Chapter 113 – A Few Small Daily Scenes

Chapter 113 - A Few Small Daily Scenes

As evening approached, the sky had already turned completely dark.

In Zhoujiacun, after their evening meal, Zhou Manchu climbed up a ladder to clear the snow off the roof. Looking at how heavily the snow was still falling, he knew that if he didn't attend to it, the roof might collapse under its weight during the night.

Zhou Sufen held the ladder steady beneath him and said, looking up, "Come down quickly. Mother is stronger than you. Let Mother do the cleaning."

"I'll be done soon," Zhou Manchu replied. How could he possibly let his mother climb the ladder? In previous years, there was no one to hold the ladder for him. But now, not only did his mother support him, but Dogzi was also standing beneath the eaves, looking up at him with admiration in his eyes as though climbing a ladder to sweep snow was a remarkable feat. It was the first time his younger brother had looked up to him like this, and he was basking in the feeling of satisfaction. Whatever his mother said wouldn't change his mind.

"Brother, I'll help you clear the snow outside tomorrow!" Dogzi shouted. "Let's make another snowman right at the entrance! Ermao's family made a huge snowman, and it looks so cool!"

"Alright!" Manchu replied loudly. Dogzi was a child leader, always drawing other children to him wherever he went. Back at his sister's house, Ducks, Geese, and Iron Ox all clamored to play with him. Now, even the group of mischievous children led by Zhou Ermao in Zhoujiacun chased after him, eager to join in the fun. At first, Manchu had been worried that Dogzi would find it hard to adjust to living here, as there were no familiar playmates in Zhoujiacun. It turned out that he had overthought things; Dogzi was perfectly content.

Dogzi seemed to fit right in with the people of Zhoujiacun. With his sweet tongue, he called everyone grandpa or grandma, regardless of whether he knew them or not. In just two short months, he had won more hearts than a true-blue Zhou family member.

Now that the three of them were living comfortably, no one in the village dared mention driving anyone away anymore.

Ma Cang was sweeping the courtyard when suddenly he heard a knock on the door. Zhao Sufen also heard it and called out, "Who's there?" She glanced at Dogzi and gave him a nod. Dogzi, grinning, ran through the snow to answer the door.

The latch was lifted, revealing a tall figure standing outside – none other than his brother-in-law who had just dropped by from Changqiao Village.

"Brother-in-law!" Dogzi jumped for joy, and Wei Datiger, amused, scooped him up from the ground.

The courtyard was covered in thick snow, and although the child was warmly dressed, his legs were already sinking into it. The village wall couldn't block his view, so he saw Ma Cang on the ladder and his grandmother holding it steady below.

Hearing Dogzi call out 'brother-in-law,' both Zhao Sufen and Ma Cang were startled and turned around simultaneously. Wei Datiger had already entered with Dogzi in his arms, closing the door behind them. Gazing at the petite Ma Cang, he chuckled, "Come down quickly. Let me do the sweeping."

"Brother-in-law, why are you here?" Ma Cang realized his words might sound unwelcoming, so he quickly added with a smile, "I, I can sweep." How could he let his brother-in-law help with the snow-clearing? Yet, his brother-in-law wouldn't stand idly by while he, a child, climbed so high in snowy conditions. If he were to slip and fall, his wife would be heartbroken.

Placing Dogzi under the eaves, Wei Datiger removed the basket on his shoulder. First, he greeted his mother-in-law, then urged Ma Cang down from the ladder. Taking the broom from him, he climbed up the ladder and efficiently cleared the snow from the roof in just a few strokes.

"As soon as you arrive, you're already helping out. Both my life and my peach blossom's (a term of endearment for his wife) are blessed. Peach Blossom doesn't have to work hard since she married you, and even Mother benefits!" As her son-in-law descended the ladder, Zhao Sufen passed him a warm drink. Her eyes held a loving warmth that seemed to overflow. Marrying her daughter to the Wei family was the best decision she had ever made. In all the neighboring villages, no one could match her son-in-law's diligence.

Wei Datiger exemplified this, and he surpassed expectations. Upon entering, he immediately took over the task without hesitation when he saw his brother-in-law on the ladder.

As a mother-in-law, Zhao Sufen naturally cherished her son-in-law who cared for his younger brother and respected their elders. Seeing him carrying a basket full of items and covered in dirt, she not only offered him hot water but also fetched a stool and brought the bamboo fire pit closer to him. "Why did you come now? It's snowing heavily outside, and you didn't even bring a hat or raincoat. Have you eaten dinner?"

"I haven't. I'm so hungry that I can't walk anymore. I came to ask for a bowl of food," Wei Datiger joked, making Zhao Sufen laugh despite herself. She asked Manchu to heat up food in the kitchen. Wei Datiger showed no embarrassment as he rubbed his hands by the fire. "I went to the county a few days ago and just returned today. I took the Longqiao Village route, but got delayed. I wanted to pick you, Manchu, and Dogzi up on my way to have a mutton hot pot. I hunted two goats in the mountains recently. In winter, mutton is nutritious and warms the body. Peach Blossom has been talking about having a hot pot for ages. You must be feeling lonely at home, so it would be more lively with all of us together."

Zhao Sufen was surprised that he had gone to the county and intended to invite them to eat mutton soup. She knew that her son-in-law wasn't just being polite; he genuinely meant it. "It's already dark, and the snow is still heavy. You must be tired after such a long journey from the county and without eating. If you're not in a hurry, why don't you stay here tonight? We can visit your place tomorrow. How does that sound?" She didn't decline his offer. She was delighted by his thoughtfulness and wouldn't want to disappoint him.

However, they couldn't leave immediately since they had chickens to take care of. They would need to catch them and bring them to Uncle Lin's house for him to watch over for a few days. It was already late, and he might have already gone to bed. It wouldn't be appropriate to disturb him.

Wei Datiger nodded and smiled. "Mother is right. Manchu and Dogzi are still young. The roads are slippery and cold at night. It wouldn't be good for them to catch a chill."

With his agreement, Zhao Sufen went to fetch bedding. Her son-in-law was quite dirty, but she didn't mind. His discomfort would make her feel uneasy too. He was tall and robust, and there were no suitable clothes for him. Although she couldn't change his clothes, a quick wash would do.

They had several rooms, but there was no need to prepare another bed. At night, she would let Dogzi sleep with her, and her son-in-law could share a room with Manchu. She took out an extra mattress from the cabinet. When they separated from the Qian family, she didn't take any bedding. People might criticize her for being overly sensitive, but she deliberately didn't mention it. She wanted a complete break from the Qian family and didn't want to see anything related to Cook Qian.

This mattress was an old one she bought in Zhoujia Village after the winter began. A newlywed bride from a wealthy family had new bedding as part of her dowry, so she sold the old one to Zhao Sufen.

Dogzi was pestering his brother-in-law in the main hall, asking about the county. When Zhao Sufen came out, she went to the kitchen, where Manchu was frying eggs. Seeing his mother, he instinctively handed her the spatula and started tending to the fire. Since Zhao Sufen returned, she didn't allow Manchu to cook, but only assist by tending to the fire.

They hadn't had much for dinner as the family was thrifty and cautious with their food consumption. They ate leftover mixed grain rice from lunch. Zhao Sufen didn't prepare anything elaborate. There wasn't much rice left, so she fried four eggs and made a large pot of egg vegetable soup. After steaming the rice again, she stirred in some lard with a bit of coarse salt, giving the meal a touch of oiliness.

Full House carried the meal and egg soup to the main room. Upon seeing this, Big Tiger Wei immediately forgot about chatting with Dogzi. He passed the warming stove to Dogzi and, without waiting for Full House's invitation, walked over to the dining table, took the chopsticks offered, and began digging into his food.

He was truly hungry; he had only eaten cold steamed buns on the journey, which lacked flavor. Now, savoring the oily rice and hot egg soup, Big Tiger Wei was in bliss. He finished his meal in a few quick bites and then lifted the bowl to slurp the soup.

The warm soup comforted his body, dispelling the chill. He let out a contented sigh.

Looking at his mother-in-law and two younger brothers watching him eat in the main room, a smile spread across his face. Ah, it felt just like being back home.

There was something truly wonderful about being remembered and cared for.

After the meal, Big Tiger Wei carried the bucket filled with hot water from Full House to wash up. By the time he was done, night had fully fallen.

Closing the door to the main room, Dogzi refused to sleep with his mother and insisted on sharing a room with his brother and brother-in-law. Zhao Sufen couldn't persuade him otherwise. She worried that the bed was too small for three, leaving no space to turn over. Just as she was about to drag him away, Big Tiger Wei laughed heartily, scooped up Dogzi, and carried him off, saying, "Dogzi is like a little furnace; he'll keep me nice and warm."

With his brother-in-law's support, Dogzi playfully stuck out his tongue at his mother, only to receive a light swat on the bottom from his sister's husband. The brothers then retreated to their room, filled with laughter and warmth.

The night was cozy, and before dawn broke the next day, the whole family was already awake. Zhao Sufen packed clothes in the room, thinking they would only stay for a few days, so a couple of outfits would suffice. However, Big Tiger Wei suggested bringing more and even said to carry their valuable items with them, not leaving them at home. It seemed he intended for them to stay longer.

"This... We don't have any extra rooms at home," Zhao Sufen hesitated. It wouldn't be appropriate to ask her in-laws to seek accommodation elsewhere again. That would be highly disrespectful.

Wai Dahu knew what his mother-in-law was worried about, so he reassured her with a smile, "It's fine, we'll manage. During the winter, it doesn't matter where we stay. When the weather gets warmer and the mountain paths are easier to navigate, I want to take you to see the house I've prepared for you and Manchu. If there's anything you're not satisfied with, we can make changes before anyone moves in."

"What house?" Zhao Sufen asked in surprise.

Wai Dahu smiled but didn't elaborate, figuring that she would understand once they went to the mountain. He urged his mother-in-law to pack a few more sets of clothes. Winter clothing being thick, Zhao Sufen simply grabbed a basket to carry them. Not only was she going to her daughter's and son-in-law's house without any gifts, but she was also bringing along a lot of clothes. Zhao Sufen's face flushed with embarrassment.

But what could she do? Her son-in-law was filial and insisted on her bringing more, wanting her to stay longer. Complaining inwardly yet content, Zhao Sufen slung the basket on her back. Seeing Manchu holding a chicken and Dogzi skipping excitedly out the door, the family left with joyful expressions.

As usual, they took the chicken to Uncle Lin's house for him to look after. This time, Uncle Lin nodded and smiled at Wai Dahu, skillfully taking the hen without comment. He told Manchu to have fun at his sister's place, assuring him that he would take good care of the chicken.

Leaving Zhou Village, they didn't stop on the way. The snow-covered stone benches made sitting impossible without appearing as if one had wet their pants, so they continued walking straight to Dahe Village.

Ironically, they encountered Li Dalang and his parents rushing out of the village just as they arrived. Neither party spoke, and their moods were vastly different from Zhao Sufen and her two sons who were visiting relatives with joy. The Li family looked as if they were in mourning.

They passed each other, both hurrying on their separate ways.

There was no snow that day, but it was cold. Despite the chill, the village was bustling with excitement. Of course, it was lively – the butcher Zhu had died. The messenger who came to inform the Li family said he was dragged back by someone from the county, along with three corpses, including his mistress and illegitimate child! He had also offended a prominent family in the county, poisoning their son-in-law. They were reportedly seeking revenge against the Zhu family!

The messenger had been present at the Zhu residence the previous evening and gave a vivid account of the incident, complete with gestures and sound effects. Mrs. Li, upon hearing the tale, promptly fainted.

The Li household was thrown into chaos, with attempts to revive her by pinching her chin and splashing cold water on her face. Barely awake and still in their nightclothes, the family of three rushed to Long Bridge Village. Mr. Li intended to borrow an ox cart from the village chief but found the door shut; the chief was avoiding him.

Wai Dahtu overheard bits and pieces of the conversation. He didn't spot Uncle San at the village's big tree, but he did see Tieniu, who was making snowmen with Dogsheng and the others. Tieniu caught sight of his Uncles Dogsheng and Manchu, his eyes lighting up as he abandoned his snowball and ran over. Despite his red, frozen fingers, he seemed impervious to the cold, wiping his runny nose as he asked, "Uncle Dogsheng, why are you here?"

"I came with my brother-in-law," replied Dogsheng, glancing at the enormous snowman. He had been talking about building one with his brother yesterday, and it occupied his thoughts even in his dreams, leaving him shivering under the covers. Now, seeing Tieniu and the other village kids at work, he couldn't resist. Looking up at Wai Dahtu with anticipation, he asked, "Brother-in-law, can I play with Tieniu in the village?"

Tieniu, too, looked eagerly at Uncle Dahutu, pleading, "Uncle Dahutu, please let Uncle Dogsheng and Uncle Manchu play in the village. I'll go get Dage Dan and Ege Dan. We won't go anywhere else, just make snowmen there. Can we?"

Wai Dahtu, what could he do? Of course, he waved his hand, giving them instructions, "Alright, but you can't go anywhere else, especially not onto the frozen river. If you do, I'll spank your bottoms. You can only play in the village, nowhere near the foot of the mountain. I'll come fetch you later." These last words were directed at Dogsheng and Manchu.

Tieniu and Dogsheng nodded energetically, while Manchu, concerned for his sister, wasn't too keen on playing in the village. However, his younger brother held onto his hand, and as the older sibling, he had no choice but to indulge him. The three children dashed off, laughing boisterously.

Seeing this, Wai Dahtu turned to his mother and whispered, "Don't worry, they'll be fine playing in the village. My uncles' houses are just up ahead. Tieniu is smart, he'll know to seek help if anything happens."

Zhao Sufen smiled and nodded. Adults had their worries, while children had their play. With her son-in-law's assurance, she had no reason to fret. She called out to Dogsheng, "No fighting, remember. Your brother-in-law will pick you up later."

"Got it, no fighting!" Dogsheng was already engrossed in building the snowman, not looking back.

Zhao Sufen shook her head, dismissing them. She followed her son-in-law all the way down to the foot of the mountain.

The snow-covered courtyard at the foot of the mountain was quiet and serene, a stark contrast to the bustling village. Living here felt like being isolated from the world, with silence prevailing.

The black dog pranced on the pristine white ground. Upon hearing Wei Datiger's call, Xiaohu, who was busy making paw prints in the snow, immediately turned his head and rushed towards him, wagging his tail energetically.

"Woof!"

Taohua was boiling porridge in the kitchen. Upon hearing his voice, she smiled and threw another log into the stove. Brushing off the sawdust from her clothes, she got up to go outside. There, she caught sight of her mother following her husband. For a moment, she was taken aback. It was the elderly Wei who, sitting under the eaves and sorting wool, stood up to greet them. "Mother-in-law is here! What a rare guest! Please come in." As he spoke, he moved the wooden basin that was blocking the entrance.

"Aiyah, Father-in-law, here I am again, bothering you with my uninvited presence," Zhao Sufen laughed as she entered the courtyard. With jest, their exchange of pleasantries began. Elder Wei, not as articulate as his counterpart, could only repeatedly say "welcome" while Zhao Sufen responded with "bothering you." "Yesterday evening, when Datiger braved the snow to come home, I was quite startled. With such heavy snowfall, I wondered if something had happened. But he said he'd come from the county to fetch us for a visit. I thought it was too dangerous to travel at night, so I let him stay for the night. Before dawn today, he urged me to pack and disturb you."

Elder Wei couldn't compete with his daughter's mother-in-law in terms of words. He could only keep shooting meaningful glances at his son, urging him to quickly take the burden off his mother-in-law's shoulder.

Taohua finally came back to her senses, too excited to even look at her husband. Skipping like a young girl, she ran to Zhao Sufen, her face beaming with joy. Reaching out, she helped unload the basket on her mother's shoulder, exclaiming happily, "Mother, why are you here?"

"What? You don't welcome me?" Zhao Sufen chuckled. The basket with clothes wasn't heavy, but seeing both her daughter and son-in-law offering help filled her heart with warmth.

"You're mistaken, Big Tiger mentioned earlier that he'd come fetch you and the boys for a visit. I've been thinking about it all along. Now that I've unexpectedly seen you, how could I not be happy?" As she spoke, she glanced outside and asked in confusion, "Where are Manchu and Dogzi? Why haven't we seen them?"

"Back in the village, they were stopped by Iron Bull. Thankfully, the kid has a good memory, remembering his Uncle Dogzi and Uncle Manchu. He wanted to invite Egg and Goose as well, so the kids could make snowmen together." Wei Datiger unloaded the basket, and the sack was tied with a tight knot. Now that he was home, there was no need to hide anything. He pulled out a knife from his pocket, cut the ropes, and reached into the sack. First, he took out a bag of flour, then rummaged through the bran and lifted out a huge bag of coarse salt.

While he was taking out the items, Peach Blossom was too absorbed to talk to her mother, holding her hand and watching from the side. She knew that he had gone to the county to sell pelts, and after selling them, he would assess the situation. If he could buy grain, he would bring some back; if not, he would purchase some coarse salt and medicine.

Now that he only brought coarse salt, flour, and medicine, it seemed that he couldn't find any grain.

Wei Datiger placed the bundled medicines on the table, each with a paper tag. One ink dot indicated medicine for colds, two dots for headaches, three for diarrhea, four for vomiting, five for fever... There were also some miscellaneous ones marked, as Ma Liu had come up with this system knowing that Wei Datiger couldn't read.

There were also a few bottles and jars for external injuries, which were cheaper than what he could buy at the pharmacy in town, likely with less effective remedies. However, they were better than nothing, and he bought them all.

When Zhao Sufen saw the enormous bag of coarse salt, she was stunned. So, this was what her son-in-law had been carrying on his back – such a precious commodity!

With so much salt, how long would it last?

"Dear, these will be under your care," Wei Datiger grinned at Peach Blossom. Stretching lazily, he felt completely relaxed now that he was home. With food, salt, and medicine, they had the basics covered. No matter how chaotic the world outside might be, he had no worries. He had already planned that if they ran out of food, they could find a place in the mountains to cultivate their own crops. If wild beasts were an issue, they could build a fence. Anyway, life in the mountains was leisurely, so why not do something productive?

He shared his observations in the county and the stories Ma Liu told him about Prince Chen and the capital, "Now in Qingzhou, it's impossible to stockpile large amounts of grain. The grain shops open daily, but with limited purchases per person. Supplies are scarce, and once they're gone, they're gone. Many people can't even get a single grain." Countless thin children and adults with sunken cheeks existed, with every household's rice jar almost empty, relying on just a few bushels of rice to survive.

In previous winters, more people perished from cold and illness. But this year, the majority might succumb to starvation.

Even before any warfare, Duke Chen had already shown indifference to the lives of his subjects. How could one expect compassion from such a man? It was utterly implausible.

He would turn Qingzhou into a living hell.

One could only wonder when the great axe hanging over Qingzhou would finally fall...

This winter was biting, cold everywhere it touched.

Wai Dahu chuckled, rubbing his large palms together to shake off these thoughts. What was the point of dwelling on such matters? It wasn't his concern. He was just a hunter, and all he cared about was providing for his family's basic needs.

The colder his heart felt, the more he craved something warm. He had been eyeing those two sheep for a while now; if he thought of it, he'd do it. He got up and went to the yard, ignoring their bleating as he casually caught one and brought it back to his wife. "Do you want to shear the wool, wife?"

Just moments ago, they were discussing food, and now he was already catching a sheep. However, Tao Hua had been looking forward to shearing the wool for days. Upon hearing this, she eagerly nodded, her eyes shining. "Wait for me, I'll get the shears!"

"Alright," Wai Dahu said, pressing down on the struggling sheep beneath his hand with a smile. "Look at how thick its wool is. We should make good use of it. Let's shear it first, then wash, dry, and clean it to use as a filling for a quilt. It'll keep us warm. After shearing, we'll slaughter the sheep. I'll go fetch Man Cang Dog in the village and invite Uncle Da, Uncle Er, and the Er Niu family on the way. We'll have mutton hotpot today!"

"Baa!!"

"Author's Note"

Apologies for the delay today; I've been detained by some matters. I'm freezing right now, oh my, the chills are seeping through my bones. I'll revise the chapter tomorrow, it feels like the cold is in every joint.