The weather is cold but the kang is warm, and there is a wife in the bed. Gu Zhao coquettishly sticks to Zhou Zhou, grabs Zhou Zhou’s hand and touches it. There is a layer of calluses on it, and he becomes addicted to it. Li Zhou Zhou originally thought that the calluses on his hands were too ugly, but when he saw that his husband was touching him seriously, he didn’t mind it on his face. His waist softened and his expression relaxed.

　　The two chatted in bed. When they first got married, Li Zhouzhou was still very reserved and didn’t talk much about the housework, fearing that his husband, a scholar, would be annoyed and look down on it. But later, Li Zhouzhou found that his husband liked to listen to him talk, and he also liked to chat with his husband.

　　”…The chickens won’t lay eggs because it’s cold. Let’s kill one when the new year comes. Our pig is small so we don’t need to go to town to buy meat. There will be many pigs being slaughtered in the village by then and we can buy some.” When Li Zhouzhou said this, he remembered something and immediately got up, threw off the quilt and prepared to go out.

　　Gu Zhao pulled him back, “What’s wrong? You’re in such a hurry.”

　　”I forgot to tell dad that we should go to Shili Village to ask Mr. Zhu tomorrow. Otherwise, I’d better go with you tomorrow to get some things. We have saved a basket of eggs at home.” Li Zhouzhou remembered that his husband said last time that he would ask Mr. Zhu about knowledge in the future. He had a simple idea. Why should he tell you if you ask him about knowledge?

　　You have to get something, and it has to be good.

　　”Let’s take another chicken.”

　　Gu Zhao held his Zhou Zhou in his arms, but because he was still small, he ended up nestling in his wife’s arms. It didn’t matter anyway, he was holding him anyway. He covered him with a blanket and said, “Don’t worry. Last time I heard from my father that Zhu Xiucai passed the exam and wanted to take a higher exam. He’s probably studying in the prefecture and county now, not at home.”

　　Since the scholars have passed the exam, they are naturally unwilling to stop.

　　Two of the books recommended by Mr. Zhu last time are only available in the prefecture and county.

　　”After the New Year, I will go to the Master’s house first, pay New Year’s greetings, and then go to Zhu Xiucai’s house.” Gu Zhao said. Since he had something to ask of him, he had to go and visit him in person.

　　Li Zhouzhou listened to his husband’s words, but he thought of asking his father to deliver some eggs tomorrow. Mr. Zhu was not at home, and there were people at home, so the gifts didn’t have to be too expensive, otherwise if the other party didn’t accept it, he could just say thank you for the name of the book Mr. Zhu told him last time.

　　So the next day, Li Zhouzhou got up before the cock crowed.

　　I made breakfast for Dad. I didn’t cook watery porridge. If we were on the road, we had to eat something solid. I heated up the steamed pancakes from yesterday, mixed lard with meat slices. I also quickly picked up ten eggs and a few pieces of maltose, and that was it.

　　Li Zhouzhou had just finished eating here. At daybreak, Li Da had also packed up. After washing up, he ate three steaming hot meat patties in no time and drank half a cup of hot water. With food in his stomach and a good spirit, he carried a bamboo basket and saw a basket of eggs inside.

　　”Whose home?”

　　”Dad, this is Mr. Zhu’s family. Thank you for giving the book a name last time.”

　　Li Da said, “I gave you meat last time.”

　　”I thought that Mr. Zhu is well-educated, and if my husband wants to ask him something in the future, it would be bad to just answer him without any evidence.” Li Zhouzhou explained.

　　Li Da nodded and said, “That’s right.” He didn’t ask any more questions and went out with the basket on his back.

　　Li Zhouzhou sent his father out and got up early today, but he didn’t go back to sleep longer. He simply swept the snow in the yard into a pile, boiled some water, and cooked porridge, waiting for his husband to get up so that he could wash up with hot water and have a drink.

　　In winter, I just stay around the house. There is only so much work to do and it’s nothing more to do after I finish it.

　　The couple had a simple lunch at noon, and after cleaning up, Gu Zhao pushed Zhou Zhou to sit on the kang, and placed a pot of hot water with red dates on the head of the kang, “Be good and don’t get out of bed to work, let’s take a break.”

　　”Husband, I’m not used to it.” Li Zhouzhou couldn’t help but think, how could he sit on the kang in broad daylight.

　　Gu Zhao didn’t go to read, but brought paper and pen. Li Zhouzhou thought his husband was going to study on the kang, so he gave him some. Gu Zhao shook his head, put the melon seed plate next to his wife, and said, “Eat the melon seeds, I’ll talk to you.”

　　”Husband, I don’t understand.” Li Zhouzhou grabbed the quilt stiffly. He couldn’t read.

　　Gu Zhao: “I’ll tell you.” Then he said pitifully: “Others look down on me. Can Zhou Zhou be my student, so that I can be teacher Gu and have fun.”

　　After hearing what his husband said, Li Zhouzhou no longer felt inferior and said quickly, “My husband, just talk and I’ll listen.”

　　When a couple lives together, they need to communicate.