The joy of the newborn is enough to infect everyone.
Even knowing that there might be bigger hardships and storms tomorrow, the current joy is undiminished.
The calf has been wrapped in sheepskin by Urina and the two children, intending to carry it indoors and warm up the kang to help the calf get through the winter safely.
"Thank you, really, thank you."
"It’s nothing," Gula’s eyes also glimred with a gentle smile, "It’s what we should do."
"And you."
Wen Ran, who had always been pretending to be invisible: "?"
In disbelief, she pointed to herself with a backhand, "?"
In an instant, she already figured out where to run.
Oh dear, this is simply unfair!
How could they have such good eyesight?
She had rely used the cover of darkness and chaos to sneak a little spring water in. And now she’s being...
Oh no.
Wen Ran’s scalp tingled.
She wanted to run.
Urina, looking devout, said, "I knew it was you, you’re the luck sent by Tengri, the prairie raider defeated by you."
Wen Ran: "."
Oh, oh, so that’s what this is about.
But what does that have to do with a cow giving birth?
She couldn’t figure it out, but everyone else had a look of realization, excitedly shouting, "It’s luck! Luck!"
Amidst everyone’s cheers, Gula carried two hens, and Xiao Chenyue still had a few wrinkled apples in her arms.
As for Wen Ran, she hugged a big winter lon, which Urina had insisted she take.
The three exchanged glances and just ran headfirst.
The enthusiasm was overwhelming!
Really can’t take it.
"Xiao Yue, you’re really smart," Gula praised, "for thinking of pulling out the calf."
Xiao Chenyue had also heard it from soone else, whether it would work, she just thought to give it a try.
Besides, the herdsn had to bear the consequences themselves.
"I just said it casually, you’re the amazing one!" Xiao Chenyue said with a smile, "You’re really amazing, saving three lives today."
Ah~
Those darned pink bubbles.
Wen Ran couldn’t stand it, hugged the winter lon and ran.
She didn’t want to be the glittering bulb in the dark night.
The wind howled, blowing against her face, whipping strands of hair on Wen Ran’s forehead, and she felt happiness from the bottom of her heart.
They were twins, a pair of strong calves.
Vaguely, there were sounds from behind.
"Wen Ran! Ranran!"
Wen Ran heard it and buried her head, ran even faster.
Looking at Wen Ran dash away like a rabbit, disappearing in a flash.
Xiao Chenyue, puzzled, said, "She doesn’t know she’s running the wrong way, does she?"
Gula: "...maybe not."
"Chase her! What are you all standing around for!!!"
Sprinting down a street, Wen Ran was caught up with, on the way, she raised the winter lon threateningly, if anyone dared to talk about her getting lost!
She’d run away from ho.
Xiao Chenyue laughed until tears ca out, swore by the heavens, she wouldn’t talk about it, and would take it to the grave.
After getting ho, Wen Ran’s hair was already a ss, like a curly-haired puppy.
Looking at the disheveled Wen Ran and Xiao Chenyue, Mrs. Xiao wondered, "What happened?"
"Nothing much," Wen Ran said calmly, "the wind is strong."
Sothing’s not right.
Combining Wen Ran’s forcibly calm deanor, and looking at her daughter who was desperately holding back laughter.
Xiao Chenye ca out from behind, murmured, "Ranran, you didn’t get lost again, did you?"
What?!
"I didn’t, I wasn’t, that’s slander."
A double negative ans affirmation.
The Xiao Family burst into laughter, Minmin was woken up by the noise, opened her little mouth, and cried helplessly.
Wen Ran was also helpless, "Stop laughing, you’re scaring the child!"
"Sorry, hahaha, let us laugh a bit, it’s just too funny."
"..."
Outside, the wind howled, inside, it was jovial and harmonious.
Staring won’t help, the Xiao Family made all the preparations, soon fell asleep, recharging, waiting for tomorrow’s battle to comnce.
The next day when they awoke, they found that outside, goose feather snow was falling.
A layer had already accumulated on the ground.
Leaving Xiao Chenxing and Hongguo to look after Minmin, the rest put on their clothes and went out to work, first boiling water to lt the ice in the trough.
Thinking of the apples from Ba Yin yesterday, Wen Ran’s eyelashes fluttered, while no one was paying attention, she pulled so apples from her space, sneaking them to the ho’s livestock.
The cows, gentle by nature, ate Wen Ran’s offerings and moved in to nuzzle.
Mrs. Xiao brought over a bucket of water, placed it on the ground, and sighed, "Luckily, no one in the family was lazy, the shed was built early, otherwise, the cattle and sheep would suffer."
"Auntie, open your mouth."
Wen Ran directly handed a piece of apple to Mrs. Xiao, its sweet fragrance burst in her mouth, surprising her, "It’s an apple! Where did it co from?"
Eating such fruit in winter, just the thought of it made people feel blissful.
If she hadn’t chewed instinctively, she’d really want to pick it out and give it to Minmin.
Children should eat such good things to grow well.
"Yesterday at Ba Yin’s house, Ba Yin gave it, there were several.
So of them are too wilted to eat, so we’ll feed them to the cows and sheep. The good ones, I’ve kept aside, and I’ll bring them out later for us to share."
"You can share so with the kids, and make sure you eat so too."
"Everyone eats!" Wen Ran smiled warmly, "Everyone gets a piece, even just to taste, it’s good."
"Alright."
The snow in the trough was shoveled away, and the ice lted. Mrs. Xiao simply herded the sheep from the pen into the barn to clean the pen.
She replaced the old straw with clean ones, straightened her back, and herded the cows and sheep over.
While she was at it, she cleared out the cow pen too.
"Why not just leave the middle gate open? They don’t fight, and huddling together can keep them warm."
Indeed, Mrs. Xiao thought that made sense.
Of course, the family’s two spirited foals disdained sharing a space with cows and sheep. They just looked at Wen Ran, waiting impatiently, reminding her to feed them apples.
Wen Ran walked over and stuffed two pieces of apple in.
The foals crunched the apples loudly.
Hmm (munch munch munch)~, you know, these juicy little things (munch munch munch), why are they so crunchy when you eat them (munch munch munch)?
With the snow falling heavily, the Xiao Family had nothing much to do, so they cozied up at ho to prepare so New Year’s treats.
As soon as the atballs were done, their quality was evident.
The aroma filled the house, invigorating everyone’s spirits.
Minmin clutched a wet apple, took a bite, then glanced at the little pot, her saliva dripping conspicuously.
Xiao Chenxing, accustod to this, wiped Minmin’s mouth and turned her around.
"Don’t look, don’t look, you can’t eat it; looking only makes you crave it more."
Minmin: "?"
Eh~
Is there nothing to see?
Suddenly, Minmin burst into an earth-shattering cry.
Mrs. Xiao held a ladle, "Xiao Chenxing! You itching for trouble?"
Xiao Chenxing ducked sheepishly, "Haha, misunderstanding."
"Turn around!"
"Okay."
Minmin instantly stopped crying, waved her little hands, utterly delighted.
Outside.
Xiao Chengguang was already worried, "No, you guys should head out first."
Xiao Chenye: "...Bro, did your brain get blown out by the wind?"
Where would you go now? Lost midway, you wouldn’t even know where you died. You might want to burn paper but can’t find the place."
Xiao Chengguang: "..."
He raised his hand and gave Xiao Chenye a slap, "Brat, your mouth is getting worse."
"No problem, we’ll just stay put. When the snow and wind stop, we’ll leave then."
Looking at the falling goose feather snow, he sighed, "Actually, the current situation is much better than yesterday’s forecast, right?"
Indeed.
Judging by the way the wind was howling yesterday, it didn’t seem like just a heavy snowfall.
More like a snowstorm.
"Don’t know..."
Looking at the winding mountain range in the distance, Xiao Chengguang’s eyes were full of confusion.
Humans, in front of nature, are still so insignificant.
Like dust, negligible.
He was filled with emotion.
Inside the house, Wen Ran was already lost in reverie, whining about the tantalizing little atballs, they’re too delicious! Stupid mouth of mine, chew faster!
Eat eat eat!
Gobble gobble gobble!
"Huff huff huff~" Wen Ran blew to cool the surface of the atball, then took a big bite.
Aunt Xiao saw Wen Ran eating happily and smiled, "Is it delicious?"
"Delicious, delicious!"
The outside was crispy and golden brown, with a hint of char; biting into it was tender, chewy, and delightful.
Tender enough to almost burst with juice.
She gave a thumbs up, disregarding her burnt mouth, muttering, "Aunt, you are sothing!!"
No one dislikes complints; Mrs. Xiao smiled brightly, "Then Aunt will make you atballs for a lifeti."
"Huh?" Wen Ran was surprised and put down the chopsticks.
Mrs. Xiao paused, wondering if she had misspeaken?
Over there, Wen Ran began to impersonate in a clear, rhythmic tone, "Ahem, let’s get things clear! atballs are ant to be eaten, but this has nothing to do with Xiao Chenye."
"Hahahaha, has nothing to do with him, only you; Aunt will make atballs for you your whole life."
Mrs. Xiao had it all planned out: a child as good as Wen Ran—if she could beco her son’s wife, it would be the best.
If not, then let them be siblings.
Having a foster daughter, how wonderful!
Thankfully, Xiao Chenye didn’t know; otherwise, his eyes might roll black again and again. So many family mbers, yet combined, not one is reliable.
The snowstorm grew bigger, the world turned a vast white, and the herdsn no longer dared to go out herding, only taking out the stockpiled hay for ergency.
Sahan gathered everyone for a eting, but after eting for half the day, no way forward was found.
Nature’s wrath is too rciless; what humans can do is so small.
"Take care of the calves and lambs at ho; as long as we endure this winter, next year, when the livestock are ready for market, we’ll have great days, eating at and drinking wine!"
A drawing of a grand plan, but alas, with little effect.
Sahan could only silently pray to the eternal sky.
After noon, the snow paused a bit, and Mrs. Xiao sent Xiao Chengguang and Xiao Chenye up onto the roof to clear the snow.
To prevent too much snow from collapsing the house.
When the two went up, Wen Ran watched eagerly, and Mrs. Xiao saw through it with a sigh, "Alright, I’ll hold the ladder for you, you can go up and play, but just be safe."
"Okay!"
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