"You usually seem quite clever," Qiu Yan thought to herself. "The two kids from Uncle Li's family are incredibly strong."

"Who knew they would come up and scratch me? I didn't even have time to react," Gu Xiaoran said, looking aggrieved.

Although she shouldn't argue with a child, Qiu Yan was furious when she saw Gu Xiaoran's bloodied wrist.

"You've learned your lesson. From now on, don't let them bully you again. Yu'er is so clever, I believe you can do it."

"Mmm." Gu Xiaoran nodded earnestly, finished applying the ointment, and turned to enter Qiu Xu's study.

However, in no time at all, Qiu Xu grabbed the person and put them in the yard.

With nothing to do, Gu Xiaoran was pulled back to her room by Jiang Liu to try on new clothes.

After lunch, the Li family's courtyard was filled with the cheerful laughter of Li Wenhan and Li Wenqing.

When Qiu Yan arrived, she saw Li Zheng scolding his two sons.

"Stop right there! If you two dare to bully Yu'er again, your father will not let you off easily!"

Li Wenhan: "Father, it was Yu'er who took our mother first."

Li Wenqing: "Father is bad, father is bad..."

As it stands, the two children are not afraid of him.

Before the man could finish scolding her, Li Wenqing grabbed her brother's hand and ran away.

Qiu Yan froze. How could such a dignified man as Uncle Li not be able to discipline his own son?

In the late afternoon, Qiu Yan and Gu Qian appeared in a corner of the mountain forest.

Snowflakes hung on the bare branches, adding a touch of charm to the otherwise barren mountain forest.

"I haven't had this much peace and quiet in a long time. The village is so much better," Qiu Yan said with a sigh as she walked.

“Yes, it’s been a long time since I’ve had this much peace and quiet,” Gu Qian agreed, the two holding hands as they savored their time alone.

"Yan Yan, where are we going?"

"Of course, we need to find some spring water." When Qiu Yan returned home earlier, she was either looking for spring water or on her way to find it. Now, she doesn't need to put in the effort to look for it.

She knew this mountain forest best, and she knew exactly where all the springs were.

Gu Qian tightened his grip on Qiu Yan's wrist: "In this freezing weather, the mountain springs must be frozen."

"It's good to get out for a walk." Qiu Yan also wanted to take Gu Qian out for a relaxing trip.

"Okay, whatever you say," Gu Qian said with a smile.

Qiu Yan pulled Gu Qian along, walking slowly through the mountains.

"How did you handle Tang Yi's matter?"

“He will be fined a year’s salary.”

Tang Yi was also unlucky. Unbeknownst to him, spies from Western Qin had infiltrated Baiyang's granary, and Qin Feng had taken advantage of the situation.

When the two passed by a spring...

Gu Qian was right; the spring water had indeed frozen over.

Qiu Yan glanced at the high-hanging sun.

The sunlight looked lovely, but it still couldn't melt the icy spring.

She crouched down and gently pressed with her fingertips.

The ice spring water was very hard and showed no sign of cracking.

After thinking for a moment, she picked up a stone from the side and smashed it down hard.

The ice in the spring then cracked.

Hearing the hammering sound, Gu Qian asked, "Yan Yan, what are you doing?"

Qiu Yan looked up at Gu Qian's smiling face and said to him with a smile, "Let's chisel the ice."

Gu Qian chuckled: "How old are you?"

"Brother Qian, catch!" Qiu Yan laughed mischievously and threw a piece of ice cream at Gu Qian.

Gu Qian took it with one hand; it felt cool to the touch.

"It doesn't seem very cold today; the ice isn't very solid."

"You're not cold, but I am." Qiu Yan felt the coldness in her fingertips, then looked up again at the high-hanging sun.

"Sigh, this sun must be fake."