Chapter 102
After the beginning of spring, the heavy snow finally stopped, and the sky, which had been gray and gloomy all winter, finally opened up to reveal a warm and bright sun.
As the snow melted, water dripped incessantly from the roofs and eaves, and the sound of flowing water filled the wilderness, louder and more chaotic than the summer rains.
At this time, the wind carried the icy chill of the melting snow, making it feel even colder than during the snowy weather. The village roads were muddy everywhere, and the mixture of broken ice and snow made the paths slippery.
Despite the cold and the difficult roads, the villagers who had been hiding indoors all winter, finally came out. Taking advantage of the clear weather, some repaired houses that had collapsed under the weight of the snow, while others hurried to loosen the soil in their fields.
This year, spring arrived late. Even in February, the weather was still like this. With the snow just melting, people were hesitant to plant their crops, fearing the seeds would freeze.
The village was bustling. Last year’s autumn harvest had been poor, and with two disasters in a row, many villagers had no stored grain left. They had to go to the city to buy seeds. No matter how hard it was, there was no other choice. If they didn’t gather enough seeds, the autumn harvest would be another disaster, creating a vicious cycle.
In recent days, some people had already come to the Zhang family to borrow grain seeds. Xu He who had been dealing with them every day, was feeling quite exhausted.
Early in the morning, Zhang Fangyuan put on a pair of tall boots: "Today, I’m going to the city to finalize the house purchase. Once the weather clears up completely, prices might go up. Buying now might be much more cost-effective."
Xu He fetched a heavy cloak and helped Zhang Fangyuan put it on. The cold snap after the start of spring was already chilly, and with the snow melting, it was even colder. Zhang Fangyuan had never liked wearing bulky clothes. If Xu He didn’t prepare his clothes for him, he wouldn’t wear them, sometimes he acted just like Little Ruili.
"Have you really decided on the two-courtyard house in Qingshan Lane?"
Zhang Fangyuan nodded: "Ruijin is still young and might not be sent to the academy right away. There are also teachers living in Qingshan Lane. Maybe we can find a tutor there for his early education. When he’s older, we can send him to the academy. By then, it’ll be more convenient for him to go to and from school."
Xu He agreed. The idea was good, but he wasn’t sure if things would go so smoothly. However, he wasn’t too particular about it. After all, the house was in the city, and no matter where they ended up buying, it would be much closer than the village.
"Ruijin and Ruili have lived in the village since they were little. If we move to a noisy place, they might not adapt well. Qingshan Lane is quiet and peaceful, so it’s not a bad choice."
"Then I’ll go and pay for the house today. Once we complete the paperwork at the county office, we can get the keys soon."
"Alright," Xu He replied, fastening the heavy cloak. "I'll go check on the children. It's too cold outside today, so I won't let them go out. The other day, they sneaked out and fell hard, and their knees are still bruised."
Zhang Fangyuan chuckled. "Just rub some medicinal wine on it, and they'll be fine. Village kids shouldn't be raised too delicately."
Xu He nodded, and the couple left the bedroom together.
Zhang Fangyuan rode out on Xiao Hei. He didn't take the carriage that morning. Although it was cold outside and the carriage would have been more comfortable, the roads were muddy. Not only would the carriage be slow, but it would also be prone to slipping.
He urged the horse forward along the village road. Outside, it was bustling as everyone was inspecting their land. People greeted him as he passed.
Because of the charcoal incident, everyone had great trust in him. A while ago, the village chief's family had wanted to expand their backyard and had come to ask him about choosing an auspicious date and the best orientation. Instead of consulting a feng shui master, they had treated him like one.
He leisurely guided his horse onto the main road, which was several times wider than the village paths. However, as he passed through the woods, the snow was much thicker than in the open areas. The sound of snow falling from the trees echoed around him. Zhang Fangyuan pulled the bamboo hat tied to Xiao Hei's neck over his head, shielding himself from the falling snow.
The mud on the main road was even thicker than in the village, and the ground was soaked. If he slipped, he could fall several meters.
"Push harder! How are we supposed to get the wheels out with such little strength?"
"Master, I'm afraid it's not possible. Should we send someone to the city to buy a new horse and bring help?"
Zhang Fangyuan who was riding on his horse, saw a carriage stopped at a bend in the road up ahead. A few people were standing nearby, talking. Among them was an older man who seemed to be the master, holding a small child and urging two servants to push the carriage.
He reined in Xiao Hei and dismounted. "The mud has trapped the wheels. You need to clear the mud first before you can push it."
Zhang Fangyuan was so familiar with this road that he could walk it blindfolded and still know where every tree was.
He found a stick by the roadside and started scraping the mud off the wheels. The carriage must have traveled a long distance, as the mud on the wheels was thick, almost as thick as the wheels themselves.
Seeing Zhang Fangyuan's actions, the two servants quickly joined in to help. With everyone working together, they soon cleared the mud. Zhang Fangyuan exerted his strength, his veins bulging, and the carriage which had been stuck in the waterlogged pit, rolled forward and was free.
"Thank you, kind sir, for your help," the middle-aged man said, a smile appearing on his face as the carriage was moving again.
Zhang Fangyuan waved his hand. "After a whole season of snow, the roads are difficult to travel. With so many people coming and going, we all help each other out. It's nothing."
The city folks often got their wheels stuck in this road. Zhang Fangyuan noticed that the middle-aged man looked unfamiliar, likely someone who hadn't visited the tea shed before. Otherwise, they might have recognized each other.
Zhang Fangyuan glanced at the small child in the man's arms. It seemed to be a little ge'er, about the same age as his own two children. The child's face was chubby, and his skin was even fairer than his own kids'. The tender skin looked like it could split open with just a gust of the cold winter wind.
Perhaps because he had children of his own, Zhang Fangyuan felt particularly tender toward other kids. In such freezing weather, such a young child had to travel with the adults, which was pitiful to see. Zhang Fangyuan reached into his pocket and pulled out a few wrapped candies.
Seeing Zhang Fangyuan's fierce appearance, the little ge'er seemed a bit scared and shyly hid behind his adult.
"Little Xing, don't be rude."
At the middle-aged man's words, the child's dark eyes flickered, and after receiving permission, he cautiously reached out to take the candies from Zhang Fangyuan. "Thank you, Uncle."
Zhang Fangyuan smiled. "Take care."
With that, he turned back to Xiao Hei, mounted the horse, and rode off.
"Master, let's hurry. Siyang is still cold, and we're almost at the city. Let's get there early to avoid the young master catching a chill."
The middle-aged man watched Zhang Fangyuan's tall figure recede into the distance, then looked down at the candies in his child's hand. "Although Siyang is cold, the hearts of its people are warm."
The servant remarked, "Such a strong and sturdy man, who would have thought he'd carry candies with him?"
The middle-aged man said nothing more, he held the child and climbed back into the carriage.
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