The two of them strolled leisurely to the distant riverbank, gazing at the vast farmlands.
The fields were long abandoned by evening, and the distant village was brightly lit, with the faint sounds of laughter carried over, indistinct yet heartwarming.
There were still light snowflakes in the sky, turning to raindrops upon touching one's face, bringing a refreshing chill. The snow in the fields had long melted, clearing the way, and the fields were slightly moist, making the soil look rich.
A prosperous year is foretold by the auspicious snow.
In reality, every household had no surplus grain this year. Some might be better off in the city, where a little girl's mother still called for dumplings, but in the countryside, poverty likely lingered. Yet the laughter indicated no gloom over the passing year, but rather an expectation for the one to come.
