Compared with ordinary fishing, snow fishing and ice fishing are more interesting and artistic. Compared with ice fishing, snow fishing is more difficult to achieve, because it must be carried out on the water surface covered with heavy snow in the severe cold season, and the water surface cannot be frozen, otherwise it will be no different from ice fishing.

Find the shore, dig through a thick pile of snow, and put the bait hook into the cave. The method is very similar to the usual method of fishing eels in the countryside, but slightly different.

There are many details to pay attention to, because there are few opportunities to operate in the field, so when it comes to snow fishing, even the old fishermen who are obsessed with this often do not have much so-called experience in this fishing method.

Qiu Baima is different. Guarding the lake in Hualong Valley that never freezes, he has several opportunities every year to enjoy the fun of snow fishing.

Zhao Yulin sat down on a stool, picked up a bun and chewed it slowly, looking meaningfully at the two people by the lake.

The old man and the young girl have completely different backs, one is skinny and the other is delicate, but the seriousness revealed in their backs is exactly the same, and both of them are determined to catch big fish.

The snow has cleared, but Qiu Baima is still wearing a straw awning, which is set against the vastness of the scenery. It reminds the onlookers of two lines of ancient poetry: An old man in a straw hat and raincoat is fishing alone in the cold river snow.

Although there was no boat, the place for fishing in the snow was only a small lake, and Qiu Baima was not fishing alone, but the desolate scene of the entire Hualong Valley coincided with the first two lines of the poem. In short, Zhao Yulin felt that it was very appropriate to use the only poem by Liu Zongyuan that he remembered at this time and in this situation.

After breakfast, a group of young people helped to put the tables, chairs, bowls and chopsticks into the thatched house. After waiting for more than two hours, the impatient Chen Siyao finally pulled the rod and line and caught the first fish of the day.

It was a blue carp, with a round body about nine inches long and as thick as a child's arm. It was considered a big fish.

"Thank you for your hospitality these days, Senior. Sorry to bother you."

Chen Siyao carefully removed the hook from the fish's mouth, held the slippery fish body tightly with both hands, and handed it to Qiu Baima.

"This fish is from your pond. I caught it and gave it to you as a parting gift. I hope you don't mind."

...

Zhao Yulin's eyes widened as big as copper bells, and he was stunned.

The soft-voiced and delicate girl in front of him was completely unfamiliar, not at all like the violent female policewoman he knew.

Did she take the wrong medicine or what?

"No, no, I don't mind. Someone is willing to give something to an old man like me. I'm so happy. Why should I mind?"

Qiu Baima took the blue carp from the graceful woman with a smile. For some reason, the fish, which was originally jumping and struggling happily, seemed to be half dead after it was in his hands. It stopped moving instantly. It is

impolite not to reciprocate. After receiving a gift, you must give a gift. The old man put his fingers into the fish's mouth and carried the fish into the house. After a while, he came out with a wool coat that was very ordinary in workmanship, but looked very warm.

"Take this coat. Wear it when the weather gets cold. It's warmer than any mink fur."

​​This is the skin of the brown bear that was eaten a few days ago. It is pure natural and 100% authentic. A whole peeled bear skin is of course resistant to freezing.

Sun Leling was jealous. They all came together, but she and Zhou Caifeng didn't get any gifts, only Chen Siyao got one. It was really unfair.

"If I had known earlier, I would have gone fishing with my senior." The eldest lady murmured with regret.

Zhao Yulin did not expose the truth that only Chen Siyao could enjoy such special treatment. He lowered his head and sniffed the fragrance of her hair, saying, "I'll peel off a ferret fur for you if I have the chance."

After being coaxed like this, the eldest lady's worry gradually disappeared. After thinking about it carefully, it was still quite fair, and said in a petty manner, "Then can't you give it to Siyao as well."

Zhao Yulin shrugged and said, "She is not my employer, how can I give it to her?"

Zhou Caifeng poked his arm with her slender finger and asked half-jokingly, "Do I have it?"

Zhao Yulin thought for a while and said, "Yes."

"That's right, it's fair if everyone has it!"

Sun Leling agreed, wrinkling her nose, just like the naughty kid in the kindergarten who didn't get the big red flower. It's not that she is jealous, but she always feels like something is missing, and she will never be happy until that hole is filled.

The gift-giving scene ended here, the sun slowly climbed up to the zenith, and it was time for the group of young people to leave.

Sun Leling's vacation was not long, she stayed in Yanjing for nearly half a month, and in the two-month vacation, she had to spend a month doing homework for the next semester, so she only had a dozen days to travel.

After arriving in Qing Province, they had to go to other places to have a look. For the rest of the week, they planned to wander around, go wherever they wanted, and return to Yanjing when the time came.

Sun Leling became very easy-going after getting familiar with her, but she was almost stubborn about plans, and there was basically no possibility of changing the planned route map.

Zhao Yulin also wanted to stay in Hualong Valley for a few more days. After all, there was no need to worry about everyone's safety here. But there was no way. Who told the eldest lady to be a man of action?

Qiu Baima took a military jeep to send the boys and girls to the town outside the valley. They finally had to say goodbye, and his expression revealed his reluctance.

Zhao Yulin didn't know whether his uncle was reluctant to leave him, or Chen Siyao, or both. He stopped the car, turned off the engine, and got out with his uncle. He found a tree and said a few private words.

"Uncle, I don't ask about your relationship with that girl, but I agreed to the conditions you proposed that night." Zhao Yulin took out a pack of Green Peony cigarettes, which were not common on the market, from his bag, took out a cigarette and lit it, and gave the rest to Qiu Baima, "This cigarette is good, not spicy."

Qiu Baima pulled the cigarette holder and knocked it on the sole of his shoe twice, shook off the toad grass that had just been loaded, put the cigarette holder back into his belt, drew a match to light a Green Peony, and sighed that it was more comfortable than sucking grass leaves, and then asked his nephew: "Why did you change your mind?"

"If you want to change, then change it."

Zhao Yulin answered casually.

"What about the previous principles?" Qiu Baima asked again.

Zhao Yulin flicked off the ash, bit the filter and took two deep puffs. The thick smoke rolled up from his mouth, making his eyes hard to open: "Principles are meant to be thrown away."

How could Qiu Baima, who was old and experienced, not see that his junior apprentice nephew was not sincere? Just as the latter could not guess the relationship between him and Chen Siyao, he could not figure out what was going on in the mind of this junior apprentice nephew who had grown into a handsome young man. He brushed off the dust on his collar and said, "Forget it, it's best if you agree. Are you really ready to hear the news?"

Zhao Yulin nodded.

……

……

The private conversation under the tree didn't last long. After a few words, Qiu Baima left, walking steadily towards Hualong Valley.

Zhao Yulin watched him for a long distance and saw his sadness and loneliness.

The old Taoist priest had long seen through the joys and sorrows of the world, and was used to the hardship and loneliness. Perhaps in his world, there was no such thing as loneliness. Naturally, he would not be sad because of the end of laughter and joy. There were few things and people that he could not forget. That person would not be Sun Leling, Zhou Caifeng, or Zhou Yidian.

Who would it be? The answer seemed obvious.

Kicking the gravel, he walked slowly back to the jeep and found that Sun Leling and Zhou Caifeng were comforting Chen Siyao, and Chen Siyao was crying.

That beautiful and proud face was now full of frustration. Her expression was clearly only at the stage of wanting to cry, but her tears were falling down uncontrollably.

Zhao Yulin had seen Chen Siyao cry before. That time she was helpless and angry, but this time it seemed to be pure sadness and unbearable grief.

"What's wrong?"

He didn't know what happened in the car during the few minutes he and Qiu Bai were chatting under the horse tree, but it must be something serious that could make Chen Siyao cry.

"I don't know either!"

Chen Siyao sobbed as soon as she opened her mouth, her voice was so loud that it was a bit noisy.

Zhao Yulin frowned, only people who were emotionally broken would be like this.

"I just feel so sad in my heart, it hurts!" Chen Siyao continued to complain.

Zhao Yulin frowned even deeper, and said tentatively: "If you can't bear to leave this place, I will bring you here during the New Year. If not, you can come here by yourself when you have time. Anyway, you are familiar with the place, and your uncle likes you, so it won't be a problem."

The sadness on Chen Siyao's face suddenly eased a lot, and she stared blankly, her face became dull, and she was silent.

Zhao Yulin's eyes narrowed, he turned around and started the car, heading for the highway outside the town. He remained silent throughout the journey, his thoughts were in a tangle.

The more guesses without answers, the more annoying it would be. The problem was that he could only guess without any trace, making himself very angry but unable to help but continue guessing.

Chen Siyao and Master Baima were probably in close contact, and everything was cut off.

The jeep turned and drove to a small county town at the foot of the Qilian Mountains. The atmosphere in the car was heavy all the way until it stopped and everyone opened the car door and got out, breathing the air outside, which was a little better.

Chen Siyao stopped crying, and her tears were no longer flowing, but her eyes were red and swollen, and she looked lost. Her sickly and pretty appearance was in stark contrast to her former high spirits.

Zhao Yulin couldn't help but rub her hair, and said cryptically: "There is still a lot of time, and some people have a long lifespan, so there will be plenty of opportunities in the future."

Chen Siyao's eyes sparkled, and she looked up and asked: "What opportunities?"

Zhao Yulin ignored the question, shook the backpack on his shoulder, and said: "Master uncle also left you a gift, and asked me to pass it on?"

"What gift?"

Chen Siyao showed a hint of excitement and expectation, which made Zhao Yulin's guess clearer again.

"Let's take care of the accommodation tonight first, and I'll tell you in detail later."

Zhao Yulin walked towards the hotel door, and the beautiful policewoman followed closely behind him, unable to hide how impatient he was for the mysterious gift.

Zhao Yulin walked in front, biting the tip of his tongue with his front teeth, feeling very complicated.

He found that the more he guessed, the more it seemed to be true. His mind became clearer, but his eyes became more cloudy and confused, and his thoughts were messed up.