Chapter 3

Pa~~

Gee~~

Heh, I walk mountain roads, cross small streams~

I drive the ox cart, chop firewood~

On the cart sits my little sister~

"Ah, my sister~"

"Bang!"

"Ride~~"

Perhaps sensing that the young master behind him was in a low mood, Niu Wuye waved his ox whip ahead, and as the ox cart left the village without going far, a Danzhou folk tune began to be sung.

Though already near his seventies, his deep, resonant voice rang powerfully, echoing across the vast white snowfield, spreading outward, the reverberation lingering endlessly.

This folk tune was learned by Niu Wuye from Niu Dingtian when he first rode Niu Wuye's cart.

After mastering it, he was as delighted as a child, singing it several times each time he drove the cart, even if passersby mocked him with "old man, no shame," Niu Laoyezi remained oblivious, reveling in it.

Listening to the familiar song, Niu Dingtian's mood lifted, and at that moment they arrived at the head of Red Plum Village.

Niu Dingtian disembarked from the ox cart, bid farewell to Niu Laoyezi, and headed toward a familiar spot in the village.

"Bang bang—"

Niu Dingtian lifted his hand, and a soft knocking on the door sounded.

"Who's there? *cough* *cough*"

"Creak—"

"Dingtian?"

When the door opened and the people inside saw Niu Dingtian, their previously pallid, listless faces instantly brightened.

"Sir…"

Niu Dingtian steadied his excitement, called out softly, then at the doorway gave the person a deep bow.

"Dingtian, come in quickly."

"When did you return?"

As Niu Dingtian rose, Bao scholar helped him up by the arm and pulled him inside, asking after his health along the way. Niu Dingtian quickly bent down, took his hand, and escorted him back, following him into the house.

"Sir, how is your health? Have you gotten better?"

"Alas, same as before, nothing much changed. The private school no longer inquires, so I'm at ease. Ha ha, Teacher, how fortunate I am—having taught a student like you, I have no regrets in this life!"

"Sir."

"Teacher."

Compared with the bustle inside, the courtyard felt desolate; the two barren pomegranate trees on the east and west seemed long unattended.

Their branches tangled messily, and a thick layer of untouched snow covered the ground, as if burying something.

In previous years, this place would be bustling with chickens, ducks, geese, rabbits, and that charming, kind senior sister.

Last year today, within this gate,

Human faces reflected in the pink peach blossoms, red.

The faces have gone nowhere,

Yet the peach blossoms still smile at the spring breeze.

Inside, hearty laughter echoed from time to time; as the two conversed, noon arrived unnoticed.

At noon, Bao scholar himself cooked a fine spread and fetched two jars of good wine from the village head.

For a moment they even forgot that Niu Dingtian was only a six‑year‑old child, and forgot his frail body, and began to clink cups with the proud disciple.

When the wine was at its peak, Bao scholar's hazy eyes rippled; gazing at the empty courtyard, perhaps recalling his sorrow, tears suddenly streamed down.

"Dingtian, since the tragedy at Niu Clan Village that day, your senior sister has been neither seen alive nor found dead. Poor my kind child, I wonder if we'll ever meet again in this life."

"Teacher never wished to bring this up, but my frail body doesn't know how many more years I can endure."

"Teacher only hopes that, should you ever see your senior sister again, you can look after her for me, given her gentle and fragile nature, lest she suffer further!"

"Sir, actually—"

Niu Dingtian felt reluctant, wanting to say something, but seeing Bao scholar already drunk and collapsed on the table, snoring rhythmically.

"Perhaps not finding hope is better than a dead end; at least there's still a chance to look for it. Niu Clan Village lies over two thousand li from Beidi's capital; if you knew, Sir, you'd surely go regardless of your health, especially since it's in enemy territory. Yet my body now…"

While pondering, Niu Dingtian painstakingly dragged Bao scholar to the inner couch.

He then wiped the grime from Bao scholar's face with a handkerchief, covered him with a cotton quilt, left a writing pad, and stepped out to wash the dishes.

After cleaning up, the setting sun had already sunk low.

Niu Dingtian cast a deep glance at the quiet courtyard, shut the gate, and walked toward the village entrance.

"Hey, we trek the mountain path, cross the little river~"

"I drive the ox cart, chop firewood~"

"My sister sits on the cart, hey~"

Riding the ox cart back to the village, Niu Laoyezi, in high spirits, sang that folk tune again.

Listening to the song, Niu Dingtian's childlike heart surged, and, leaning behind Niu Wuye, he laughed and asked:

"Grandpa Niu, when you were young, did the ox cart ever carry a beautiful sister?"

"Ha ha~~"

Niu Wuye, hearing this, let out a delighted laugh, said nothing, but his smile was as sweet as honey.

"Indeed,"

"Human faces have gone nowhere,"

The peach blossoms still smile in the spring breeze.

Who's heart still lacks a piece of white moonlight?

(End of chapter)