Zhao Gao would be leaving in two days. There was no point in wallowing in sorrow; life was still long, and it had to go on.
As soon as Madam Chen returned home, she began packing for Zhao Gao. Since it was early spring, the weather fluctuated between cold and hot, so he would need to bring some heavy clothing for his journey. She wasn't sure how long this corvée labor would last. While the authorities claimed it would only be for three months, it usually dragged on much longer than that, so she had to make sure he had enough clothes. She packed all the new cotton-padded jackets and trousers she had made this year; with plenty of supplies, Zhao Gao would have something warm to wear when it got cold and something thinner to change into if it got hot.
The matter of the corvée labor always left Madam Chen feeling uneasy. Once a man left home to work on such projects, it could be months or even half a year before he was seen again. Her heart would remain suspended in anxiety; she wouldn't be able to rest until he was back.
Chapter 162