C8 The First Snow Surnamed Zhixian Was Called Zhixian

"Mr. Ye, Zhixian is back."

A crisp, childlike voice echoed from behind the old wooden door as a charming little boy peeked out shyly.

The boy was strikingly handsome, not at all resembling a child from an ordinary family. Instead, he bore the air of a young master from a wealthy household.

He was dressed in a green silk tunic, and on his delicate feet, he wore a pair of impressive tiger-head shoes. Around his ankles, a string of tiny silver bells tied with a red cord jingled melodiously with each step he took.

Silk clothing was a rarity for most, and even more so for children's attire. People in the mountains typically wore coarse fabric, and children's clothes were even more basic, often repurposed from old garments at home. The fact that he wore a silk tunic was a testament to the extraordinary affection his family had for him.

"You're back, that's great. Put the things on the table and get ready to eat. I'll go and serve up some porridge for you."

Mr. Ye gestured for the boy to sit down properly as he patted the chair, then stood up and headed into the kitchen in the backyard.

The boy playfully stuck out his tongue at Mr. Ye and placed a large oil-paper-wrapped package on the freshly cleaned table. Inside were two hot sesame cakes, their aroma utterly enticing.

...

"Did Grandpa Wu sneak some extra sugar into your treat again?" Mr. Ye asked as he brought out two bowls of warm white rice porridge from the kitchen, catching a whiff of the sweet scent in the air.

"Grandpa Wu added it just for Zhixian. The sugared sesame cake is mine, and I won't share it with you, Mr. Ye."

Upon hearing Mr. Ye's words, the boy quickly covered his cake with his small hands, his face etched with worry that Mr. Ye might take his sugared treat.

"Eating too much sugar isn't good for you. Wash your hands and have some porridge instead."

With a resigned smile, Mr. Ye pushed the bowl of porridge toward the boy and gave him a mock-serious warning. He then took the boy's chubby little hand and cleaned it with a damp white cloth.

"Thank you, Mr. Ye. Next time Grandpa Wu offers to add sugar for Zhixian, I'll say no. Adding crushed peanuts would be just fine."

The boy's clear eyes twinkled as he listened to Mr. Ye's words, and he couldn't help but laugh again. He munched on his sugar-sprinkled sesame cake while sipping on his warm porridge contentedly.

Their breakfast was simple: porridge and sesame cake. Yet, with the street cries and the hum of music in the background, it took on a special flavor.

Stealing a glance upwards, the boy observed the blind youth who had been his sole companion for the past three years. He was well aware that it was Mr. Ye who had found him abandoned in the snow. Without Mr. Ye, he wouldn't be here today.

Mr. Ye once recounted that, three years prior, a merchant caravan had been ambushed by bandits on a snow-blocked mountain pass. Everyone was slain, save for a fortunate infant hidden away in a large chest, overlooked by the marauders.

The infant's cries in the snowy wilderness had drawn the attention of Mr. Ye, who was out gathering firewood. It was he who rescued the child and brought him home. It was likely that his biological parents were among those fallen to the bandits' hands.

Yet the boy felt no sorrow; he had no recollection of his parents whom he had never met. From his earliest memories, it was always Mr. Ye who cared for him.

Mr. Ye had nourished him with goat's milk rice soup when he was little, bought him candy figurines, and clothed him in new garments. Consequently, the boy shared Mr. Ye's surname and was named Ye Chuxue.

Ye Chuxue had discovered him during the year's first heavy snowfall. The name was chosen to commemorate that significant day. However, it was seldom used; even Mr. Ye rarely addressed him by it, preferring instead to call him Zhixian.

Zhixian was the name he heard throughout the day, as if Chuxue was a name meant more for remembrance. Typically, a young man would receive a formal name at his coming-of-age ceremony. It was quite unusual for a child to be named at infancy.

But whether he was called Ye Chuxue or Ye Zhixian, the boy cherished the names given by Mr. Ye. In his eyes, Mr. Ye had always been kind, never once resorting to harsh words or punishment.

Mr. Ye himself was an orphan, accustomed to the hard life of gathering wood in the mountains. After finding the boy, he spent every penny of his savings to bring him to the Tongshui Ancient Town, where they managed a small tavern to earn their living.

He knew Mr. Ye worked tirelessly, and the boy was always well-behaved. Together, they spent three uneventful years.

But today, as the boy looked at Mr. Ye, a hint of discontent surfaced. Sensing the boy's gaze, Mr. Ye set down his porridge spoon. He ate with such grace, hardly resembling a rugged mountain man.

Half the porridge remained in the bowl when Mr. Ye, having finished his sesame cake, inquired,

"Zhixian, is there something on your mind?"

"Um, Mr. Ye, will you ever abandon me? Aunt Li visited again today, and she always talks about finding you a wife. Auntie Zhang and the others say that if you get married, you won't want me anymore because I'm not really part of your family..."

With his head bowed, Ye Chuxue stared at the tiger-head shoes on his feet, too scared to meet Mr. Ye's eyes for fear of a heartbreaking response. His little hand stirred the porridge absentmindedly, his emotions in turmoil.

"Why would you think that? You've always been part of my family. Don't worry, I have no plans to marry. I'll stay by your side, Zhixian. I'll be there as you grow up, when you get married, and for the rest of your life..."

Mr. Ye gently tousled Ye Chuxue's hair, his face showing a complex smile as he softly reassured the child.

"Really? So, will Aunt Li keep coming back?"

Suddenly, Ye Chuxue's eyes sparkled. He cocked his head, eagerly awaiting Mr. Ye's response.

"What's the matter? Don't you like Aunt Li?"

"Aunt Li always talks about finding you a wife, and she even sneaks our melon seeds. That's why I don't like her."

Ye Chuxue pouted, seemingly upset, and hastily spooned several mouthfuls of porridge, biting into a sugar-coated sesame cake.

"Just because Aunt Li takes the melon seeds, you dislike her? Boys should be more forgiving; otherwise, no one will like them."

After hearing Ye Chuxue's remarks, Mr. Ye was torn between laughter and tears.

"That's not true at all. Aunt Li has a habit of spitting melon seed shells on the floor when she eats them, and it's always Zhixian who ends up cleaning them up.

"Besides, it's not like nobody likes Zhixian. All the elders, aunts, and siblings in town are fond of me. Just the other day, Fangfang and Hong Hong from next door were saying they want to marry Zhixian when they grow up!"

He lifted his head with pride, as if boasting. Ye Chuxue appeared quite pleased with himself.

"Alright, alright, everyone loves my Zhixian the most. Let's have dinner now. You're supposed to go play with Huzi and the others at the town entrance later, right?"

Mr. Ye tapped on the porridge bowl in front of him, urging him to eat up.

Before long, the dinner table fell silent, save for the slurping sounds of everyone enjoying their porridge.