As noon approached, fine, dense snowflakes began to drift down from the sky, melting the moment they touched the ground. But after a short while, the fine flurry slowly turned into flakes. A thin layer of snow quickly covered the dry ground, and the rooftops and treetops gradually turned white. This light, shallow dusting made the fields and the village seem ethereal and soft.
However, Zheng Changhe, who was waiting for Qingmu at the Fuxi Grocery Store, was in no mood to admire the snowy scenery. He grew anxious, frowning as he said to Laixi, "Why isn't Qingmu back yet? He promised me he wouldn't eat at his maternal grandmother's house. If he'd said he was staying for lunch there, I would have left long ago. Why would I be stuck waiting until now?"
