Chapter 65: The Warmth of Mortal Life, the Greatest Comfort for Ordinary Hearts

“You’re back so early today, but it’s perfect timing—the dishes are just laid out. Wash your hands and you can eat.” Wen Nuan Nuan turned to look at the three little ones standing frozen in place and urged, “Come in! It’s warm inside. Why are you all standing at the doorway?”

Hearing her urging, Leng Chen shifted his gaze away from the abundant spread of food and remembered the reason they had come to find their sister-in-law. He stammered, “Sister-in-law, it’s snowing outside. Didn’t you say before that you really wanted to see snow?”

As someone who rarely saw snow throughout the year, Wen Nuan Nuan forgot all about the hotpot at the mention of snow and rushed into the courtyard!

Large, feathery snowflakes drifted down from the sky. Wen Nuan Nuan spun around a few times, then stretched out her palm to catch them, thinking how much larger the snowflakes in the north seemed.

Although Wen Nuan Nuan saw snow every year, it was usually a mix of fine, scattered sleet or a thin layer on the ground. Especially after living in the city, even if it snowed, by the time she woke up the next day, the roads would already be cleared clean.

After a burst of excitement and shivering from the cold, Wen Nuan Nuan returned to the main hall, feeling content.

The rooms on the east and west sides had their kang heated. Although the main hall didn’t have a kang, it was sandwiched between the two heated kang rooms, and with several charcoal braziers lit, it was exceptionally warm.

The rush of warmth and the aroma of food greeted Wen Nuan Nuan as she entered, and she took a moment to adjust.

It smelled heavenly!

Leng Xiao promptly handed her a hot towel, wrung dry.

“Sister-in-law, come quickly! How do we put these in?”

“Is there a special way to cook the ingredients? Do we put them all in at once or little by little?”

The three little ones gathered around the table were already impatient. Seeing the heads of the household lingering, they eagerly called out to Wen Nuan Nuan.

“Coming! Coming! Wait for me to teach you.” For the first time, Wen Nuan Nuan felt the illusion of being indispensable while eating hotpot, as if it were the most important project that couldn’t proceed without her.

She took the hot towel, unfolded it, and wiped her face haphazardly, roughly drying the melted snow before preparing to dive into the hotpot.

Just as she lifted her foot to leave, someone grabbed her wrist.

Wen Nuan Nuan looked up in confusion.

The young man had a tall, straight nosebridge, striking features, and a tall, slender figure. He was as cool and distant as the moon hanging in the sky, seemingly unattainable.

Though dressed in an ordinary, plain cotton robe, it couldn’t conceal his noble and elegant demeanor.

Wen Nuan Nuan marveled inwardly—the male lead was truly different! With such qualities, how many people must envy him!

Beautiful things were simply pleasing to the eye.

“There’s melted snow in your hair. Let me wipe it for you.” A low, slightly hoarse voice spoke softly.

Wen Nuan Nuan nodded blankly, mesmerized by his beauty, her expression saying, “Do as you please.”

The corners of Leng Xiao’s tightly pursed lips slowly relaxed, then lifted slightly. His unusually large, rough hands held the cotton cloth as he carefully and meticulously wiped away every trace of melted snow.

Wen Nuan Nuan’s heart was screaming inwardly!

She had thought Leng Xiao was a cold-blooded, ruthless, and emotionless high-ranking official—decisive in action and ruthless in methods. She never imagined that in his youth, he not only smiled but could also be gentle and considerate enough to wipe her hair!

Was this a treatment she deserved?

Was she even worthy of such treatment?

Wen Nuan Nuan felt uneasy and anxious inside, but more than that, she was delighted. It seemed her efforts were paying off!

Given Leng Xiao’s current level of goodwill toward her, as long as she didn’t foolishly force herself into his presence, he would surely spare her.

“Sister-in Law, come quickly! Little Brother actually dared to sneak a bite!”

“I didn’t! I just smelled it.”

“Who uses a spoon to scoop soup just to smell it?”

“It’s ready, it’s ready!” The noisy shouts came from over there. Wen Nuan Nuan thanked Leng Xiao and quickly joined the hotpot camp.

Leng Xiao’s gaze followed the delicate figure as she moved, his large hand slowly dropping to his side, tightly clutching the cotton handkerchief.

“I pre-marinated the squid, it can’t go in the chicken soup, it needs to go in the spicy one.”

“Sister-in-law, here, your favorite chicken wing tips.”

“The fried eggs are done, just a quick dip and they’re ready to eat.”

“Sister-in-law, your favorite tofu puffs are cooked!”

“Put the abalone with the cross-hatch cuts in the spicy broth, and the thinly sliced ones in the clear soup.”

“Sister-in-law, just sit and eat, tell me which ones to dip, I’ll handle it.”

“Leng Xiao, come quick, I saved you a chicken mid-wing. If you don’t come soon, there won’t even be any soup left.”

An exaggerated shout came from that side.

The young man’s icy demeanor instantly melted away as he strode into that steaming, lively space.

Outside, the cold wind howled and snow fell heavily, while inside, the charcoal fire burned brightly, steam rose, and food was plentiful.

~

After eating their fill, the four of them used the light and warmth from the stove to take warm baths one by one behind the kitchen, changing into brand-new cotton clothes from head to toe, inside and out.

Leng Xiao changed into the long robe commonly worn by scholars, while the three little ones wore the jacket-and-pants style favored by poor families, practical for work.

Wen Nuan Nuan looked at the loose, baggy clothes on the three little ones, with sleeves and pant legs rolled up again and again, her mouth agape in surprise. “Is this the new clothing Auntie Zhu made?”

Didn’t they say Auntie Zhu’s craftsmanship was the best in the village? That’s why it cost more than others.

If she can’t even get the measurements right, can that be called good?

“Eldest Brother, wasn’t yours made by Auntie Jiang? Why is it so oversized too?”

Her gaze shifted to Leng Xiao. Well, only Leng Xiao’s long robe fit relatively well—slightly loose but not exaggerated.

Is the difficulty gap between making a long robe and a short jacket really that big?

“No, this fits perfectly.” Leng Tian smiled with immense satisfaction.

Wen Nuan Nuan began to wonder whether her eyes were the problem or Eldest Brother’s eyes were.

“Sister-in-law, this is how children’s clothes are made in the village. Kids grow fast. If we don’t make them bigger, they won’t fit next year. Auntie Zhu is especially good at adding extra room. Our clothes won’t just fit next year—they’ll still fit the year after.”

“Right! Such good clothes would be a shame to waste if they only lasted a year or two. Have we gained weight? I feel like I’m taking up more space in the clothes than when we were measured.”

“Definitely! I think I’ve grown taller too. Otherwise, it’s that Auntie Jiang isn’t as good at making clothes as Auntie Zhu. Your sleeves can be rolled up four times, but mine can only be rolled three.” Leng Tian leaned in to compare with Leng Yun.

After the initial shock, Wen Nuan Nuan understood. She remembered her own childhood was like this—she never wore new clothes that fit properly.

They were always bought oversized, and by the time they fit just right, it was usually two years later. Plus, she’d always wear an apron over the new clothes, so she never really got to see them as new.

Once she had the means to earn money, she insisted on buying clothes that fit perfectly, never buying a size larger just in case she might grow out of them.

“Next time, I’ll have clothes made for you that fit properly.” Those who have been through the rain often want to offer an umbrella to others.

“No need, sister-in-law, look how much we’ve grown in just this short month. By the time cat winter ends, if the clothes fit now, they won’t fit anymore. This way is just right—they’ll still be like new when we wear them next year.” Leng Chen urged anxiously.

Fabric was expensive, and tailoring was costly. For families in the village, making several sets of clothes at once was unheard of—being able to make one set every few years was already considered good.

The winter was too cold to work, so families without padded clothes would huddle on the kang, getting by with one or two meals a day of wild vegetable and coarse grain porridge.

Having something to wear was already a blessing—who cared whether it fit properly or not?

Wen Nuan Nuan gently patted Leng Chen’s little head. Times were different—a nine-year-old child was already so sensible it was heartbreaking.