Fu Xin Ci leaned on the windowsill, watching the snowflakes dance outside, secretly worrying about her friends.
Winter had arrived in Liaodong. She wondered if her companions could adapt to the wind, snow, and cold here.
Little did she know that in Dragon City, everyone was cheering, "It's snowing! We can finally build snowmen and have snowball fights."
"Yeah, how long has it been since we've seen such pure white snowflakes? I really want to taste one."
Someone suggested it, and many joined in enthusiastically.
Xiao Ai stood in the yard. Yang Xin Jie and Xu Ru Yi couldn't drag her inside.
The Captain and the others returned from chopping firewood and saw this scene: Xiao Ai standing alone in the yard amidst the falling snow.
"Xiao Ai, what are you doing? It's snowing, why aren't you going inside?"
Xiao Ai, being sharp-witted, heard the Captain's question and revealed her thoughts.
"I'm from the south. When I went to school in the north, I just wanted to see snow, build snowmen, and have snowball fights."
"Still haven't seen enough?" Pang Dun was curious.
"Hmph, the apocalypse hit as soon as I arrived in the north."
"It snowed during the apocalypse too, even more than this!"
"Can you play in the snow during the apocalypse? Can it open its mouth? Can it open its eyes?"
"No." Everyone had experienced it. The snow in the apocalypse looked different from the current snow even to the naked eye.
"When the snow stops, you have to build snowmen and have snowball fights with me."
"Sure, who's afraid of whom? It's just that there's no medical insurance here."
"What does a snowball fight have to do with medical insurance?"
"Hehe, we always add a playful remark when we have snowball fights, something about needing medical insurance."
"Hahaha, you're so mischievous." Xiao Ai didn't care about all that. She immediately went to "deal with" Pang Dun, who, upon seeing her, fled in disarray.
The Captain watched and said sternly from his spot, "Don't get seriously injured. We still have to chop firewood tomorrow, and Pang Dun is our main force."
Speaking of which, Xiang Tong, who lived in the neighboring courtyard, leaned on the wall and discussed with the Captain.
"Long Teng, take me along when you go chop firewood tomorrow."
"What for? You don't know how to chop wood?"
"Of course I know how to chop wood, but what kind of axe can compare to Xu Jia Can's saw?"
Thinking of Xu Jia Can's arm sweeping out to transform into a sharp saw, no chopping axe felt appealing anymore.
The Captain: "Town Chief Xiang, you're a grown man. This display of yours is not nice to see, it's quite an eyesore."
"Anyway, I don't care. You must take me with you when you chop wood tomorrow."
The Captain, annoyed to the point of helplessness, finally agreed.
"Alright."
"Thank you."
Xiang Tong immediately left the wall, as it was time for dinner at home. But before entering the front door, he reminded Long Teng, "If Xin Ci comes over, don't forget to remind her to prepare some meat for us. If the snow seals the mountain, it won't be safe for Xin Ci to come alone."
"Mm." On this matter, Long Teng and Xiang Tong thought alike. They couldn't let Xin Ci take risks.
"It will be better next year." Xiang Tong glanced at the livestock shed in Long Teng's yard, his eyes lingering enviously on the three dairy cows. He continued, "When spring comes next year, we'll have Xin Ci help us raise some livestock."
"Got it. You nag about it every few days, don't you get tired?"
"I'm tired, but I can't help it. This is serious business. Oh, and also, ever since Old Lan saw you riding horses last time, he's been acting crazy, wanting horses like yours."
"This is serious business. When Xin Ci comes, I'll talk to her about it."
"Yes, definitely don't forget about the horses."
"Got it, Auntie." Xiao Ai couldn't stand Xiang Tong's nagging anymore and blurted out, then ran into the house.
Xiang Tong looked at Long Teng, his expression full of resentment and a hint of sorrow, "See? I've become an auntie."
Seeing Xiang Tong's wronged expression, Long Teng swallowed the teasing words he was about to say.
"Alright, we're about to have dinner. Do you want to join us?"
"Sure. Uncle Xu and Uncle Sun are making braised pork ribs tonight, right? I can smell it from afar."
The Captain wanted to go back on his word, but Xiang Tong didn't bother with the door. He climbed over the wall with his son in his arms and then called back to Zhang Ning, "Wife, hurry up and come over. Don't forget to lock the door."
"Got it, I'll be right there."
The Captain: How did he forget? This guy had no idea what politeness was.
Fortunately, the snow wasn't heavy and stopped completely after dark.
The next day, Fu Xin Ci, worried about her friends, informed her grandfather and prepared to go to Dragon City's valley.
"Ci'er, it snowed yesterday. Be careful of your footing."
"Don't worry, Grandfather. I'll be fine."
To reassure her grandfather, Fu Xin Ci didn't ride a horse. Instead, she activated her wood-element ability and leaped over the wall in an instant.
Fang, who was preparing to go chop wood, saw her clearly.
Fang's father's mouth hung open, and he could only manage a "This...?" before being too stunned to say anything else.
Fang Xiao Tao, being young, said more than his father.
"My heavens, has our Ci'er met an immortal?"
Hearing his son's words, Fang's father immediately sensed something unusual. He quickly covered his son's mouth and nose, saying, "Xiao Tao, you mustn't say that. If outsiders find out, who knows what wild rumors will spread."
"Dad, Dad, hurry and let go, you're suffocating me."
"Ah?" Fang's father quickly let go. He hadn't realized he'd covered his son's nose and mouth in his haste.
Fu Xin Ci also didn't expect that her small action would startle her maternal grandfather and uncle.
Crossing the mountains at this time of year would be a challenge for ordinary people, but for Fu Xiao Niu, it was nothing.
After the snow, the mountains had an even colder aura. Fu Xin Ci was unfazed. Even as the human traces became fewer and farther between, she moved nimbly through the forests, her breathing no different from usual.
From afar, she saw the familiar valley and the smoke rising from its hearths. Fu Xin Ci quickened her pace.
Hearing the sound, Yang Xin Jie turned her head sharply and saw Xin Ci sprinting towards them like a bird. She immediately opened her arms and rushed to embrace her.
"Xin Ci, we were just talking about you."
"Were you saying I couldn't be thought of?"
"Yes. We just finished talking about you, and you appeared."
"Hahaha."
The girls' silvery laughter echoed through the valley, drawing everyone out.
From a distance, Fa Ge led the cheer, "Fu Xiao Niu, you have to sell us more meat and eggs this time."
"Yes, it's getting cold, and everything outside is frozen. Meat and things are all frozen solid."
"Alright, I came today precisely for this. I guarantee your satisfaction."