In late September, dark clouds finally appeared in the clear sky. With a cold wind from the north, it rained in Constantinople. Under the dim sky, Sheila's house welcomed the first person to ask for help. Sheila's parents received her very kindly, and when they saw off the widow's neighbor, they had Sheila and her brother carry two bags of grain to the widow's house in a small cart.

One bag of grain is about fifty catties, and two bags are one hundred catties. The widow was a little frightened, and she quickly refused. Sheila's father said, "Sister-in-law, of course I hope that this incident will pass quickly. There are four or five people in your family, and it doesn't hurt to have more food. ”

The widow looked helpless, and listened to Sheila's mother say, "Sister-in-law, you have a family of four, and I know that it is not easy for you. Don't worry, come back to me when you're done eating. Or I'll have Sheila and her brother deliver food to you next month. We're all neighbors, so let's not talk so much about it at this time. You can't starve to death. ”

Sheila turned her head and rolled her eyes at the gray rainy day, she also knew that her father had always been upright and that his morality was from the heart. But people like her mother will also believe in morality? Sheila doesn't have faith in her mother. When she turned her head, Sheila saw the widow tearfully holding Sheila's mother's hand, and Sheila's mother stepped forward to hug the widow's neighbor and said to her, "You really don't have to worry, we won't die without help." Your food is fine. ”

After spending so much time in an office where women are used as men and men are used as livestock, Sheila is already a good hand at pulling rack carts. Walking briskly down the wet streets, Sheila watched the widow follow the car, and felt sorry for her. When she was in her thirties, her husband died, and she lived a difficult life with her three children on the meager property left by her husband. In autumn, she was still wearing light clothes, and the widow was a little trembling under the cold wind and rain, but she still followed closely by the car. The three children were well educated, and Sheila liked them.

After walking a little further, Sheila stopped and let her brother hold on to the handlebars. She took off her rubber raincoat and handed it to the widow, "Auntie, put this on." ”

"No, no, no." The widow hurriedly refused.

"It's raining, if you get gonorrhea, who will take care of the children?" Sheila persuaded.

"You...... You're drenched too. The widow smiled wryly.

Sheila picked up the bamboo hat in front of the cart and buckled it on her head, and said with a smile: "Isn't this just not drenched." With that, she put on the widow's rubber raincoat with her own body temperature. I also helped her tidy up her hood. Da Song's raincoat is woven with sisal thread into the inner lining, and a layer of rubber is pressed into the outside, which is a little hard and covers it very well when worn. But from the outside, it's quite straight and stylish.

Pulling the frame car with a hat, there is no longer the feeling of covering it before, and it is quite cool to blow the cold wind. Sheila walked briskly down the street, and when she reached the widow's house, she and her brother walked into the house with a bag of grain, and felt that it was very warm inside. The younger brother was so reckless that he wanted to bring food into the kitchen of the widow's house. Although Sheila felt that her brother was too much of a toss, she didn't stop it, and according to Da Song, she helped people to the end and sent Buddha to the west. I have the experience of working in the pepper fields in the east, so what are these steps? When she entered the kitchen of the widow's house, Sheila's face changed slightly. It's empty, it's really empty. It's like I haven't used it much for a long time.

When she went out, the widow wanted to put the raincoat on Sheila, but Sheila smiled reluctantly: "Auntie, you can keep this raincoat." ”

"Nope." The widow shook her head in refusal.

Thinking of the empty kitchen, Sheila couldn't help but feel pity. With the rainy season in the coming months, and an even longer food crisis, will this empty kitchen be able to withstand it? She took the widow's hand, and felt only that her hand was cold and frightening. "Auntie, this raincoat is issued by our office, and we give one every year. You don't have to worry about us running out of clothes to wear. But you have to take care of yourself. Leave this raincoat behind. ”

On the way back, Sheila didn't speak, and a cold wind blew Sheila couldn't help but rub her bare arm with her hand. I don't know when my wet arms are already cold. At this time, I heard my younger brother say suspiciously: "Sister, I think my aunt seems to be a little relieved after listening to our mother's words, why do I think she really wants us to send her food every month?" ”

Sheila turned her head to look at her brother, this kid has been confused a lot of times, why did he suddenly become so sharp today. Sheila had already seen the widow's reaction at the time, it was difficult to ask for help, who didn't want to live a glamorous and decent life on her own. Isn't that what Sheila has worked so hard for so long? Thinking of this, Sheila couldn't help but discipline her younger brother, "You have to study hard, do you hear?" If you don't study well, you won't have a good future! ”

"Hmm......" the younger brother replied perfunctorily.

The widow was only the first, and a few days later other old neighbors came to visit, and everyone spoke vaguely. Sheila's parents listened attentively, and then told them not to worry, and in the face of such a bad situation, Sheila's family understood that everyone wanted to survive. Then she asked Sheila and her brother to pull the cart and deliver the food. Of course, it will not be given more, on average, it is 25 catties of food per person per family.

As the days passed, the number of people seeking help increased. Sheila's pantry, attic, various small rooms, and even her father's large study were crammed with food. A month later, Daddy's study was first restored to its original appearance. And Sheila and her brother pulled a cart at night to deliver food to some of the most difficult old neighbors. The widow's house was the first one, and this time Sheila's younger brother stopped babbling, he just carried the food belt and sent it directly to the kitchen. The widow held Sheila's hand wordlessly and wept silently, Sheila wanted to say something comforting, but she couldn't say it at all, and finally could only say: "Auntie, my mother said it, you don't have to worry." All difficulties will pass. ”

After delivering the food, when Sheila came home, she heard her brother whisper, "Sister, there is nothing in the kitchen of Auntie's house." ”

"Hmm." Sheila answered, very surprised in her heart. His younger brother is actually sensible and knows that he can't say other people's sad things out loud. Nothing at home is a given, and the price of food in Constantinople has more than doubled recently, and it is about to double what it used to be. The Emperor had also ordered that the food supplied by all the families of the legion be reduced by 30%, and of course the Sheila family did not care about this food. His family never really survived on what little food her brother Cicelius had for his army family. The military dependents all went to work in the factory, and the Sheila family didn't know about the welfare policy at all. Let Sheila sit in front of the embroidery table all day and embroider, it is better to kill her.

But for the widow aunt, she really wants to enjoy such welfare opportunities so that she can earn more money. But her children will be left unattended. For the sake of the children's upbringing, the widow aunt must stay at home to run the household.