A small plot of land in a mountain village

Chapter 53 Building a Snowman

He couldn't believe Zhang Ting and the others would come all this way to build a snowman. Thinking about it, Zhang Niu realized they were right. The city isn't like the countryside; snow is cleared away by sanitation workers long before it snows. Where would they get snow to build a snowman? No wonder they came here. Only Zhang Niu's open space was suitable for building snow.

While Zhang Niu was deep in thought, Yuan MM and the others took a long cardboard box out of their bag and handed it to him. "Here, this is a gift we bought for you. See if you like it. Consider it a thank you for staying with you last National Day holiday." They smiled as they took the box.

"Thanks." Zhang Niu gently took the cardboard box, feeling its lightness. "Um, can I ask you something? What's this?"

"Who asks someone what the gift is in person? Can't you just open it and see for yourself?" Zhang Ting said hoarsely.

"Hehe. I forgot." He opened the cardboard box and took out a long, silver-white velvet scarf. Zhang Niu was stunned. This gift was a bit too much...

Seeing Zhang Niu standing there dumbfounded, Zhang Ting got up, walked over, and picked up the scarf. He wrapped it around Zhang Niu's neck. "Not bad. It fits quite well, just a bit long."

Zhang Niu just stood there letting Zhang Ting put the scarf on him without saying a word. Pushing the bewildered Zhang Niu in front of the mirror, she said, "Take a look and see if you're satisfied. Yuan Yuan and I searched several shops before finding this one."

Zhang Niu, dressed in a military overcoat, stood in front of the mirror. He had a scarf around his neck, which looked a bit unusual. Still, he forced a smile and said, "Okay, I like it. But you don't need to wear it at home, right?" He then took the scarf off and put it back in the box. Indeed, it wasn't necessary indoors, and no one said anything.

The wind died down. The snow stopped falling heavily.

Zhang Ting and the others, who had been warming their feet inside, wrapped scarves around their necks and stepped out of the bamboo house. Outside, everything was covered in a blanket of white snow. The shouting girls ran to the open space in front of the pond. The area was flat, covered in thick, white snow, except for a few large wolves. There were two wolf footprints.

Watching Zhang Ting playing below, Zhang Niu, his childlike spirit awakened, also grabbed a handful of snow. He squeezed it tightly, and the loose snow quickly became compacted. However, Zhang Niu only squeezed it a few times, afraid that if it became too firm, it wouldn't fall apart when thrown. Besides, it would still hurt.

He threw the snowball at Yuan MM, Zhang Niu's biggest fear. "Bang!" It hit her. Yuan MM, who was still preparing to build a snowman, noticed a snowball mark on her back. Turning around, she saw Zhang Niu laughing in the distance and knew who had thrown the snowball.

Zhang Niu assumed Yuan MM was unaware and was still standing there chuckling. He was oblivious to the fact that he had been exposed to her long ago. Seeing the gaze Yuan MM was giving him, he bent down, grabbed a handful of snow, crumpled it into a ball, and threw it at Zhang Ting.

Seeing Zhang Niu's expression, Yuan MM's anger flared up, and she shouted, "Sisters, how about we have a snowball fight? Let's target him!" She pointed her slender finger at Zhang Niu.

"Okay" was unanimously agreed upon.

Zhang Niu, who was just feeling happy, didn't expect to attract so much firepower. Several snowballs were thrown at him. Suddenly, a snowball hit him on the neck, and the scattered snow fell into his neck. It was so cold!

Thus began the snowball battle, with snowballs flying back and forth, causing the girls who were hit to laugh heartily. They continued to make snowballs. The round-faced girl threw two or three snowballs at a time, flying in a triangular pattern. Zhang Niu was so surprised that he thought he had encountered a martial arts master.

In the end, Zhang Niu surrendered. He was covered in snowball marks. The girls, too, had quite a few snowball marks on them. Zhang Ting, watching from a distance, called out to Zhang Niu, "Come help roll some snowballs. Let's build a snowman."

Rolling a snowball is a skill, and it requires a thick layer of snow. Otherwise, even with the best technique, you won't be able to roll one. Zhang Niu's place, however, has plenty of snow. First, he kneads a small snowball. Then, he gently piles it up on the snow, making it a size larger. The snow on the ground sticks to it. After a few rounds, the snowball, which was initially the size of a fist, becomes a large ball. Eventually, he has to push it with his hands; the snowball is so big that Zhang Niu finally stops rolling it in front of a pond.

Zhang Niu, who was chilly when he came out, was now all warm. His hands, which had been gripping the snow, were red but not cold at all. As soon as he stopped, his hands would feel cold again before they cooled down. Snow is good for people with chilblains. Rubbing chilblains with cold snow often helps them heal faster. Fortunately, Zhang Niu didn't get chilblains on his hands this year.

After rolling a big snowball, they had to roll a smaller one next. After a few breaths, they continued rolling the smaller snowball. The girls, who had just finished their snowball fight, were now taking photos together. Zhang Niu shook his head, watching. "Why isn't anyone coming over to help?" he thought.

Place the small snowball on top of the large snowball. A little snowman is starting to take shape. However, the round-faced girl taking the photo remarked, "Why is this snowman still so white?"

Zhang Niu replied, "This is just a sample. The rest of the styling will depend on you. I'm a rough guy, I'm afraid I won't do a good job."

"Understood. We understand about the design."

Zhang Niu really wants a bowl of warm yellow wine. Last night, Cao Cao discussed heroes over wine. Today, Zhang Niu drinks wine and admires the pristine white snow.

Zhang Ting and her friends quickly made the snowballs look like something out of a movie. The funniest thing was that Fang MM even bought a carrot from the county market to use as a nose. She stuck it on the snowball, which looked rather comical. Zhang Niu found a broom at home and stuck it on the snowball to act as little hands.

The snowman was a bit comical, but that didn't dampen the girls' spirits. Everyone wanted to take a picture with it. They said that last year in the county town square, there was a guy who made money by taking pictures with the snowman, charging 50 cents per photo. Business was booming.

The girl who was taking photos stayed behind. Zhang Niu returned to the kitchen to boil water and skin the rabbit. It was really difficult to handle it when it was frozen stiff.

Zhang Niu, who had just gotten a sore throat, noticed Zhang Ting coming in. "Why don't you stay outside a little longer?"

"I've had enough fun. It's a bit cold, so I came in to warm up. You don't mind me taking your place as the fire-starter, do you?"

"How could that be? I'm more than happy to have you, such a beautiful lady, helping me tend the stove," said Zhang Niu, who was pouring water.

The faint firelight illuminated Zhang Ting's flushed face. Zhang Niu, watching intently, was completely absorbed. He hadn't even noticed the water had been poured out. He smiled gently at Zhang Ting. "Um... you poured out all the water."

"Ahem. Um..." Zhang Niu stammered, unable to speak after Zhang Ting saw through him.

The stove, with its firewood burning brightly, was bustling with activity. Peeling and shredding were done quickly and efficiently. Chopping into pieces. Slicing ginger. Zhang Ting, sitting in front of the mud stove, watched Zhang Niu busy at work. Though of ordinary appearance, he was honest and reliable. He shook his head, seemingly lost in thought...

Seeing the crowd, Zhang Niu took out his newly bought induction cooker. "Let's have hot pot for lunch! Rabbit meat as the broth, plus some bamboo shoots—it'll be delicious! As for vegetables, we'll have Chinese cabbage, bok choy, thinly sliced ​​fresh tofu, and some taro."

There weren't many people, but they ate with great relish. Zhang Niu even added a generous amount of his homemade chili sauce to the broth. It warmed everyone up nicely. All the girls had rosy cheeks from eating.

While eating, Zhang Niu couldn't help but glance at Zhang Ting and Yuan MM, noticing that their skin was much fairer than before. Compared to the other girls, the difference was truly striking.

First update! I still have to shamelessly ask for recommendations and favorites.