Jing Shu packed her things with efficient, practiced movements. She didn't bring much; her luggage looked about as simple as a man's collection of gear. There was a phone, a charger, and a pack of tissues instead of a razor. She tucked in a change of clothes and several pairs of underwear. Since she wasn't planning to be away for long, that was basically the extent of her personal wardrobe.
Her main luggage consisted of a luxury single-person tent, a high-end model designed to withstand biting winds and extreme cold. It came complete with a thick sleeping bag, a plush cushion, and a moisture-proof mat. That small, tightly stuffed bundle held all her essential personal gear.
As for the other two large suitcases, one was dedicated to cooking and daily supplies. Inside lay her compact cooking kit: a multifunctional pot stand that could double as a barbecue rack, a set of essential seasonings in small jars, and enough alcohol fuel to last for several days. She also packed a portable water filter, a comprehensive first aid kit, and a heavy thermos so she could enjoy hot milk tea whenever the craving hit. She even made room for a rubber hot water bag.
The remaining space was packed with instant foods: tins of milk powder, butter tea mix, slabs of brick tea, and various instant cereals and nut blends. Since it was the dead of winter, hot drinks weren't a luxury; they were a necessity.
The second suitcase was reserved entirely for food storage. It was heavy with jars of savory meat sauce, cans of luncheon meat, and containers of braised pork. There were links of salty sausages and slabs of smoked ham. Grandma Jing couldn't stand to watch her pack nothing but meat, so she forced in a pile of dried vegetables, pungent pickles, and portions of fried rice as well. She even tossed in a handful of sun-dried greens before fixing a stern glare on her granddaughter.
"You had 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 a bright, hot red. "That wasn't constipation, Grandma. I just stayed in there a bit too long, that's all."
She didn't argue about taking the vegetables, however. Inside her Cube Space, she still had dozens of pre-cooked dishes, bottles of fruit juice, and bags of snacks tucked away. There was even an entire cubic meter's worth of roasted steak she had saved through her own hard work. If she grew hungry, she could always sneak a bite or two. She had already perfected the art of eating quietly and ensuring the scent vanished before anyone noticed.
Normally, she was a constant snacker regardless of the situation. She loved the feeling of having a piece of chocolate, a hard candy, or a handful of pine nuts in her mouth while she worked.
Of course, Grandma Jing wasn't reassured by a simple suitcase. Within the hour, she had fried up several batches of twisted crullers, golden sweet potato balls, and baked flatbreads until the luggage couldn't hold another morsel.
The smoked ham leg was the final item, but there was no space left inside the cases. Jing Shu solved the problem by tying a sturdy rope to the meat and hanging it around Xiao Dou's neck. "You eat so much every day; it's time for you to pull your weight."
Xiao Dou looked pitiful with the heavy weight swaying against her chest, but she didn't dare resist. Going out with her owner was a dream come true, even if it meant acting as a pack animal. Being a chicken in this world was already difficult, but being a heroic, all-purpose chicken was even harder.
Jing Shu insisted on bringing her. Otherwise, who would provide the fresh eggs she required every morning? That would be a tragedy she wasn't willing to face.
By the time Jing An rushed home, the packing was finished. Jing Shu was bundled up in her outdoor gear from head to toe. She wore thick wool socks, heavy boots, and even an extra pair of rubber shoes over them to keep out the dampness. The Spirit Spring was excellent for recovery, but it didn't provide a magical shield against the cold. She grew chilled easily, far worse than most people, and painful chilblains were her mortal enemy.
When Jing An walked through the door, he saw his daughter wrapped up like a round snowman. Only her eyes were visible, blinking up at him from behind her goggles and scarf. His heart softened instantly at the sight.
"All ready?" he asked, his breath exhaling in a thick white mist as he checked the straps on her gear one last time.
"Hold on, Granddaughter," Grandpa Jing called out, hurrying over from the workshop area. "I heard you will be out in the wild for a few days, so I made this for you. It should make things easier for a young girl like you."
He reached out and handed her a strange-looking raincoat made of heavy, dark material.
"What is this?" Jing Shu asked, her voice muffled by her scarf.
"A portable toilet cloak."
The silence in the room was absolute for a moment. "...What?"
Grandpa Jing proudly demonstrated the invention. He slipped the raincoat on; the upper half appeared normal, but the bottom had been altered into a wide, structured skirt held open by a lightweight frame underneath. It looked ridiculous, like he was wearing a miniature 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 will stand up on its own like an umbrella. I even made you a wool pad to sit on. That way you can go comfortably, just the same as at home. You always take half an hour in there, so you would freeze to death outside otherwise."
Their villa only had one functional bathroom, and Jing Shu was infamous for hogging the space every morning. Luckily, she always woke up late, usually after everyone else had already departed for work.
Her mouth fell open as she watched him demonstrate the toilet cloak. The lower half had a built-in frame that surrounded him completely, shielding him from view. From the outside, a bystander couldn't tell what was happening at all. It provided privacy, warmth, and protection from the wind. It was perfect.
"Well? With this, your butt won't freeze, and you can take as long as you want."
Jing Shu tested the device, realizing it was basically a hollow frame she could sit over, letting gravity do the work. The frame kept the heavy skirt steady, ensuring that even if the wind howled, the fabric wouldn't fly up.
"Grandpa, you're a genius. But I think if you added a layer of leather, it would block the wind even better."
His eyes lit up with excitement. "Good idea! You're sharp as always. It was a rush job this time, but once you're back, I will improve it. Maybe I can even add a little heater under it too."
That made Jing Shu laugh. She had actually been worried about how to handle the biting cold when nature called. Last year hadn't been so severe, but this winter was brutal. She hadn't prepared anything special, thinking she would just tough it out as she had in her previous life. She hadn't expected her grandfather to come through with such a practical solution.
"Grandpa, when I get back, I will get you the tobacco seeds you wanted. I will plant them in the garden, and then you can smoke as much as you like." She made a mental note to sneak a few seeds into her Cube Space later.
"My good girl!" Grandpa Jing beamed so broadly that his wrinkles folded over each other in a map of joy.
Jing An made a face at the display. "Unbelievable. When I was a kid, you either scolded me or smacked me. I have a wife and kid now, and you have never made me anything. Where is that fatherly love you're always bragging about?" He chuckled and nudged his daughter. "Hey, daughter, don't forget about your old man."
"Smoke, smoke, smoke! That's all you ever think about," Grandpa Jing snapped, his tone sharpening. "There's barely any tobacco left, and you still want more? Quit whining and take her already; it's getting late."
He glared at his son. He had never liked how much the boy resembled him in all the least desirable ways. Not a single one of his wife's good habits had rubbed off on him. What a waste!
As the house filled with the sound of laughter and the scent of Grandma Jing's snacks still cooling on the table, Jing Shu could already feel her appetite returning. The cold weather always made her crave more food. Honestly, she wanted to eat everything.
What a problem to have.