The room fell silent in an instant.
The only sound left was the north wind, driving the heavy snow against the plastic sheeting over the window with a loud, rustling slap.
Wang Lanhua whipped around. Who else could be standing in the doorway but Zhou Zhijun?
Snow clung to him from head to toe. His somber gaze swept across the room before settling on Chuntao’s slightly pale face.
Then he glanced at Wang Lanhua and Li Dazhuang, and finally at Wang Xiaoming, who was trembling with anger.
He said nothing. He strode into the room and stopped beside Chuntao, his broad frame like a solid wall shielding her from harm.
“What are you making all this noise for in the middle of the night?”
Zhou Zhijun’s voice was not loud, but it carried a bone-chilling coldness. Just standing there was enough to make Li Dazhuang uneasy.
He quickly tugged Wang Lanhua back a step. “Lanhua, stop arguing. Whatever it is, talk it out calmly.”
Wang Lanhua felt guilty inside, but she still refused to back down. “This is a matter for the Wang family. It’s none of an outsider’s business!”
“An outsider?” Zhou Zhijun let out a cold laugh. “Chuntao is my wife. She’s always treated Xiaoming like her own younger brother. You, his older sister, never come around normally, but you show up out of nowhere in this heavy snow and start making a scene here. And you still have the nerve to call this a family matter?”
He paused, then said each word clearly, “If you want to make a fuss, go home and do it there. Don’t come here again to curse and carry on. Say one more word, and don’t blame me for being rude.”
Wang Xiaoming stood to one side, watching Zhou Zhijun protect Chuntao. His heart felt both sour and warm, but he only gritted his teeth and remained silent.
Wang Lanhua’s face flushed red, then turned pale. She wanted to curse, but she did not dare. All she could do was glare viciously at Chuntao.
“Fine! Just you wait! Don’t think you can get your hands on the Wang family property. Not a chance!”
Li Dazhuang hurriedly tried to calm her. “Say a little less. The two kids are still at home. Let’s go…”
He pulled her toward the door, but Wang Lanhua was still unwilling to leave. She turned around and shouted at Wang Xiaoming, “I’m your sister! I’ll keep the family’s things safe for you. I’m the only one who won’t cheat you!”
The two of them soon disappeared into the snowstorm, their retreating figures looking thoroughly defeated.
Zhou Zhijun turned back to Chuntao, his voice softening at once. “Are you all right?”
Chuntao shook her head. Her heart ached, yet at the same time she felt deeply reassured.
Wang Xiaoming stepped forward, lowered his head, and said in a muffled voice, “Uncle Zhijun, I’m sorry. I’ve caused you and Aunt Chuntao trouble again.”
Zhou Zhijun patted him on the shoulder. “What nonsense are you talking about? From now on, just call me whenever something happens.”
“The soup’s ready. Come back and have some.” Zhou Zhijun took Chuntao’s hand and looked down at her.
Wang Xiaoming was still standing right there, and Chuntao, embarrassed, tried to pull her hand free. But Zhou Zhijun only tightened his grip.
She stopped struggling and obediently let him lead her.
Zhou Zhijun looked at Wang Xiaoming. “Xiaoming, come on. Let’s go have some soup.”
Wang Xiaoming was just about to refuse when Zhou Zhijun’s other large hand landed on his shoulder.
“Come on!”
His tone allowed no argument as he guided Wang Xiaoming outside.
Wang Xiaoming did not refuse again. “All right. You go on ahead. I’ll lock up and follow.”
The snow outside was falling harder than ever. Wind drove the icy flakes against their faces, making them sting with pain.
As soon as they stepped outside, Zhou Zhijun raised his arm and held his broad palm over Chuntao’s head. He leaned half his body toward her, shielding her completely in his embrace.
The wind and snow battered his back, covering his shoulders in a soft layer of white. Chuntao huddled against his chest, hardly feeling the cold wind at all.
He walked with steady, sure steps, making his way home through the thick snow.
By the time they returned to the main room, Zhou Zhijun’s back was covered in snow.
Chuntao stepped forward to brush it off him. When she saw how the wind had reddened his profile, her eyes grew hot and she nearly burst into tears.
The two children were already asleep. The old Aunt and Uncle Zhou were drinking soup in the kitchen. When they saw the couple return, Aunt Zhou quickly filled two bowls of food.
“Zhijun, hurry and take the noodles over there. Drink them while they’re hot. They’ll warm you up!”
Aunt Zhou then turned to look toward the doorway. “How come Xiaoming isn’t here?”
“I’m here, Granny!”
Wang Xiaoming walked in carrying a shallow basket. A thin layer of snow covered it, but the eggs inside were clearly visible.
“Xiaoming, what did you bring that for? Take it back later!”
“I brought them to steam some egg custard for the two little ones.”
Wang Xiaoming entered the kitchen and set the basket on the cutting board.
Aunt Zhou quickly ladled him a bowl of steaming sesame-leaf noodle soup. “Drink up and warm yourself!”
That child, Xiaoming, was so kindhearted. How had he ended up with a mother like Liu Cuilan?
Aunt Zhou looked at him with pity, but she did not dare mention his plan to join the army.
The heavy snow continued through the night. By morning, a thick blanket covered the courtyard, and long icicles hung from the eaves.
Early the next morning, Zhou Zhijun got up and shoveled the snow, piling it around the roots of the tree in the courtyard.
The old Aunt and Uncle Zhou were cooking in the kitchen, while Chuntao lay in a warm bed with the two children nestled against her.
The quilt she was using had been newly made that year, with fresh fabric on both sides and brand-new cotton inside. A full ten jin of cotton had gone into it, making the quilt large, thick, and wonderfully warm.
Jianshe had originally been sleeping in Aunt Zhou’s arms. When Aunt Zhou got up to prepare breakfast, she wrapped him in a swaddling blanket and carried him into Chuntao’s bed.
Both children were awake now. After being fed, neither cried nor fussed. They lay facing each other, blinking their large eyes as they stared at one another.
“Ah!”
Jianshe reached out first and touched Nuannuan’s warm little cheek. He babbled happily, his friendly expression seeming to say, “Good morning.”
Nuannuan, however, grabbed his hand and stuffed it into her mouth, gently sucking on it.
The sensation tickled Jianshe, and he could not help bursting into delighted giggles.
Chuntao lay on her side, watching the two adorable babies. Tenderness filled her eyes and softened the corners of her lips.
Aunt Zhou came in after finishing breakfast. Seeing how cute the two children were, she smiled from ear to ear.
“These two little rascals are clever. They know it’s cold and aren’t making a fuss about getting up. If it were summer, they wouldn’t stay in bed for a minute!”
“Mm-hmm!”
Chuntao was preparing to get up, but Aunt Zhou stopped her. “Don’t rush. Zhijun is making a fire in the east room. He’s warming your clothes and the children’s before you put them on.”
As she spoke, Aunt Zhou gathered the clothes for Chuntao and the two babies and carried them into the east room.
She brought Jianshe’s clothes over first and dressed him while they were still warm.
Zhou Zhijun brought over Chuntao’s and Nuannuan’s clothes as well, and Aunt Zhou hurried to dress Nuannuan.
The two little ones had remained quiet and content while lying under the covers, but once Jianshe had his clothes on, he became so excited that he began bouncing wildly.
“Oh my, look at you!” Aunt Zhou exclaimed, quickly catching him before he could bounce right off the bed.
He was already over ten months old, and Jianshe was sturdier than Nuannuan. A few days earlier, he had even learned to take several steps.
Nuannuan was happy once she had her clothes on too. The corners of her little mouth curved upward as her big eyes blinked inquisitively. Through the plastic sheeting over the window, she gazed outside with endless curiosity.
After getting dressed, Chuntao was about to go to the outhouse when Zhou Zhijun unexpectedly carried in a chamber pot.
With Aunt Zhou in the room, how could Chuntao possibly bring herself to use it?
“It’s broad daylight, and I’m already up.”
“It’s cold outside. Use the chamber pot. I’ll take it out in a moment.”
Aunt Zhou agreed as well. “Exactly. Don’t go outside and catch a chill!”
She wrapped Nuannuan snugly in the quilt, picked up Jianshe, and carried him into the front room.
Chuntao could not argue with Zhou Zhijun and had no choice but to use the chamber pot.
“Wait here. I’ll bring you some water.”
Zhou Zhijun carried the chamber pot outside, then brought back a basin of warm water so Chuntao could wash up.
After she finished washing, he brought the food over and placed it right in front of her. He did everything smoothly and efficiently, as though he had done it countless times before.
Aunt Zhou watched him dote on his wife and was so pleased that she could hardly keep her mouth from smiling.
The heavy snow continued for several days before finally stopping. During those days, Zhou Zhijun would not let Chuntao step outside the main room. She stayed tucked under the quilt while he brought her every meal, along with anything else she needed.
Everyone who dropped by the Zhou family’s home said that Zhou Zhijun knew how to treat a woman well, and that Chuntao was truly blessed.
When those words reached Huang Meili’s ears, she was so furious that she gave Zhou Zhimin a thorough tongue-lashing.
Afterward, she stormed out. When she saw Zhou Zhaodi sitting by the wall, basking in the sun and cracking sunflower seeds, she went over and joined her.
“That shameless Li Chun Tao. Who knows what kind of love potion she gave Zhou Zhijun? She serves him food and drink three times a day, and even takes care of his bathroom needs right there in the room…”
Zhou Zhaodi felt a sudden tightness in her chest when she heard this.
“Li Chun Tao, that vixen…” she cursed.
But before she could finish, the corner of her mouth suddenly began to twitch violently, and her face flushed a dark purple-red.
The next moment, her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed stiffly to the ground.
