The first snow of winter finally fell, light as fine salt through a sieve, melting as soon as it touched a garment. Zhao Shiyun, holding an umbrella, bought some roasted sweet potatoes on the street and hurried back to the shop.
It hadn't snowed when we left the house today, and the weather looked fine, but it suddenly turned sour in the afternoon. Zhao Shiyun told everyone to pack up the shop quickly, and he ran to the street to buy some roasted sweet potatoes, which Yan Ge'er had been clamoring for a few days ago.
When they returned to the shop, everyone had packed up and the donkey cart was waiting at the door. Zhao Shiyun climbed onto the cart, took the reins and pulled gently, driving home.
*
"Brother Yan, look what I bought?" Zhao Shiyun took out a steaming roasted sweet potato and handed it to Lin Yan. Lin Yan's face, originally red from the cold, instantly brightened with surprise. He pulled his hands out of the muff, finding them gradually warming. Without the muff, they'd been freezing cold. This winter seemed colder than usual.
A brazier lit in the room, slightly dispelling the chill, Lin Yan carefully took the roasted sweet potato, the warmth spreading through his palms. He peeled it and gently bit into it. The sweet flavor spread in his mouth, and his eyes lit up. "It's so sweet, Brother Shiyun, thank you." Lin Yan tilted his head, his eyebrows curved, and a satisfied smile spread across his face.
Zhao Shiyun watched Lin Yan happily eat, and his heart warmed up, his lips curling up unconsciously. Zhao Yian didn't know where he had gone. Zhao Shiyun searched around and found him in Yu'er's room. The boy ran to his uncle's room, opened the window, moved a stool, and climbed up to look at the snow in the backyard. From time to time, he reached out to catch a piece of snow, but then pulled it back out of the cold.
"An An, Daddy bought some roasted sweet potatoes, come and eat them."
Zhao Yian jumped off the stool in a flash and ran towards Zhao Shiyun with a smile on his face. Zhao Shiyun was shocked and broke out in a cold sweat. This kid dared to jump so high. He picked up Zhao Yian, patted his little butt twice, and scolded him fiercely: "Next time, don't jump off such a high stool, do you hear me?"
Zhao Yian pouted and whispered, "I heard it, Dad, I was wrong."
The father and his two children were eating roasted sweet potatoes in the room. Snowflakes were fluttering down outside the window, landing on the ground and bending the smaller branches of the trees. Lin Yan was mesmerized and said, "This snow is so beautiful."
Zhao Shiyun followed his gaze and saw the world ablaze with white, a breathtaking beauty. He then looked at Lin Yan, feeling that he was even more captivating than the snowy scene itself. For some reason, pregnant Lin Yan seemed unusually gentle, as if she were glowing.
Zhao Yian ate the roasted sweet potatoes and felt a little sleepy, his little head nodding. Zhao Shiyun bent down, picked him up, put him on the bed, and covered him with a quilt.
"It's so cold today, let's have a hot pot." Lin Yan said.
"Okay, I bought some pork ribs this morning, perfect for making soup base."
Lin Yan didn't want to move. His pregnancy went smoothly. Except for frequent vomiting in the beginning, he didn't feel anything too bad afterwards. The due date is around March next year. It will be spring, which is a good time for confinement. The weather is gradually getting warmer, but it's not too hot.
Li Yuemei took a few pieces of tofu into the kitchen and saw Zhao Shiyun blanching pork ribs. She took the bamboo flute from her son and said, "Go wash the vegetables."
In winter, we usually eat a lot of white radish. We also have dried bean curd sheets and tofu at home, both of which are suitable for hot pot. Zhao Shiyun filled a basin with hot water and soaked a few dried bean curd sheets in it. He washed the white radish, without peeling it, and cut it into pieces.
Blanch the pork shanks, rinse off any scum, and bring back to a boil. After about half an hour, add the white radish. Li Yuemei cuts the tofu into small pieces, and Zhao Shiyun soaks the dried bean curd sheets and cuts them into sections.
The pork ribs and white radish simmered in the pot, a rich aroma gradually spreading. Lin Yan's stomach growled as he sniffed the aroma. He opened his umbrella and slowly walked to the kitchen door, leaning against the doorframe to watch the two busy people.
"Oh, Brother Shiyun, it smells so good, I can't wait." Lin Yan said with a smile. Li Yuemei looked back at him and said with a smile: "It's almost ready, Brother Yan, go sit inside first, don't stand here and get cold." Zhao Shiyun also stopped what he was doing, walked over and supported Lin Yan, "Yes, Brother Yan, go and rest, you can eat in a while."
Lin Yan nodded obediently and went back to the house to wait. After a while, the broth was cooked until it was milky white and rich. Li Yuemei scooped the broth into the hot pot with a spoon and asked Zhao Shiyun to go to the main room.
There was already charcoal fire in the house, so there was no need to light it specially. Zhao Shiyun picked up a few pieces and placed them in the middle of the hot pot. He then added tofu and bean curd sheets and arranged them in the hot pot, reminding Zhao Yian to be careful not to touch them. Zhao Yian nodded and sat down in his chair obediently, waiting for the meal to be served.
Li Yuemei scooped a spoonful of rice from Zhao Yian's bowl and said, "An'an, eat first. Grandma will pick up some meat for you."
There was not much meat on the shank, so Li Yuemei used chopsticks to pick up some of the minced meat, and also some white radish, tofu, and bean curd sheets and put them in a bowl to let them dry. When they were almost done, she poured them into Zhao Yian's bowl.
Zhao Yian took the spoon and ate it in small bites. Although it was cold in winter, it always felt particularly warm when the family was together.
The snow fell all night long before it slowly stopped. Zhao Shiyun took a shovel and began to clear a path to his door. Since it was snowing, the shop would be closed for the time being. It was so cold anyway, so not many people would go out to eat. Lin Yan sat by the window, propping up his chin and watching Zhao Shiyun shovel the snow.
It had been four years since they'd been married, and whether at home or in the shop, Lin Yan felt perfectly content. Over those four years, he and Zhao Shiyun had supported each other, from initial strangers to the present, their bond growing ever deeper. Zhao Shiyun cared deeply for him, never letting him worry about many things. Thinking of this, Lin Yan's lips curled up slightly, and he rubbed his belly, his face filled with happiness.
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