The next morning, a light breeze blew, bringing with it a hint of chill. It was March 24th. Another day had passed.
The sky looked as if it were draped in a thin veil of gauze, with a gentle drizzle falling—fine as ox hair, delicate as flower needles—weaving a hazy curtain of rain. Under the soft caress of the mist, the Wooden Courtyard at the foot of the mountain transformed instantly into a poetic ink-wash painting. Crystal-clear droplets hung from the blue-tiled roof, dripping down from the eaves and splashing into tiny blooms of water. Everywhere in the Wooden Courtyard that wasn't paved with flagstones turned into a muddy mess.
Since moving away from the villagers, the Si family had rebuilt their kitchen with blue tiles and flagstone flooring, specifically to avoid the inconvenience of cooking during rainy weather. At the first sign of dawn, Fang Yingqiu, Madam Liu, and the others rose quietly and headed straight to the kitchen to light the fire. Flames danced in the hearth, dispelling the dampness and casting a rosy glow on their busy faces.
Chapter 312