Chapter 48: The Great Sentimentalist

“Daddy.” The child rubbed against his palm affectionately before closing his eyes and falling back into a deep sleep.

The furrow between his brows vanished. The Cotton-padded Quilt was very warm, and both children slept with rosy cheeks.

Zhao Chun suddenly rolled over, pinning half his body onto his younger brother, though he remained sound asleep himself.

Zhao Mengcheng chuckled and moved the boy’s legs off. However, before he could even turn to leave the room, the boy had already sprawled out again like a flailing octopus.

No longer worrying about the brothers’ sleeping positions, Zhao Mengcheng turned and left.

In the darkness, Zhao Mao opened his eyes once more, his gaze glinting coldly in the deep of the night. “Daddy…”

Zhao Mengcheng went to check on the little girl’s room. Zhao Xin was much better behaved in her sleep, neither kicking the covers nor flailing her legs.

He returned to his room and lay down. Everything was quiet, and Zhao Mengcheng soon fell fast asleep.

Early the next morning, Zhao Mengcheng felt a chill the moment he opened the door. Looking outside, the ground was a vast expanse of white. It had actually snowed last night.

The snow was quite heavy, and large flakes were still drifting down like goose feathers.

In the original owner’s memory, it rarely snowed in the Shanghe Town area. Even when it did, it was mostly sleet that rarely accumulated.

Zhao Mengcheng reached out and pressed down, leaving a perfect palm print in the snow.

“Chun, Mao, Xin, it’s snowing outside.”

“It’s snowing!” Zhao Chun’s excited voice rang out from inside.

Accompanied by the sound of footsteps, Zhao Chun ran out excitedly, cheering as soon as he emerged. “Look at all this snow! Mao, Xin, get up quickly, it’s snowing!”

“No, it’s too cold. I want to sleep a bit longer,” Zhao Xin refused to get up.

Zhao Chun charged straight into the room. “Hurry up and get dressed. I’ll take you to play in the snow.”

“Big Brother is the worst. I want to sleep, I don’t want to play in the snow.” Zhao Xin couldn’t even keep her eyes open.

Zhao Mao, however, had already gotten up and made his way to Zhao Mengcheng’s side. He curiously grabbed a handful of snow. “What a lot of snow. Dad, it hasn’t snowed this hard here in years.”

“Maybe it’s because there was so much rain this year,” Zhao Mengcheng explained.

Zhao Mao thought of the flood and leaned closer to him. “Dad, do you like snow?”

“I like it as scenery,” Zhao Mengcheng replied.

But for ordinary people, ice and snow represented cold, and cold brought death.

The surrounding households were waking up, and shouts of surprise at the snow could be heard. Fortunately, they had cotton-padded clothes this year; putting them on kept the wind and snow at bay.

Zhao Chun ran out of the room, complaining, “Xin is so lazy. She won’t get up no matter how much I call her.”

“We can’t go out in this snow anyway. If she wants to sleep, let her sleep a bit longer.” In Zhao Mengcheng’s eyes, all three children were well-behaved enough. Zhao Xin was only five, but she could already take care of herself most of the time, so he didn’t have to worry about her basic needs.

Zhao Chun didn’t dwell on Manman anymore and dashed off into the yard.

Zhao Mao hurriedly reminded him, “Don’t step on it! If you trample it, it won’t look good anymore.”

“Then I’ll go outside. I can run wherever I want out there.” Zhao Chun opened the gate and rushed out, running around like a wild horse let off its leash, shouting, “It’s snowing! It’s snowing!”

Before long, he had attracted a group of children who followed him in his frantic running.

“Do you want to go play with your brother?” Zhao Mengcheng asked.

Zhao Mao shook his head. “He looks like a fool. I’m not going.”

“Such a little grown-up,” Zhao Mengcheng laughed and rubbed his head.

Although Zhao Mao didn’t go out, he built snowmen in the yard, one large one and three small ones, using stones for their eyes and noses.

Zhao Chun came back after a lap and immediately wanted to help, but he was so clumsy that he nearly knocked the snowmen over.

Fearing the two might start a fight, Zhao Mengcheng sent Zhao Chun outside to sweep the snow, telling him to bring back the clean snow to build more snowmen.

By the time Zhao Xin finally woke up after a full night’s sleep, she saw four large snowmen standing in the yard.

“This is Daddy, this is Big Brother, this is Second Brother, and this must be me,” Zhao Xin said, pointing at each one.

Zhao Mao showed a rare bit of childishness. “Do they look like us?”

“They look just like us,” Zhao Xin praised. Then she added, “Second Brother, give mine a hair flower.”

Zhao Mao picked up two leaves and stuck them onto the small snowman’s head.

While they were playing in the snow, Zhao Mengcheng started a fire. This was a fire pit specifically built into the house, allowing for a fire to be lit directly inside, with a hook above it to hang a pot for cooking.

This way, they could huddle around the fire to keep warm during the winter.

“It’s cold outside. Once you’ve played enough, come in and warm yourselves by the fire,” Zhao Mengcheng called out.

“Just a little longer,” the three children said, reluctant to stop.

Zhao Mengcheng didn’t stop them. With his Mental Power Golden Finger, he had raised the three children to be as strong as oxen; a little cold wouldn’t make them sick.

Still, he put ginger slices and brown sugar into the pot and let it simmer.

After a moment’s thought, Zhao Mengcheng took four rice cakes from the water jar and some pumpkin, potatoes, and peanuts from the storeroom. He skewered them on bamboo sticks and propped them up around the fire pit.

In a short while, the skin of the rice cakes turned golden brown and crispy, emitting a delicious aroma.

The three children had been playing in the snow since they got up and hadn’t even eaten breakfast. Smelling the food, they couldn’t help but run inside.

“Your shoes are all wet. Take them off and put them nearby to dry,” Zhao Mengcheng instructed.

Zhao Chun quickly complied, his eyes fixed on the fire pit. However, since Zhao Mao and Zhao Xin hadn’t gone out to run wild, their shoes weren’t wet, and they managed to sit down by the fire before him.

“Rice cakes!” Zhao Chun shouted in surprise.

Zhao Mengcheng took the pot off the fire and poured four cups of brown sugar ginger tea. “Drink some ginger tea first to drive out the cold and warm your stomachs before you eat.”

The three little ones weren’t afraid of the ginger’s spiciness. They picked up their cups and gulped the tea down in a few swallows. Zhao Chun finished his in one go and patted his stomach. “Delicious! That’s the stuff.”

It was as if he were drinking liquor rather than ginger tea.

“Eat up,” Zhao Mengcheng said with a smile, handing over the roasted rice cakes.

Zhao Chun took a large, crunchy bite. The skin of the rice cake was toasted and crisp, snapping in half with one bite, while the inside was soft and chewy, stretching out quite long.

“Second Brother, Little Sister, let’s see who can pull theirs the longest,” Zhao Chun challenged.

Zhao Mao muttered that it was childish, but when he started eating, he couldn’t help but try to pull his own a bit longer.

But he clearly lacked the talent for it; it snapped almost immediately, and he burned his mouth in the process.

Seeing her second brother burn his mouth, Zhao Xin ate with extra care and refinement. She blew on her food with soft huffs while saying with a full mouth, “So good! Daddy’s roasted rice cakes are the best, the best in the whole world.”

Zhao Mengcheng was eating as well. The roasted rice cakes really did taste good, especially when roasted over a wood fire.

After finishing one, Zhao Chun patted his stomach. “I’m not full yet. Dad, can I have another one?”

“Roasted rice cakes can cause internal heat. Eat something else first,” Zhao Mengcheng said, pointing to the other items.

Zhao Chun didn’t insist. He raked some small taros out of the fire and stuffed them into his mouth, even though they were hot enough to burn his hands.

“Brother, are you home?”

Liu Bingkun saw the door was open and walked straight in, laughing when he saw the four snowmen in the yard.

“These are so lifelike and quite nice to look at. I’ll build one when I get home too.”

“Kun is here. Come in and warm yourself by the fire,” Zhao Mengcheng greeted him, pouring him a cup of ginger tea.

Liu Bingkun didn’t stand on ceremony. He sat down and drained the cup in one go. “My dad saw the snow and sent me running around the village to tell everyone to sweep the snow off their roofs. The snow is too heavy, and he’s afraid the roofs might collapse.”

“But your house is newly built and made of brick and tile. It wouldn’t collapse even if it snowed for another two days.”

Zhao Mengcheng smiled and said, “The Village Chief is very thoughtful. Have something to eat before you go.”

Liu Bingkun stuffed some roasted peanuts and melon seeds into his robe. “I’ll eat while I walk, otherwise my dad will be coming after me in a bit.”

With that, he scurried off, clearly taking the task seriously.

Zhao Mengcheng really hadn’t thought about sweeping the snow. He went outside to check and saw that the snow on the roof wasn’t too thick yet.

But the snow was still falling. If it got too thick, even the tiles wouldn’t be able to support the weight.

Zhao Mengcheng brought over a ladder and climbed onto the roof with a broom.

The three children stopped eating and left the fire. Zhao Chun and Zhao Mao stood on either side of the ladder, holding it firmly for fear that he might fall.

Zhao Xin shouted from the side, “Dad, be careful!”

“Don’t worry, I’m being careful. You kids move back a bit so you don’t get hit.”

Zhao Mengcheng was quick and agile. With a sweep of his broom, a large amount of snow fell, forming a white wall beneath the eaves.

“Wow, so much snow!” Zhao Xin clapped and cheered.

In a short while, the snow on the roof was mostly cleared. Only after Zhao Mengcheng climbed down the ladder did Zhao Chun and Zhao Mao let go.

“Dad, let me do it next time. I’m light, so it’s easier for me to climb onto the roof,” Zhao Chun said.

Zhao Mengcheng didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Your dad isn’t eighty years old yet. What’s there to worry about?”

“But you never used to go on the roof. Mom was always the one who fixed it,” Zhao Chun muttered.

Zhao Mengcheng paused. The original owner really had been like that. He considered himself a scholar responsible for earning money outside, leaving every household chore, big or small, to his wife.

“The past is the past, and the present is the present.” Zhao Mengcheng didn’t want to pass judgment on someone who was gone.

Having warmed up from the exertion, Zhao Mengcheng decided to head over to the old house to take a look. It was now the workshop for making Dried Tofu.

When he went to take a look, he saw He Shuiqing climbing on the roof to sweep away the snow.

“Didn’t I say you were on holiday? Why are you here again today?” Zhao Mengcheng asked helplessly.

He Shuiqing smiled sheepishly. “At, at home, I was, idle, so I, I’m sweeping snow.”

“You won’t get any extra pay for this overtime,” Zhao Mengcheng teased.

He Shuiqing immediately said, “No, no money needed. It’s what I should do.”

Seeing that the roof of the old house was mostly cleared, Zhao Mengcheng sighed inwardly at how diligent and honest He Shuiqing was. “Alright, come down. No one lives here anyway; if it collapses, it collapses.”

He Shuiqing didn’t talk much and had little presence in the village, but he truly worked hard.

Usually, when Zhao Mengcheng was around, he remained taciturn, but Zhao Mengcheng knew the man was very meticulous. Having him around saved a lot of worry, and he was quite happy to look after such an honest employee.

“Must, make, Dried Tofu,” He Shuiqing said, clearly disagreeing.

Zhao Mengcheng chuckled. “It’s already the end of the year. No peddlers are coming to pick up goods now.”

Whether a family was poor or rich, everyone had to celebrate the New Year. As the end of the year approached, every household began preparing New Year’s goods, so the Tofu and Dried Tofu business had been good for a while.

But as the New Year drew closer, the small vendors coming to buy and sell Tofu dwindled. After all, they had to celebrate the New Year too and weren’t willing to head out at this time.

Zhao Mengcheng waited for him to climb down safely before saying with a smile, “It’s snowing again, so we won’t be opening here until after the fifteenth of the first lunar month. You’ve been busy for over half a year without a break. Just stay home and rest well for the New Year, and spend some time with your mother while you’re at it.”

“I’ll just, just, occasionally, check,” He Shuiqing stammered. “It’s no, no trouble.”

Zhao Mengcheng couldn’t dissuade him, so he could only say, “Then you must be careful. Don’t go up on the roof alone.”

Falling off a roof while sweeping snow happened from time to time. He Shuiqing was an only son and Widow He’s sole support; Zhao Mengcheng didn’t want anything to happen to him.

He only felt at ease after He Shuiqing nodded in agreement.

“Since you’re already here, come over to my house for a bit,” Zhao Mengcheng invited.

Not knowing why, He Shuiqing followed behind him, thinking there was some work to be done at the Zhao family home. To his surprise, once they entered the house, Zhao Mengcheng stuffed a rabbit into his hands.

“Take this back to eat,” Zhao Mengcheng said.

He Shuiqing’s face flushed red. “No, I can’t take it.”

“It’s not for you; it’s to show respect to my auntie. Look, I still have more at home. This was specially prepared for you two. If you don’t accept it, you’re looking down on me.”

Zhao Mengcheng knew his temperament best and immediately used it to his advantage.

Sure enough, He Shuiqing couldn’t refuse. With a red face, he carried the rabbit and left.

On the way, someone saw him and called out, “Shuiqing, that rabbit is quite fat! Did Mengcheng give it to you?”

“Brother, Brother is looking after me,” He Shuiqing would say.

After he passed by, the villagers couldn’t help but gossip. “He used to be as thin as a monkey and didn’t even dare look at people when he spoke. After working for Mengcheng for a year, he’s filled out and even dares to speak up outside.”

“It’s because Mengcheng is kind. He pays him daily wages. Now even Widow He says they can afford to buy meat.”

“No wonder I thought the mother and son looked much healthier lately.”

“Sigh, if I’d known, I would have been thick-skinned enough to go and ask myself. Working for Mengcheng is so good; the pay is generous and never late.”

“The families who learned to make Tofu from him have all made a fortune too. While we’re scraping by, they have money to buy meat. Comparisons really are odious.”

The wind on a snowy day was biting cold. Liu Fengshou, overhearing them nearby, said, “You’re all wearing cotton-padded clothes, aren’t you? Isn’t that also thanks to Mengcheng?”

A nearby villager laughed. “That’s true. These cotton-padded clothes are really warm. In previous years when it snowed, I didn’t even dare step outside.”

“The cotton-padded quilts are great too. It’s not cold at all in the middle of the night. I can’t bear to get up in the morning.”

“I think you just can’t bear to leave your wife.”

He Shuiqing never joined in such idle gossip. He had been a stutterer since birth and was mocked from a young age. Over time, he simply smiled when he saw people and rarely spoke.

When he returned home, Widow He was waiting for her son at the door.

To her surprise, not only was her son back, but he was also carrying a skinned rabbit. “You child, you just helped someone sweep some snow, how could you take so much meat? Take it back quickly.”

Widow He knew her son wasn’t particularly capable. Their family didn’t even own land. What would they do if he lost this job?

So, she was deeply grateful to Zhao Mengcheng. She knew he had been willing to hire her son because he felt pity for the two of them.

There were plenty of people clamoring for such a good job. The village was full of young men who were sharper, smarter, and more capable than her son.

That time she had rushed out to scrap with Zhao Dasao, it was also because she wanted Zhao Mengcheng to know that she and her son were useful.

This morning, seeing it was snowing, she had hurriedly told her son to go help sweep snow. She hadn’t expected the boy to be so socially inept as to come back carrying meat.

A rabbit was worth more than a whole day’s wages.

He Shuiqing didn’t listen to his mother, insisting, “Brother gave, gave it. If I don’t take it, he’ll be unhappy.”

“But we still can’t take it. It’s so much meat,” Widow He clicked her tongue.

He Shuiqing added, “The bean buns at home, give some to Brother. Send, send more.”

Widow He frowned. “I made those myself; are they even good enough to give away?”

To save money, Widow He had always been frugal. Her bean buns weren’t made entirely of beans; she had stuffed some bean dregs inside too.

He Shuiqing smiled. “Mother’s cooking, it’s delicious.”

Widow He immediately brightened up. She turned back into the house and brought out over a dozen buns stacked together. “Then you take them over. You must make sure he accepts them.”

Not long after Zhao Mengcheng returned home, He Shuiqing arrived again, carrying a vegetable basket filled with bean buns.

“My mother made them. Try some while they’re fresh.” Fearing he would refuse, He Shuiqing left the basket and turned to go.

Zhao Mengcheng quickly grabbed him. “At least wait for me to empty the basket.”

As he spoke, he picked up a bean bun, broke it open, and took a bite, praising it. “Auntie’s skill is truly great. I couldn’t make bean buns like this.”

“If Brother likes them, I’ll bring more.” Seeing that he genuinely liked them, He Shuiqing was instantly delighted.

Zhao Mengcheng laughed. “Then I’ll take you at your word. If I want to eat them in the future, I’ll go to your house to get some.”

He Shuiqing was exceptionally happy. “Re, really.”

After the basket was swapped, He Shuiqing left happily.

Zhao Mengcheng asked the three little ones, “Do you want some bean buns?”

“Yes!” Zhao Chun would eat anything, but after tasting one, he put it down. “Not sweet enough.”

Widow He lived frugally, so there naturally wasn’t much sugar in the bean buns. She only spared a tiny bit in the center to give a hint of sweetness.

Zhao Mengcheng, however, truly liked them. Although they weren’t sweet enough, Widow He’s skill was indeed good. Each bite was full of bean aroma, and even the bean dregs didn’t scratch the throat because she had ground them down again.

He had just sat down and eaten one when someone else arrived.

Auntie Wang came over carrying a basket of pumpkin cakes. “I thought you’d like these, so I brought some over. They’re fresh out of the pan; they’re perfect to eat right now.”

The pumpkin cakes were made of glutinous rice, each looking golden-yellow with three finger-marks pressed onto them.

“Thank you, Auntie Wang.”

“Thank you, Grandma Wang.” The three little ones couldn’t take their eyes off them. The pumpkin cakes were fragrant, soft, and chewy; they tasted best when fresh.

Auntie Wang smiled and gave each of them a piece. “Eat them while they’re hot. The flavor isn’t as good once they’re cold.”

She glanced at the bean buns and smiled. “This must be Shuiqing’s mother’s handiwork. She’s the only one in our village who knows how to make bean buns; it’s a dish from her hometown.”

“The taste is quite good. Would you like one, Auntie?” Zhao Mengcheng asked with a smile.

Auntie Wang laughed. “No need, she sent some to my house too. I’ll send her a few pumpkin cakes to try later.”

At the end of the year, every household made fresh food, and it was common for those with good relationships to exchange dishes.

While the three children were gathered around eating pumpkin cakes, Auntie Wang took the opportunity to pull Zhao Mengcheng aside. “Mengcheng, I shouldn’t be the one to say this, but someone asked me to come and inquire.”

Seeing her troubled expression, Zhao Mengcheng said with a smile, “Auntie, you’re my elder. If you have something to say, just say it.”

Auntie Wang finally spoke. “Yunniang has been gone for nearly a year now. Have you thought about taking another wife?”

Zhao Mengcheng hadn’t expected her to bring this up and was stunned for a moment.

Auntie Wang continued, “Yunniang is gone, but the four of you still have to go on with your lives. A household always needs a woman to manage things. You can raise your sons, but Xin’er is a girl; she needs a mother. Otherwise, people will find fault when it’s time for her to marry in the future.”

“Others know our two families are close, so lately people have been asking me to find out your intentions. I think a few of the girls are quite good, which is why I’m asking.”

“Mengcheng, think about this carefully. Let me know once you’ve made up your mind.”

Zhao Mengcheng had already made up his mind. “Auntie, please turn them all down for me.”

Auntie Wang sighed. “I also told them they were being a bit hasty. It hasn’t even been a year since Yunniang passed.”

But Zhao Mengcheng said, “Auntie, I don’t plan on remarrying. It’s fine just me and the three children.”

This time, it was Auntie Wang’s turn to be stunned.

Widows were everywhere, but as long as they had the means, a widower who never remarried was unheard of.

“What do you mean by that? Are you planning to spend the rest of your life alone?”

Auntie Wang had been close to Liu Yunniang, and in her heart, she felt it would be good for Zhao Mengcheng to wait a few more years and remarry once the children were a bit older.

Even so, she hadn’t thought Zhao Mengcheng would stay single forever. After all, he was a man, and a successful one at that, with a new house and extra money.

Zhao Mengcheng was serious: “Auntie, I let Yunniang down. I’m the reason she died so young. Now we have three children, and I only want to raise them. Once they’re grown, I’ll feel I’ve done right by her.”

Auntie Wang sighed inwardly. If only Yunniang were still alive. Mengcheng had become so much more considerate.

But she still advised: “Thinking like that means you’ve already done right by her. But a household needs someone to manage it. Besides, Xin’er is a girl. What will you do when she grows up?”

“Don’t I still have you, Auntie? When the time comes, you can help me teach her,” Zhao Mengcheng smiled.

Fearing Auntie Wang would keep trying to persuade him, Zhao Mengcheng added: “Auntie, I’ve made up my mind. I won’t marry again in this lifetime. Please just turn them all down for me.”

Auntie Wang wasn’t his mother, so seeing his resolve, she said: “Then I’ll turn them down. If you ever change your mind, tell me. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

Zhao Mengcheng didn’t think he would change his mind.

Auntie Wang left with her empty basket. Someone was waiting for her as soon as she got home.

“Well? Did he agree?” It was a woman who had come to propose a match.

Auntie Wang shook her head and relayed Zhao Mengcheng’s message: “Mengcheng says he doesn’t want to look right now. He wants to wait until the kids are older.”

She feared Zhao Mengcheng might change his mind later, so she only said he wanted to wait a few years, not that he intended to stay single forever.

“His boys are nine, and the girl is six. It’s not like they’re babies who can’t speak for themselves and might be bullied by a stepmother. What’s there to fear?”

The matchmaker wouldn’t give up: “Sister, try talking to him again. My girl is perfect in every way, not the type to mistreat children from a previous marriage. If it weren’t for his good character and success, I wouldn’t even want her to be a stepmother.”

Auntie Wang still shook her head: “He refused flat out. If you don’t believe me, go ask him yourself. I won’t do it.”

“I represent the girl’s side, how can I go ask him myself?” the woman sighed.

Auntie Wang said: “If he’s not willing, there’s no use in me talking. You can’t force a cow to eat grass if it doesn’t want to. Since your girl is so good, you don’t need to worry about finding her a good family.”

The woman’s eyebrows shot up: “Is he unwilling to look, or is he looking down on my girl?”

“He really just doesn’t want to look. If he did, he wouldn’t have refused without even meeting her,” Auntie Wang explained quickly.

Seeing she was clear on the matter, the woman had no choice but to leave.

Within two days, everyone in Qingshan Village knew Zhao Mengcheng was determined to remain a widower and never marry again.

Auntie Wang was fuming at home: “When did I ever say Mengcheng would never marry again? How could she spread such nonsense? It’s a good thing Mengcheng didn’t like her daughter; with a mother like that, she definitely wouldn’t be easy to deal with.”

She even went to Zhao Mengcheng’s house specifically to explain.

Zhao Mengcheng didn’t mind and even comforted her with a smile: “It’s fine. I didn’t plan on looking anyway. What she said is the truth.”

Auntie Wang could only sigh and leave.

The villagers were surprised. Liu Bingkun and a few others went to find Zhao Mengcheng to ask: “Brother, is that woman talking nonsense? If she is, I’ll go teach her a lesson.”

The other young men weren’t as detached as he was. With the end of the year approaching, matchmakers were frequenting the village. Even He Shuiqing had started looking at potential matches.

Liu Bingkun was also looking recently and was already engaged to be married, so he was even more upset upon hearing this.

“It’s true. There’s no need to be angry,” Zhao Mengcheng laughed. They were more anxious than he was.

Liu Bingkun was stunned: “Why? Even if you still miss our sister-in-law, you don’t have to miss her for the rest of your life.”

“Well, what can I say? I’m just a hopeless romantic,” Zhao Mengcheng said with a chuckle.

The group was baffled. After walking out, one young man said: “Brother Mengcheng has studied himself silly.”

Liu Bingkun slapped him: “Who are you calling silly? Who in our village is smarter than him?”

“I didn’t mean it like that. I meant that only scholars become hopeless romantics. Brother Mengcheng is the ultimate hopeless romantic.”

Zhao Mengcheng carried the reputation of a great romantic and escaped the trouble of matchmakers, but another trouble soon arose in his home.