Chapter 51

Xu Hao and Hongye returned excitedly with a food box filled with fruits. Along the way, the servants were clearing the snow from the paths, but the snow in the garden was left untouched, reserved for viewing.

The snow, though heavy, was not thick, otherwise Xu Hao would have worried about the roof collapsing. Hongye instructed Dongxue to take the fruits back to Tianxiang Pavilion and, with undiminished enthusiasm, pulled Xu Hao to look for plum blossoms.

The mountains, rocks, and trees were all covered in silver, the crystal-clear and clean world making one forget the worries of the mundane world. Hongye was as cheerful as a little magpie, chirping and shouting.

At times, she would scoop up a handful of snow and throw it at her brother's face, laughing heartily; at other times, she would stand on tiptoe, stick out her little tongue, and taste the snow on the railing with her eyes half-closed; and at other times, she would spin carefree in the snow, her colorful snow clothes dancing in the wind.

"Be careful not to fall."

Xu Hao, with snow on his face, quickly reminded her. Plop! The "little magpie," dizzy from spinning, fell to the ground, sprawling out in the snow.

Xu Hao laughed heartily, went forward to help Hongye up, and bent down to brush the snow off her. Hongye let her brother take care of her and complained, "You're so bad, you didn't hold me."

Xu Hao laughed and said, "I was so captivated by your beauty that I forgot everything."

"Really?" Hongye immediately turned from being upset to happy, smiling foolishly.

"Of course not, I just saw a little madcap spinning around foolishly, and I got dizzy."

Xu Hao laughed and ran forward, while Hongye, angry, squatted down and quickly grabbed a handful of snow, chasing after him and shouting, "Wait for me, this time I won't let you off."

Thus, the brother and sister, lost in their own world, ran and chased each other, leaving a trail of laughter in the snowy winter garden.

As they ran, Hongye suddenly stopped, sniffing the air, and said, "Can you smell it? The faint fragrance of plum blossoms."

Xu Hao looked around and saw that they had unknowingly run to the foot of a small hill behind the Peony Pavilion. It was said that in the early years, the old lady had intended to build a nunnery on the hilltop, but the project was almost completed when the imperial court issued an edict to investigate the authenticity of the ordination certificates of all monks and nuns, ordering a large number of them to return to their hometowns and farm. Seeing this, the major families in the capital also asked the masters they supported to leave their residences. The old lady, following the trend, abandoned the project.

Later, the hilltop was turned into a pavilion for viewing the scenery and a few elegant rooms for rest. Due to the steep and rugged mountain path, the old lady had repeatedly warned her grandchildren not to play there. However, when they were young, they often sneaked up to play, and once Xu Ji almost fell off the hill, causing all the brothers to be punished with kneeling. As they grew older and understood the risks, they gradually stopped going there.

Xu Hao said curiously, "Your nose is really good, I can't smell anything."

"Because I'm smart," Hongye said proudly, her eyes brightening as she pointed to the hill and said, "I almost forgot, there are a few plum trees up there. Let's go up quickly."

Xu Hao was pulled along by Hongye, shaking his head as they walked, "The stone steps are covered with snow, it's too dangerous. Hey! Who's so diligent?"

They saw that the stone steps were clean, clearly having been swept. The brother and sister looked at each other, puzzled. There were only a few servants near the Peony Pavilion, and it was unlikely that anyone would come to clean such a long mountain path.

"Is it because Grandmother is coming to view the snow?" Hongye guessed.

"Must be," Xu Hao nodded in agreement. Both of them, their childlike hearts stirred, decided to race up the hill to steal a few plum branches. They started climbing the stone steps together.

In their childhood memories, the mountain path was long and dangerous, but now that they were grown, they found it much easier to walk, and it wasn't long at all. In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, they arrived at the pavilion.

Two maids were sweeping the stone steps. From a distance, Hongye waved and called out, "Why are you two here?"

Xu Hao recognized them as the two maids, Juan'er and Pan'er, who served Xu Cuiliu. Both were about fourteen or fifteen years old, and their faces were flushed from the labor. Hearing someone call, they looked up and waved back with smiles.

Pan'er laughed, "Why are you here? Our young lady is inside, collecting snow to make tea."

Xu Cuiliu, who was naturally charming, had such refined tastes. Xu Hao smiled and nodded, and Hongye, curious, continued up the hill. Turning a corner, a fragrant scent wafted over, and the red walls revealed branches of plum blossoms, their red dots standing out against the snow.

"Fourth Sister really knows how to find a good spot, keeping it a secret from us," Hongye said, slightly annoyed, but couldn't help but admire the beauty of the scene.

Entering the courtyard, they saw Xu Cuiliu, dressed in plain white, squatting under the veranda, fanning a stove. She looked up and smiled, "I've been busy all morning collecting just a little snow from the plum blossoms. You two came just in time. Since you're here, please try my snow tea."

Xu Hao laughed, "You must be bored. The taste is not much different from well water, the charm lies in the elegance."

Xu Cuiliu smiled lightly, "You understand elegance, which is good. Making tea is like writing or painting; different people can create endless variations. Water, though seemingly the same, can be very different. The ten famous waters in the Classic of Tea can be appreciated by refined scholars, while ordinary people use it just to quench their thirst."

Xu Hao said self-deprecatingly, "I'm just an ordinary person. You enjoy your snow water, I'll drink my well water."

Seeing her fourth sister in a beautiful white dress, surrounded by red plum blossoms, looking more beautiful than the flowers, and doing such an elegant and interesting thing, Hongye felt a deep admiration. She teased, "I think this place is great. I'll call the others to come over and have a barbecue in the courtyard."

"Oh, my dear little niece," Xu Cuiliu laughed and waved her hands, surrendering, "Please spare me. I worked so hard to clean this place, I can't let you ruin it."

Hongye, feeling both proud and spoiled, stretched out her hand, "Then I want a few plum branches."

"Alright, I'll pick them for you now."

Xu Cuiliu immediately agreed and walked toward a red plum tree. Xu Hao, seeing this, rolled up his sleeves and caught up with her, saying, "I'll do it."

Under Hongye's direction, Xu Hao struggled to pick three plum branches and handed them to Xu Cuiliu, who was standing below. Hongye took them happily and said, "This one is for Mother, this one for Eldest Sister, and this one I'll keep for myself."

Xu Hao sighed inwardly, having worked so hard without even a branch for himself. He had no choice but to accept it.

Xu Cuiliu then invited them inside to have tea. Hongye savored the Biluochun tea made with snow water and, inspired by the moment, pointed outside and recited, "The sky faintly meets the floating mist, the sleeping peaks appear even more charming. The northern snow just falls, like powder on the face, the morning mist gently ripples, the water reflects blue. Seeking the red plum on the cliff, the solitary pine accompanies the green willow; this is the true face of the mountain spirit, who will taste the clear tea on the Lantern Festival?"

Xu Cuiliu was delighted and said, "I must write this down and frame it to hang on the wall. Thank you, Hongye, for adding such beauty to my place."

Xu Hao was taken aback and quickly said, "Are you planning to live here? That won't do, Eldest Sister just gave up the idea of becoming a nun, and now you're causing trouble."

Xu Cuiliu laughed and explained, "I just like the quiet here, nothing more. Since the kitchen was added to the courtyard, it's been noisy with people coming and going."

"I see," Xu Hao thought. Before they were married, they could be free and indulge in their whims. His job was to fulfill their wishes as much as possible.

Looking at the current Xu Cuiliu, as lively and lovely as Hongye, but the old lady and the elders didn't like her appearance, saying it was too worldly. But who knew about her pure heart? It truly proved the saying that one cannot judge a person by their appearance. In contrast, many seemingly pure and beautiful women in the modern world try to expose their bodies and sleep with others as naturally as breathing, claiming it's for art and liberation, but in reality, it's for fame and money.

How truly vulgar!

Xu Hao felt disdain in his heart, but at the same time, he was planning to buy a few beauties to keep when he had money, not as many as Su Dongpo's hundreds of dancers, but at least one of each type.

How truly vulgar!

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