Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Calm Before the Storm

The woman looked pale, as if she had just engaged in strenuous exercise. Beads of sweat dotted her forehead, and her thin, paper-like frame leaned weakly against the bed. Her lower body was covered by a quilt. Startled by the hasty way Fan Xiaopang had pushed open the door, her face still betrayed a sense of panic.

"Xiaopang?" Her gaze fell upon Xie Yanzhi behind Fan Xiaopang. Despite his coarse hemp clothing and disheveled appearance, his tall, elegant stature and the ingrained air of a refined young master made her quickly avert her eyes.

"Mother, this is my friend, Xie Yanzhi. He’s the Brother Xie I told you about, the one who went up the mountain with Sister Yuan. It’s snowing too hard outside, so he’s just taking shelter at our place for a bit before leaving."

Fan Xiaopang cheerfully set the small basket aside, closed the door, and introduced them: "This is my mother, Brother Xie. She had a fall a couple of years ago and her legs aren't great. On days like this, the pain gets worse, so she stays in bed most of the time. But she’s amazing—she keeps the house spotless!"

Xie Yanzhi looked around. It was indeed a tiny space where the bedroom, kitchen, and storage area were all combined. Being more sensitive than the average child—a trait that helped him win the favor of his elders—he immediately sensed Mother Fan’s discomfort and the anxiety hidden beneath Fan Xiaopang’s carefree demeanor.

He sat down on a small wooden stool near the wall, kept his legs together, and offered a polite, practiced smile that never failed.

"Hello, Madam. Sorry for the intrusion."

Mother Fan visibly relaxed and broke into a smile, waving her hands. "Not at all, not at all. Xiaopang, pour some tea for Master Xie."

"No need, really, don't trouble yourselves," Xie Yanzhi tried to decline, but Fan Xiaopang was quick. He took some tea leaves from a paper packet and steeped them in a bowl of warm water from the pot on the stove, then hurried over.

"I picked these on the mountain during the Qingming Festival. Try it, Brother Xie; I think it’s quite good."

Xie Yanzhi looked doubtfully at the nameless leaves floating in the water. He gritted his teeth and took a sip, surprised by the refreshing taste. Though the season was wrong, the flavor was undeniably pleasant.

"It's very good," Xie Yanzhi nodded repeatedly, and Fan Xiaopang squinted with delight.

—

"He's not there? Don't bother looking. He’s always been like this, he’s spoiled! He’ll be back later."

Cheng Yuan and Xie Changzhi had finished their chestnuts and prepared lunch, but by the time they finished eating, Xie Yanzhi still hadn't appeared. Assuming the young master was just throwing a tantrum and would sneak back to his room, no one made an effort to look for him. However, when Cheng Zhi took two bowls of food to the room, she found only Jiang He inside.

Cheng Yuan glanced at Xie Tingjun’s face; it was dark with irritation. He finished speaking and went to the courtyard to shovel snow, as the children were coming for lessons in the afternoon.

He kept his head down, shoveling for a long time without looking toward the gate.

*Well, that stubbornness seems to be hereditary,* Cheng Yuan thought to herself. She wasn't truly worried about Xie Yanzhi’s safety; if a man that grown ran into trouble, he had only himself to blame.

But Cheng Zhi was a mother, and after Cheng Yuan’s previous disappearance, she was easily frightened. Her worry was written all over her face, yet seeing that no one at the table made a move to look for him, she didn't dare speak up.

Cheng Yuan noticed her expression and sighed internally.

"Mother, Changzhi and I are going out to see if we can find some game."

She spoke loudly, and Xie Tingjun’s shoveling in the courtyard paused for a moment.

Cheng Zhi realized what was happening and nodded repeatedly. "Oh, good. Do be careful."

As Cheng Yuan pulled Xie Changzhi out of the house, his face was visibly sullen.

"What’s wrong? Not happy to go look for your brother?"

Cheng Yuan closed the gate and couldn't help but laugh. For some reason, whenever she saw Xie Changzhi unhappy, especially when he looked on the verge of tears, she felt a strange sense of satisfaction. Was she being too cruel?

"Mother is too kind," Xie Changzhi muttered. He didn't say he was unhappy, but his lips were pouting enough to hang a pot on.

Cheng Yuan gripped his hand firmly, guiding him. "Even if Xie Yanzhi has a thousand faults, in front of others, we are all one family. It wouldn't look good if outsiders held something against us. If you don't like him, once I earn enough silver, we can move out and live on our own, leaving your father and brother to fend for themselves. How does that sound?"

Xie Changzhi’s heart stirred, and he gave a reserved nod.

Without any clues, the two wandered the village like headless flies. They eventually arrived at the river that had been frozen solid that morning.

It wasn't a small river; it flowed from afar, winding around the mountain, and served as the main water source for Lian Shui Village. Downstream, where people usually washed vegetables and clothes, there were plenty of fish before the freeze.

Cheng Yuan blinked, distracted by the supplies she had just "checked in" at the riverbank: yellow croaker, cutlassfish, pomfret, sea bass, saury, crucian carp, cod, grouper… one hundred of each.

Facing such an abundance, Cheng Yuan felt little joy. She had a faint, lingering feeling that this wasn't just good luck—it felt like preparation for something.

She looked up at the sky. It was a vast, blank white, and a snowflake landed in her eye.

"What's wrong? Are you hungry for fish?"

Xie Changzhi quickly sensed the shift in Cheng Yuan’s mood. Recalling how she had stared at the river several times, he felt a sudden sense of melancholy. If she wanted to break the ice, it would take effort, but he didn't lack strength…

Prompted by his words, Cheng Yuan quickly grabbed his hand, looked at him intently, and said slowly, "We just broke an ice hole and caught a few yellow croakers."

As she spoke, three plump, lively yellow croakers appeared in her hands. They were struggling, but she gripped their gills tightly, leaving them no chance to escape.

Xie Changzhi’s breathing quickened. Without time to think, he nodded.

"I’ll listen to Sister Yuan."

Cheng Yuan smiled, grabbed a few blades of grass, and threaded the three fish together.

"Here, take these. Now, go find your dear brother."

Cheng Yuan walked ahead happily. Xie Changzhi looked down at the plump fish, which should not have existed on this barren land, and thought of her magical abilities—she seemed able to conjure anything.

Was Cheng Yuan really just a farm girl from Lian Shui Village?

The one with magic was clearly a celestial maiden! But why would a celestial maiden be here? Why would she choose him as her husband? And what about the future? Would the celestial maiden return to the heavens?

Overwhelmed by a sudden, crushing sense of despair and panic, Xie Changzhi didn't dare think further. He bit his lip and hurried to catch up.

Most villagers were indoors. Cheng Yuan wandered for a long time without finding anyone to ask. She stopped, trying to figure out where Xie Yanzhi could have gone.

Xie Yanzhi hadn't been here long; apart from a few elders he had befriended, there was only one person left—Fan Xiaopang!

Cheng Yuan cursed silently. She realized she had no memory of where Fan Xiaopang lived.