hot water bag.
The remaining space was filled with instant foods: milk powder, butter tea mix, brick tea, and various instant cereals and nut blends. Since it was deep winter, hot drinks were essential.
The second suitcase was purely for food storage—jars of meat sauce, canned luncheon meat, braised pork, sausages, smoked ham, and other preserved meats. Grandma Jing couldn't stand watching her pack only meat, so she stuffed in a pile of dried vegetables, pickles, and fried rice as well. She even threw in some sun-dried greens before glaring at Jing Shu.
"You'd better eat more vegetables. Don't tell me you forgot how constipated you got last time? What if you get hungry out there? You eat like a soldier!"
Jing Shu's face flushed bright red. "That wasn't constipation, Grandma. I just… stayed in there a bit too long, that's all."
She didn't argue about bringing the vegetables, though. Inside her Cube Space, she still had dozens of cooked dishes, fruit juices, and snacks stored up. Not to mention an entire cubic meter's worth of roasted steak she'd saved through hard work. If she got hungry, she could always sneak a bite or two. She'd already perfected the art of eating quietly and making the smell disappear before anyone noticed.
Normally, she was a constant snacker anyway. She loved having chocolate, candy, pine nuts, or cashews in her mouth while working.
Of course, Grandma Jing wasn't reassured with just that. Within an hour, she'd fried up several batches of twisted crullers, sweet potato balls, and baked flatbreads until the luggage couldn't fit another bite.
The smoked ham leg at the end had no space left, so Jing Shu tied a rope to it and hung it around Xiao Dou's neck. "You eat so much every day, time to pull your weight."
Xiao Dou looked pitiful but didn't dare resist. Going out with her owner was a dream come true, even if it meant carrying stuff. Being a chicken was already hard enough, but being a "heroic, all-purpose chicken" was even harder.
Of course Xiao Dou had to come. Otherwise, who'd lay her fresh eggs every morning? That would be tragic.
By the time Jing An rushed home, Jing Shu had already finished packing. She was bundled up in her outdoor gear from head to toe—wool socks, wool boots, and even an extra pair of rubber shoes over them. The Spirit Spring was great for recovery, but it didn't prevent cold. She got cold easily, worse than most people, and chilblains were her mortal enemy.
So when Jing An walked in, he saw his daughter wrapped up like a snowman, with only her eyes visible, blinking up at him. His heart melted instantly.
"All ready?" he asked, exhaling white mist as he checked her gear one last time.
"Hold on, Granddaughter," Grandpa Jing called out, hurrying over. "I heard you'll be out in the wild for a few days, so I made this for you. Should make things easier for a young girl like you."
He handed her a strange-looking raincoat.
"What's this?" Jing Shu asked.
"A portable toilet cloak."
"...What?"
Then Grandpa Jing proudly demonstrated. He put on the raincoat—its upper half was normal, but the bottom was altered into something like a wide skirt, held open with a frame underneath.
It looked kind of ridiculous, like he was wearing a mini tent or a skirted poncho.
"See, you just wear it like normal. When you need to go, you find a clean spot, open the frame like a tent, and it'll stand up on its own like an umbrella. I even made you a wool pad to sit on. That way you can go comfortably, same as at home. You always take half an hour in there, so you'd freeze to death outside otherwise."
Their villa only had one bathroom, and Jing Shu was infamous for hogging it every morning. Luckily, she always woke up late, after everyone else had gone to work.
Her mouth fell open as she stared at him demonstrating the "toilet cloak." The lower half had a built-in frame and surrounded him completely. From outside, you couldn't tell what was going on at all. Privacy, warmth, and wind protection—it was perfect.
And really, thinking about it, who'd want to bare their butt in this freezing weather? That would be torture.
Grandpa Jing grinned. "Well? With this, your butt won't freeze, and you can take as long as you want."
Jing Shu tested the thing out, realizing it was basically a hollow frame you sat over, letting gravity do the rest. The frame kept the skirt steady, so even if the wind blew, it wouldn't fly up.
"Grandpa, you're a genius. But I think if you added a layer of leather, it'd block the wind even better."
His eyes lit up. "Good idea! You're sharp as always. It was a rush job this time, but once you're back, I'll improve it. Maybe add a little heater under it too."
That made Jing Shu laugh. She'd actually been worried about how to deal with the cold when nature called. Last year hadn't been so bad, but this winter was brutal. She hadn't prepared anything special, thinking she'd just tough it out like she did in her previous life. She hadn't expected her grandpa to come through like this.
"Grandpa, when I get back, I'll get you the tobacco seeds you wanted. I'll plant them in the garden, and then you can smoke as much as you like." She'd just sneak a few seeds into her Cube Space later.
"My good girl!" Grandpa Jing beamed so hard his wrinkles folded over each other.
Jing An made a face. "Unbelievable. When I was a kid, you either scolded me or smacked me. I've got a wife and kid now, and you've never made me anything. Where's that fatherly love you always brag about?" He chuckled. "Hey, daughter, don't forget about your old man."
"Smoke, smoke, smoke! That's all you ever think about," Grandpa Jing snapped. "There's barely any left, and you still want more? Quit whining and take her already, it's getting late."
He glared at his son. He'd never liked how much that boy resembled him in all the worst ways. Not a single bit of his wife's good habits had rubbed off. What a waste!
And as the house filled with laughter, Grandma Jing's snacks still cooling on the table, Jing Shu could already feel her appetite returning. Cold weather always made her crave more food. Honestly, she wanted to eat everything.
What a problem to have.