It’s impossible to avoid being talked about behind one’s back, but Chuxia never expected that the person speaking the most harshly about her in the office would be Huang Tingyue.

“Her husband isn’t even at home, and she dresses up all the time. Who knows what she’s up to? If you ask me, she’s just trying to catch the attention of the male employees.”

However, another colleague spoke up in Chuxia’s defense: “She’s married; she’s not the kind of person you’re making her out to be. Besides, I’ve never seen her talking to any male employees. But, she does love to dress up.”

So, dressing up is a mistake now?

If this had happened a few years ago, she might have been dragged out and criticized.

Chuxia didn’t continue listening.

She pushed the door open and walked in, immediately silencing the conversation.

The people who had been talking looked embarrassed.

Chuxia looked directly at Huang Tingyue, expressionless, and said, “If you have something to say, you can say it to my face. If you talk behind my back, I won’t hear it. But it doesn’t matter what you say—I won’t change. The wise see wisdom, and the benevolent see benevolence. What kind of person you are determines how you see others.”

Huang Tingyue’s face flushed with embarrassment and anger, and no one else spoke up for her.

Everyone just kept their heads down, pretending to be busy with their own work.

They enjoyed talking behind others’ backs, but when confronted, no one dared to say anything face-to-face.

After this confrontation, Chuxia and Huang Tingyue were completely at odds in the office.

Of course, Chuxia never considered Huang Tingyue a friend to begin with.

They had only exchanged a few words before, and now they didn’t even do that.

This suited Chuxia just fine—she could work quietly and focus on her tasks.

With only a month left until New Year’s Day, everyone was getting busier, preparing for the holiday program.

The publicity department was collaborating with the labor union to manage the event.

With more people involved, there were more discussions, and progress was slow.

But this didn’t concern Chuxia; she was just a minor worker, responsible for following orders.

Because of her strained relationship with Huang Tingyue, there were some minor inconveniences in their work collaboration, but it didn’t affect the overall progress.

Chuxia didn’t let it bother her, but it was clearly frustrating for Huang Tingyue.

“Chuxia, organize the number of costumes borrowed and returned,” someone instructed.

“Okay.”

Chuxia took the record book and went to find the responsible individuals to confirm the numbers.

But when she got to Huang Tingyue, the process stalled.

“I don’t know. Go ask the performers,” Huang Tingyue said, sorting through costumes with an uncooperative attitude.

Chuxia replied, “You don’t know how many costumes were borrowed and returned? You don’t know if they’ve been returned?”

Huang Tingyue’s expression stiffened. “I don’t know.”

Chuxia didn’t push further and simply wrote in the record book: “Huang Tingyue: Number of costumes borrowed and returned unknown.”

Then she submitted the record, and Huang Tingyue was soon called in by the department head for a talk.

Not long after, she returned to the office, teary-eyed, and threw the record book in front of Chuxia. “You did that on purpose, didn’t you? The costumes are all right there. Couldn’t you just count them yourself?”

Chuxia looked at her, amused. “I needed to verify the numbers you provided. If you don’t tell me, how can I verify?”

“Couldn’t you have asked me again? You just wanted to get me in trouble with the department head!” Huang Tingyue knew Chuxia was right, but she didn’t want to cooperate.

She wanted to make things difficult for Chuxia, hoping she’d have to beg for her help.

But Chuxia didn’t give in and simply wrote down what was said, leading to Huang Tingyue getting scolded by the department head for disregarding organizational discipline and not doing her job properly.

Why didn’t they blame Chuxia? Because from the beginning, Chuxia had already told the department head that Huang Tingyue was uncooperative, making it difficult to ensure the final count was accurate.

Chuxia wasn’t about to indulge Huang Tingyue. “You didn’t provide the information you were supposed to, and you expected me to beg you? You deserved the criticism! If you’re not satisfied, we can go talk to the department head again.”

Huang Tingyue immediately backed down, muttering under her breath as she went off to finish the remaining costume count herself.

Realizing that Chuxia wasn’t someone to mess with, Huang Tingyue stopped giving her a hard time, although she still didn’t show her any warmth.

Nonetheless, the preparations for the New Year’s program continued smoothly.

….

“An’an!”

“Mom!”

Chuxia called out to Cen Huaian as soon as she got home.

She was especially tired today, having been on her feet all day, running around non-stop.

The closer it got to New Year’s, the busier she became.

But the New Year’s benefits had been distributed, and Chuxia had used her bicycle to bring them home, leaving them downstairs.

She called Cen Huaian to help her carry them up.

There were grains, flour, oil, and fabric.

In a textile factory, fabric was never in short supply.

The fabric they received was good quality, soft cotton.

Chuxia and Cen Huaian, one being not very strong and the other being small, had to make several trips to carry everything upstairs.

By the time they were done, they were both exhausted.

Chuxia sat down in a chair, wiping her forehead.

Despite the cold weather, she was sweating.

Cen Huaian, now aware that his mother wasn’t in the best of health, still had some energy left.

He brought her a cup of water, filling it halfway.

“Mom, have some water,” he said, looking at her with concern.

Chuxia patted his head. “An’an, don’t you think it’s time for a haircut?”

Cen Huaian’s hair had indeed grown longer.

Chuxia had cut it twice since they arrived, and it had been over a month since the last trim.

He touched his head and said, “But Mom, didn’t you say it’s warmer with longer hair?”

Chuxia tugged at the long bangs in front of Cen Huai’an’s face and said, “But you shouldn’t let it grow to the point where it covers your eyes. Don’t you find it hard to see?”

Cen Huai’an shook his head.

He was used to having his hair long and messy like a little wild child, and he didn’t feel it was inconvenient.

“Perfect timing, I’ll cut it for you today. You and Uncle Li can go to the bathhouse afterward.”

This was something they had planned earlier.

During winter, bathing at home was too cold and inconvenient, so Chuxia and Aunt Li had bought monthly passes for the nearby bathhouse, where they went once a week.

If Chuxia felt particularly dirty, she would go every four days.

Now that Cen Huai’an was five, he couldn’t follow Chuxia into the women’s bathhouse, so he went with Uncle Li and his son every Saturday evening.

Chuxia prided herself on her haircutting skills and didn’t give Cen Huai’an a super short buzz cut.

She even styled it a little.

To Huai’an, though, it just looked like his hair was trimmed shorter, making it easier to see, with no significant difference.

“Does it look good?”

Chuxia held up a mirror for Cen Huai’an, and he nodded with a serious face, “It looks good.”

Then he quickly slid off the chair and said, “Mom, Uncle Li will come to call me soon. I need to pack my things!”

Chuxia waved him off. “Go ahead, go ahead.”

Boys didn’t need much for bathing—just soap, a towel, a scrub cloth, and a change of clothes.

But Chuxia’s bath kit was more elaborate: soap, Seagull shampoo, Gongdeng almond lotion (which she used as body lotion), and Youyi snowflake cream.

Just as she finished packing, Aunt Li called them, and the two hurried out.

“Chuxia, Guan Yan said she wants to go to the bathhouse too, so she’s coming with us.”

As Chuxia stepped outside, she saw Guan Yan and her son Qi Ming standing next to the Li family, holding their bath items.

Chuxia smiled and said, “Sure, why not?”

It wasn’t her place to refuse since the bathhouse was open to everyone.

Although Chuxia didn’t want much interaction with Guan Yan, she wouldn’t stop others from socializing with her.

Chuxia handed Cen Huai’an over to Uncle Li, who cheerfully waved him and the other little boys off to the bathhouse.

On the way, Chuxia was quieter than usual, only responding when Aunt Li spoke to her. Otherwise, she listened to Aunt Li and Guan Yan chat.

Aunt Li, easygoing as always, didn’t notice Chuxia’s unfamiliarity with Guan Yan and kept the conversation flowing.

The bathhouse was warm, filled with white steam upon entering.

There were quite a few people, and Chuxia had grown accustomed to the North’s communal bathhouse culture.

Bathing at home was too cold, with insufficient hot water, often leading to colds, so she didn’t dare try it at home.

As long as she avoided the large public bath pool and stuck to the showers, she could manage.

Chuxia also insisted that Cen Huai’an not go into the communal pool.

She felt it wasn’t clean, given how many people used it, so the shower was enough.

No matter how much Aunt Li praised the pool’s comfort, Chuxia wouldn’t budge.

After finishing her shower, Chuxia put on her underclothes and applied Gongdeng almond lotion on her body.

Every time Aunt Li saw this, she would feel a pinch in her heart, thinking it was wasteful.

“That almond lotion is meant for the face, and you’re putting it all over your body. I can’t bear to watch. It’s just too painful!” Aunt Li quickly turned away.

Chuxia liked Aunt Li’s personality; even though she often commented on the wastefulness, she never tried to stop Chuxia from doing what she wanted.

Guan Yan, on the other hand, didn’t walk away.

She moved closer, watching Chuxia apply the almond lotion thoughtfully and asked with a friendly smile, “What’s it for?”

Chuxia spread the lotion evenly on her legs, replying, “It keeps the skin moisturized and prevents dryness.”

Guan Yan wanted to ask more, but Chuxia had finished her legs and turned to Aunt Li. “Auntie, can you help me with my back? I can’t reach.”

Aunt Li grabbed the lotion, grumbling, “You just want to see me feeling heartbroken.”

Despite her words, Aunt Li carefully applied the lotion to Chuxia’s back with a gentle touch.

Chuxia teased her, laughing, “You’ve figured me out! There’s nothing I can hide from you.”

Aunt Li chuckled, “Alright, all done. Pack your things, and let’s head out.”

Guan Yan watched the closeness between Chuxia and Aunt Li, her smile gradually fading.

She turned away and started packing her belongings, her mood darkening.

When they got home, Cen Huai’an was already back, sitting in the living room watching TV with one of the kids from next door.

Qi Ming had been there too, but he wanted to watch “Nezha Conquers the Dragon King,” while Cen Huai’an and the others wanted to watch “Nine-Colored Deer.”

Since it was Cen Huai’an’s TV, Qi Ming lost the argument and angrily went home to watch on his own.

During dinner, Cen Huaian quietly confessed to Chuxia, “Mom, I said I wanted to watch The Nine-Colored Deer on purpose. I didn’t want Qi Ming to watch TV with us.”

Chuxia had previously told Cen Huaian to keep his distance from Qi Ming, as Qi Ming had a domineering personality that neither of them liked.

“You did the right thing!” Chuxia praised him, giving him a piece of braised pig’s trotter.

Today, Chuxia had made soy-braised pig’s trotters, starting the dish before their bath so it would be ready by the time they got home.

The dish turned out deliciously tender, with the broth a rich, milky white.

The warm soup was a perfect comfort on this cold winter day.

In the original story, Cen Huaian was a major antagonist, and Chuxia preferred to keep as much distance from him as possible.

Additionally, she always felt that Guan Yan had a calculating look in her eyes, making her uncomfortable beyond just what the original story implied.

Chuxia much preferred the straightforward, neighborly relationships she had with Li Dajie’s family and even found Grandma Chen more pleasant to be around than Guan Yan and her son.

Later that night, Chuxia and Cen Huaian settled in under two quilts, made from the newly issued cotton fabric. Chuxia had plans to have the fabric made into bedding.

Though she wasn’t skilled in needlework, there was a tailor shop nearby that could do it for her.

The last time she visited the shop to pick up a fur coat and clothes for Cen Huaian, she had asked if they could make quilts as well.

They agreed, explaining that if she provided the cotton, the price would be lower, but if she used their cotton, it would cost more.

Chuxia didn’t have any cotton, so she picked out fabric and cotton at the shop and commissioned them to make two ten-pound quilts and two eight-pound quilts.

She also had them re-fluff the old quilts from home.

The old quilts were now laid on the bed, while the new ones were used for warmth. With each of them having a hot water bottle wrapped in cloth at their feet, they were so warm at night that they sometimes even broke a sweat.

Before bed, Chuxia made sure to close the window, tuck Cen Huaian in tightly, and ensure he was wrapped up snugly before getting into bed herself.

That night, Chuxia thought she heard the wind howling outside, but inside the house, it was warm, and she slept soundly.

The next morning, she was awakened by the sound of children laughing and playing outside.

Chuxia opened her eyes to find that Cen Huaian was already up and doing something in the outer room.

Reluctant to leave her warm bed, she snuggled under the covers for a bit longer.

The bed was the coziest place in winter.

But she needed to eat, so Chuxia eventually forced herself to get out of bed and dress.

When she put on her shoes and opened the curtains, she saw a white blanket of snow outside.

It had snowed last night!

No wonder it was so noisy downstairs—kids were playing in the snow.

Chuxia walked out to find Cen Huaian sitting with a Go book in one hand, a Go board in front of him, playing against himself.

“An’an, it snowed outside!”

“Mm.” Cen Huaian nodded without looking up, his focus still on the board, likely not fully hearing what she said.

Chuxia glanced at the board but didn’t understand it.

She asked him, “Have you eaten?”

It was only then that Cen Huaian seemed to come to his senses.

He stood up and said, “Mom, I bought breakfast. It’s in the pot.”

Chuxia and Cen Huaian had an arrangement where whoever got up first would go out and buy breakfast.

There were food stalls right outside the residential compound, and even on snowy or rainy days, there were places to buy food.

Stepping outside the room, Chuxia was greeted by a rush of cold air mixed with the crisp scent of snow.

Downstairs, a group of children was having a snowball fight, with some adults joining in.

Someone had already shoveled the snow off the path in the residential compound, piling it on either side, which made it easier for the children to play.

After watching for a while, Chuxia turned back to check on their coal stove.

A pot was on the stove, with a basket inside holding steamed buns and a bowl of tofu pudding, both steaming hot.

She brought the food back inside and put a clay pot on the stove to boil her medicine. Cen Huaian’s health had fully recovered, so he no longer needed to take any, but Chuxia still did.

Chuxia knew she was recovering well and that she wouldn’t need to take the medicine for the full year that the doctor had mentioned.

The buns from the stall were delicious. Today, An’an had bought tofu buns and chicken skin with bean sprout buns, which were particularly fragrant.

Chuxia ate two buns and drank a bowl of hot, savory tofu pudding, feeling warm all over.

After half an hour, the medicine was ready.

She drank it and then went to check on Cen Huaian, who hadn’t moved, though the Go game had progressed significantly.

“Who’s winning?” she asked.