On the way home, Bai Xue was a bit lost in thoughts, her mind a mess, yet she seemed unafraid of the cold, craning her neck to look at the scenery on both sides of the road, which was just pure white snow.
Several times when Zhang Yuan spoke to her, she didn't respond. Until they got home, she grabbed the sack and rushed indoors as if there were floods or beasts chasing after her.
Watching her reaction, Zhang Yuan smiled gently. This little girl seemed to be shy, perhaps understanding his intentions.
In a very good mood, he took the cotton inside as well.
"Xiao Xue, you forgot this cotton!" Zhang Yuan kindly placed the cotton in front of Bai Xue who had just set her things down.
Bai Xue looked at the half sack of cotton and immediately remembered Zhang Yuan's earlier request in Pingyang Town for her to knit him a scarf, which made her face flush red again uncontrollably.
"Xiao Xue, why is your face so red? Did you catch a cold? Hurry and get on the kang to warm up!" Wang Cuihua intended to ask about the cotton but noticed her daughter's flushed face, assuming she was cold.
"I'm fine, Mom, I'm not cold!" she said, putting the cotton on the northern kang, also placing her purchases there.
"Uncle, Aunt! Xiao Xue, I'll take my leave now!" Zhang Yuan greeted the three and left.
The four little ones were not home; it was already afternoon, and they had not returned.
Bai Xue didn't have the intention to see Zhang Yuan off and focused on opening the items she bought.
"Mom and Dad, there were inexpensive clothes at the supply and marketing cooperative today, so I bought a set for each of us to wear over our cotton-padded clothes and pants! I also bought fabric to make clothes for Xiao Feng and Xiao Cai!" she said nonchalantly as she handed clothes and fabric to her parents.
"We have clothes; why did you buy more for us?" Wang Cuihua said, looking at the clothes and fabric.
"Exactly, Dad does rough work and can't wear new clothes!" Bai Daliang agreed.
"Mom and Dad! These were cheap without needing cloth coupons, and New Year's is coming! Isn't it nice for everyone to have a new set of clothes? You might not wear them for work, but you can for rest! Look at how patched your clothes are!" Bai Xue felt deeply saddened.
If it were her era, let alone wearing a torn piece, even disliked purchases would be stashed away. But in this era, wearing a single outfit till it tears and patching it up was the norm, with no one willingly abandoning clothes.
"Xiao Xue, we have some money, but we should save; Mom and Dad can manage. Your siblings are going to school soon, and our house needs repairs. Come rainy season, it's leaking everywhere!" Bai Daliang spoke softly.
"Dad, don't worry! We'll build a big tile-roofed house! A spacious one, no need to squeeze on a small kang anymore."
"Easy to say, my girl! With the little money we have, repairing the roof is possible, but not enough for even an earthen house, let alone a tile-roofed one. Even the wealthiest family in the village can't afford that! A big tile-roofed house costs nearly a thousand yuan; even an earthen house needs two to three hundred!" Bai Daliang explained to his daughter.
"Don't worry! We'll definitely be able to build one! When the rainy season comes, we'll be living in a spacious tile-roofed house! Bright and airy, no wind leaks, no rain leaks!"
"Alright, alright, my girl. Mom won't stop you from dreaming, but you need to unpack the things you bought; it's almost dinner time, and your siblings haven't returned yet. You better check on them!" Wang Cuihua timely interrupted the father-daughter conversation.
In her mind, talking about building a house was far-fetched; waiting for ages seemed unavoidable.
"Let me check on them! Xiao Xue stays home and warms up!" Bai Daliang also worried about the kids, quickly getting ready to go.
"Dad! Go back and lie down! What did I say before? Pretend a little! You still want to go looking for people; if Grandma finds out, Mom won't have her month after childbirth, we won't have hearty meals!" Bai Xue glared at her dad, scolding him. "I'll go find them in a bit! Make sure Mom locks up everything I bought!"
"Alright, alright! Dad was wrong, my girl! But Dad's worried for you too, going to town, doing this and that, not resting properly!"
"I'm fine, as long as Grandma doesn't come to create trouble, I'll be okay!" Bai Xue replied, genuinely moved.
"Mom! As I said a few days ago, I bought cotton shoes for each of you. I've got them! Hurry and take a look!" Bai Xue dumped the sack in front of Wang Cuihua, pouring out all the shoes.
"Wow, so many shoes…" Wang Cuihua exclaimed.
"Mom, quick, stash all the shoes in the cabinet and lock it!" Bai Xue handed the lock and key to Wang Cuihua, instructing her not to take them out if Grandma comes.
"Alright, alright! Mom will lock them!" Wang Cuihua hurriedly matched the shoes and placed them in the kang cabinet, admiring them continuously.
"Girl, the fur inside these shoes is so warm and soft; Mom's never seen shoes like this before…"
"They're bought from the big city, we surely haven't seen them! But Mom, don't tell just anyone! Your daughter can't manage so many!"
Bai Daliang sat aside, watching, the couple fondly admiring the shoes.
"Alright, remember to lock them up quickly, I'll check how the four are still not back!" Bai Xue said, heading out.
Around her neck was Zhang Yuan's scarf, warm and carrying a pleasant scent.
From a distance, she saw the little ones each carrying a bundle of firewood, but something seemed off; they were all dirty, and Bai Ruxia was limping a bit.
"Xiao Yun, Xiao Xia… Xiao Shan, Little Chuan!" Bai Xue called out as she walked toward them.
"Big sister…"
"Big sister is back."
The four little ones were thrilled to see their big sister, hastening their pace with the firewood. Only Bai Ruxia limped along.
"Why is Xiao Xia limping? Why are you all so dirty?" Bai Ruxue approached, asking.
"Big sister..." Bai Ruyun lowered her head first, her attitude like a child who made a mistake. "It's my fault, I shouldn't have insisted on catching wild chickens, causing Xiao Xia to fall!"
While speaking, her eyes filled with tears, almost ready to cry.
"Big sister, second sister was only trying to help Mom and Dad with their health, seeing you caught a wild chicken last time, so she led us to find some…" Bai Rushan defended Bai Ruyun.
"You went looking for wild chickens? Went deep into the mountains? Did I not say it was forbidden?" Bai Xue was a bit angry; the little ones were bold, even the usually timid and gentle one leading the charge.
"Big sister, we were wrong! We won't dare anymore!" Bai Ruxia rushed over on one leg, hugging her sister's arm and begging for forgiveness.
"How's your arm and leg? Very severe?" With the little ones admitting fault willingly, Bai Xue couldn't stay angry.
"It's nothing, big sister, just minor injuries; it'll be fine once we get home! Look, I can even hop!" Bai Ruxia, afraid her sister was mad, hopped around.
"Alright! No more deep mountains from now on! That's an order! Anyone who disobeys won't be cared for by big sister anymore, understood? Hurry home! Mom and Dad are worried!" Bai Xue said as she picked up Bai Ruxia's firewood and led the way. The little ones followed obediently behind.