Chapter 160: The Team’s Sow Is Having a Difficult Labor?
After receiving the system’s response, Ning Xiyue went back to the study to learn. When she was tired of studying, she switched to weaving a few flower baskets to relax her mind and body.
By now, learning and practicing from the Complete Guide to Household Weaving had become a form of after-class relaxation for her. Immersive weaving calmed her mind, emptied her thoughts, and put her in a state of peaceful ease.
Moreover, the woven items could be recycled by the system, earning her some extra points — truly a great way to relax.
After weaving twenty baskets and recycling them, she was only 320 points away from the 1,000 points needed to exchange for the final piece of material to upgrade her spatial dimension.
Satisfied, Ning Xiyue stopped and went to sleep.
As she lay down, she heard the howling wind outside and the trees rustling violently. Guessing that a snowstorm was raging outside, she wrapped herself tighter in the quilt. Feeling the warmth rising from the heated brick bed (kang), she finally drifted off into a peaceful sleep.
Since she didn’t have to return to the clinic the next day, Ning Xiyue decided to sleep in a little longer.
But she was awakened by the cold.
Forced to get up, she started a fire to heat the kang.
Chen Yechu woke up as well, her eyes half-open and sleepy. “Xiyue, did the cold wake you too?”
“Mm, the kang wasn’t warm, it was uncomfortable sleeping. I kept feeling cold drafts blowing in,” Ning Xiyue replied, rubbing her eyes as she slowly sat up and began dressing.
Thankfully, the clothes had been warmed under the quilt, so putting them on felt cozy.
“I wonder how heavy the snowfall is outside for the temperature to drop this fast.”
“Tonight I’ll light a fire on my side too, add more charcoal, and keep it burning strong.”
Indeed, Chen Yechu’s earthen stove was connected to their kang from the other side.
Originally, they planned to take turns heating the kang, but now it seemed best to do it together — or perhaps add another thick quilt.
Ning Xiyue got out of bed and opened the door. A blast of icy wind swept in, mixed with snowflakes, making her shiver. She quickly pulled her head back in and shut the door.
“The snow’s heavy and it’s freezing — wear more layers,” she reminded Chen Yechu before rummaging through the closet for winter gear.
Hat, earmuffs, scarf, gloves, thick cotton boots, and an army coat — she pulled everything out.
She also grabbed a thick quilt and tossed it on the bed.
The moment Ning Xiyue had opened the door, Chen Yechu had already felt how bitterly cold it was outside. That single gust of wind made her burrow back into the quilt to put on clothes before poking her head out again.
It felt even colder than in her previous life.
While Ning Xiyue was suiting up for winter, Chen Yechu dug out her own stash of winter clothes too.
Ning Xiyue, now fully geared up, put everything on.
The army coat was large and loose, and she threw it directly over her thick cotton jacket. With the heavy coat wrapped around her like a quilt, she immediately felt warm all over — not cold at all.
Looking at her bundled-up self in satisfaction, she smiled. Now she wouldn’t freeze outside.
“Yechu, are you ready? I’m going to open the door.”
“Go ahead, I’m ready,” Chen Yechu replied from behind the curtain where she was dressing.
Once Ning Xiyue saw the curtain pulled shut, she opened the door and stepped outside.
The world outside was a white, snow-covered wonderland. Thick snow blanketed the ground, and large, fluffy flakes were still falling from the sky.
“Phew, so cold…”
The cold was even harsher than she had imagined. Ning Xiyue tightened her army coat around herself and tucked her hands into her sleeves.
“Xiyue, you’re up! Want to build a snowman?” Liu Yao called out cheerfully, waving a shovel in her hand. Two large snowballs were already in front of her — she had clearly been at it for a while.
“You go ahead. I’m going to make breakfast first.”
Without hesitation, Ning Xiyue turned and ran toward the kitchen. The kitchen suited her far better.
Honestly, she really admired Liu Yao. Just by looking at the snowballs in front of her, she could tell how early the girl had gotten up to start building a snowman.
Giving up the comfort of a warm bed on a winter morning to go play in the snow? That took guts — something Ning Xiyue didn’t have.
As she reached the kitchen door, Xiao Hui, her wolf companion, heard her footsteps and darted out of its little door, bounding happily around her.
Seeing that it wasn’t cold, Ning Xiyue felt relieved.
After breakfast, girl and wolf each went their separate ways to play.
Xiao Hui ran off into the mountains on its own, while Ning Xiyue, holding an umbrella and carrying the gray cashmere yarn and knitting tools she had signed in for at the department store, went to visit Aunt Yangliu.
They had arranged to spend time together the day before.
When she arrived, Aunt Yangliu was there along with Aunt Qiujü. Aunt Qiujü was sewing shoe soles, while Aunt Yangliu’s hands were flying as she crocheted a sweater. A small brazier was burning warmly between them.
“Xiyue’s here! Come, sit and warm yourself by the fire,” Aunt Yangliu said, placing a stool beside them.
Ning Xiyue greeted them, sat down, and took out her yarn and needles to start knitting.
“Xiyue, what are you knitting? Those needles are so thick,” Aunt Qiujü asked curiously, glancing at her hands.
“A scarf. This one’s for my second brother. If I knit quickly, I can finish it today and give it to him tomorrow. We live close by, so it’s convenient.”
She held up the scarf she had just started and showed it to the two aunts.
“It’s beautiful. The yarn feels so soft, too. You siblings really have a great relationship.”
The two women gently touched the yarn.
Ning Xiyue chuckled sheepishly and continued knitting.
The three of them chatted and knitted together. Sometimes, the two aunts taught her new patterns, and before she knew it, the scarf in her hands was already halfway done.
“Yangliu, is the girl Xiyue here? Yangliu! Xiyue!”
At that moment, an anxious shout came from outside the door.
“Sounds like Chunsheng,” Aunt Qiujü said, perking up her ears.
“Yes, we’re here!” Aunt Yangliu and Ning Xiyue responded in unison.
Aunt Yangliu quickly walked over to open the door.
Moments later, Aunt Chunsheng rushed in, panting heavily. The moment she saw Ning Xiyue standing there, she ran straight toward her — but slipped and fell flat on the ground.
“Oh! Be careful!”
All three women were startled and hurried over to help her up.
Seeing her panicked expression, Aunt Yangliu asked, “Hey, Chunsheng, did you hurt yourself? Calm down. What do you need Xiyue for? Tell us the situation first — she can’t help if she doesn’t know what’s going on.”
“Exactly, explain it so we can help too,” Aunt Qiujü added, holding her by the arm.
Ning Xiyue looked at Aunt Chunsheng, waiting for her to speak.
Rubbing her sore knee, Aunt Chunsheng anxiously slapped her thigh. “Our team’s sow is having a difficult labor!”
“What?”
The three women were stunned on the spot, digging at their ears in disbelief.
