Chapter 30
Shu Wanxiu made extra food for breakfast today because she thought that traveling while hungry and cold would make one more susceptible to illness.
After the two finished their meal and a bowl of warm spicy soup, they packed their food bags and money, carefully tied the door shut, and set off.
Watching the snow from inside the house and walking in the snow are completely different experiences. At first, Shu Shouyi found it all very novel.
Unfortunately, his small body had limited stamina, and he used some of his already limited energy to look around, resulting in him being unable to take another step after only reaching the bottom of the mountain.
Shu Wanxiu was somewhat prepared. She held the grain bag firmly with her left hand, squatted down, and nimbly picked him up with her right hand.
They dared not cross the log bridge closest to them, so they took a detour to the wooden plank bridge in front of Xun Yi's house, where Shu Wanxiu was also covered in sweat.
She panted and said to Shu Shouyi in her arms, "Auntie can't carry you anymore. After we cross the bridge, can you get down and walk a bit by yourself?"
"good!"
Standing on the bridge, Shu Wanxiu deliberately looked down twice.
This stream is flowing water; even though the banks on both sides are frozen, there is still a gap of more than a foot in the middle where you can see the water flowing gently.
She thought with relief: "It's good that they're not all frozen. The little fish and shrimp in the stream won't freeze to death. They can be kept until spring so I can continue doing business."
While she was watching her step and pondering her thoughts, she didn't notice anyone approaching, but Shu Shouyi in her arms tensed up.
As the person drew closer, remembering his aunt's teachings to greet elders, Shu Shouyi clung tightly to Shu Wanxiu's neck for courage and called out to the approaching person, "Uncle Xun."
Xun Yi didn't have a deep impression of this thin, kitten-like child before, but today, when Shu Wanxiu held him, he got a good look at his appearance.
Xun Yi nodded in response.
Shu Wanxiu had already come down from the bridge when she heard the sound and turned around in surprise.
"Brother Xun?"
Xun Yi nodded again, "Go find your uncle?"
"Yes. Brother Xun, you went out early too?"
Her voice was a little breathless, and when Shu Shouyi heard it, he struggled and slid off her.
Xun Yi glanced over lightly and answered Shu Wanxiu's question.
"Yes, let's go to Turtleback Village."
Feeling that Shu Wanxiu might not understand why, he paused and added, "My sister is married there."
Sure enough, he looked at Shu Wanxiu with a look of sudden realization.
Before the snow fell, Shu Wanxiu went down the mountain for a chat. She heard someone mention Xun Yi's younger sister, Xun Ai, who was pregnant. Her husband's family came to Wupai Village to tell Xun Yi, her brother-in-law, the good news.
The aunts sighed repeatedly, saying it was pitiful that Xun Ai's family only had one brother left. If their biological mother were still alive, she would have started making preparations after receiving the good news.
For example, children's clothes, quilts, strollers, bathtubs... even the red eggs for the baby's third-day celebration after birth, all need to be prepared before the child is born.
After the baby was born at full term, the husband's family came again to announce the good news and invited the wife's mother to come and take care of her daughter during her postpartum period.
Without her mother's care, no one could imagine how Xun Ai would cope with her postpartum period.
Then everyone suddenly fell silent as they were talking.
It took Shu Wanxiu a while to understand that her aunts had probably suddenly remembered that they had also lost their mothers.
At that moment, apart from missing her mother a little, she didn't feel any worry about having no one to take care of her during her postpartum period.
The most valuable thing about a person is to have self-awareness. After promising her brother and sister-in-law that she would take care of Shouyi as he grew up, she never had any intention of getting married again.
It's understandable for a widow to remarry with her child, isn't it?
But nobody has ever heard of a young, unmarried woman bringing her nephew with her to her wedding.
She had already figured it out.
She wanted to be responsible for the promise she made to her brother and sister-in-law, so she had absolutely no regrets or complaints.
Whether she remains unmarried her whole life or waits until she's an old maid to get married, the consequences are there, she understands them, and she doesn't think they matter; she can bear them.
Back to the present, she felt that her aunts were overestimating the situation.
Although Xun Yi was a grown man, he was meticulous and cherished his younger sister.
He was determined to learn the blacksmithing trade at a young age, working hard to save up a generous dowry for his sister. Now that he's matured, he'll probably have plans after Xun Ai gives birth, so that Xun Ai won't even have a proper postpartum period.
All three of them were going to another village, but the weather made it impossible to walk along the small paths, so they went together to the village entrance.
Xun Yi bypassed them and took the initiative to clear the way ahead.
Following in the footsteps of those ahead of you is a truly easy thing to do in the snow.
Shu Wanxiu also had the leisure to look around.
The snow covered the familiar scenery, making it difficult to find the road.
She usually needs to see someone's house before she realizes with a sudden realization: Oh, so we've gotten here.
After looking around, she curiously looked at Xun Yi—since he was in front and she was behind, she wouldn't be noticed if she glanced at him a few times.
Xun Yi went to visit his pregnant sister, naturally bringing plenty of gifts.
He had a piece of pink floral cotton cloth tucked under his arm, two pheasants in his hand, and a basket slung over one shoulder.
The shadows of fresh green vegetables and winter bamboo shoots could be vaguely seen in the basket.
That pink cotton cloth alone costs several hundred coins, and her guess will likely be proven true.
Shu Wanxiu sincerely admires people who are so open-hearted and devoted to their families.
...
Shu Wanxiu from Guibei Village was nowhere to be found. After leaving the village, she thought she was going to part ways with Xun Yi, so she quickly began to check the road conditions again.
Unexpectedly, after walking half a mile, Xun Yi remained steadily ahead of her, showing no intention of taking any other paths.
Shu Shouyi could no longer walk. Shu Wanxiu didn't have time to ask anything else, so she quickly squatted down and opened her arms.
Suddenly, a strong arm carrying two pheasants, wrapped in burlap clothing, blocked their way.
Shu Wanxiu looked up and met Xun Yi's eyes, hearing him utter two words.
"I'll do it."
Shu Wanxiu was quite surprised by this sudden action, but Xun Yi's explanation was very reasonable.
“There are still a few miles to go, and you can’t keep carrying it all the time.”
Shu Wanxiu was very tempted, but she had somehow picked up the habit of being overly polite like the village aunties. "Wouldn't that be too much trouble for you?"
Xun Yi didn't say a word, but his eyes answered with six words: "It's just a matter of lending a hand."
He slowly squatted down and used the arm that was holding the pheasant to lift Shu Shouyi up.
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Author's Note: Xun Yi: I'm carrying things on my back, lifting things in my arms, holding a child, and I can actually carry an adult on my shoulders. I have plenty of strength!
Little Shu Shouyi: Sitting on these hard muscles is really uncomfortable. Waaah... Please, Auntie, hug me one more time!
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