After Qi He had brushed off all the remaining snow from Ning'er, he realized that snow had also gotten into his cotton shoes, so he had to carry him back to the front yard.
Mother Fang was standing at the kitchen door peeling an onion. Seeing Qi He carrying Ning'er back, she felt a warmth of affection from the bottom of her heart.
"Little He is such a good child."
"Yes, we watched Little He grow up. Not only does he respect elders like us as if we were his own family, but he is also a brother who shelters and protects the younger ones."
"This is your blessing."
"Indeed, my husband often said Little He is our eldest son, and my father-in-law also said Little He is his eldest grandson."
"Little He is a rare and good child." Mother Fang was also happy for her granddaughter. What girl wouldn't want to marry a devoted and righteous young man?
Not only was Little He devoted and righteous, but he also had a bright future. Such a man was an even more enviable husband.
At this moment, Mother Fang couldn't help but secretly feel proud for her granddaughter.
In this region, her granddaughter's family background was considered good, and she herself was well-proportioned. Moreover, she had the number one master in the world as her teacher.
Even if other women were eyeing Little He, they would have to think twice.
Mother Fang did not want her precious granddaughter's future husband to be snatched away.
Fu Xinci and Qi He were unaware of Mother Fang's far-reaching thoughts. Even if they knew, they would have just smiled faintly; such things were impossible.
...
Two more heavy snowfalls followed, and Qingxi Town, nestled at the foot of Yingzui Cliff, seemed to have come to a standstill.
School had also ended early. Due to the freezing cold, Fu Yu didn't want the children to freeze, so everyone went home to hibernate.
Throughout Qingxi Town, there were hardly any pedestrians on the streets, except for the occasional rambunctious children from some families, or when a household ran out of oil, salt, sauce, or vinegar and sent a child to the general store.
Fu Xinci sat by the window, watching the snow piled on the sides of the cleared pathway, which was almost as tall as she was.
"Miss."
Chunyu, seeing that her mistress was silent, prompted her, "Miss, would you like to go to the front kitchen with me to help?"
"What's for dinner tonight?"
"A while ago, when I went to the front yard, the old master and his in-laws said they wanted to eat boiled dumplings. The madam and her in-laws said they would be making dumplings today."
"So you want to go help make dumplings?"
"Yes. There are so many of us at home, and there are several kinds of fillings. If I go help, won't it be faster to make them?"
"Then you go."
"Miss isn't going?"
"I want to continue hibernating."
"Alright, Miss, you continue practicing your skills. I'll go help in the front."
"..."?
As Chunyu walked towards the front yard, she pondered her mistress's constant talk of hibernating. She didn't know what kind of profound martial art hibernation was, but since her mistress practiced it so diligently, she would surely achieve mastery soon.
Fu Xinci: What is she thinking?
However, she couldn't waste precious time during this season. She wanted to continue sleeping, to gather enough energy so that she could visit her friends when the weather improved.
In the blink of an eye, it was the twelfth lunar month. After eating the Laba porridge, Qingxi Town gradually began to feel the festive atmosphere of the New Year.
This year, Grandpa Meng hired Li Shi and her daughter-in-law to help raise more than a dozen fat pigs.
Just today, the father and son were discussing which day to slaughter the pigs.
"Father, what's your plan?"
"It's about the same as in previous years. Our pigs are fat, so we'll send six to the Thousand Household Office for them to prepare themselves."
"Mm. Everyone is looking forward to eating meat during the New Year, and slaughtering pigs is also a pleasure."
"On the sixteenth, we'll first slaughter five to sell in the town. As for the heads, trotters, and offal, as long as the price is right, don't sell them too expensively."
"Father, son understands."
"The remaining five will be slaughtered after the Minor New Year. We have many relatives and friends, so giving each family a jin of meat is our gesture of goodwill. We can't help with big matters, but we can let them have dumplings for the New Year."
"Father, what about the rest?"
"Half a pig for Ci'er's friends, and ten jin to the neighbors as usual. They've worked hard to raise our pigs every year, otherwise, they wouldn't have grown so well."
"Mm."
"And twenty jin of meat to the seaside. Alas, they are all pitiable people. If we have the ability, we help; if not, we can't even if we want to."
"Understood, Father."
Everyone in the family knew that raising these pigs all year round did not bring them any profit.
Except for a small portion that was sold and some kept for themselves, the rest were given away.
Grandpa Meng was quite happy and spoke articulately.
Whether it was the garrisoned soldiers or the children of relatives and friends, they were all looking forward to eating meat during the New Year.
Although they incurred some costs, seeing so many smiling faces was also a form of merit they accumulated.
On the twenty-seventh of the twelfth lunar month, it was a rare fine day. Fu Xinci, with half a pig that her grandfather had given her for her friends, prepared to go to Longcheng.
Little Bai, seeing the fully armed human, cried out "Squeak squeak," wanting to follow.
"Mm." Fu Xinci agreed and intended to send it into her space.
"Squeak squeak." Little Bai wants to sit on your shoulder.
"Aren't you afraid I'll run fast and you'll fall off?"
"Squeak squeak." Little Bai pointed to the human's hood, implying that it was suitable here.
"I'll have to wear that when I go out too, otherwise my ears would freeze off."
"Squeak squeak." Little Bai smartly pointed to the top of its head, implying that humans were becoming more cunning. You have more than one hat.
Fu Xinci hadn't expected this little creature to know she had spare hats.
"Squeak squeak." There are several, don't try to fool Little Bai.
"Alright." Fu Xinci put Little Bai into her hood before leaving the house under her grandfather's cover.
As she stepped out of the house, all she saw was white.
Fu Xinci activated her supernatural ability and in a flash, she was a hundred meters away.
Looking back, she saw no tracks left on the snow, and a slight smile curved her lips. "Treading on snow without leaving a trace" was nothing more than this.
"Squeak squeak." Little Bai can do it too.
After saying that, Little Bai jumped off the human and glided forward, wagging its big tail.
"Little Bai, I must say, your big tail is quite useful."
"Squeak squeak." Of course.
Fu Xinci glanced around, saw that no one was paying attention to this area, and quickly took out a hat and goggles from her space. She then pulled her scarf higher to cover her mouth and nose before speeding forward with all her might.
Seeing the human instantly leave it behind, Little Bai became anxious.
"Squeak squeak." Human, you're not playing fair.
"Tch, this is each to their own. It has nothing to do with fair play."
After speaking, Fu Xinci deliberately unleashed a powerful move, accelerating even further.
Little Bai looked at its short legs and felt dejected.
"Squeak squeak." Wait for Little Bai.