Chapter 398 Another Year of Snowfall
"Grandpa, it's snowing again, and it's snowing heavily!"
"Yes, it's snowing heavily."
On a bitterly cold winter day, as the new year approaches, a heavy snowfall blankets Fengzhou in white once again.
The once verdant peaks have turned into a blanket of white, like a giant beast lying still, gleaming with a cold light under the clear sky. The winding river has lost its surging momentum, lying stiffly in the valley like a white ribbon, exuding a deep chill.
On the west side of the river, in the dense forests that can be seen everywhere, thousands of branches are covered with ice and snow, turning into a boundless sea of jade forests. When the wind blows, it rustles coldly and stirs up thousands of piles of snow foam.
At the entrance of Baiyang Village in Wanhe County, outside Fengzhou Prefecture, a group of children were running wildly across the snow, leaving behind a trail of footprints.
On the west side where they were chasing and playing, sat a group of old farmers, all wearing dark, heavy old cotton-padded coats, their sleeves tucked in, watching their grandchildren running around.
Their expressions were serene, their eyes filled with doting affection for their grandson, but behind this doting affection seemed to lie a deeper sorrow, causing them to fall silent from time to time during their casual conversation.
"The grain storage tunnels on the mountain were started in the autumn. Are they finished yet?"
"Replying to Third Uncle, the digging is basically complete. Grandfather will notify you in a couple of days. At that time, everyone can hide their grain there for future use. However, the ratio of grain to grain to be kept and hidden is up to each family to decide."
"How was the distribution handled by Lao Nian's family?"
"Keep one-tenth at home and hide nine-tenths."
"so much?"
"It's better to live frugally for now than to starve to death later."
As the farmer, named Lao Nian, spoke, he took two puffs of his pipe, the smoke from his mouth mingling with the cold winter fog.
Upon hearing Lao Nian's words, everyone fell silent, and a series of sighs could be faintly heard between breaths.
In fact, judging from their clothing, they were not that poor. Even their cotton-padded jackets were full of cotton, and their figures were not emaciated. However, their words were full of despair for the future.
In the midst of this silence, a group of strong laborers came from the east of the village. One carried a wooden ladder, while the others carried sacks. They strolled up to them.
"Happy birthday, huh? Your child must be starting school soon, right?" Old Nian asked as soon as he saw the visitor.
"I'm old enough, but who knows?"
"I'll still have to ask next year. If I can get in, I should. Even if I only know a few words, it'll be good."
“Uncle is right, but… I’m afraid there won’t even be anyone to run the school next year.”
With a smirk, Qingsheng told the man carrying the ladder to put it down in front of his uncle's door. Then he climbed up the ladder and reached out to the crowd below.
The people below immediately and quickly handed over the paper lanterns needed for the New Year, as well as couplets symbolizing bidding farewell to the old year and welcoming the new.
Strangely, the paper lanterns they hung were plain white, not the festive red at all. The couplets pasted on the door were also plain white, and they were completely blank. Not only did they look unfestive, but they were also very unlucky.
In fact, this is indeed unlucky, because according to the customs of Fengzhou, white lanterns and empty lanterns are only used when a family member has died.
But the farmers sitting at the base of the wall showed no anger, as if it were their duty to do so.
In fact, it's not just their village, but also the neighboring village, the village next to the neighboring village, and even the entire Fengzhou area this year.
This was not an order from the government, nor was it pre-arranged; rather, it was a coincidence that all of these events happened at the same time.
Soon, Qingsheng helped them hang the paper lanterns and paste the couplets. Then he led his men to the next house. Before leaving, the old farmers did not say anything. Some smoked, while others remained silent.
Just then, the children who had run far away came running back in a flurry.
"Grandpa, Brother Ming said he's going to take us to play in the big courtyard in the city."
A boy named Shaobing, with snot running down his face, said something to the old man sitting against the wall.
Upon hearing this, everyone's expression changed slightly, and they called all the children back: "How many times have we told you, go to the city less often in the future."
"Why, Grandpa?"
"In short, go as little as possible, especially in front of those big houses. Don't go there anymore, those are places for immortals."
Shaobing frowned and said, "We used to go there often last year, so why can't we go this year?"
The oldest of these children is only ten years old, and the youngest is only five. They are unaware of many things in this world.
All they knew was that long, long ago, in autumn, when the leaves on the mountains turned yellow, their family suddenly forbade them from going out to play, especially warning them never to go near those grand mansions with carved beams and painted rafters.
However, children's hearts are easily provoked, and once an older child makes the suggestion, they naturally can't resist.
Before long, some children started crying, but even so, they were not allowed to leave and were instead dragged back home.
Old Nian also raised his hand and used the rough back of his hand to wipe away the tears that were streaming down Shaobing's face.
In the past, Fengzhou was indeed a place where children could go anywhere, but starting from a certain day in autumn, they became uncertain, because on that day, the sky fell over Fengzhou.
"Come home, kid, your dad is frying rice cakes at home."
"Grandpa, I don't like rice cakes..."
“Silly child, we may not be able to eat this kind of food again. Do you know that when a person is really starving, there won’t even be a few pieces of tree bark left?”
Old Nian said with a slight sigh, and then he heard a call from behind. He saw a group of old farmers, whose children had chased them home, standing in front of the millstone at the village entrance, waving at him.
So he sent the sesame seed cakes home, puffed on his pipe, and followed the others toward the low hill behind the village.
This is also one of the customs of Fengzhou. After hanging lanterns and pasting couplets, they invite their ancestors to their home to celebrate the festival.
Burning paper money and lighting incense, a group of hunched figures busily worked in the chilly earthen cemetery.
After the paper money in front of the ancestors' graves has burned out, they get up and bow three times, which is considered as inviting the ancestors back to their parents' home.
However, they did not rush to leave. Instead, they lined up to go up the mountain and headed to a small temple. They lit the extra incense they had brought and inserted it into the small incense burner in front of the temple.
Ji Shizi was a native of Yuyang.
At the age of seventeen, his entire clan was slaughtered for offending the immortal sect, leaving him the sole survivor, and he had no home left.
After three years of secluded cultivation, he completed his studies and entered the Heavenly Academy. Later, the Tu Xian Manor was established as a prominent family, which held the power of taxation and exempted people from exorbitant taxes to alleviate their suffering.
During the year of the snow disaster, when the supply of spirit stones was cut off, the granaries were opened to provide relief, the Wulu Trading Company was re-established, workers were recruited to help the hungry, and countless people were saved.
In the autumn of the sixth year of the Taiyuan era, he ascended to heaven amidst the clouds and was eternally blissful.
Before the temple, people bowed to the swordsman statue inside.
Young master, it's time to go home.
Hanging paper lanterns, pasting couplets, welcoming ancestors, sweeping the house—the New Year arrives amidst a flurry of snow.
In Shengjing, banquets were held incessantly, and the streets were filled with singing and dancing.
Meanwhile, in a house without a courtyard wall on the east side of Chunhua Lane, a man dressed in plain robes was frying rice cakes, accompanied by a young lady who looked quite noble, with a quiet and obedient expression.
In fact, judging from their appearances, the two should be a perfect match in age, both in their twenties, one in the prime of her life and the other graceful and slender.
However, for some reason, the man's temples were gray, with large patches of white hair growing in them, making him look much older than his age.
As the oil in the pan began to bubble, the first batch of rice cakes was taken out of the pan. The man used his chopsticks to pick up a piece and placed it on the young lady's plate.
Once the golden-brown fried rice cakes had cooled slightly, the young lady tasted them, nodded gently, and said they were delicious.
The man chuckled, then fried out the rest of the rice cakes.
After the ceasefire, the man went out and asked someone to deliver one portion to the orphanage in the north of the city. Then he put the rest into a basket, carrying the wine and dishes, and walked out of the orphanage with the young lady.
rustling sound—
The snow on the street sank in with each step, while the snow on the branches bounced off when touched.
Before long, two sets of footprints covered the entire long street from east to west.
The man and woman, holding paper fans, turned into the third alley and came to a wooden door. After thinking for a long time, they pushed the door open and went inside.
This is a large mansion, with shops facing the street in the front and an elegant and secluded backyard.
However, just by looking at the fallen leaves frozen in the ice on the surface of the pond, you can tell that no one has lived here for a long time.
After the two stepped over the threshold, they looked inside for a long time before the woman spoke first: "The market vendors are about to arrive. I'll go tidy up the kitchen first, and then we'll wait for you to cook."
"good."
The man nodded slightly to the woman, watched her walk towards the kitchen, then placed the basket he was carrying on the balcony and took out a bundle of incense from it.
Holding the bundle of incense, the man reached out and pushed open the main hall door. Stepping across the threshold, he looked at the ancestral tablets placed in the hall.
It's been almost half a year, not too long, not too short, and sometimes he still can't seem to accept that his good friend has passed away.
Especially during the initial period after he found out, he stayed at the Imperial Medical Bureau day and night, searching for every medical book he could find, which caused his temples to turn white.
But the fact is, whether you believe it or not, it's there.
So everyone stopped worrying about it and felt that rest in peace was the most important thing. So they went to Fengzhou together to hold a memorial service for him.
They did not intend to hold a grand ceremony, but someone leaked the news, causing tens of thousands of people from Fengzhou to come and bid them farewell, with cries filling the air.
His friend's life in this world was short, but he left behind a profound legacy that history cannot ignore. It's just a pity that he himself could not see these things.
After that memorial service, Brother Ji was not buried in Fengzhou, but was taken away by the young master of Lingjian Mountain.
He has no relatives left in this world, so how to handle his remains is indeed up to the appraiser.
The daughter of Danzong later went to Lingjian Mountain, and Yuan Chen returned to the Holy Land of the Sages to continue to repair it with her father.
The others returned to the Heavenly Academy, some going into seclusion, others cultivating the Tao.
From autumn to the end of winter, half a year has passed in the blink of an eye. Everything seems to have calmed down, and the world has not stopped turning because of the loss of anyone; it still exists perfectly well.
But at certain times, he still feels as if there is a void in his heart.
The man recalled for a moment, then reached out and lit the incense, inserting it into the incense burner.
"Brother Ji, the new year has arrived."
"This winter's snowfall was plentiful, but it did not cause a disaster because the autumn harvest was good, so no one is likely to starve to death this winter."
"Tiger Cub from the orphanage has grown up a bit and has now left the orphanage to work at Taipinglou. He is very hardworking and can support himself without any problem."
"What's it like up in the heavens? Is it really as carefree and auspicious as they say?"
"Just don't throw a tantrum and steal the Heavenly Lord's money, or you'll get targeted by him again."
"According to Qingyun's custom, deceased relatives are expected to return home to visit in Xinyuan. I don't know if you'll be going to Fengzhou, Lingjian Mountain, or here."
"However, because we were afraid you wouldn't be able to find us when you came back, Wei Rui and I decided to spend the holiday here."
“You used to cook for New Year’s Eve dinner, but you can take a break this year. It’s my turn.”
The man muttered something to himself as he wiped the memorial tablet with a handkerchief.
Outside the courtyard, the young lady had already cleaned the kitchen, and the vegetable vendor from the East Market had delivered the vegetables he had ordered earlier. She placed them by the stove and looked towards the main room, waiting patiently.
After a long while, the man pushed open the door and came out, wiping his eyes as he went to the kitchen. He then picked up a kitchen knife, took the cleaned cutting board from the corner of the wall, and began to chop vegetables methodically.
After processing the ingredients, he lit the firewood and heated it thoroughly in the stove. Then, he heated the oil in the wok and put the cured meat into it.
As wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys, the aroma of cured meat began to waft through the air. Just then, the sound of a door opening suddenly came from the front yard.
The two instinctively craned their necks to look out from the kitchen.
The newcomer was slightly overweight, carrying a jar of wine in his left hand and several oil paper bags in his right. He paused for a moment upon seeing them.
"Kuang Cheng, Miss Wei, what are you two doing here?"
"You've been to Singapore, haven't you? Instructor Cao, it's been a long time..."
At this moment, the officials of the Celestial Bureau, the daughter of the Wei family, and the elder of the Heavenly Book Academy, three people whose identities had no connection, looked at each other in the courtyard and said, "Long time no see."
This wasn't just a polite remark; they really hadn't seen each other for a long time since the memorial service, even though they lived only a street apart.
The reason for this is that everyone is intentionally avoiding him and simply doesn't have the courage to see any of his deceased relatives.
Standing at the door, Cao Jingsong looked down at the wine jar in his hand: "How about we have a couple of drinks together tonight?"
“Xin Yuan will naturally have a couple of cups. Rui’er, go pour the tea first.”
"good."
After handing over the boiled water, Kuang Cheng said softly, "I didn't expect Instructor Cao to have gray hair too."
Cao Jingsong looked at his graying temples and said, "I'm getting old, so it's natural for my hair to be gray. It's just a pity for you."
"It's alright. This makes me seem more mature, unlike before when I was such a naive boy. Please have a seat, instructor. My dishes are still stewing."
"Do you need me to help?"
"No need, I can manage on my own."
"Then I'll warm the wine."
Cao Jingsong placed the wine he had brought on the table and intended to go to the main room to get the red clay stove, but before he could enter the room, the sound of the door opening came again.
He subconsciously looked up and saw that the Lu sisters and Wen Zhengxin had all brought food and drinks.
Their eyes met, and a moment of silence fell over them.
Before they could react, the sound of the door opening began and continued for the next incense stick's time.
First came Ban Yangshu, then Yuan Chen from the sacred land of the ancients, and finally Bai Rulong also came to the courtyard, carrying wine and dishes.
The once idle young master from a wealthy family has become much rougher, darker, and more robust.
Those once clear yet naive eyes have now become sharp and keen, with a hint of hardship in them.
After the ancient families joined forces to commit calamities, the Bai family was destroyed. Emperor Rulong joined the Zhenbei Army and then guarded the border between Youyun and Qingzhou, never returning to the Central Plains.
However, when everyone held a memorial service for Ji You in Fengzhou, they met. Their surprise was all over from the last time, and their emotions were not as intense this time.
When the group of old friends met in the courtyard, they all looked a little surprised, but upon reflection, they realized it was quite reasonable.
They lived peacefully, cultivating themselves and seeking enlightenment. Their spiritual cultivation improved, and they made some new friends and saw more scenery. But only they themselves knew that many of them were still living in the past.
"How is the border now?"
"There have been recent orders to strengthen security in Yunzhou, presumably because of the demon race."
Hearing Cao Jingsong and Bai Rulong's conversation, Ban Yangshu couldn't help but say, "I heard rumors a while ago that the demon race might have designs on the sacred land of the ancient sages. It seems that the rumors are true."
Bai Ru nodded: "There is a possibility of war, but as for the timing, it depends on when the sacred site of the sages can be repaired."
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone at the table looked at Yuan Chen.
Seeing this, Yuan Chen raised his head slightly: "According to the original plan of my Dan Sect, the sacred site of the sages should have been repaired around the beginning of the new year. However, it cracked again recently, which caused a delay. But it will definitely be repaired before the beginning of spring."
Everyone was slightly taken aback upon hearing this.
Although they weren't very familiar with Yuan Chen, they knew he was naive and playful.
If you had asked him this question in the past, he would have been completely bewildered. You never imagined that he would have grown so much in just six months.
"The Beginning of Spring is almost here. No wonder the atmosphere in the courtyard has been a bit tense lately. By the way, Yuan Chen, how's your progress in mastering the weapon?"
"I can now wield the sacred artifact on my own."
"So fast?"
"I can't let my sister bear any more burdens."
Cao Jingsong opened his mouth, but found that the atmosphere in the room had become even more somber, so he changed the subject and said, "Speaking of the wielding of sacred artifacts, I heard that the direct disciples of the Dao Asking Sect and the Mountain and Sea Pavilion have also completed it, and Shang Xiyao has even broken through to the Boundless Realm."
Wen Zhengxin raised his eyes after hearing this: "They are all direct disciples of the Immortal Sect, and it is only a matter of time before they control the sacred artifacts. They also have plenty of resources available for cultivation. However, they still cannot catch up with the young appraiser. I wonder... how the young appraiser is doing now."
"The appraiser is a good person."
Wei Rui came over carrying a tea tray: "She's already in a state of spiritual reverie."
After hearing this, Wen Zhengxin turned to look at her: "How did Miss Ruier know?"
“I visited Sister Jianzhu in Lingzhou a while ago and stayed on the mountain for a period of time. Her cultivation is going very smoothly, but she is having some hardship due to being eight months pregnant.”
"It's been eight months already..."
They learned about the young master's pregnancy during the sacrificial ceremony in Fengzhou.
In their view, it was a stroke of luck that Ji You was able to leave behind a bloodline in the world, but their ideals made them think that the young master might not keep the child, because they knew that the Lingjian Mountain had never recognized Ji You.
But they didn't expect that the young appraiser would actually withstand all the pressure.
While pondering, Yuan Chen spoke up: "How is my sister, the appraiser, feeling right now?"
"On the surface, nothing seems wrong. She's eating and sleeping well, but her smile seems a bit cold. She used to have a chilled smile, but now it's cold too."
"What about my older sister?"
"She's been doing alright with the appraiser, but... she doesn't smile much anymore."
Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent again, especially Lu Hanyan.
In fact, she has rarely been able to laugh since then, and she has even spoken much less.
Just as they were talking, Kuang Cheng's dishes were served one after another, dispelling everyone's remembrance.
So they poured out the tea in their cups, replaced it with wine glasses, and sat in a circle, leaving the right-center seat empty, where a bowl and plate were placed separately.
A cold wind blows, a snowy night, and warm wine is poured into glasses.
Everyone raised their cups and stood up, looking at the memorial tablet in the main room, spilling the wine on the ground as they tilted their cups.
Over the past six months, they had already said a great deal to Ji You when no one was around, so they had nothing more to say now, lest they need to prepare something else for this joyous occasion.
However, the only thing they couldn't stop was the overwhelming flood of memories from the past.
That's how the dead are; they give up everything in this world, but they will never let go of their former loved ones, disturbing a part of their hearts that can never find peace.
The Wulu Trading Company had been idle for a long time, and the guest rooms had not been cleaned, so it could not accommodate so many people. After a hearty meal, everyone except Kuang Cheng and Yuan Chen decided to go home.
Bai Rulong hadn't been back to the Heavenly Academy for a long time, so he decided to go back and take a look.
The group walked through Chunhua Lane and onto Yong'an Street, heading towards Nishan.
At that time, Emperor Rulong was walking at the back. As he walked, he noticed that Cao Jingsong and the others in front of him had suddenly stopped. So he looked up.
Before them came a man and a woman. The woman on the right had been chatting with the man next to her, but when she saw them, she paused slightly and then bowed slightly.
"Instructor Cao, Senior Sister Wen, Senior Brother Ban, may you all have a happy new year."
"May you live a long and healthy life in the new year."
The crowd responded politely, and then the man and woman walked past them.
Before they had gone far, Wen Zhengxin suddenly spoke in a low voice: "Have you heard? Fang Ruoyao seems to have been getting along very closely with a young man surnamed Guan in the head of the academy for the past six months. It seems like there's something going on between them."
Ban Yangshu was slightly taken aback: "The surname Guan?"
"It's quite a coincidence that the Guan family and the Fang family, to which Fang Jincheng belongs, are related by marriage. They have been very successful in Zhongzhou thanks to the Fang family's influence, and they also share the same surname as Fang Ruoyao."
"One is from a mortal family, the other from a celestial family; they share the same surname but have different fates."
Along the long street lined with lanterns, the two whispered to each other.
However, this was just a casual chat after they met, and the reason was simply that Fang Ruoyao had been Ji You's fiancée. There was no special purpose behind it, so after a few words, everyone started to leave.
But before they could take more than a few steps, they discovered that Bai Rulong was still standing in the same spot looking back, without moving an inch.
"What are you looking at?" Ban Yangshu asked curiously.
"The one next to him is Fang Ruoming, the eldest son of the Fang family in Yuyang County."
"Oh, so this person is Fang Ruoming?"
Bai Rulong turned to look at them: "You know him?"
Ban Yangshu nodded: "I heard my junior brother mention it before. He said that Fang Ruoyao was the adjutant of the Northern Guardian General and made contributions in the war against the barbarians, which is why she was qualified to enter the Heavenly Academy."
"Adjutant? Did Ji You tell you this?"
"What's wrong with that?"
"This Fang Ruoming is indeed extremely famous in the Zhenbei Army, but no one has ever known his specific official position. They only know that he has great power and is definitely not just an adjutant. I have been fighting on the battlefield for a year and this is the first time I have seen his face."
Bai Rulong muttered to himself, then turned and followed the others away.
Meanwhile, the Fang siblings went in the opposite direction and walked into the depths of the long street, which was filled with lanterns.
Fang Ruoyao was originally talking to Fang Ruoming, but the conversation ended when she ran into Cao Jingsong and the others. After a moment of silence, she adjusted her mindset and spoke again.
"I wrote to my brother to discuss the matter earlier. Does my brother have the time?"
"You mean you want me to go with you to the Guan family's place?"
Fang Ruoyao nodded gently: "Father means that I am not young anymore, and the Guan family is a prestigious family in Zhongzhou. He wants me to seize the opportunity and go there after the New Year. Father is not familiar with the etiquette of immortals, so I will have to trouble my elder brother."
After hearing this, Fang Ruoming turned to look at her: "People say that the eldest brother is like a father. You are my only sister, so I naturally have to worry about your marriage. But I don't like that Guan Peng."
"Brother, we only met once last time, how can you so easily say you don't like me?"
"Some people are good enough to meet once. They may talk a lot, but they don't really care about you. They are not a good match for you. They are probably not even as good as one of Ji Wulu's fingers."
“He’s dead,” Fang Ruoyao paused slightly upon hearing this, and after a long silence, she said, “Elder brother, even if Guan Peng had personality flaws, it’s still better than dying young.”
After hearing this, Fang Ruoming gently stroked her hair and said, "Marriage is your own business. If you can confirm that it's suitable, then it's fine."
(There's no need to go into detail in the middle, so I'll skip a bit of time, but the emotions need to be consistent, so I thought about it for a long time. I think this transition is extremely smooth. Please vote for me!)
(End of this chapter)
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