Chunfu stood to the side, taking in the unwillingness and restraint on Li Xiu’e’s face, and sighed inwardly. She had seen too many people like this, and she wasn’t sure whether to pity or resent them. But with just a glance, she noticed Chunju walking past her in a daze. Whether it was because Chunju was too strong or because she herself was too weak, she suddenly lost her balance and stumbled backward. Panic and fear flooded her heart in an instant, and she prayed she wouldn’t fall.
Liansheng’s wife and Li Xiu’e quickly reached out to steady her, and only then did Chunfu’s heart settle. She sighed in relief, thinking how close that had been. From now on, she’d have to listen to Jicheng and go out less. Chunju looked as if she had lost all spirit, her whole demeanor wooden. Having just given birth not long ago, it was said she was living a stifling life. Modern phrases suddenly flooded Chunfu’s mind—words that seemed ordinary but could be deadly when combined. Could she be…?
Liansheng’s wife, seeing Chunju bump into someone without even a word of apology before walking away, grew furious. “How could she be like this? Was she doing it on purpose?”
Chunfu shook her head. “Pushing someone deliberately takes effort. If she’d meant to, I’d be on the ground right now, unable to get up. We’ve been out for a while—let’s head back. Sister-in-law, we’ll go ahead.”
Once they were farther away, Liansheng’s wife couldn’t help but ask, “Anyone could see that wasn’t an accident. Are you afraid of her and just letting it go? There’s no need to be scared—I’m here with you.”
Chunfu chuckled, blowing warm air onto her hands and rubbing them together. “She really didn’t bump me on purpose. I’m not the type to let others push me around, so don’t overthink it, sister-in-law. But Chunju… she didn’t seem right. She looked completely out of it.”
Liansheng’s wife sighed. “She’s been arguing with Jikun every day over her status. I heard they even got physical these past couple of days. Her family came to visit but left after just one day—probably too ashamed to stay. What woman wouldn’t feel miserable in her place? Life was already hard enough, and now even her own family looks at her like an outsider. It must be heartbreaking.” She leaned closer to Chunfu and whispered, “I heard Jikun and Aunt Ji are planning to kick Chunju out once the baby is weaned. Aunt Ji never liked her, blaming her for ruining her son’s reputation. What a tragedy.”
Chunfu figured Chunju must have some idea of what was coming—why else would she be fighting so hard for recognition? She was probably terrified of ending up alone and helpless. No matter whose fault it was, women always suffered the most. Sometimes you could blame fate, but other times, fate had nothing to do with it. Thinking of last night’s incident, Chunfu couldn’t help but smile. Thank goodness it had happened in the dark, with no one around. If it had been daytime, who knew what rumors would have spread.
When Chunfu got home, she lay down on the kang, too lazy to move. She picked up the baby’s little clothes and stitched a few seams, but exhaustion soon overtook her. The kang was warm, and she fell asleep almost as soon as she lay down, not waking until the sun was nearly set. Outside, the branches of the silk tree clawed at the window like wild beasts. Stretching and yawning, she finally got up to start dinner.
Jicheng returned as dusk fell, his handsome face pale from the cold. He managed a tired smile. “We got lucky—found the right spot. The herbs were concentrated in one area, so we gathered quite a bit today. Once we check prices in town in a couple of days, we can really get to work.”
The pickled cabbage stored in the vat before winter was ready to eat. Chunfu scooped out a bowl, heated oil in the pan, and tossed in chopped scallions, garlic, and chili flakes until fragrant. Then she added the rinsed cabbage to cut the sourness and stir-fried it all together—a simple dish, but delicious. Once the cabbage was cooked, she added water to the pan. The fire was strong, and soon the water bubbled and boiled vigorously.
Jicheng hadn’t noticed earlier, but now, as Chunfu lifted the cloth covering the dough on the cutting board, he saw she had already prepared everything. She rolled the dough flat with a rolling pin, folded it back and forth a few times, then cut it in half lengthwise before slicing it into wide strips. The dough was elastic, stretching easily when pulled. Jicheng watched as her small, pale hands dropped the noodles into the boiling water one by one, watching them float and dance in the bubbling pot.
Chunfu called this dish “dipped noodles”—wrapping the pickled cabbage inside the dough. It didn’t look particularly special, but the taste was good, especially in winter. You could enjoy hot noodles and drink the broth, saving both effort and fuel. But you had to eat it quickly—if left too long, the noodles would stick together and lose their soft, chewy texture.
She told Jicheng to take the bowls inside while she brought in the spicy tofu she’d kept warm on the stove. Seeing the delight in his eyes, she couldn’t help but laugh. “Look at you—others dream of feasts, and here you are, obsessed with half a block of tofu. Next time you go to town, buy some mutton. It’ll warm you up and give you something different to eat.”
Jicheng pulled her down to sit beside him, smiling contentedly. “Noted. Being with you is a blessing for my stomach. I promised Shopkeeper Jin I’d help at his store in a few days. There’ll be a market that day—I’ll see if anyone’s selling livestock. Once we have a cart, things will be easier.”
Chunfu wasn’t very hungry and ate slowly. “You handle these things. I don’t know much about them.”
Jicheng paused mid-bite. “You haven’t had any contact with that eldest son of the Pei family, have you?”
Chunfu answered without thinking. “What contact could I possibly have with him? We’re worlds apart. Even exchanging a word would make people think I’m trying to climb the social ladder. Why would I invite that kind of trouble? Besides, I’m just a laborer—what business do I have with him? All I care about is making sure every penny ends up in our pockets. That’s the only way I’ll feel at ease. Lately, I’ve even started liking the sound of coins clinking—maybe our baby likes it?”
Hearing how little she cared about Pei Qian and how she wanted nothing to do with him, the weight in Jicheng’s chest finally lifted. He’d heard that even small babies in the womb were quick learners. If this kept up, would their child grow up obsessed with money? He shook his head. “That won’t do. What if they turn out spoiled? Let’s not focus so much on money from now on.”
Chunfu didn’t believe it would do any harm. She hadn’t been pregnant long—how could the baby understand such things? Her hand instinctively rested on her belly. Though it felt no different than usual, she swore she could sense warmth pooling beneath her palm. Maybe this was the bond between mother and child—a feeling so joyous and surprising it almost frightened her. At first, she’d been happy but also terrified of accidentally harming the baby.
After two peaceful days, the weather turned abruptly. Dark clouds loomed over the village, casting a suffocating gloom. Chunfu grew anxious—it looked like snow was coming soon. Jicheng had left early that morning, but with the sky like this, he should be on his way back, right? Even if he was, she couldn’t help worrying. They must have gone deep into the mountains—would they make it out in time?
Snowflakes began drifting down, light at first, then heavier. Jicheng still hadn’t returned. Chunfu glanced at Abao, who crouched beside her, also staring out the door. She forced a smile, telling herself it had just started snowing—it wasn’t heavy yet, so everything would be fine. Jicheng had promised to check the trail markers every day.
After what felt like an eternity, Jicheng finally appeared, his shoulders dusted with snow. Seeing her standing at the door, he grinned. “What are you doing out here? You’ll freeze.”
Chunfu took the basket from him and peeked inside. “That’s a lot! Are the herbs really that easy to find?”
Jicheng brushed the snow off his coat before stepping inside, smiling at her childlike excitement. “No one’s been in those mountains for years. Dr. Han’s a good physician—he treats people from several villages and lives comfortably. With no one disturbing them, the herbs grow well. This year, we’re just figuring out where to look. Once we know the best spots, we’ll have a good harvest every year—as long as we don’t overharvest.”
Chunfu pouted. “Just don’t make me worry. If the weather looks bad, don’t go up there.”
Jicheng shook his head. “I can’t do that. I won’t stay long, but I have to check the traps. What if an animal’s caught in one? We’ll sell the big ones and keep the small ones to nourish you. Thank goodness our hens have been laying eggs every day—otherwise, I’d be at a loss for how to keep you healthy.”
Chunfu covered her mouth, laughing. “Don’t stress so much. I haven’t missed a single meal, and there’s plenty of snacks at home. The baby won’t go hungry.” She had once read about pregnancy precautions and made sure to memorize the list of forbidden foods, just in case. Who knew fate would be so cruel, sending her here before she could even confirm a relationship?
This was the first snowfall Chunfu had witnessed in this world. The flakes swirled down, growing thicker by the minute, soon blanketing everything in sight. If it kept up, the world would soon be transformed into a dazzling white landscape—just like her hometown, where snow was never gentle but bold and domineering, as if claiming dominion over all it touched.
Life with Jicheng had been so happy that she rarely thought of the past. But today, the snow stirred something deep inside her, and her eyes grew moist. There was no one left in her old life to miss, yet the sight of snow still brought memories rushing back.
The north she came from was no delicate, graceful maiden but a bold and unpretentious warrior, exuding the most majestic aura of heaven and earth—impossible to forget, impossible not to surrender to for a lifetime.
“What are you smiling about?” Jicheng asked, puzzled.
Chunfu looked at him deeply, her smile widening. “Something from the past. You wouldn’t know.”
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