On the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, Qingshan County had the biggest snowfall since the beginning of winter.
Snowflakes began to fall in the early morning, and by dawn they had accumulated more than half a foot thick.
There were few pedestrians on the street, and there were only a few battered ruts stretching crookedly toward the city gate.
Jiang Fa Get up before dawn.
He took out the heavy money bag from the wooden box under the bed, counted dozens of taels of silver from it and put it away close to his body.
The remaining silver ingots were wrapped several layers of cloth and stuffed into the bottom layer of the bag.
The ghost-headed sword was wrapped in a coarse cloth, with only the handle exposed, and was slung across the back.
When I opened the door and went out, there was already a thick layer of white snow on the martial arts field, and the ice hanging on the iron wooden posts shone slightly in the morning light.
The martial arts school was closed yesterday, and most of the disciples in the school returned to their hometowns early. The huge courtyard was empty, with only the chimney of the dining room still emitting green smoke.
After leaving the gate of the martial arts hall, the snow was still falling.
When passing by the vegetable market, he stopped in front of a stall selling lanterns. He spent a few pennies to buy two lanterns made of red paper. He also bought half a catty of sugar melons, wrapped them in oil paper and stuffed them into his bag.
His father likes to drink, his mother likes to eat sweets, and his younger brother Xiao He likes to eat sugar melons.
From Qingshan County to Yellow Earth Town, it is only a few dozen miles.
The road is covered with snow, so we can only go on foot.
Jiang Fa walked south along the official road. About an hour later, the outline of Yellow Earth Town finally appeared at the end of the line of sight.
Jiang Fa walked through the snow towards the town.
The road in the town is still the same road, and the adobe houses on both sides are more dilapidated than they have been in half a year.
Half of the courtyard walls of several houses collapsed and were hastily held up by a few wooden stakes.
There were not many people on the street. It was so cold that everyone stayed at home.
When I walked to the old well in the middle of the town, I bumped into someone.
The man was wearing a thick cotton-padded jacket and a dog-skin hat on his head, and was walking back carrying two loads of water.
He looked up and saw Jiang Fa. He was stunned for a moment, and then the bucket almost slipped off the pole.
"Jiang...Jiang Fa?"
The man's eyes widened and he looked him up and down several times. His eyes paused for a moment on his black costume and the ghost-headed sword on his back, and then he asked tentatively, "Is it really you?"
Jiang Fa recognized him.
The hunters of Liu Dazhuang and Yellow Earth Town live not far from his home.
When Jiang Fa wanted to learn martial arts, Liu Dazhuang was always talking behind his back.
To say that Jiang Lineage kid still wants to practice martial arts is like a toad wanting to eat swan meat.
"Uncle Liu."
Jiang Fa nodded, his tone calm.
A trace of embarrassment flashed across Liu Dazhuang's face, and he laughed twice and said, "Your mother was still talking about you a few days ago, saying that you were busy practicing in the martial arts gym and didn't know if you would be able to come back during the Chinese New Year. Are you... just back from the martial arts gym?"
"Hmm."
"Okay, okay, just come back, just come back."
Liu Dazhuang nodded repeatedly, but didn't know what to say. He became a lot more reserved. "Then go back quickly, your parents are waiting for you at home."
After speaking hastily, he picked up the bucket and left.
Jiang Fa watched Liu Dazhuang's back disappear into the alley, and continued walking home without paying attention.
Jiang Lineage At the eastern end of the town, there are three adobe houses. The courtyard walls are made of yellow mud and gravel, half a person high, and the tops of the walls are covered with withered grass.
The courtyard door was ajar, and the paint on the door panel had long since peeled off, revealing the blackened wood underneath.
Jiang Fa stood in front of the courtyard door, took a deep breath, stretched out his hand and pushed the door open.
Everything in the yard is still the same.
There was a pile of chopped firewood piled against the wall, covered with a torn oilcloth that had been bulging under the weight of snow.
The water vat in the corner was covered with a thin layer of ice, and a water ladle with a broken mouth rested on the edge of the vat.
Several cries came from the chicken coop, and three old hens huddled together to keep warm.
The chimney of the kitchen was blowing out green smoke, and the air was filled with the aroma of stewed radish.
Jiang Fa Standing in the yard, I suddenly felt my throat was a little tight.
Just as he was about to walk towards the main room, the door curtain of the kitchen was suddenly opened from the inside.
A woman wearing an indigo coarse cotton-padded jacket came out carrying a dustpan of radish skins.
She lowered her head, still muttering, "This radish has become bran after being kept for too long."
After walking two steps, I felt someone standing in the yard and subconsciously raised my head.
The dustpan slipped from her hand and the radish skins spilled all over the floor.
"Fa?"
Lady Chen's lips trembled several times, and he wiped his hands on the apron several times. He staggered towards Jiang Fa, grabbed his arm, and touched him up and down, tears falling down.
"Really you? Are you really back? What happened to the scar on your face? Did you suffer a lot in the martial arts school? Did anyone bully you?"
Jiang Fa looked at his mother's now relaxed eyebrows, feeling warm and sour in his heart.
In the past, my mother worked hard all year round, her complexion was sallow, and her temples were as white as frost. But since she left those dozens of taels of silver last time, her life has become much more stable, and her whole person has become energetic.
He put down the baggage and reached out to wipe the tears from his mother's face. His voice was a little hoarse. "Mom, I'm fine. I'm back."
"It'll be good to come back, it'll be good to come back..."
Lady Chen held his hand and refused to let go. "You kid, you have been away for more than half a year and you haven't come back with a letter. My mother is looking forward to it and waiting every day, just for fear that you will be wronged outside..."
"Mom, I told you it's okay."
Lady Chen nodded. "Come into the house and say, it's cold outside. Your father is chopping firewood in the house, but Xiao He is talking about you every day."
There is a charcoal brazier in the main room, which is very warm.
Jiang Dashan squatted beside the brazier, holding a hatchet in his hand to trim the stick.
Compared with half a year ago, his old and tired feeling has completely faded, his back is much straighter, his face is rosy, his energy is strong, and he no longer has the worries of working day and night for a living.
Hearing the sound of the door curtain, Jiang Dashan looked up, paused for a moment with the hatchet in his hand, and then put it down steadily, his eyes bursting with joy and relief.
"Dad." Jiang Fa called softly.
Jiang Dashan nodded heavily and said in a gentle voice, "It's good to be back. Sit down quickly and warm yourself up by the fire."