Chapter 3, Grandmother's Words

Xi Ai has become a bit afraid of the dark. Her father has gone out again, and she does not dare to stay alone in the old, dilapidated attic. Therefore, she often stays at Bai Cao's house. The two of them sleep in the east wing of Bai Cao's room. When two girls are together, there is always endless conversation. Sometimes, when they get tired of talking, they lie down for a while in the moonlight, feeling calm and peaceful. When they check the time, it is often already midnight. Bai Cao says she is hungry, and Xi Ai says she is also hungry. The two girls quietly sneak into the kitchen to cook noodles or fry rice to eat. After finishing their meal, they find it even harder to sleep and return to bed to continue chatting.

The first thing Bai Cao said upon waking was, "Is there anyone to replace me in the performance of 'The Green Outfit'?" This statement deeply moved the teachers and classmates surrounding her hospital bed, and it also caused her grandparents, parents, and Xi Ai to feel heartbroken. Others believed that Bai Cao was solely concerned about the collective, not even uttering a word about her acute appendicitis. The teacher immediately declared that Chen Bai Cao must be appointed as the head of the next student council at the school. However, Xi Ai understood that Bai Cao was saddened by the fact that all her efforts had been in vain, as the role would still be taken over by other classmates. It was then that Bai Cao truly felt the excruciating pain tearing through her abdomen. Tears immediately streamed down her face; it was a new and unfamiliar kind of pain, particularly sharp and fierce, almost overwhelming and consuming her. The sense of grievance within her intensified; she knew very well that it was embarrassing to cry in front of so many people, yet she could not stop. The more she thought about it, the more ashamed she felt, and her tears flowed even more profusely, prompting her to bury her face in the blanket and not come out. She also thought about how she would miss many classes due to her illness, with the final exams approaching, and that she could not afford to relax at all. A multitude of worries surged within her, truly distressing her, and the unhealed wound throbbed even more painfully.

Feng's mother not only excels at making clothes but is also a skilled cook. She runs the tailor shop by herself, trains apprentices, raises her daughter, and takes care of both sets of elderly parents. Her husband works as a mason in another city, being honest and reserved. Everyone says he is fortunate to have married such a wife, although this woman can sometimes have a strong temper

All along, it has been Xi Ai who bought various foods for Bai Cao, and Bai Cao has grown accustomed to the caring attention of Sister Xi Ai. However, on that day, Xi Ai forced a smile and said, "Bai Cao, I don't want to eat. Shall we go back and eat instead? Your grandmother must have made a lot of delicious food."

Baicao Lou embraced grandmother

Grandmother's words truly hold wisdom. Throughout the entire day, the snow has not ceased. The small town is occasionally filled with the sound of cracking, likely from branches unable to bear the weight of the accumulated snow. This rare heavy snowfall is indeed a grand surprise for the children. However, Grandfather begins to worry, recalling how many years it has been since such a significant snowfall. He fears that the snow will damage his beloved flowers and plants, so he braves the snow alongside Grandmother to move all the potted plants into the plastic greenhouse. A thick layer of snow has also settled on the lotus tub, and Grandmother, concerned that the few shrimp in the tub might freeze, moves the tub indoors. He fears that the snow will damage his beloved flowers and plants, so he braves the snow alongside Grandmother to move all the potted plants into the plastic greenhouse. A thick layer of snow has also settled on the lotus tub, and Grandmother, concerned that the few shrimp in the tub might freeze, moves the tub indoors.

On that day, Baicao and Xiai did not have the opportunity to eat pork ribs stewed with lotus root. In all the years that followed, Xiai never had the chance to eat pork ribs stewed with lotus root again

Someone pulled her away, intending to move the body that was growing cold. She frantically lunged back, "Mom, Mom!" She pressed tightly against her mother's battered body, shaking it vigorously, prying open her mother's tightly shut eyes, forcing them open, "Mom, Mom, can you see me?"

Finally, the reply is as follows

Grandma came to open the door, and Xi Ai felt very embarrassed. Seeing the white hair tie in Xi Ai's hair, Grandma felt a pang of heartache and quickly pulled her in, saying, "Good girl, you should treat my home as your own. You absolutely cannot leave. It is too cruel for a little girl to live in that dark attic!"

Baicao

Baicao is anxious, have you not been eating all this time

Bai Cao felt a deep pain in her heart. This was her first encounter with death. She saw a mother who was once perfectly fine, a mother who was preparing to make lotus root soup with pork ribs, a mother who could sew various beautiful clothes, suddenly lying in a cold place, turning to ashes in the fierce flames without any warning. She could not imagine the pain in Xi Ai's heart; she could only silently stay by Xi Ai's side, holding her icy hand. Xi Ai remained silent, did not shed tears, did not sleep, did not eat or drink. This terrified Bai Cao. Three days later, Feng family's mother was buried. Xi Ai watched the small urn sink into the soil, watched the grave gradually rise, and suddenly fainted. When she woke up, she was in her own attic, with Bai Cao by her side. She smiled and said, "Bai Cao, I am hungry. A good sleep feels so comfortable." Bai Cao was extremely frightened. Yet Xi Ai smiled and said, "Don't worry about me, I am really fine. Bai Cao, you don't need to worry about me, I know my mother has already been buried and will not wake up again. Bai Cao, we will all die, it's just a matter of time. It is useless to be sad when others die; we cannot just die along with them."

Initial Dyeing

Bai Cao was about to cry, so she took Xi Ai's hand and headed home. From a distance away from the courtyard gate, she shouted loudly, "Grandpa and Grandma, from now on, Xi Ai will live with us!"

In the bustling crowd, Xi Ai suddenly saw her mother, whose face was covered in blood and appeared dark purple. Her smile and words froze in an instant. She numbly pushed through the crowd to take a closer look, and then she saw her mother holding a piece of rib in her right hand and a lotus root segment in her left hand, as well as the embroidery needle with a long thread dangling from her mother's checkered blouse. Xi Ai bent down, "Mom, Mom!"

At that moment, they heard a dull and heavy roar. The entire Qingmian Town should have heard it, the sound of the disaster of collapse and fracture. They looked at each other, momentarily unsure of what had happened. Gradually, exclamations began to come from the southeast of the town— the agricultural market has collapsed under the weight of the snow

That year, Qingmian Town was devoid of the joy of the Spring Festival. In that collapse, dozens were killed or injured. The people of Xi'ai were suddenly despondent. The Feng family's tailor shop was quiet and closed its doors.

Does a person have a soul? Do they still have feelings after death

The smile on Xi Ai's face became increasingly forced, Baicao, how could I not eat...

Xi Ai shivered slightly. Bai Cao was also frightened; at this moment, the moonlight was no longer clear and gentle, but seemed to be shrouded in shadows and eeriness. In the west wing, there seemed to be the rustling sound of Grandma turning over. Bai Cao burrowed into Xi Ai's arms, completely seized by fear. Xi Ai stared blankly at the moonlight, tears gradually welling up. A long time passed, and Bai Cao had fallen asleep in Xi Ai's arms. Yet Xi Ai could not sleep at all; she was thinking of many things. Mother would never return, Father was as wooden as ever, Grandpa and Grandma were getting old, the tailor shop could no longer be sustained, what would happen to this family? Xi Ai stared blankly at the moonlight, tears gradually welling up. A long time passed, and Bai Cao had fallen asleep in Xi Ai's arms. Yet Xi Ai could not sleep at all; she was thinking of many things. Mother would never return, Father was as wooden as ever, Grandpa and Grandma were getting old, the tailor shop could no longer be sustained, what would happen to this family? What would happen to Grandpa and Grandma, what would happen to her? Schooling required a lot of money, and Father earned only so little in a year. She began to feel despair, tears slowly filling her eyes. Seeing Bai Cao's peaceful and lovely sleeping face, showing no signs of sadness, she felt both love and envy. Schooling required a lot of money, and Father earned only so little in a year. She began to feel despair, tears slowly filling her eyes. Seeing Bai Cao's peaceful and lovely sleeping face, showing no signs of sadness, she felt both love and envy. Tears streamed down the corners of her eyes, wetting the pillowcase. In her heart, she repeatedly called out to her mother, thinking of her mother's appearance. She asked her mother what she should do, she asked her mother why she had so heartlessly left her and departed resolutely. She carefully got out of bed, knelt on the water-polished blue bricks facing the moon, and remained silent for a long time. She asked her mother what she should do, she asked her mother why she had so heartlessly left her and departed resolutely. She carefully got out of bed, knelt on the water-polished blue bricks facing the moon, and remained silent for a long time

And in spring, Baicao received a long-awaited letter. It was from Churuan. The letter was very simple:

At this moment, Baicao began to miss Churan. While participating in the competition, she had always hoped to encounter Churan. Churan must also be a child with excellent results and should be here for the competition. But Baicao was disappointed. She wondered if Churan still remembered her. When would she be able to see her again? She hadn't even written a single letter.

Heavy snow fell from the year before to the year after

Xi Ai tugged at the corner of her mouth, it's nothing... I really am not hungry

Every day, the results of the evaluations are organized, and the campus is left desolate. Xi Ai waits for her on the side, helping her calculate scores and register them. The two young girls hold hands, and the setting sun casts their shadows long. Bai Cao cannot yet imagine how difficult Xi Ai's life was at that time, but she carefreely says, "Shall we go eat glutinous rice dumplings? I'm hungry" Bai Cao cannot yet imagine how difficult Xi Ai's life was at that time, but she carefreely says, "Shall we go eat glutinous rice dumplings? I'm hungry

I am Churan, and I am doing well. The peach blossoms in Jin'an have bloomed; the peach blossoms in Qingmian Town must be even more beautiful, right? When can we meet again? Will you come to Jin'an for school in middle school? I am waiting for you

How are you

After the exam, the children were running wild at school. The boys turned a bench upside down and used it as a sled on the snow. Over here, a group was having a snowball fight, while over there, another group was building snowmen. Grandma came to pick up Baicao, trembling as she walked. Xiai followed along, chattering excitedly. She said her mother was going to make braised pork ribs with lotus root today and wanted Baicao to join them for the meal

Gradually, Baicao learned to refuse, her small face stern and serious, which amused the teacher. As time went by, the teacher no longer troubled her.

How are you

On the day of the final exam, it snowed. Due to the mild climate, the snow in the small town could not last long; it mostly fell and melted, damp and cold. The townspeople referred to it as slushy snow. However, the snow that day was truly dry and fluffy, delightfully abundant. The snowflakes quietly accumulated overnight, adorning the small town in a rare silver coat. Grandpa, as usual, practiced Tai Chi early in the yard where the wintersweet was in full bloom. Grandma woke Baicao from the warm bed, dressed her in many layers, making her look like a lovely doll. The fragrance of the wintersweet mingled with that of the daffodils, creating an aroma that Baicao could never get enough of. Looking at the heavy snow, Baicao excitedly called out, unable to resist grabbing a handful of snow from the windowsill. Grandma hurriedly blew on the snow and held Baicao's hands close to her chest, saying, "It's cold, don't get frostbite; you have an exam today." Baicao looked disappointed. Grandma comforted her, saying, "It's alright, I promise that when you come back, it will still be snowing. After the exam, I will accompany you to play in the snow, okay?"

Thus, when spring arrives, Xi Ai will smile again. Her smile is as beautiful as the flowers that bloom once more after enduring the winter's frost, evoking tears from the hundred grasses.

Spring is a time when it is easy to catch a cold, so you must take good care of yourself

Xi Ai said, it's fine, I am not afraid. Really, besides, my aunt from the countryside is going to move in, so don't worry about me

The herb shrinks its body, I do not know, it should have a soul... but it probably does not have feelings, otherwise... if it were burned in the stove, it would surely die in pain

Bai Cao suddenly realized and hesitated for a long time before quietly asking, "Xi Ai, where do you go to eat when you go home? ... Your grandparents' house is so far away, and you live there all by yourself ..."

I am Baicao, and I am doing well. The pale pink peach blossoms have bloomed, the pear blossoms have bloomed, and many, many flowers have blossomed; you will surely be delighted to see them. We will meet again. Recently, I have experienced a lot, and it feels like I have grown up, though I cannot quite express it. In any case, I miss you very much and long to see your smile. During middle school, I really wanted to come to Jin'an, but I was worried that my parents would be too busy. However, I will definitely come to Jin'an in high school, and by then, we can take the exams together and be desk mates!

Xi Ai happily conversed with Bai Cao and her grandmother. Snowflakes danced in the air, melting coolly on her full and beautiful forehead. Bai Cao felt a gentle warmth rise in her heart. Xi Ai truly is a wonderful sister

The small town has begun preparations for the New Year. Pure white rice noodles are ground out in bags from the mill and spread out on bamboo sieves in every household, ready to be made into rice cakes. The sausages, freshly stuffed, are hung in the corridor to dry. Fresh ribbonfish is cut into exquisite small pieces, strung together with red twine, and hung high, causing the cat to gaze up with immense longing and equally immense disappointment. Every family is busy purchasing New Year goods, and the sun has become a gluttonous child; otherwise, how could there be such a captivating and complex aroma of food in the sunlight? Fresh ribbonfish is cut into exquisite small pieces, strung together with red twine, and hung high, causing the cat to gaze up with immense longing and equally immense disappointment. Every family is busy purchasing New Year goods, and the sun has become a gluttonous child; otherwise, how could there be such a captivating and complex aroma of food in the sunlight?

Bai Cao sat by the window, turning the freshly written letter over and over again, her heart fluttering like countless colorful butterflies. In that moment, many words piled up, eager to be expressed, yet she did not know where to begin. She wrote and tore it up, then wrote again. Swallows chirped incessantly under the eaves, while bees and butterflies flitted about. The flowers in the courtyard were in full bloom. A bamboo basket held fragrant and refreshing herbs drying in the air. This scene and sentiment made Bai Cao feel as if she were caught in a labyrinth of thoughts, her intricate feelings intertwining, resulting in a subtle, ineffable melancholy. The flowers in the courtyard were in full bloom. A bamboo basket held fragrant and refreshing herbs drying in the air. This scene and sentiment made Bai Cao feel as if she were caught in a labyrinth of thoughts, her intricate feelings intertwining, resulting in a subtle, ineffable melancholy. She sighed like a big child and tore another sheet of paper.