Chapter Forty: The Essential Virtue of a Practical Person

Li Xiangyang fell silent for a moment, watching Li Xiaoyun’s delicate features illuminated by the faint moonlight. Beneath her willow-leaf eyebrows, a pair of clear, almond-shaped eyes gazed at him intently, filled with a mixture of anticipation and uncertainty. In that moment, Li Xiangyang suddenly understood many things.

Fate is a mysterious, inexplicable thing. Much like this avalanche—dangerous, yet it provided the opportunity for two people to truly know one another.

"Xiaoyun," he said softly, "once we get out of here, would you like to go to the village market with me?"

Li Xiaoyun was momentarily stunned, then broke into a radiant smile. "I'd love to."

"Good," Li Xiangyang nodded. "Since you're from the city, I imagine you haven't been to a rural market. Our market is very lively; they have people selling sugar art, monkey performances..."

"Really? I've never seen a monkey performance!" Li Xiaoyun’s eyes brightened. "Hey, Li Xiangyang, why are you suddenly being so nice to me? Are you planning to court me?"

Li Xiangyang looked at her earnestly. "Yes, Li Xiaoyun, give me a chance. I think some things don't need to be overthought. You were right; feelings can be cultivated over time."

Li Xiaoyun’s eyes grew slightly moist. "You... why do you always say things that make people feel so..."

Before she could finish, a faint sound came from outside.

"Shh!" Li Xiangyang pricked up his ears, alert. "I think there’s movement."

They held their breath, listening intently. Soon, a soft "meow" reached them.

"It’s the mystic cat! A panther cat that insisted on following me home when I went into the mountains—I call her 'Little Princess'!" Li Xiangyang exclaimed, pleasantly surprised. "She actually came to find me! We’re saved."

Li Xiangyang recalled his mother saying that mystic cats were wardens against evil and brought good fortune. He had scoffed at the notion before, but at this moment, he began to believe. He felt a heartfelt gratitude toward the miraculous creature.

"We need to hurry," Li Xiangyang told Li Xiaoyun. "With her outside, we can find the right direction."

The panther cat’s meowing continued, as if guiding them. Li Xiangyang carefully traced the source of the sound and began clearing the snow with his wood-chopping knife.

"You rest; I'll handle this," he said gently to Li Xiaoyun.

She shook her head. "I'll help too. We’ll be faster together."

The two worked in tandem, digging a path toward the outside world. Whenever they paused to rest, the cat would meow again, as if urging them onward.

"This cat," Li Xiaoyun said, wiping sweat from her forehead, "it’s as if she understands human speech."

"She really does," Li Xiangyang laughed. "I used to think everything my mother said about these cats was superstition, but it seems there really is something spiritual about her."

With their combined efforts, a tunnel began to clear through the snow. Cold air rushed in from outside, carrying the scent of freedom.

As the final shovel of snow was cleared, the light of the morning sun spilled in. The panther cat sat at the mouth of the cave, her golden eyes glinting with intelligence, her tail swaying gently.

"Little Princess, thank you," Li Xiangyang said sincerely. "You’re my savior."

The cat seemed to understand, gave a soft "meow," and turned to head down the mountain. Li Xiangyang and Li Xiaoyun followed, watching her graceful figure, their hearts filled with gratitude. The events of the night had not only allowed them to survive a disaster but had brought them much closer together.

"I’ve heard," Li Xiaoyun suddenly said, "that mystic cats don't just ward off evil; they also bless romantic unions."

Li Xiangyang paused, then laughed at her playful smile. "Then we had better thank her properly."

Under the sun, the snow reflected a crystalline light, casting a warm glow upon the faces of the two young people. On the way down, the snowy path was muddy and treacherous. Before a steep slope, Li Xiangyang instinctively reached out a hand. "Watch your step."

Li Xiaoyun placed her hand in his. After they crossed the slope, Li Xiangyang moved to let go, but she gripped his hand even tighter. "The mountain path is difficult; you have to support me."

Li Xiangyang smiled and let her hold on. Little Princess led the way, glancing back at them occasionally, her golden eyes appearing somewhat smug.

Before they reached the foot of the mountain, they heard voices calling out. "Xiangyang! Xiangyang!" It was his mother’s voice.

"Mother, I’m here!" Li Xiangyang called back.

Following the sound, they saw his mother and sister, Li Xiaohua, running toward them. Seeing that Li Xiangyang was safe and sound, his mother’s eyes filled with tears. "You child, why didn't you come back all night? You worried me to death!"

Li Xiaohua’s eyes were red, too. "Brother, did you run into danger?"

"No, of course not," Li Xiangyang quickly comforted them. "Mother, don't worry. I was just talking with Xiaoyun on the mountain and lost track of time." He instinctively tried to pull his hand away from Li Xiaoyun’s, only to find she was holding on even firmer.

His mother noticed their joined hands, and her eyes lit up. "Oh, this is..."

Li Xiaohua was more direct. "Hello, sister-in-law!"

The sweet greeting made Li Xiaoyun’s face flush to the roots of her hair.

"Go on now, what sister-in-law," Li Xiangyang scolded his sister half-heartedly, though he couldn't hide his smile. "Xiaoyun and I just..."

"Just started dating," Li Xiaoyun interrupted, speaking with poise. "Auntie, I talked a lot with Xiangyang last night, and we find we have a lot in common."

His mother beamed, unable to hide her joy. "Good, good, that’s wonderful. Xiaoyun, I hope you don't mind our humble conditions..."

"Auntie, please don't say that," Li Xiaoyun said earnestly. "In my eyes, Xiangyang is the best."

This remark made Li Xiangyang feel a bit bashful. "Mother, let's not stand here talking. Let's go home. Xiaoyun must be hungry; please fix us something good to eat."

"Now you know how to cherish your girl? If you cared so much, you wouldn't have kept her out in the cold all night!" his mother teased, then turned to Li Xiaoyun with a softened expression. "Xiaoyun, your hands are frozen red. I’ll brew some ginger tea for you to warm up."

On the walk home, his mother couldn't take her eyes off Li Xiaoyun, clearly taken with her. And indeed, his mother was very satisfied. She didn't see Li Xiaoyun’s sharp tongue as a flaw; in the countryside, if you weren't sharp-tongued, you would often be taken advantage of. To find a daughter-in-law, you needed someone just like her.

"Xiaoyun, you don't know how much I like you. That sharp tongue of yours, it’s just like mine. That’s the sign of a woman who can truly manage a household. You don't know—if I hadn't been sharp-tongued after Xiangyang’s father passed away, our relatives would have divided up everything we owned long ago."

Li Xiaoyun listened carefully, nodding repeatedly. Seeing how attentive she was, his mother was even more pleased. "Xiaoyun, I’ll stew some fish for you when we get home. We might be poor, but we can manage a hot meal."

"Mother," Li Xiangyang laughed, "you're already making plans before she's even stepped through the door."

"What do you know?" his mother retorted with a glare. "Look at Xiaoyun—she’s so fair and delicate. Can she handle the cold like you? What if she gets sick? It’s a good thing your second aunt brought me some eggs yesterday; I’ll steam some egg custard for her. A city girl needs to be taken care of."

As his mother chatted on, the group walked home, laughing and talking. Li Xiaohua skipped along behind them, occasionally glancing at her brother and Li Xiaoyun’s joined hands, her face full of smiles.

Li Xiaoyun knew that Li Xiangyang avoided mentioning the avalanche to spare his family from worry. This thoughtfulness only confirmed that she hadn't misjudged him. Of course, she liked his mother even more. A sharp tongue? In the eyes of an elder, that was simply a necessary virtue for someone who knew how to live life.