Chapter 8

Chapter 5: The Heavy Snow

Zhao Shi's wedding was postponed, not because of his personal objections, but due to the heavy snowfall in the north that winter. Although the weather was beyond Zhao Shi's control, after several consecutive heavy snowfalls, the people who had been talking about the auspicious snow for a bountiful year began to feel uneasy. The sudden snow disaster left the county officials in a frenzy, and the politics of Western Qin were relatively clear. In the face of this once-in-a-century heavy snow, they began to prepare for disaster relief and entered a state of alert. Of course, the alert was for the Tangut people in the north and the braided soldiers in the west.

The impact of the snow disaster on these nomadic tribes was much greater. After such a disaster, the nomadic tribes, lacking food and clothing, would inevitably turn to raiding the border regions. However, the top priority at the moment was to settle the disaster victims, and the border troubles, if any, would be a spring concern.

Although Gongyi County was small, it had few officials, so almost all the officials in the county were mobilized. First, they had to transport the stockpiled clothes and food to the areas severely affected by the snow. After the heavy snow stopped, they had to clear the roads blocked by snow to contact the villages and towns and distribute relief supplies, and to prepare for the rapid arrival of reinforcements in the spring.

Under these circumstances, Zhao Shi's wedding was naturally postponed.

At first, the snow in Zhaojia Village was not too heavy, but after a two-day heavy snowfall, several old and dilapidated houses collapsed. Fortunately, only a few people were injured, and no one died. The villagers divided the tasks, and those without homes were taken in by others, solving the problem.

The food issue was not too serious; the stored food in each household was enough to get them through the harsh winter. However, firewood for heating became a big problem. In previous winters, people would go into the mountains to cut trees, relying on the mountains for their needs. But with the heavy snow, the snow on the mountain paths was almost up to people's thighs, and the surroundings were a vast white expanse. If they went into the mountains now, they would risk freezing to death or getting lost.

The initial clear weather after the heavy snow was the most difficult time for people. During the snowfall, the weather was not too cold, but after the snow stopped, the temperature dropped sharply. This was not the weather of the modern era, influenced by the greenhouse effect of carbon dioxide. The icy, bone-chilling wind seemed to take away all the warmth from people's bodies.

Within two months, several families in the village had run out of food, and if this continued, people would surely die. The elders of the village, respected for their wisdom, gathered and called the young men to discuss the situation.

The people of Zhaojia Village were united. When the elders spoke, the young men all agreed. Each household sent a strong laborer, forming a team of over twenty people to go into the mountains to gather firewood. They also took care of the families with only one male member, so as not to cut off their lineage.

Zhao Wanshan's family had only two men, or more accurately, one and a half. Zhao Shi was too young to be considered a man. Such a family should not have sent anyone, but since Zhao Wanshan was a hunter, he was the most familiar with the mountain terrain and had to guard against wild animals, so he had to go.

Zhao Wanshan was a straightforward man. When others suggested it, he immediately agreed. Before leaving, he instructed Zhao Shi to take care of the house. Zhao Shi casually agreed, and according to his cold nature, he did not show any signs of worry or reluctance.

The situation was almost the same as in the past, though the process was different, the result was the same.

The next day, the team returned, their faces pale and lips blue from the cold, but two people were missing, including Zhao Wanshan.

When Zhao Gouzi handed Zhao Wanshan's three-stone hard bow to Zhao Shi, Zhao Shi's mother fainted on the spot. The two young men automatically placed the firewood they had collected at Zhao Shi's house.

"Your father fell into a snow pit. When we rescued him, he was already gone. We couldn't bring his body down the mountain, so we hid him on the hillside. When the snow melts in the spring, we'll bring him back for burial in the family tomb. If anything happens at home, just come to us. Take care of your mother."

Looking at Zhao Shi, who was silent, Zhao Gouzi and the other man sighed inwardly. The three families were all hunters in the village. In those days, hunters had to be registered with the government, and only hunters had bows, arrows, and other weapons. When the border was in trouble, these hunters were the first to be conscripted. So hunters were different from ordinary villagers and formed their own group. They naturally had good relations with Zhao Wanshan's family.

But in those days, life was not easy. Both men had large families to support. They could help out occasionally, but taking in the widow and her three children was out of the question.

"Thank you, uncles. Please go back," Zhao Shi slowly helped his mother up and said casually.

Compared to the past, these two were still considerate. After his father's death, his relatives and friends had acted as if they didn't know him. From then on, Zhao Shi had a clear understanding of human warmth and coldness. Although his words were still cold, he subconsciously felt some goodwill towards the two men.

The two men exchanged a glance, feeling helpless. In the end, they left half of the firewood they had collected and left Zhao Shi's house.

"Stop crying. Big Sister, boil some water. From now on, no one is allowed to drink unboiled water or interact with strangers from outside the village. Wash your hands before eating. Cui'er, help Big Sister with the cooking." As he spoke, he helped his fainted mother to bed.

The two girls, the older one about fifteen and the younger one about six, were at a loss in the face of such a tragedy. Hearing Zhao Shi's words, they found a sense of direction and began to busy themselves, sobbing.

Looking at the pale, lifeless woman on the bed and hearing the cries of the two girls outside, the room was filled with a heavy atmosphere. For this family, losing Zhao Wanshan was like losing the main pillar. If the woman on the bed had any more problems, only three children would be left in the house.

But Zhao Shi was not thinking about these things. He had seen too many deaths, and he had only been with this family for a year. He did not have deep feelings for them, and whether he had feelings at all was another question.

However, he was always meticulous. While others thought one step ahead, he thought three. He now considered that he needed this identity, so he had to maintain this family. After being here for so long, he knew some of the rules. Without an identity, which was like being a black household in modern times, life would be extremely difficult. The control over the population here was even stricter than in the modern era. Farmers who left their land without official permission were treated as fugitives, so the idea of leaving alone was completely abandoned.

Supporting a few mouths was not a problem for him. Although this body was young and weak, with his skills, keeping the family from freezing and starving was not a big deal.

Moreover, after heavy snow, epidemics often began to spread. After a major disaster, a major epidemic followed, which was a rule. To survive here, he had to take precautions.

As for food, the stored food at home was enough to last through the winter. When the snow melted, he would have to go into the mountains. ...

Judging by the density of the forests, there should not be landslides or mudflows when the snow began to melt. The stream in front of the village might flood for a few days, but it should not pose a threat to the village.

The house needed repairs. He wondered how the third brother was doing, whether he had become a salt inspector. Salt was essential.

He carefully examined the large bow in his hand. It was a good bow, but a bit too large. He tried to draw the bowstring and felt his strength was still weak. He was not unfamiliar with bows. In the jungle, a bow could be more powerful than a gun. Using a bow was not difficult for him.

It seemed that after the snow melted, he would have to find the third brother. The best option would be to have someone make some pulleys. Otherwise, he might need a new bow. A weak bow would not be useful. He hoped that the current technology could make pulleys. If so, should he also try to get a gun? He quickly dismissed this impractical idea. Although the precision required to make pulleys and a simple gun was similar, where would he find bullets or gunpowder? Bows were more practical.

Since he had decided to settle down here, Zhao Shi's thoughts turned to many practical issues, planning for the future.

...

Losing a loved one was undoubtedly painful, but life went on. After a serious illness, Zhao Shi's mother, Wang Shi, gradually accepted the reality of losing her husband. She did not understand great principles, but she had three young children to raise. The harsh reality did not allow her time to dwell on the past.

As the only man in the family, Zhao Shi had to take on more responsibilities. Taking care of his sick mother and comforting his two sisters were complicated tasks. If Zhao Shi were still the eleven-year-old boy he used to be, the family might have fallen apart.

With the help of the villagers and Zhao Shi's direction, the two sisters managed to get through the harsh winter. When Wang Shi's condition improved, the snow had almost melted. As Zhao Shi had predicted, the stream flooded for a few days, but no landslides or mudflows occurred. Zhao Shi felt relieved.

In ancient times, filial piety was highly valued. When Zhao Shi almost forgot about his father's remains in the mountains, Zhao Gouzi had already led a team to retrieve the body. The funeral rites were complex, but it depended on the family. Zhao Wanshan's funeral was simple, without many formalities. Mourning was still necessary, but the three-year mourning period was a rule for scholars, not for ordinary people.

After the seventh day, Zhao Shi took off his mourning clothes.

"Shiwa, where are you going?" Wang Shi, still recovering from her illness and the recent funeral, looked pale and lifeless. She clung to her son's arm, her eyes full of panic and a hint of fierce determination. Her voice was hoarse, scaring the two girls, who shrank back, afraid of their unfamiliar mother.

"I'm going into the mountains."

"You're going into the mountains for what?" Wang Shi, who had already guessed her son's intentions, felt a chill. She could not bear to think of what would happen if her son also met with an accident. She asked subconsciously, gripping Zhao Shi's arm tighter, as if afraid he would not return if she let go.

"The food at home is almost gone." As he spoke, he struggled a bit. In this family, he still listened to Wang Shi the most, and they talked the most. Perhaps it was because he had a similar mother in the past.

"You... you can't go into the mountains. Borrow some food from others. If you go... how will your mother live?" Wang Shi's tears began to flow.

"Brother, don't go. The food at home will last for a while. In a few days, we can sell the animal skins in town to get by. Otherwise, I can go to the city to borrow some from the third brother..." The timid voice came from Zhao Shi's sister, Zhao Qidi, but she stopped speaking under her brother's cold gaze, lowering her head in silence. In this era, women had low status. With Zhao Wanshan gone, Zhao Shi was the undisputed authority in the family, a custom that was a harsh reality of the time.

"That's not a solution. Debts must be repaid."

Wang Shi slowly released her grip. Although they were poor and did not understand great principles, they were the most unwilling to owe others. A small favor would be repaid with a great one. Debts must be repaid, no matter what.

But compared to her son's life, what did these debts matter? She tightened her grip again, but it was too late. She cried out, "I can't let you go into the mountains. You're still young. Wait until you're older, and I won't stop you. Okay?"

But Zhao Shi was unmoved. He turned to his sister and said, "Prepare some rice balls with some oil... I'll be gone for at most a month. Take care of the house. If anything happens, ask the villagers for help. What are you waiting for? Hurry up."