Life passed quietly and simply like this. The heavy snow had blocked the mountains, and there were even fewer people around the cow shed and the youth camp.

Xu Ning had not stepped outside for several days. She spent her days cooking with Xu An and reading books at home.

After wrapping the brown sugar steamed cake they had made yesterday, she placed it in a water bucket and picked up a shoulder pole to go fetch water. It had been four or five days since Xiao Mo had last come by. Xu Ning had not visited that side either, and their secret signal had remained unused.

As Xu Ning walked onto the main road, a glance revealed nothing but white everywhere; she couldn’t see a single person. When she reached the door of the cow shed, she coughed a couple of times but did not linger, heading straight toward the well with her bucket.

After a moment, she heard a couple of meows from inside the cow shed, which made her chuckle. Inside, Xu Mo did not receive a response, so he meowed again.

Xu Ning filled the bucket with water and waited by the well.

After meowing several times with no response, Xu Mo angrily opened the door and saw his sister standing by the well, smiling. He walked over and questioned her, “Sister, have you forgotten our secret signal?”

Xu Ning tried to suppress her laughter and said, “Xiao Mo, can we change our signal?”

“But, sister, this signal is great! Little cats and little dogs are so cute, and they sound nice when they meow and bark,” he protested.

Xu Ning suggested, “How about I say ‘meow meow’ and you say ‘woof woof’?”

“Sure! From now on, I’ll say ‘woof woof’,” he replied, then playfully imitated a dog’s bark. After he finished barking, he paused for a moment and quickly said to Xu Ning, “Sister, let’s really change the signal.”

Xu Ning couldn’t help but burst into laughter. Xu Mo felt a bit embarrassed by her laughter and asked, “Sister, are you here to bring me something delicious?”

Xu Ning, smiling, held out a packet of steamed cake and asked, “Xiao Mo, are you going to come play at my place today?”

Xu Mo immediately nodded and said, “Sister, wait for me a moment. I’ll take this back. Mom and Dad won’t let me out because of the heavy snow these past few days.”

As Xu Ning carried the water, a little tail followed her. As soon as they got inside, Xu Mo kicked off his shoes and sprawled out on the kang.

Xu An, who was studying at the kang table, looked over and asked, “Xiao Mo, why haven’t you come by these past few days?”

Xu Mo sighed and replied, “Second brother, I want to come out to play every day too, but Mom and Dad are strict and won’t let me out. Plus, I have to keep Grandpa Qi company; he’s getting on in years. Uncle Lu and Aunt Lu’s kids aren’t around, so I have to help them pass the time. I’ve been busy every day, sigh.”

Xu An looked at him in disbelief as he watched him play the part of the dutiful grandson. He shook his head and ignored the little rascal, returning to his studies.

Xu Ning filled the water jar and entered to find the two of them—one reading a book and the other lying on the kang with his legs crossed, looking at a picture album.

She took off her shoes and sat down on the kang. Noticing that Xu An was reading a seventh-grade book, she asked, “Xiao An, why are you reading seventh-grade material already? Did the teacher assign it for homework?”

Xu An set his book down and replied, “Sister, I plan to start seventh grade after the New Year. I’ve already talked to my teacher and the principal. They said if I can score 80 points on the exam, I can move up to seventh grade.”

Xu Ning was surprised and asked, “But you’re still in fifth grade this year, right? Do you think you can keep up if you skip a grade?”

Xu An smiled confidently and said, “Sister, I’ve already finished the first-semester textbooks for seventh grade. I’m currently looking at the second-semester books. I’ll definitely keep up, so don’t worry!”

Seeing his confidence, Xu Ning chose not to say anything further. Having ambition was a good thing!

When Xiao Mo saw his sister had arrived, he immediately sat up and asked, “Sister, what are we having for lunch?”

Xu Ning pinched his little face and said, “You just had breakfast, and you’re already hungry?”

“I only had two biscuits in the morning, and I didn’t eat a proper meal,” he replied.

“You little lazy pig! Did you wake up late? You didn’t even have breakfast,” she teased.

Xu Mo pouted and said, “I’m not a little lazy pig! I woke up really early. Mom and Aunt Lu don’t cook breakfast, so we only eat two meals a day.”

Xu Ning paused for a moment and asked, “Why are you only eating two meals? Is there not enough food?”

“Mom and Aunt Lu said there’s not much to do in winter, so two meals are enough. When spring comes and farming gets busy, we’ll go back to eating three meals a day. Grandpa Qi and I have some snacks in the morning, but my parents, Uncle Lu, and Aunt Lu don’t eat breakfast.”

Xu Ning and Xu An exchanged glances.

Seeing that both her sister and second brother were silent, Xu Mo realized he had misspoken and quickly added, “Sister, Second Brother, there is food over there. Dad and Uncle Lu heard from people in the village that many families eat only two meals in winter, so they told Mom and Aunt Lu not to cook in the morning and to prepare lunch a bit earlier.”

Xu Ning sighed. While it was true that some families with fewer laborers ate two meals in winter, Dad and Uncle Lu were different. Even though there was no farming to be done, the six cows still required plenty of water and fodder every day.

During the busy farming season, they worked harder than the men in the village, eating simple black flatbreads for lunch in the fields and, after work, when others could rest, they returned home to tend to the cows.

If they didn’t take care of their health in winter, how would they manage? Mom and Aunt Lu were really being foolish; it wasn’t as if there wasn’t enough food. Why were they being so frugal?

After dinner, Xu Ning filled her backpack with dozens of pounds of rice and flour, then took some eggs and packed a bit of meat.

She said to Xu An and Xu Mo, “I’m going to the cow shed for a while. You two stay here and play. Xiao Mo, don’t go back. There’s no one around during winter; just stay here with us.”

Father Xu opened the door and saw his daughter carrying a backpack. He hurried to take it from her and said, “Daughter, why are you bringing things over again? We have enough food here.”

Xu Ning ignored him and walked straight into the room. Seeing her sullen expression, Father Xu wondered if that little rascal Xu Mo had said something bad about him.

Mother Xu and Aunt Lu were sitting inside making cotton shoes. When they saw her arrive, they quickly urged her to sit down on the kang. Father Xu followed in with the backpack.

Once Xu Ning was inside, her expression softened a bit. She said, “Dad, why don’t you go sit with Uncle Lu for a while? I want to talk with Mom and Aunt Lu.”

Father Xu glanced at his daughter’s face and quickly replied, “Alright, daughter. You all chat. I’ll head over to your Uncle Lu’s.”

Uncle Lu was talking with Grandpa Qi when he saw Father Xu enter and asked, “Is Xiao Ning here?”

Father Xu nodded and said, “They’re all talking inside. They pushed me out. I noticed her face didn’t look good; she didn’t even call out to me when she came in. She seemed upset. I wonder if that little rascal Xu Mo went to complain about her.”

Both her Mom and Aunt Lu noticed that her expression was off as well.

Mother Xu asked, “Daughter, what’s wrong? Did Xiao Mo upset you?”

“Mom, how could Xiao Mo upset me? He’s so little; I can’t hold that against him. He’s been well-behaved,” Xu Ning replied.

She looked at the two women and continued, “Mom, Aunt Lu, I heard from Xiao Mo that you haven’t been having breakfast in the morning.”

Aunt Lu chuckled and said, “Oh, that! Your Uncle Lu and your dad both said that many families in the village eat only two meals in winter. We figured since there isn’t much to do in winter and we’re not hungry, we’d skip a meal.”

Xu Ning sighed and said, “Mom, Aunt Lu, why are you being so foolish? The people in the village aren’t working in winter. They’re just lying on the kang all day, so they won’t starve even if they only eat two meals.”

“But Dad and Uncle Lu still have to take care of the cows. They grind grain for them every day, fetch water, chop up the hay, clean the cow shed, and even get up at night to check on the cows. With all that labor, how can you not let them eat enough?

During the busy farming season, they work in the fields and care for the cows without a moment’s rest. If you don’t ensure they eat well in winter, how will their bodies hold up over time?

We aren’t short on food right now. My brother and Brother Lu send money and grain coupons every month, yet you’re here pinching pennies. What happens when everyone’s health declines? What’s the point of them working hard outside?”

Both women felt a bit regretful after hearing her. When they had listened to their husbands, they had thought that with fewer chores in winter, skipping a meal to save some food would lighten the burden for the kids, without considering the long-term consequences.

Mother Xu said, “Alright, from now on we’ll listen to my daughter. We won’t skimp on food anymore. We need to take care of ourselves so we can watch you grow up.”

Aunt Lu added, “Xiao Ning, you’re right. We older folks have been thinking too much about saving.”

Seeing that the two women were taking her words to heart, Xu Ning finally felt relieved.