Chapter Fifty-Eight Auspicious Snow

The next day, before dawn, Zhang Yili quietly got up.

She pushed open the door of the cottage, and a fresh, clean breeze rushed in. Looking up, she saw that the small courtyard had been quietly covered with a thin layer of white snow.

The eaves, wood stacks, and fences all outlined a soft white silhouette; this was the first snowfall of the winter.

"It's snowing!" Zhang Liuyi felt a surge of joy and couldn't help but exclaim softly.

She stood under the eaves, momentarily forgetting the cold, simply gazing quietly at the snow-covered landscape.

For farmers, the hope that a timely snowfall promises a bumper harvest is ingrained in their very being.

The snowflakes falling on the fields not only kill pests, but also nourish the soil after melting in the spring, foreshadowing a good harvest next year.

Just as she was engrossed in watching, a thick outer robe, still warm from her body, was gently draped over her shoulders.

Xiong Zixiang had gotten up at some point and stood behind her, his large, warm hands enveloping her slightly cold hands. His voice was hoarse from just waking up: "Be careful, wear more clothes even when you're watching the snow. It gets really cold after this snowfall, so be careful not to catch a cold. Go back inside and put on another coat."

Zhang Liuyi then came to her senses and realized that her fingertips were numb from the cold. She smiled sheepishly and said, "I was so engrossed in looking at it. It's the first time it's snowing this year, and I was completely mesmerized."

She did as she was told and went back inside, where she put on a thick cotton vest.

When she came out dressed, Xiong Zixiang had already lit a fire in the stove. The leaping flames dispelled the chill of the morning, and the room gradually warmed up.

"What would you like to eat for breakfast?" Zhang asked, rolling up his sleeves.

"Just something simple, something warm will do." Xiong Zixiang was pouring hot water into a basin.

Zhang Yili responded and quickly began to make arrangements.

She scooped some cornmeal from the flour bin and took out some tea flour that someone had given her from an earthenware pot. She mixed them together and added water to make a paste.

Next, I brushed a thin layer of oil into the heated pan, scooped a spoonful of batter and spread it out. With a sizzle, the aroma wafted out.

The golden, glistening corn tea cakes quickly took shape in the pan and started to puff up.

While making the pancakes, she quickly shredded some potatoes and carrots, and sliced ​​the cured meat from her home into thin slices.

After the pancakes are cooked and served, there will still be some oil left in the pan, which is perfect for stir-frying vegetables.

Shredded potatoes, shredded carrots, and sliced ​​cured meat sizzle as they are added to the pan. After a few stirs and a sprinkle of salt, the aroma is irresistible.

Finally, with the last bit of oil and the lingering aroma of the stir-fried vegetables still lingering in the pot, Zhang Xiaoyi ladled in a ladle of water, grabbed a handful of his homemade pickled vegetables, chopped them up, and threw them in. Once it boiled, it became a pot of appetizing and warming pickled vegetable soup.

This brunch, from starting the fire to serving it, took Xiong Zixiang only a short time to wash up and tidy up.

When Zhang Yi brought the steaming flatbread, stir-fried dishes, and soup bowl to the main room, Xiong Zixiang had already neatly folded the bedding on the kang (heated brick bed) and set up the kang table.

"Let's eat, Zixiang," Zhang Yili called out.

The two sat cross-legged on the warm kang (heated brick bed), wrapped the vegetables in flatbread, and the hot food warmed them up from head to toe.

After eating and drinking to their hearts' content, Xiong Zixiang looked out the window at the still-falling snow and stretched his limbs: "I've been cooped up at home all day, and my bones are getting lazy. Why don't we call the kids up the mountain today to build a snowman and have a snowball fight? It's cold up there, and the snow there will definitely be thicker than here."

Zhang Liuyi's eyes lit up and he readily agreed: "Okay, it's a good opportunity for the children to have some fun. I'll go call Nan'er and the others, and you go call Sister Zijuan and Xiaobao?"

“Okay!” Xiong Zixiang agreed readily.

Let's get right to it.

Zhang Liuyi wrapped his cotton-padded coat tighter, stepped through the thin snow, and entered the Zhang family's courtyard not far away.

Inside the main room, Zhang Liuji was holding Xiao Nan'er and playing on the kang (a heated brick bed), while Li Xiulan was tidying up the dishes.

"Sister-in-law! Brother!" Zhang Yili's voice was filled with excitement: "Zixiang said we're going up the mountain to play in the snow, build a snowman, and have a snowball fight. Shall we go with Nan'er?"

Upon hearing about playing in the snow, Xiao Nan'er immediately wriggled out of her father's arms, clapping her little hands excitedly: "Play in the snow, play in the snow, Daddy, Mommy! Let's go play in the snow!"

Li Xiulan smiled and wiped her hands: "Sure! Nan'er is getting restless at home, let's go together. Liu Ji, make sure the child is dressed warmly."

Zhang Liuji was a straightforward person. He picked up his son and put a thick vest on him: "Come on! Dad will build you a big snowman!"

Meanwhile, Xiong Zixiang also arrived at the Xiong family home.

Xiong Zijuan was leading Xiaobao and pacing around the main room.

"Father, Mother, Sister," Xiong Zixiang said, getting straight to the point: "Are you planning to take Nan'er and the others up the mountain to play in the snow, and also invite Xiaobao to come and get some fresh air?"

When Xiong Zijuan heard that she could take her son out for some activities, her eyes lit up: "Great! Xiaobao has never played in the snow before! I'll bundle him up properly!" She immediately got to work and put a thick little hat on Xiaobao.

Mrs. Song instructed, "It's windy on the mountain, be careful not to let the children get cold."

Old Man Xiong waved his hand: "Go on, go on, children should be more active!"

Before long, the group met at the village entrance.

They greeted each other, chatted and laughed, and walked towards the small hill behind the village, their footsteps crunching through the snow.

Sure enough, the snow on the mountain was much thicker than in the village, and the tree branches were covered in silver.

Upon reaching a wide, flat area on the hillside, Xiao Nan'er immediately broke free from her father's hand and ran around happily in the snow, leaving a trail of crooked little footprints.

Xiao Bao was placed on a tree stump covered with a thick cushion by Xiong Zijuan, wrapped up so that only his two big, dark eyes were visible.

"Little Bao, watch your big brother build a snowman!"

Xiao Nan'er, acting like a responsible older brother, ran over to Xiao Bao and said something, then enthusiastically started rolling a snowball next to Xiao Bao.

Zhang Liuji and Li Xiulan smiled as they helped out, assisting their son.

Li Xiulan carefully broke off a branch with red berries and handed it to Xiao Nan'er: "Here, use it as the snowman's arm!"

Xiong Zijuan stayed by Xiaobao's side to prevent him from moving around and getting covered in snow. Xiaobao also took a twig and imitated Nan'er by patting snow onto the snowman.

As the adults watched the two children playing so intently, they gradually relaxed.

Zhang Liuji suggested, "Just watching isn't very interesting, is it? Let's move around a bit?"

Zhang Liuyi immediately understood and bent down to grab some snow: "Come on, who's afraid of who!"

Before Zhang Yili could react, two snowballs flew towards him and Zhang Liuji respectively. Li Xiulan had done it!

She screamed, dodged to the side, and immediately crouched down to grab the snow and retaliate.

For a time, snowballs flew back and forth, and laughter echoed through the mountains and forests.

Zhang Liuyi quietly circled around to Zhang Liuji's back.

Taking advantage of his momentary lapse in attention, Zhang Liuji suddenly reached out and precisely stuffed a large handful of cold, loose snow into the back of Zhang Liuji's collar!

Upon seeing her husband being ambushed, Li Xiulan immediately became protective of him, grabbed a handful of snow and threw it at Zhang Liuyi, hitting her shoulder squarely, scattering snow everywhere.

"You dared to bully my man!"

Zhang Liuyi stumbled from the impact, laughing as he dodged, "Sister-in-law, have mercy! I was wrong!"

Upon seeing this, Xiong Zixiang immediately stepped forward to protect his wife, brushing the snow off Zhang Xiaoli's clothes while smiling and saying to Li Xiulan, "Sister-in-law, please have mercy, Xiaoli didn't mean it!"

Despite saying that, he didn't stop, making a snowball and throwing it at Zhang Liuji in retaliation.

In an instant, the four of them were locked in a fierce battle, snowballs flying everywhere, with shouts and laughter filling the air.

Xiong Zijuan watched the game from the sidelines, holding her baby, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle with a smile on her face.

Seeing that the four were locked in a fierce battle, she told Xiao Nan'er to keep an eye on Xiao Bao, while she squatted down in a thick snowdrift nearby and quickly made several large, solid snowballs, which she then hid behind her back.

While the four were still bickering and arguing, Xiong Zijuan seized the opportunity, suddenly stood up, and threw snowballs in her hand like a barrage of bullets!

"Ouch!"

"who?"

"Sister Zijuan?"

Zhang Liuli's hair was covered in snow, Xiong Zixiang was hit on the back, Zhang Liuji was hit in the chest, and Li Xiulan was also hit on the arm.

The four of them were immediately thrown into disarray. They stared in disbelief at Xiong Zijuan, who was standing not far away with her hands on her hips, and then burst into even louder laughter.

"Hahaha! Sister Zijuan! You're the one who's been hiding your true abilities!" Zhang Liuyi laughed so hard she couldn't stand up straight.

"Good heavens! The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind!" Zhang Liuji wiped the snow off his face and laughed uncontrollably.

Xiong Zijuan raised her chin, a look of triumphant pride on her face: "That's right, who told you to be so focused on fighting that you forgot there were other people around!"

While the adults were laughing and joking around, Xiao Nan'er and Xiao Bao finally finished building an adorable little snowman.

He attached arms to the snowman with twigs and used two small pebbles for eyes.

"Xiao Bao, look, a snowman!" Xiao Nan'er pulled Xiao Bao's hand and pointed to her masterpiece.