Time passed quickly, and there was a heavy snowfall on the first day of the twelfth lunar month.
Zhuang Keqing opened his eyes in the darkness. There was no light outside the window, and he could only hear a subtle "rustling" sound coming from outside.
Is it snowing?
She moved her body slightly and tried to crane her neck to look outside.
"What's wrong?"
A calm and calm voice sounded beside Zhuang Keqing, and a gentle hand came over and gently stroked Zhuang Keqing's forehead.
"Listen, it seems to be snowing outside."
Shen Ling listened intently, and the sound of "rustling" outside became louder.
Just by listening to the sound, you can imagine how the goose-feathery white lightness falls on the ground, on the house, and on the path, and how it accumulates into thick and soft snowdrifts, decorating everything in the world with a clean white appearance.
"Um."
Shen Ling responded softly.
He had followed Shen De since he was a child. The seasons there were like spring, but there were no distinct seasons here in Songling Town, so he had never seen snow fall.
"It's best to eat pot stew on a snowy day. Let's have this for lunch, right?"
When a cheerful voice came from beside him, Shen Ling's unpleasant mood that he had just indulged in memories instantly dissipated, and his mood became lighter.
The month before last, Zhuang Keqing had pulled cloth and cotton in the town and replaced all the quilts and mattresses at home. The three children and one child also made new quilted clothes, which were perfect for the snowy weather.
After leaving the back room and before reaching the yard, Zhuang Keqing was shivers by the slightest bit of coldness. She shrank her neck, walked to the door of the main room, and opened the door a small crack with a shake.
The sky was bright, but when I looked through the crack in the door, it was very bright in the yard. The chicken pens and vegetable fields were all covered with heavy snow, and flakes of snow kept falling from the sky.
"It's so cold."
Breathing out heavily, Zhuang Keqing opened the door with all his might, pulled Shen Ling out, and quickly closed the door again.
"Mom and Aman haven't gotten up yet, so I'm going to see if there's enough firewood in the stove. If not, I'll add some more for them, so that they won't have to cool down on the kang later."
"You can wash up later. I'll heat some hot water on the stove."
Shen Ling nodded, grabbed a broom from under the eaves, walked to the yard and gently swept up the snow.
It was actually getting late, but it was snowing, and the sky looked as dark as iron.
It's a pity that the sweet potato workshop will be closed for a while due to bad weather.
Zhuang Keqing shook his head. Before entering the kitchen, he looked up and looked outside. There were bright lights in several farmhouses near and far, and smoke gradually rose from the kitchen.
I have accumulated some cabbage at home, so I can rinse it in the morning and combine it with the frozen pork ribs to make a pot of sauerkraut and pork ribs.
In short, I can’t do anything in the snow, so I might as well just make something to eat.
Thinking about how to prepare a hearty meal for lunch, Zhuang Keqing dug out two bowls of noodles from the noodle bucket, took out several eggs, and prepared some pimple soup for later.
It's too cold, so I need something hot to eat.
The water in the pot boiled gurglingly. She took a ladle and put it aside, diluted it with cold water, and then called Shen Ling from the yard to come in and wash up.
There was a fire in the stove, and it was warm. The stove door creaked, and Shen Ling came in wrapped in the icy cold air.
He was sweeping the snow without a hat. At this time, his hair and body were covered with white snowflakes. As soon as he entered a warm place, there were signs that it would turn into water instantly.
Zhuang Keqing had sharp eyes and saw it immediately. He hurriedly stood up from the kitchen door and brought a clean towel to wipe his head and dust off the snow.
"My fault, I just forgot to bring you a hat. It's cold and hot, and the snow melts on your head. You might catch a cold."
Shen Ling hummed softly, bent down slightly, and put himself under Zhuang Keqing's hand. Feeling the other person's gentle movements, the corners of his mouth gradually curved.
"The water is ready. You should wash up first. Let's have a simple breakfast. How about some pimple soup?"
"good."
Zhuang Keqing put away the towel, turned around and started to add water and flour, but did not see the soft and gentle eyes from the young man.
After breakfast, the snow started to fall heavier and heavier.
Qin Manzhi walked out of the house, glanced at the dark sky, frowned, and said, "I'm afraid the snow won't stop for a while."
She turned around and went back to the house, a little worried on her face, "Our roof was repaired at the beginning of the year and the tiles were replaced, but if the snow keeps falling like this, it will be dangerous."
"How about I go up to the roof and sweep the snow down later."
"Is this okay?!"
"I'll do it."
The daughter and son-in-law both spoke out at the same time and refused to let Qin Manzhi go.
"I can do this without my mother having to do anything," Shen Ling persuaded.
Zhuang Keqing reconciled and said: "Yes, even if there is no Aling, I should be the one to do this. Just rest at home."
Qin Manzhi was helpless. In the past ten years or so, when it snowed, she had not swept the house and shoveled the snow alone, and who else had come to help.
But looking at the worried expressions of her daughter and son-in-law who were afraid that she would jump to the roof like this, she felt very warm in her heart.
"Then I'll go to the warehouse behind and get a ladder."
"Just rest in the room! Aman will wake up later, I need you to take care of him!"
Zhuang Keqing was almost worried about this mother who loved to worry about everything.
She held the woman's shoulders and coaxed her into the warm back room, and then she breathed a sigh of relief and came out of the room.
After clearing the dishes, Zhuang Keqing was not in a hurry to wash the dishes. First, he and Shen Ling went to the backyard warehouse to get a ladder.
After that, he took a cotton hat and put it on someone else. He then put the ladder under the eaves and held it steady before letting Shen Ling go up.
Snow fell in large swaths from the roof, and the yard that had just been swept was messy again.
"Girl!"
A male voice came from outside the small courtyard. Zhuang Keqing turned around and saw that it was Zhang Da.
She held the ladder and couldn't let go, so she could only turn her head and say hello, "Uncle Zhang, why are you here?"
"I'm not worried that there's something wrong with your roof due to the heavy snow. I'm just here to see if there's anything I can do to help."
The man was wearing a raincoat and was not afraid of the snow. He stood outside and smiled heartily.
"Thank you for your trouble. Aling has already gone up to do it. It will be ready in a while. The snow is getting heavy, so please go back quickly."
Zhang Da was not pretentious. When he saw that the person really didn't need help, he said "Hey" and left.
But for the next half of the morning, even though it snowed so heavily, Zhuang Keqing's house was inundated with visitors, all of whom came wanting to help or send things.
Liu Da came all the way to carry a load of firewood. Wang Da said that he had trapped two rabbits and delivered them yesterday. Aunt Li also asked Uncle Liu to deliver some garlic for the kang. There were so many miscellaneous things that the small kitchen was almost full. Full.
"Does our village have a custom of giving gifts when it snows?"
After sweeping away the snow and returning to the house, Zhuang Keqing couldn't help but ask her mother.
"No way, you forgot, you hated snowy days when you were a kid." Qin Manzhi smiled, with a hint of emotion in his voice, "When it snows, those in our family who are short of food and clothing have no choice but to go to Murakami's house. Borrowing food."
"Who would have thought that today, every household would send us something."
After hearing this, Shen Ling turned his head and glanced at the girl next to him.
Except for the time when he first arrived in Erli Village, when Zhou had no scruples in depriving him of his food, he had never been hungry since he was a child, even though he was an adopted son.
It turns out that she suffered so much when she was a child.
"I still remember it was a snowy day like this when you were five years old..." Qin Manzhi's face was mixed with sad emotions, but when she looked up, she saw her daughter's bright, crescent-shaped almond eyes, and her sadness disappeared. Gone.
"I won't mention it anymore. It's all in the past after all. Let's just live well now."
"that is!"
If my mother had just forced to recall the previous sufferings, she would have almost pretended to be a coward.
Fortunately, fortunately, my mother stopped in time and saved some face for her.
Zhuang Keqing secretly glanced at Shen Ling who was standing aside, but Zhuang Keqing saw that the other person had been looking at him for who knows how long.
A blush suddenly appeared on her face, and she changed the topic, "Let's talk about it first, I'll make lunch today."
"Uncle Wang brought a rabbit, why not just stew it with sauerkraut for lunch?"
With fresh rabbit, ribs are a thing of the past.
After Zhuang Keqing said these two words, he left the room without even saying hello.
"This girl has been busy all day, and I don't know what she is thinking about."
Qin Manzhi laughed and joked.
Lunch was indeed the promised pickled cabbage and hare pot.
A small clay stove was placed on the upper table, where the stew was simmering, exuding a sour aroma.
The family sits around the table, you pick up a piece of tofu and he scoops out a spoonful of thick soup, enjoying themselves happily on a snowy winter afternoon.
But at this time, on the road leading to Songling Town, there was a carriage driving hard against the heavy snow.
