Shu Wanxiu prepared extra food for breakfast today, having reasoned that traveling hungry and cold would make one more prone to illness.

After both had eaten their fill and finished a warm bowl of Hundred Spice Cloud Soup, they took their grain bag and money, securely locked the door, and set out.

Staying indoors to watch the snow was entirely different from walking through it. Initially, Shu Shouyi found everything novel.

However, his small body had limited stamina. Having diverted some of his already scant energy to gazing around, the consequence was that he couldn’t take another step by the time they reached the foot of the mountain.

Shu Wanxiu was somewhat prepared. Steadying the grain bag with her left hand, she crouched down and deftly lifted him with her right.

Naturally, she didn’t dare take the nearer log bridge, opting instead to detour to the plank bridge near Xun Yi’s house. By the time they arrived, Shu Wanxiu was drenched in sweat.

Panting, she negotiated with Shu Shouyi in her arms, “Auntie can’t carry you much longer. After we cross the bridge, can you walk on your own for a bit?”

“Okay!”

Standing on the bridge, Shu Wanxiu deliberately glanced down a couple of times.

The stream was flowing; even though the edges near the banks were frozen solid, a section over a foot wide in the middle still showed water gurgling along.

She thought with relief: It’s good it’s not completely frozen. The small fish and shrimp in the stream won’t freeze to death, and come spring, we can continue our business.

Preoccupied with watching her step and mulling things over, she didn’t notice anyone approaching, but Shu Shouyi in her arms tensed up.

Seeing the person draw nearer and remembering his aunt’s earlier teaching to greet elders, Shu Shouyi clung tightly to Shu Wanxiu’s neck for courage and called out to the approaching figure, “Uncle Xun.”

Xun Yi had previously had only a faint impression of this frail, kitten-like child, but today, with Shu Wanxiu holding him, he got a clear look at his features.

Xun Yi nodded in acknowledgment.

Shu Wanxiu had already stepped off the bridge and turned around in surprise upon hearing the voice.

“Brother Xun?”

Xun Yi nodded again. “Going to see your Paternal Uncle?”

“Yes. Brother Xun, you’re out early too?”

Her voice was somewhat breathless. Hearing this, Shu Shouyi squirmed and slid down from her hold.

Xun Yi glanced over lightly and replied to Shu Wanxiu, “Mm, going to Turtleback Village.”

Thinking she might not know the reason, he paused and added, “My younger sister married there.”

Sure enough, he saw understanding dawn on Shu Wanxiu’s face.

Before the snowfall, during a casual chat downhill, Shu Wanxiu had heard about Xun Yi’s sister, Xun Ai, who was pregnant. Her husband’s family had come to Five Tablet Village to announce the happy news to Xun Yi, her elder brother.

The aunties had sighed incessantly, lamenting that poor Xun Ai only had one brother left in her maternal family. If their birth mother were still alive, upon receiving the news, she would have started preparing immediately.

Things like baby clothes, cotton quilts, a cradle, a bathing tub… even the red eggs for the Three-day bath ceremony after the child’s birth all had to be ready before the baby arrived.

Once the child was born full-term, the in-laws would come again to announce the birth and fetch the maternal grandmother to care for her daughter during postpartum confinement.

Without a mother’s care, no one could imagine how Xun Ai would manage her postpartum confinement.

Back then, the chatter had suddenly died down.

It took Shu Wanxiu a moment to realize that the aunties had likely abruptly remembered that she too had lost her mother.

At that moment, aside from missing her mother, she hadn’t actually dwelled on worries about having no one to care for her during future postpartum confinement.

Self-awareness is a virtue. Ever since promising her elder brother and sister-in-law to raise Shouyi, she had abandoned any thoughts of marriage.

Wasn’t it understandable for widows to remarry while bringing children along?

But who had ever heard of an unmarried young woman getting married while bringing her nephew along?

She had long come to terms with this.

She wanted to honor the commitment she made before her brother and sister-in-law, so she absolutely refused to feel regret or resentment.

Whether it meant never marrying or delaying marriage until becoming an old maid, the consequences were clear. She understood them all and found them unimportant – she could bear them.

Returning to the present situation, she felt the aunties were imagining the worst.

Although Xun Yi was a grown man, he was meticulous and deeply cared for his own sister.

Back when he was young, he had resolutely chosen to endure hardship learning blacksmithing to accumulate a generous dowry for his sister. Now that he had matured, he would surely make arrangements after Xun Ai gave birth, unlikely to let her suffer through postpartum confinement.

Since all three were heading to neighboring villages and the weather made small paths impassable, they traveled together toward the village entrance.

Xun Yi moved ahead of them, proactively clearing the way.

Walking in someone’s footprints made traveling through snow much easier.

Shu Wanxiu now had leisure to look around.

The snow covered familiar scenery, making it difficult to recognize the road.

She often needed to spot someone’s house before realizing: oh, we’ve already reached this point.

After surveying their surroundings, her curiosity turned to Xun Yi – after all, he was ahead while she followed behind, so a few glances wouldn’t be noticed.

Xun Yi, visiting his pregnant sister, had naturally brought ample gifts.

He carried a bolt of pink floral-patterned cotton cloth under his arm, held two pheasants in one hand, and carried a basket slung over his shoulder.

The basket faintly revealed fresh greens and winter bamboo shoots.

Just that pink cotton cloth alone would cost several hundred coins – her speculation seemed likely to be confirmed.

Shu Wanxiu genuinely admired people who could wholeheartedly devote themselves and spare no effort for their family.

…

Not knowing where Turtleback Village was located, Shu Wanxiu assumed they would part ways with Xun Yi after leaving the village and quickly resumed observing the road conditions.

Unexpectedly, after half a li, Xun Yi remained steadily ahead without showing any intention of taking other paths.

Shu Shouyi grew tired again. Before Shu Wanxiu could ask anything else, she hurriedly crouched and spread her arms.

Suddenly, a strong arm holding two pheasants, wrapped in linen clothing, extended between them.

Shu Wanxiu lifted her gaze, meeting Xun Yi’s eyes, and heard him utter two words.

“I’ll do it.”

Though surprised by this sudden gesture, Xun Yi’s explanation was reasonable.

“There are still several li ahead. Carrying him the whole way would be too much for you.”

Shu Wanxiu felt tempted, but she had unwittingly adopted the village aunties’ habit of excessive politeness. “Wouldn’t that trouble you too much?”

Xun Yi didn’t speak, but his eyes conveyed six words: It’s just lending a hand.

He slowly crouched and directly scooped up Shu Shouyi using the arm that held the pheasants.

Author’s Note: Xun Yi: Carrying things on my back, holding things in my hands, and carrying a child I could actually manage to carry a Master too. I’ve got plenty of strength!

Little Shu Shouyi: Sitting on those rock-hard muscles is really uncomfortable. Waaah… Please, Auntie, hold me one more time!