The 1970s: Married First, Fell in Love Later-Chapter 26 - 25: Blizzard

In the eldest son’s household, Guo Jinfeng was nagging He Nan. "The Liu Family is really something else. Every time your sister gets pregnant, they send her back to her parents’ home. What in the world are they thinking?"

"That’s enough. Don’t let anyone hear you."

"So what if they hear? They have no shame. She’s a grown woman with two little ones, and they still come back empty-handed. Aren’t they embarrassed?"

Guo Jinfeng had never liked this sister-in-law of hers. Back when she was studying in town, she had somehow gotten together with Liu Jian Country and insisted on marrying him, claiming he and his father were factory workers.

And now? Sure, they’re workers, but her two children and she herself are all thin and frail. They’re not even as well-off as she was when she lived at home.

"They’re not eating your food. What are you so angry about?"

"Right, they’re not eating it *now*. But before the family split up, didn’t they eat plenty?"

"Keep your voice down," He Nan said, shaking his head in resignation.

In contrast to the noisy argument in the eldest son’s household, Xue Yue and He Lang were quiet.

Xue Yue had no objection to He Yun returning to her parents’ home. This was her home too, and besides, He Yun still had her own room here.

She could tell He Lang wasn’t in a good mood, but she didn’t press him about it.

He Yun would sometimes bring her two children over to visit Xue Yue. Xue Yue was quite fond of children, especially the well-behaved Daya, and would often give them snacks.

The only trouble was that whenever He Yun brought up the topic of children, she would tell Xue Yue to have a baby soon, preferably a boy, so that He Lang would focus all his attention on his family.

Xue Yue thought about how He Lang had never shown any indication of wanting anything physical to happen between them. ’I already think of He Lang as family, so the idea of having children feels very distant. Besides, what does a man’s devotion to his family have to do with whether or not he has kids?’

Although Xue Yue didn’t agree with He Yun, she didn’t argue back. After all, it was a private matter that concerned no one else.

Half a month later, they woke up early one morning to find it was snowing again.

Having the stove built in the courtyard was such a hassle. It was fine on normal days, but on a snowy day like this, with the snow showing no signs of stopping, it was too cold to go out and cook. Besides, the stovetop was already covered in a layer of snow.

He Lang said, "We should have built a roof over the stove back then."

He Lang hadn’t thought of it at the time.

He later saw that his brother-in-law had built a cover over his stove, thatched with dry straw. It could block the rain and snow, and would be good for blocking the sun in the summer, too.

But since they were planning to build a new house next year, they hadn’t bothered.

"Forget it. Let’s just use a pot on the furnace to cook."

It was just the two of them eating, so it would work.

Xue Yue thought, ’If only we had a small pot. Then we wouldn’t have to go outside to cook in the winter.’

Speak of the devil.

He Lang said, "I’ll go over to Shitou’s house. I think they have one. Shitou’s grandmother used it before she passed away. Now his family just uses a large pot."

"Okay, go ask him." As she spoke, Xue Yue scooped a handful of White Rabbit candies from the cabinet and handed them to He Lang.

"Doesn’t Shitou live with just his elderly mother? Give these candies to her as a little treat."

He Lang took them and left with a smile.

The eldest and second sons’ families hadn’t made breakfast either, planning to wait until the snow stopped.

He Lang went to Shitou’s house. Shitou’s mother was in the middle of cooking.

"Third Brother, what are you doing here?" Shitou asked, coming out of the room.

Shitou’s mother said to He Lang, "You’re here, Third Son. Stay for a meal."

He Lang waved his hand. "Some other time, Auntie. My wife is still at home hungry. I came to borrow that small pot of yours. The snow is coming down so hard that our stovetop is completely covered, so we can’t cook outside."

Shitou’s mother chuckled. "Third Son, getting married has really changed you. When my Shitou finally brings home a wife, these old bones of mine can rest in peace."

He Lang smiled. "Auntie, it’s bound to happen sooner or later. Just you wait. You’ll get to hold a grandchild one day."

Shitou’s mother nodded happily. "Good, I’ll be waiting."

Shitou went inside and brought out the pot. "Here, Third Brother, take it. We don’t use it anyway."

"Alright. I’ll pay you for it."

Shitou quickly said, "No need, Third Brother. You’ve helped us out so much over the years. A pot is nothing."

He Lang smiled. "I can’t do that. Even brothers keep clear accounts."

Then he walked over to Shitou’s mother, pulled the handful of White Rabbit candies from his pocket, and tucked them into hers.

"Auntie, I almost forgot. My wife asked me to bring these for you. She said they’re a little treat to sweeten your day."

Shitou’s mother smiled and nodded. "Thank your wife for me. Tell her to come visit when she has time."

"Will do. I’ll head back now, they’re waiting for the pot to cook."

The small pot worked like a charm, and the water boiled quickly.

The snow continued to fall for a day and a night with no sign of stopping. Mr. He stared at the gloomy sky, smoking nonstop with worry.

"Dad, isn’t this snow a bit much this year? Do you think we’ll get snowed in?"

He Lang felt like this had happened once before, about seven or eight years ago. ’The snow fell that heavily for three straight days back then, too. On the fourth morning, everyone woke up to find their doors blocked. Chickens had frozen to death, and so had the pigs in their sties. Some people’s houses had even collapsed under the weight of it all.’

Mr. He took a few puffs from his water pipe, then walked off with his hands behind his back. He was probably going to discuss the situation with the village chief.

Other things could be managed, but if the "task pigs" froze to death, it would be a major problem. They had spent a whole year raising them, and they were due to be slaughtered in the twelfth lunar month. If they froze to death now, all that effort would be for nothing.

Xue Yue had also seen people get snowed into their homes once during her childhood. A house had collapsed in her village, crushing an elderly woman who lived alone to death.

With the snow still falling, Mrs. He, who had experience with this kind of situation, called the three families into the main house.

"This snow isn’t letting up. Just in case, Eldest Son, Third Son, go to the cellar and bring up some grain for each of your families. Store it in your own rooms. Those chickens are too cold to lay eggs anyway, so just slaughter them all. The three families should take turns in the kitchen preparing some dry rations. That way, if we get snowed in, we’ll have food ready. Also, you two brothers need to get up on the roof from time to time and clear the snow off. This house was built with good timber back in the day, but it’s old now. Everyone should stay home as much as possible for the next couple of days and try not to go out."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Gao Cuiyun suddenly spoke up. "Mother, if we get snowed in, my He Ze isn’t back yet. What will he do?"

Mrs. He thought for a moment. "Second Son works at the factory. His dormitory is a brick-and-tile building, so it won’t collapse from the snow. And he’s not an idiot. He wouldn’t try to rush back in a blizzard like this."

Guo Jinfeng asked, "Mother, are we really going to get snowed in? If that happens, what about our pigs?"

"Didn’t your father just go to discuss it with the village chief? We’re just guessing right now, who knows for sure? It would be best to slaughter them today. If they freeze to death, it’ll be a total waste."

"Can I go back to my parents’ home then? I want to warn my mother and the others. They have task pigs too, what if they freeze to death? And what if they don’t know to prepare food in advance? Will they go hungry?" Guo Jinfeng’s thoughts were entirely with her own family.

Mrs. He rolled her eyes at her. "If you want to go back to your parents’ place, then hurry up and go. But let me tell you, if you get stuck there and can’t come back, don’t you dare blame us for not warning you."

"Why not have He Nan go—" Guo Jinfeng didn’t even finish before Mrs. He cut her off.

"Bullshit! Let me tell you something. How you get there is your business, but don’t you think about ordering my son around. Your parents’ house is far away, and there’s a cliff on the road. What if there’s an accident in this thick snow? You might not feel bad for your husband, but I feel bad for my son!"

Guo Jinfeng glanced at He Nan, but he wouldn’t look at her at all. She was disappointed and conflicted.