Ding Chunqiu's driver had traveled between Wu Commandery and Qiantang many times and knew the roads well. Under his guidance, Chen Caozhi and Liu Shangzhi did not detour through Huating this time, but took the direct route through Jiaxing County, saving themselves more than a hundred li. They did, however, have to pass three additional ferry crossings, and the time spent waiting for ferries was much the same as taking the detour. The advantage was that they spared the oxen's strength and avoided a good deal of jolting.
The party of eleven left Wu Commandery on the second day of the twelfth lunar month and reached Jiaxing County on the fifth. When they set out again the following day, the warm winter sunshine gave way to a howling north wind and dense, leaden clouds. It was noticeably colder than it had been over the previous few days.
Liu Shangzhi's servant A Lin hunched his neck and said, "By the look of things, snow will be falling in the next day or two."
Ding Chunqiu's driver said, "We should press on before the snow comes down. Otherwise, the roads will be difficult, and we'll lose at least another day on the journey."
Lai De and Ran Sheng did not mind. They were even hoping the snow would come sooner. With the ground all white and the wheels leaving two clear tracks as they rolled over it, it would be great fun. What they dreaded was cold rain-that was the most miserable of all.
Ran Sheng suddenly remembered something and asked Chen Caozhi, "Young master, you told young mistress Run'er you'd be back when it snowed, didn't you? If it snows and she doesn't see us coming home, she's sure to cry herself frantic."
Chen Caozhi had already been worrying about that.