After the Fifteenth Day of the First Month, the weather finally began to show a little warmth.
"Lad, has the sun come out?"
The Old Shopkeeper lay in bed and called softly.
Yang Ge stopped what he was doing, glanced out the window, and smiled. "The sky's finally cleared. Any more of this gloomy weather and we'd all start growing mold..."
"Wouldn't we just?"
The Old Shopkeeper smiled too. "Feels like mushrooms are about to sprout on me... Such a rare fine day. Help me outside to sit in the sun awhile."
Hesitation crossed Yang Ge's face, and he said nothing.
Seeing this, the Old Shopkeeper thrust out his thin, shriveled chest and made to climb out of bed. "I'm all better! If you don't believe me, I'll get up and walk a few steps for you!"
"All right, all right. Let me check you first..."
Yang Ge placated the old man as he stepped forward, took his wrist, and carefully examined his pulse.
The old man's pulse was quite steady, but his hand was as cold as a lump of ice, without a trace of warmth.
His heart sank a little. He reached under the quilt to check, but there was barely any warmth beneath it either.
He immediately pressed the old man back into bed. "It's windy outside, so let's stay in, all right? I'll open the doors and windows in a bit, let in some fresh air and sunlight. Let's rest properly for a few more days. Once we get through them, we'll have weathered this hurdle..."
The old man cast a reluctant glance at the brightly lit window paper, but obediently lay back down. "Lad, it's been so long since I had your sizzling pork kidney..."
Yang Ge lowered his head to straighten the bedding. Hearing