Chapter 101: Winter Fun with Cats
Xu Huazhang carried a ladder home.
“What’s going on?” Mu Lantu came up to meet him.
Xu Huazhang explained the situation, and Mu Lantu told him about Zhang Jingxian coming over with the news.
The two had a tacit understanding—first, clear the snow.
They started with the back courtyard.
Xu Huazhang stood on the ladder, pushing the snow off the roof. Mu Lantu used a wooden shovel to pile it up, planning to move it outside the yard later.
But how should they move it?
Through the house, from the back courtyard to the front?
They both realized then the drawback of not having a back gate.
Mu Lantu gave a dry laugh. “Didn’t think about heavy snowfall when we designed it.”
“No problem,” Xu Huazhang said. “Just toss it outside the wall and clean up later.”
That worked too.
After making sure no one was outside, Mu Lantu shoveled up a pile of snow and flung it over the courtyard wall. The snow arced through the air and landed outside.
Feasible.
When the back courtyard was cleared, they went on to the front yard and roofs.
The main house roof, the firewood shed, the storage room—everything had to be cleaned, a considerable task.
By the time Xu Jincheng and the others returned from the brigade office, the two hadn’t finished yet.
Miao Jiaze and Du Xuewen went back to fetch tools and helped carry snow outside. It was good exercise, sweating kept them from feeling cold.
Xu Jincheng, Zhang Guodong, and Zhao Chengxin also joined in.
Only Xie Xiaojun was left alone. He didn’t feel embarrassed though—after a moment’s hesitation, he too went to fetch tools.
With so many people helping, Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang didn’t embarrass him further.
Many hands make light work. The group soon had the courtyard cleared.
When Xu Huazhang wanted to carry the ladder back to the educated youth point, the others refused and carried it themselves.
Mu Lantu pulled Miao Jiaze aside and stuffed two jin of sunflower seeds into his hands, asking him to share them with everyone.
“Before the snow gets heavier, Huazhang and I need to visit Carpenter Tan’s house.”
“Go on, go on.”
Miao Jiaze divided the seeds into two portions—not exactly even, so he gave the bigger share to the girls.
The boys sat on the heated brick bed cracking seeds, quiet for a while.
Xie Xiaojun felt the need to explain. “I was thinking of all of us at the youth point. I don’t believe you all wanted those two families to move in.”
The others stayed silent.
Xie Xiaojun went on, “I bet Xu Huazhang already had a solution in mind. He just waited till the end to say it.”
He deliberately looked at Miao Jiaze and Du Xuewen, who were closest with Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang.
They just smiled. “If you say so, then so be it.” No need to argue.
On the girls’ side, they too whispered about today’s events.
Lin Shuzhen lay on the bed cracking seeds, feet swinging in the air. “What do you think Xie Xiaojun was thinking? Why offend Xu Huazhang and Mu Lantu?”
“You can’t guess?” Lu Manman said. “He’s holding a grudge because Mu Lantu refused to go hunting with them.”
Yue Xiaoying glanced cautiously at the shut door and windows. “Xie Xiaojun loves to shirk responsibility. Not the first time. You’d better keep an eye out, don’t let him take advantage of you.”
Bai Ningning said, “Good thing we’ve got Brother Xu and Sister Manman holding the line. He won’t stir up much trouble.”
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Lu Manman felt the same. If not for their decent natures, they wouldn’t have accepted her leadership. That was her good fortune.
Bai Ningning nudged Lin Shuzhen. “Why were you so brave today?”
Blushing, Lin Shuzhen raised her palm with a few seeds in it. “For these?”
The girls laughed. Unexpected answer—yet not so unexpected.
Her face grew redder. Mimicking Bai Ningning, she kicked Yue Xiaoying lightly. “I’ve been meaning to ask—Xiaoying, do you like Comrade Zhang Guodong? Hm?”
“Yes, yes! I noticed too!” Bai Ningning leaned in. “Xiaoying always sneaks looks at him! And I noticed something else—Miao Jiaze and Zhao Chengxin often sneak looks at Xiaoying!”
Lu Manman laughed in surprise. “Who would’ve thought? Among us, Xiaoying is actually the most popular. Of course, I’m not saying the rest of us aren’t good, but people usually judge by looks. Among us, Jingxian is the prettiest.”
Zhang Jingxian smiled lightly, shook her head, and quietly cracked seeds.
Yue Xiaoying also shook her head, unbothered. Lu Manman was just being honest—among them, Zhang Jingxian’s looks stood out most.
Xiaoying’s face flushed for a moment, then she calmed. “I just think Zhang Guodong is steady, like a dependable big brother. But… it won’t go further. I want to return to the city, I don’t want to think about anything else.”
The cheerful mood dimmed.
She regretted mentioning returning to the city. “So, what are we eating for lunch?”
At the thought of food, everyone perked up, offering suggestions.
Outside, the swirling snow blurred their voices.
Meanwhile, Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang trudged through the snow, slow despite their efforts.
The Tan family didn’t expect visitors in such weather and quickly welcomed them inside to sit on the heated bed.
“You must be frozen! Quick, come warm up!”
The carpenter’s mother was enthusiastic, his wife briskly swept the bed clean.
“No need to fuss. We’ll head back soon,” Mu Lantu explained. “We came to ask—do you have a spare ladder for sale? With the snow piling up, it’s inconvenient without one.”
Xu Huazhang pulled some fruit candies from his pocket for the children.
Tan’s wife, pouring tea, glared at the kids not to take them.
Xu Huazhang subtly blocked her view.
“There’s a ladder, sure. Every household needs them, usually we make extra for times like this.”
The carpenter sent his son to fetch one.
Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang paid, declined the tea, and carried the ladder home.
Most villagers were kind to the youths. Tan’s wife left the tea with brown sugar in it for the kids instead. For them, sweet tea was better than eggs.
Back home, they stored the ladder in the shed. But no rest yet—they had to haul the tossed snow farther away, otherwise when it melted, water would damage the foundation.
After more work, they also cleared the snow off the thatched roof of the backyard latrine before finally going inside, adding wood to the stove, shedding heavy coats, pants, and boots, and washing up.
“Baby, I’m hungry again.”
“Then let’s eat. Doesn’t matter how many meals—we can afford it.”
Hotpot again—the simplest choice.
This time: tofu and fish head hotpot.
Mu Lantu cooked a big pot of rice, storing leftovers in his space for later meals. He’d stockpiled plenty of rice and steamed buns this way.
“Huazhang, what should we do about Xie Xiaojun?” Mu Lantu asked while eating.
Xu Huazhang’s eyes narrowed. “Not much chance now. Wait until spring.”
Mu Lantu nodded. “We should thank those who spoke up for us. We’re lucky—except for Zhao Chengxin and Xie, the others are decent.”
Xu Huazhang agreed. “Xu Jincheng and Lu Manman are capable too. We’ll invite them for a meal in spring.”
“That means Xie Xiaojun gets a free meal too?” Mu Lantu grumbled—he never hid his pettiness, rewarding favors and repaying grudges alike.
Xu Huazhang ruffled his hair. “We’ll make it formal, with invitation cards for each person.”
He didn’t believe Xie Xiaojun would show up without one.
Mu Lantu was pleased.
“What shall we do this afternoon?”
His system screen was only visible to himself—he couldn’t just watch dramas alone and ignore Xu Huazhang.
Xu Huazhang served him a piece of tofu soaked in broth. “Build a snowman, snowball fight, play chess, ski, skate, pitch arrows… your choice.”
Mu Lantu’s heart melted. “Sounds like you’d already planned this?”
“Didn’t want you to get bored,” Xu Huazhang’s simple reply warmed him more than anything. Xu Huazhang even made a little heart gesture, which Xu Huazhang pretended to catch with both hands.
Mu Lantu blushed, partly from shyness. Xu Huazhang always indulged his playfulness—Mu Lantu could feel his pampering and their tacit understanding. They were like a destined pair.
Xu Huazhang didn’t tease further, afraid Mu Lantu’s face would really ignite. “So, what do you want to do?”
“Too cold outside, and windy. Let’s stay in and play chess.” Mu Lantu suddenly had an idea. “Best of five. If you win, I’ll tell you a bedtime story tonight.”
“Good. I want a… prince and prince story,” Xu Huazhang teased.
Mu Lantu’s mouth twitched. “No, a horror story!”
Xu Huazhang feigned reluctance. “Fine. And if you win?”
Mu Lantu grinned. “If I win—after the match until bedtime, you can’t say the word ‘I.’ Each slip costs you one yuan. How about it?”
Xu Huazhang silently calculated. He had only 6 yuan, 8 jiao, and 6 fen in total…
Mu Lantu urged him to eat quickly.
In their last life, they’d also played chess when bored. He rarely won, and only with great effort.
“I used to always lose,” Mu Lantu mused. “Sometimes because it was too noisy, sometimes because I wasn’t serious, sometimes because someone nearby distracted me…”
Xu Huazhang summed it up: “In short, not because you’re worse than me.”
Mu Lantu kept a straight face. “As long as you know.”
Xu Huazhang just smiled.
After dinner, they tidied up and set the chessboard.
Two cups of steaming tea by the board.
Mu Lantu sat cross-legged, solemn.
Xu Huazhang too grew serious. Baby’s first bedtime story—he couldn’t miss the chance.
