Snow fell relentlessly through the night, wind howling without cease.

Trees that had endured a full day and night of frost and snow pressure now saw their lush, overgrown branches surrender with brittle cracks, snapping under the weight.

Xun Yi trudged against the wind and snow until he reached the thatched hut midway up the mountain.

The firewood-stacked wooden walls couldn’t completely block the elements, allowing playful orange flames from within the wooden shed to pierce through, casting vivid reflections upon the snow-covered ground.

Despite deliberately stepping heavily to crunch the snow as he approached after long preparation, the man seemed to have disturbed neither of the two people chatting cheerfully inside.

He heard Shouyi’s childlike proposal: “Aunt, can we clear some space behind the house to plant another Stinky Peel Citrus tree?”

The gentle woman’s voice replied without hesitation: “Of course we can. But we don’t necessarily need to dig up a tree from the mountains. Next time we eat Stinky Peel Citrus raw, we can save the seeds and plant them when spring comes next year. They’ll grow on their own.”

In his short four years of life, Shouyi had no experience planting trees. After thinking for a moment, he tilted his head and asked: “Do we plant trees like vegetables, by digging holes?”

Before Shu Wanxiu could answer, he immediately followed up: “Aunt, will I be strong enough to carry a hoe next year?”

Children always have endless questions, one after another.

Shu Wanxiu answered each one, never showing impatience.

She said: “Yes, just like digging holes for vegetables.”

“If Shouyi grows strong and healthy, of course you’ll be able to carry a hoe next year.”

The continuous stream of childish questions, the always gentle and patient woman’s voice.

Xun Yi went from hesitating to interrupt to unconsciously standing frozen, eavesdropping like a thirsty man observing others’ happiness.

…

Inside the hut.

“Aunt, this Stinky Peel Citrus must be sweet today.” Shouyi placed his small hands on his hips, full of confidence in his carefully selected fruit.

The air carried the fresh scent of citrus mixed with a familiar hint of smokiness. Both the aroma and taste of this fruit were thoroughly familiar to Shu Wanxiu.

Facing the child’s whimsical idea, she swallowed the saliva that had gathered in her mouth and smiled without speaking.

After unhurriedly adding another piece of firewood, she finally said: “It’ll be ripe soon. You’ll know when you try it later.”

A few bamboo branches mixed into the firewood suddenly made the flames surge, but with side effects – as they burned, several sharp ‘crackling’ sounds erupted in succession.

The person outside instantly snapped back to reality.

-“Is anyone home?”

After speaking, Xun Yi waited quietly in the snow for two breaths before hurried footsteps sounded and a face he hadn’t seen for days appeared before him.

“Brother Xun?”

Just three words, but Xun Yi detected a change.

Though the voice remained the same, the tone that had been gentle as water moments before seemed quite different when directed at him.

A tangled, indescribable emotion rose in Xun Yi’s heart, but he didn’t dare examine it closely.

Due to his recent shameful eavesdropping, after a quick glance at Shu Wanxiu’s appearance, he lowered his head in embarrassment.

“Brother Xun, coming through such heavy snow… is there something you need?” Shu Wanxiu tentatively asked.

“I have some news.”

When discussing serious matters, Xun Yi’s voice deepened.

After hearing him out, Shu Wanxiu’s hands repeatedly loosened and clenched. After several cycles, she couldn’t help but begin pacing back and forth in the snow.

Just as the ironware in shops had different prices for villagers and outsiders, the same piece of information came with an additional suggestion from Xun Yi after he shared it with Shu Wanxiu.

“Every so often, I need to go to the county town to purchase iron materials. When I have to stay overnight, I choose to lodge at an inn.”

Before fleeing the famine, Shu Wanxiu had never traveled far from home.

An inn?

She knew what kind of place it was, but how could ordinary common folk afford to stay there?

“Don’t worry. Staying at an inn in the county town for a night isn’t as expensive as you might think. The cheapest option is a large common sleeping platform that accommodates twelve people, costing only ten coins per person.”

For her and Shu Shouyi, one night would cost twenty coins.

Spending money before even receiving their grain ration was it truly worth it?

Shu Wanxiu turned the idea over in her mind, quickly calculating the costs and benefits.

“The inn I frequent the proprietor and I have become familiar over the years. If you mention my name, he’ll reduce the price by two coins per person.”

Sixteen coins?

Undeniably, Shu Wanxiu was genuinely tempted now.

First, setting out at midnight and trudging through darkness to reach the county town, braving wind and snow, didn’t guarantee an early spot in line.

Second, grain varied in quality not just in taste but also in satiety and other aspects. For instance, the difference between polished rice and unhusked rice wasn’t merely “one pound of rice husks yields one tael of bran.”

To cook porridge with unhusked rice, it had to be hulled into polished rice, which required pounding. Hulling rice took effort and tools.

Then there were soybeans they could be eaten as a staple, but consuming too much would inevitably cause bloating, and some children might even get diarrhea after eating them.

Tempted as she was, Shu Wanxiu couldn’t make the decision alone.

“Brother Xun, thank you.”

“But for the grain distribution the day after tomorrow, I’ve already arranged to go with my Paternal Uncle’s family. I’ll discuss this with them properly tomorrow.”

Since they had agreed to go together, she also needed to consider whether staying at an inn suited her uncle’s family’s circumstances.

For her household of two, one night would cost only sixteen coins. But for her uncle’s family of twelve, it would amount to ninety-six coins.

Doing the math, the cost for both families to stay one night at an inn was nearly enough to buy one dan of grain.

Xun Yi hadn’t known she had already made plans with others. But it was just as well having relatives accompany the two women and children would provide support along the way and make things safer for them.

He handed two items to Shu Wanxiu, one after the other.

A large oil-paper package.

He said, “Hundred Spice Cloud. Brew it in water to ward off the cold.”

A coarse pottery basin the size of a washbasin.

Under her puzzled gaze, he lowered his eyes and spoke slowly, “You’re from the north. My father… he was also from the north.”

“When I was young, I heard him speak of northern customs and landscapes. He often said that in northern winters, heavy snow sealed the mountains, flakes fell like willow catkins, and the frostbite was piercing.”

“People there stored food in cellars for the winter, lived in houses, and slept on heated brick beds to keep warm.”

Though his biological father was from the north, Xun Yi had never set foot in that land. This year, the snow had come too early and too heavily, and he couldn’t help wondering if northern winters were like this every year.

“You’ve only just arrived in the south. Sleeping on wooden beds in winter might feel too cold. A pottery basin filled with charcoal, placed in the room, will make it warmer.”

The previous two times, Xun Yi had always brought Village head Pang along as a shield. This was the first time he had personally delivered something to Shu Wanxiu alone.

Was he afraid of being rejected?

He hadn’t been before.

He recalled how he had previously entrusted Village Head Pang to make things clear, laying all his cards on the table. Since then, both sides had developed an unspoken understanding, allowing their interactions to flow naturally.

But as he gazed into Shu Wanxiu’s clear, tranquil eyes, a corner of his heart trembled, and he suddenly didn’t want to hear any words of refusal.

Author’s Note:

———————-

Below is a mini-theater:

Xun Yi learns about the three-month relief grain distribution: Sees a stranger →_→ senses the stranger’s goodwill →_→ subtly asks if you’re a refugee →_→ alright, let me share some news with you.

With the female lead: Hears the news in the county town →_→ immediately thinks he must tell Shu Wanxiu →_→ returns home to ponder how best to phrase it →_→ hesitating →_→ makes up his mind →_→ about to head out →_→ slowly takes one step out the door →_→ wonders if going empty-handed might be inappropriate →_→ decides to bring something they could actually use.