Chapter 83: The Snow Village

On the outskirts of Qiqihar lies a small mountain village, surrounded by hills and cradled by a murmuring stream, serene and timeless. Around seventy or eighty families live here, leading the pure and simple life of the countryside. The village bears a beautiful name: Snow Village. It is said that long ago, an official once visited on an inspection and, upon seeing the village blanketed in white snow, bestowed this poetic name upon it. Thus, the name Snow Village has been passed down through generations.

This tranquil village was the final destination for Xiao Lin and his companions. The day after their exams, they embarked on their journey. The distance was considerable, and Snow Village was remote; after arriving in Qiqihar, they had to transfer to three different buses before reaching their goal. So they set out early in the morning, and by noon, they were still on the train. Considering Grandma Xiao’s age, they had purchased sleeper tickets for comfort.

In the stuffy compartment, the usually lively Tan Linlin became bored beyond measure; she would have much preferred the bustling regular carriages, where she could chat with travelers from all corners of the land, exchanging strange tales and curiosities—her third great passion, after eating and playing.

Unable to endure the monotony any longer, Tan Linlin roused the still-resting Xiao Lin and the others for a four-player game of Landlord. They had no choice but to suppress their drowsiness and accompany her to pass the time. Before long, Tan Linlin declared the game dull and insisted they switch to Three Card Brag. To everyone’s amusement and exasperation, she divided them into teams: Xiao Lin and Wang Yuqing on one side, Xu Tong and herself on the other. She even produced a pile of coins to serve as stakes. By the time they finally arrived in Qiqihar, Xu Tong had lost all his pocket money. In the end, seeing Xu Tong on the verge of tears, Xiao Lin quietly returned his winnings, restoring a smile to Xu Tong’s face. From that day forward, Xu Tong never dared partner with Tan Linlin in cards again; her rules were simple—winnings were shared, but all losses were Xu Tong’s alone.

After disembarking the train, the five of them boarded a long-distance bus to the nearest small county town to Snow Village, then changed onto a rural bus before finally arriving at their destination.

The long journey had exhausted them all. Even the irrepressible Tan Linlin wilted like a drooping eggplant, dozing in Xu Tong’s arms. Wang Yuqing, conscious of Grandma Xiao’s presence, was too shy to lean against Xiao Lin, but fortunately had a small blanket in her bag and wrapped herself up to sleep. Only Xiao Lin, so close to his hometown, felt invigorated and full of spirit.

At last, at four in the afternoon, they reached their destination. Xiao Lin gently tapped Wang Yuqing’s arm and whispered, “Yuqing, we’re here.”

Wang Yuqing blinked sleepily, gathering herself, and asked Xiao Lin with a hint of embarrassment, “How long did I sleep?”

“Not long, just over two hours. The trip has worn you out, hasn’t it? Come on, we’re almost home. Let’s go rest,” Xiao Lin said gently.

Hearing the slightly ambiguous tenderness in his words, Wang Yuqing’s cheeks flushed. The group gathered their things and stepped off the bus.

An ethereal mist hung over Snow Village that afternoon. Small hills encircled the village, their slopes showing hints of green—a rare sight in the bleakness of winter. Though it was only four o’clock, the villagers were already preparing dinner, as was their custom. Wisps of blue smoke curled from several chimneys, and the barking of dogs could be heard in the distance—a rustic, pastoral scene. Though technically in the northeast, Snow Village lay at its southern fringe, so its temperature was only a degree or two colder than the capital.

“Wow, Xiao Lin, is this the place where you grew up? It’s beautiful!” Wang Yuqing gazed in awe at the tranquil, almost otherworldly village, her lovely eyes filled with curiosity.

“It really is nice. Hey, Xiao Lin, are there any tigers around here?” Tan Linlin piped up from the side.

At this, Xiao Lin nearly stumbled in surprise.

“My dear, the climate in Snow Village isn’t suitable for tigers. You must mean the Manchurian tiger—they live hundreds of miles from here,” Grandma Xiao replied kindly, looking fondly at Tan Linlin.

“Ha! You’re a real character, Fatty, always thinking about tigers!” Xu Tong chuckled. Though they were now a couple, he hadn’t changed the nickname he used for her.

“Little Tong, itching for trouble, are you?” Tan Linlin responded, cracking her knuckles with a mischievous look. At the sight of her fists, Xu Tong’s laughter quickly faded.

At that moment, a lively commotion arose from the country road. The group looked up to see a crowd approaching—men and women, old and young, all wearing honest, welcoming smiles. Grandma Xiao, overcome with emotion, waved eagerly and called out, “Second Uncle, Third Ya...” The succession of familiar village nicknames, though rustic, carried a warmth that Wang Yuqing and the others could not find vulgar; in those names, they heard the rich flavor of home.

“Sister-in-law, you’re finally here! We’ve been preparing ever since your call this morning. Come, let’s hurry home—the food’s all ready!” an elderly man at the front said excitedly to Grandma Xiao.

“And you must be Xiao Lin, yes?” A chubby young man in the crowd asked Xiao Lin shyly.

“Are you Er Pang?” Xiao Lin replied uncertainly, recognizing him.

“That’s me, Brother Xiao Lin! See, I told you he’d remember me!” Er Pang said enthusiastically to a young woman beside him.

“Of course I remember. It’s been, what, eight years? I recall you used to take me fishing. And this is...?” Xiao Lin trailed off, glancing at the delicate young woman with curiosity.

“Brother Xiao Lin, don’t you remember? This is Shou Ya from the Lin family—the girl who always cried when she was little. She’s my wife now,” Er Pang said, scratching his head sheepishly.

“Brother Xiao Lin,” Shou Ya greeted him gracefully.

Xiao Lin looked at the delicate Shou Ya before him, scarcely believing she was the same frail girl who used to trail behind them as a child—and now, she was married. Time, he mused, how swiftly you fly!

“Let’s not stand around—come, let’s head into the village. This must be your grandson—he’s a strapping young man, the very image of old Xiao back in the day,” said the elder who’d spoken to Grandma Xiao. In village parlance, “strapping” was synonymous with “handsome.”

Xiao Lin greeted him respectfully as Grandpa Cui. Grandpa Cui was the village chief, had been childhood friends with Xiao Lin’s late grandfather, and was the most respected figure in Snow Village.

“These must be the city children. Come, don’t be shy—think of this as your home. We’ve made room for you all,” Grandpa Cui said warmly to Wang Yuqing and the others.

Following Xiao Lin’s example, Wang Yuqing, Tan Linlin, and Xu Tong all called Grandpa Cui respectfully.

“What a lovely girl,” Grandpa Cui remarked, his gaze falling on the charming Wang Yuqing.

Thus, welcomed by the villagers of Snow Village, Xiao Lin and his friends finally entered the beautiful mountain village.