In the past, the Pei family's stove used to burn firewood.
Actually, burning firewood was also very warm, but at the beginning, there would be more smoke.
Another thing was that the firewood would produce sparks.
If one sat too close to the stove, the sparks would accidentally splash on one's body and burn a small hole in one's clothes.
However, it was different this year.
Jiang Ran not only bought a stove for the small closet, but he also bought stoves for the small courtyard in the county town, as well as the Pei family's house in the village.
All the stoves were the same and had the same exhaust pipes.
They were no longer burning firewood, but honeycomb briquettes.
Honeycomb briquettes were easier and faster to burn and were equally warm.
Not only could they be used for warmth, but they could also be used to put pots or kettles on top.
At the same time, they could also cook porridge and boil water at the same time. It was simply too convenient.
Jiang Ran pulled Pei Jing towards the central room. When they reached the door of the central room, they smelled a faint aroma.
When they reached out to push the door open, the aroma instantly became many times stronger and directly hit them in the face.
It was the smell of mutton soup!
It would be too comfortable to drink a bowl of piping hot mutton soup in such a cold winter!
Wang Cuilan knew that they were coming back today, so he made the mutton soup in advance. He reckoned that they would be able to start eating when they came back.
The timing was just right. It was almost time for dinner.
After closing the door, they felt much warmer.
However, Jiang Ran was not in a hurry to remove the scarf and hat from his body.
He waited for a while until his fingers felt warm and his toes regained feeling. Only then did he remove his scarf, hat, and gloves and set them aside.
After tidying himself up, Jiang Ran removed Pei Jing's hat, scarf, and gloves.
Pei Jing was wrapped up tightly and had stayed in the house for a while. At this moment, his little face was flushed, but his eyes were bright and his face was full of smiles.
Looking at Pei Jing like this, Jiang Ran also smiled and reached out to pinch Pei Jing's face.
"Xiao Jing, what have you been playing at home these days?"
Pei Jing snuggled up to Jiang Ran. When he heard Jiang Ran's question, he stretched out his white and tender little hand. His little fingers were like lotus roots, and he started to tell Jiang Ran what he did at home.
Before Pei Jing could finish, the door to the central room opened again. Pei Shanshan and Pei Yang walked in one after another.
After Pei Yang came in, he closed the door of the central room and said to Jiang Ran, "Sister-in-law, Big Brother went back to his room to put something down. He'll be back in a while."
Jiang Ran: "??"
She did not ask why Pei Yang was telling her this.
Although he felt a little strange in his heart, Jiang Ran didn't say much. He just nodded, indicating that he understood.
Before long, Pei Huai, Pei Baoshan, and Wang Cuilan walked in together.
When Wang Cuilan came over, he was carrying a straw basket with a lid.
In winter, every household here would use such a steamed bun basket.
Whether it was freshly steamed buns or freshly baked pancakes, they would be placed in the basket and covered with a lid to keep them warm for a certain period of time.
If the buns and pancakes were left exposed to the air, even if they were placed in the house, they would turn cold in no time.