"It doesn't matter if you don't know, when the wind starts later, everyone will stand in the yard and you'll experience it,"
Fu Xin Ci did not share the hardships with her companions. After preparing everything for them, she returned.
Although her companions were reluctant, they wisely saw her out of the yard.
They even insisted on escorting her to the hillside, and only after watching Xin Ci leave did they dejectedly descend the hill.
The way back was more familiar than ever. Fu Xin Ci could have found her way back with her eyes closed.
However, as she descended the slope, she saw Qi He waiting for her in the vast expanse of white snow.
Fu Xin Ci looked around. Apart from Qi He's footprints, the surrounding snow was almost untouched. A smile spread across her face, and she softly asked, "How did you know to wait for me here?"
"Grandpa Meng told me you went to deliver meat to the captain and the others."
"So you just foolishly stood here. Aren't you cold?"
"Thinking of you, I'm not cold."
"..." Xiao Bai was about to speak when it was force-fed a mouthful of dog food.
"Squeak squeak squeak." Are we even going to let ferrets live? One moment they're not looking, and they're force-fed dog food. This white ferret isn't a dog.
Fu Xin Ci remained silent, pretending not to hear.
Qi He heard it but didn't know what Xiao Bai was saying. Even if he did, he wouldn't care.
He had just pulled Fu Mei Mei's hand and was holding it in his large palm.
Fu Mei Mei's hand was so small and soft. Qi He had secretly rejoiced more than once in his heart, wishing he could hold it like this forever.
Xiao Bai: It wants to go back to the space.
Why was its brain kicked by a donkey earlier to come out of the space to accompany humans.
Thinking of deep mountains and old forests, with its company, humans wouldn't be lonely.
Were humans lonely?
Xiao Bai looked at the two of them not speaking, holding hands and walking forward silently.
It seemed like the lonely one was this white ferret.
"..." Xiao Bai wanted to be sad for a while.
But its little bean eyes blinked and blinked, unable to produce a look of utter devastation.
Those two people were still not speaking.
Until a rabbit appeared in their sight. Qi He's gentle gaze sought permission from Fu Mei Mei before he leaped forward.
The snow was too thick, and the rabbit had nowhere to escape, especially facing the bold and meticulous Qi He.
In the blink of an eye, it became Qi He's prey.
"Fu Mei Mei."
The tall and handsome young man instantly ran back, presenting the wild rabbit in his hand to his beloved girl as if offering a treasure.
"Fu Mei Mei, look, this wild rabbit is quite meaty. We can have an extra dish today."
"Mmm, it's quite good."
With the addition of a rabbit, their footsteps quickened noticeably.
In the Meng family's yard, Yu'er and Han Zhi were diligently shoveling a cleared area about ten feet wide.
Ning'er and Qing Mei were also leaning on the windowsill and putting in effort. If their grandfather hadn't forbidden them to leave the room, these two little ones might have already been jumping and running outside to help.
As for whether they would be helping or causing trouble, everyone could imagine for themselves; no one would bother you.
Yu'er heard footsteps and looked up, seeing his sister and Brother Qi returning. He greeted them enthusiastically.
"Sister, Brother Qi, you're back."
"Mmm."
"Xin Yu, what are you doing?"
"Xiao Zhi and I want to shovel all the snow here clean, then put out some withered grains. We want to catch birds."
Hearing this, Fu Xin Ci knew that these naughty children were bored and restless indoors, so they were using their brains to get up to mischief.
Her younger brother had even thought of catching birds. She wondered what the other naughty children in town were up to.
Ning'er had sharp eyes. As soon as his sister and brother-in-law entered the yard, he saw the rabbit in his brother-in-law's hand.
"Tap tap tap." He tapped on the glass window. "Brother-in-law, is that a rabbit you caught?"
"Yes, we caught it together with your sister just now."
Fu Xin Ci: Catching rabbits had nothing to do with her.
But Qi He insisted on including her. This little secret of a husband and wife working in harmony, though he dared not openly admit it, he could at least think about it in secret.
After the last market day in Qingxi Town, it was New Year's Eve.
Before breakfast, Fu Yu took Qi He and his two sons to the front gate of their house and set off two strings of firecrackers.
Ning'er, though young, was very brave. Seeing his brother and brother-in-law holding a string of firecrackers each, he felt a craving.
The little one reached out and hugged his father's thigh, negotiating with him. "Dad, can Ning'er also set off firecrackers?"
Facing his younger son's expectant gaze, Fu Yu hardened his heart before uttering a gentle refusal.
"Ning'er is still young. When Ning'er can hold the firecracker stick steady, Dad will let Ning'er set off firecrackers."
Ning'er looked at the sticks held by his brother and brother-in-law, wishing he could grow up instantly.
He wished he could be taller than his brother, just like his brother-in-law.
Oh, the little one was very anxious. He even wondered if running back into the house now and having his grandfather give him more water would make him grow faster.
However, before he could think further, the firecrackers were lit by his father.
As the crackling sound of firecrackers erupted, Ning'er forgot everything else. His eyes were only on the scattered red fragments of the exploded firecrackers.
"Wow, Daddy, is this what Sister said, 'heavenly maidens scattering flowers'?"
Yu'er: "Brother Qi and I are both men, don't make such comparisons."
"Oh." The little one, after hearing his brother's reprimand, said no more.
As the sound of firecrackers at the courtyard gate faded, Grandpa Meng and Father Fang, who had been looking towards the gate from the entrance of the main hall, finally returned to the main hall to sit down.
Both of them were wearing new clothes today. Grandpa Meng wore a fine cloth cotton robe the color of ochre, with a gray squirrel fur vest over it.
Father Fang wore an indigo cotton robe, also with a gray squirrel fur vest over it.
With the good food and frequent nourishing soups they had been having,
Father Fang's complexion was actually looking better than before the flood in Qingzhou.
After breakfast, Grandpa Meng sat on the heated brick bed and suggested, "Brother-in-law, let's play a game of 'Dou Dizhu' with Yu'er."
This deck of poker cards was homemade by the captain. When Fu Xin Ci returned from Longcheng, the captain gave her two decks.
Upon returning home, Fu Xin Ci examined them closely and found the card faces too plain. She asked her grandfather to help her draw simple patterns of birds and flowers on the poker cards, and also explained the rules of 'Dou Dizhu' to her grandfather.
The old man found it interesting. After he finished drawing all fifty-four cards, he pulled his brother-in-law and son to play 'Dou Dizhu'.
As they played, all three of them grew fond of the game.
However, Fu Yu was more mentally tired. To accommodate the two elders, he was always the one being "Doued" (i.e., the landlord who lost).
Qi He sat beside his prospective father-in-law, holding back laughter, and coaxed the two elders along with him to make them happy.
As the New Year's bell chimed, a new year arrived as scheduled.
Those staying up for the New Year exchanged auspicious greetings, praying for peace, smooth sailing, and good fortune in the new year.
Fu Xin Ci went to sleep relatively early, retreating into her space before the end of the Xushi period to meet with Duke of Zhou.