Snow falls and the wind blows

Chapter 55

Zhan Yun possessed profound inner strength and naturally had excellent eyesight. He recognized the person's appearance at a glance, and his heart skipped a beat. His clear voice also revealed a hint of joy: "Chen'er."

It was nearly 7 PM, and Qingzi was coaxing the children to sleep inside the house, while Duan Chen came out to bolt the door. When he suddenly heard someone calling his name in the darkness, Duan Chen was startled at first, and then frowned because of the familiar voice and the unusually affectionate address.

As he approached the door, he saw a handsome young man dressed in snow-white robes, a smile playing on his lips, standing there uncomfortably, staring intently at him. Noticing the mud stains on the man's clothes and his slightly damp temples, Duan Chen pursed his lips and stood there for a moment before speaking in a flat voice, revealing neither joy nor anger: "Come in."

Leading the person into the main house, Duan Chen adjusted the lamp wick and turned around to see the person still standing obediently at the door. He couldn't help but frown: "Have you had dinner yet?"

Zhan Yun smiled slightly: "I don't feel very hungry."

"Put your things here first," Duan Chen said softly. "Master has already gone to sleep. Senior Xiao and Brother Jiang are sharing a room... Wait a moment." After saying that, he quickly left the room.

Zhan Yun nodded obediently, placed the wooden box on the table as instructed, and then walked into the courtyard to look around.

Before long, a handsome young man came running towards him: "Young Master Zhan, please come this way."

"Chu Hui?" Zhan Yun studied the boy for a moment, then quickly called out his name.

Chu Hui nodded: "The other rooms are occupied. There's still an empty bed in my room."

The young man was not talkative, and even seemed somewhat aloof. Zhan Yun didn't mind, his voice still warm and gentle: "I'm sorry to bother you."

The room was simply furnished, but the bedding on the bed was new. Chu Hui took out a neatly folded cotton quilt from a large wooden box, her voice a little muffled: "The quilt was aired out all afternoon the day before yesterday. If you get cold at night, just call me. There's also an old blanket in the box."

Zhan Yun stood somewhat awkwardly by the bed and thanked her softly. Chu Hui didn't reply, returned to her own bed, bent down to take off her shoes: "Go on over there, Brother Duan made you something to eat."

Zhan Yun thanked him again, then quietly closed the door and left the room.

Inside the main room, Duan Chen put down the tray in his hand and placed a large, rough porcelain bowl on the table. Several small dishes were placed on the tray: "Qingzi is asleep, Brother Jiang is busy, and my skills are so-so. This is all I can make."

Zhan Yun sat at the table, unable to hide the smile on her lips: "It smells delicious."

In a large, rough porcelain bowl, the steaming beef bone broth was fragrant and rich. The hand-pulled noodles were chewy and topped with several thin slices of braised beef. Mixed in with the noodles were finely shredded cabbage and bamboo shoots, which were sweet and refreshing. Zhan Yun ate without even looking up, praising it repeatedly.

Duan Chen sat at the opposite table and pushed the tray forward. Several small dishes contained pickled vegetables, some sweet, some savory, all crisp and appetizing. Zhan Yun's crescent-shaped eyes almost turned into crescent moons; "So Chen'er's cooking is this good!" she thought.

At the door, Xiao Changqing chuckled, "You're so lucky, kid! I've been here for two months and haven't had a single meal cooked by Xiao Duan, and you're lucky enough to have one on your very first day!" As he pushed open the door and walked in, he pouted a little aggrievedly, "Xiao Duan, you're so biased! I want to eat too."

With a cold, phoenix-like gaze, he glanced at her indifferently and said, "I only made enough for one person." Duan Chen then stood up. "Since Senior Xiao hasn't rested yet, please put the dishes in the back room. It's getting late, I'll go to sleep now."

Xiao Changqing hadn't even gotten his noodles yet and had to help clean up the dishes. His handsome face immediately fell, and he clutched his chest, his index finger trembling slightly: "Little Duan girl, you, you're so cruel! I'm going to tell Sister Yiyi that you've been abusing a senior martial arts master!"

Staring resentfully at the retreating figure in blue, Senior Xiao suddenly realized what was happening and turned around to try and snatch the food from Zhan Yun, only to find that the other had already finished the bowl of soup noodles. A handsome young man smiled brightly, his eyes crinkling: "Senior, please lead the way."

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The next morning, when Duan Chen got up to wash and dress, he heard a loud noise in the courtyard. Several children were cheering, and Qingzi's voice was clear and crisp, as if telling them not to fight.

It was only a few days after the end of the first lunar month, but the weather was already getting warmer. The blazing sun had just risen, casting a golden glow over the eaves. Duan Chen had just stepped across the threshold when Xin Xin skipped and hopped towards him, hugging his waist tightly. One of her little hands stretched upwards, her fingers holding a heart-shaped, light yellow pastry: "Brother Duan, apricot cake, so sweet!"

Duan Chen patted the little girl's head, then looked up to see the main house door wide open. Several children were running and jumping around, happily eating various pastries. A snow-white figure stood by the table, while Qingzi was circling around, pulling two mischievous boys to keep them from running around.

Duan Chen wiped the crumbs from Xin Xin's mouth and took the little girl's hand, leading her towards the main house: "Xin Xin, come inside and eat. It's cold outside, you'll get a stomachache."

Upon entering the house, they found that everyone was there except for Xiao Changqing. The wooden box on the table was open, and Zhan Yun was unwrapping a beige paper package. Next to him, five-year-old Taozi stared with her big, round eyes, looking up at him expectantly, her mouth practically watering.

"Eating pastries and sweets first thing in the morning, what if you get an upset stomach?" Duan Chen said expressionlessly, but his tone carried a hint of reproach: "And running around like that, aren't you afraid of choking?"

The children were already somewhat afraid of Duan Chen, and seeing her expression like this, they all timidly fell silent. The two boys stopped chasing her and stood obediently in place with their heads down, secretly exchanging a funny face when Duan Chen wasn't looking.

Qingzi wiped her forehead with the back of her hand, her big, cat-like eyes wide open: "Xiao Luo, you're amazing! These kids were fighting like crazy just now, and Master didn't care." After saying that, she sidled up to Duan Chen and glared at Xiao Yiyi as if she was dissatisfied.

Zhan Yun gave a somewhat apologetic smile and closed the opened paper package: "It was my oversight."

Xiao Yiyi smiled and raised her chin slightly, saying, "Little Peach is about to cry." Duan Chen and Qingzi turned their heads and saw Peach biting her lip, looking at the candy in Zhan Yun's hand, her big eyes filled with tears, looking very aggrieved.

Uh… Zhan Yun looked down and saw the little girl with tears in her eyes and a look of accusation on her face. He was at a loss for words, unsure whether to give her the gift or not. He had never comforted a child before, and he was stunned by the sight.

Duan Chen pursed his lips, remaining silent, and found a chair to sit down. Qing Zi quickly walked over, picked up Xiao Taozi, and glared at Zhan Yun, saying, "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and bring the candy over!"

Zhan Yun said "Oh" and quickly handed over the paper package.

Several children had already started secretly nibbling at the pastries like little mice, while whispering their opinions on them.

Xiao Yiyi sat cross-legged on a chair, tapping the armrest with a cheerful expression: "It's rare to taste 'Su Jin Ji' pastries, let them have some. Doesn't Qingzi make noodle soup? Give them each a hot bowl later, it's fine."

Xiao Yiyi spoke up, and Duan Chen naturally couldn't say anything more, so he sat there quietly without making a sound. Zhan Yun took out another bamboo box and opened it: "There are some more here, both sweet and savory, perfect for breakfast with soup or porridge. Everyone, please try some."

Qingzi asked Chu Hui to watch the child and then went to the kitchen to get the soup. Jiang Cheng took a sip of scalding hot tea, put a piece of egg yolk pastry in his mouth, and smiled as he praised, "Suzhou's 'Su Jin Ji' truly lives up to its reputation. This one egg yolk pastry is about the same price as a bowl of wontons at Old Li's place at the East Alley entrance back home!"

Xiao Yiyi smiled and picked up a piece of pastry to taste. Jiang Cheng then gestured to Chu Hui, "Come and eat first, these children are all very well-behaved. Just bring Xiao Taozi over."

Zhan Yun sat down at the table, her crescent-shaped eyes fixed on the one who had been keeping her eyes half-closed and silent since earlier: "Chen'er, try a piece. This one has orange filling, and this one too, neither of them will be too sweet."

Before Duan Chen could speak, a clear female voice rang out behind him: "Xiao Luo doesn't eat pastries. It's no use offering them to her." Qing Zi carried a tray in each hand, with five small bowls on each tray. She placed one on the group and carried the other to a low table in the corner. Then she called to the children: "Come over here and drink your soup! You have to finish it all, or you won't get any candy!"

Five-year-old Peach sat in Chu Hui's lap, waving her small, white hands: "Candy..."

Duan Chen glanced at Xiao Taozi: "You've already eaten one piece."

Little Peach pouted, looking aggrieved: "Candy..."

Duan Chen said calmly, "Eating too much sugar is bad for your teeth."

Little Peach bit her finger, tears welling in her eyes: "Candy..."

Duan Chen remained expressionless: "No."

Xiao Yiyi and the others seemed to have gotten used to this seemingly disparate way the two interacted, but Zhan Yun found it all quite novel. After hearing the little girl say "Tangtang" again, Duan Chen's expression darkened slightly, while Zhan Yun's smile widened, almost bursting out laughing.