The end of the year was drawing near, and the weather was at its coldest—bone-chillingly cold, the kind where water froze the moment it fell. Late one night, just as she was about to go to bed, Xu Changqing heard someone knocking and calling out from outside her home.
She could make out her third uncle's voice shouting at the door. Xu Changqing froze for a moment, and when it registered, she was so startled that she forgot to even grab a padded coat before rushing to open the door.
'The New Year is almost here. I really hope nothing has happened to Third Aunt—she didn't visit tonight even though we just celebrated the Little New Year last night. Or worse, that something's happened to Grandma or Grandpa back home.'
Two people were standing outside the door.
"Don't come out, it's cold outside. We're coming in." Hearing her call him "Uncle," Bai Laosan quickly reached out and pushed Xu Changqing, who was lifting the padded door curtain, back inside.
