Translator: Dj22031
Editor: Dj22031
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For the next two weeks, the cat and the human depended on each other for survival.
Guided by You Xu, Li Yi’er made two holes in the frozen lake. You Xu squatted down to fish, and Li Yi’er used a simple, homemade hook. Sometimes they would catch one or two fish, sometimes three or four, and sometimes nothing at all.
Aside from fishing, Li Yi’er rarely took her out, but he didn’t restrict her comings and goings, knowing she would return.
When not fishing, he would go up the mountain to find food, sometimes catching birds and digging up yams.
Although he often felt hungry, he was never extremely hungry again.
The cat and the man lived a meager existence, but the little wooden house was no longer desolate; it had gained warmth.
….
The sunflower seed shells in her brain piled up, and You Xu couldn’t take it anymore: “Don’t crack sunflower seeds in my head, and make such a racket!”
78, with its legs crossed, completely ignored her.
There’s a kind of contrast that’s hurtful; she was facing a survival crisis here, while it was leisurely and comfortable on the other side— that was just too much.
“Did we get the wrong target?” You Xu was very suspicious.
78: “What do you mean?”
“Don’t you think the target’s name is too random?” You Xu was extremely suspicious. “Even the name of any cannon fodder extra is better than this. Even you, at least you have a lucky number.”
“…” It felt insulted.
“His parents were farmers, they don’t know many words, so there’s no need to choose a surname. His given name is the date he was born.”
You Xu paused for a moment. One or two, the second day of the Lunar New Year. That was the day Li Yi’er was falsely accused of stealing steamed buns in the market. When he returned, he didn’t show any expectation or resentment, but just gently drank the bowl of steamed bun water with her.
Today, Li Yi’er went out again, probably to the mountain to get food and maybe find something to use as bait.
You Xu also went out, heading towards the market. She wanted to find a gift for Li Yi’er.
The market was more lively than usual, with significantly more people buying and selling. Because it was close to the New Year, many shops had hung up paper-cuts, couplets, red lanterns, and other festive decorations.
“How much is this red paper?”
“Sigh, meat prices have gone up quite a bit, and vegetables have gone up by two coins too.”
“Auntie, can you give me a discount if I buy more? I’ll come back to buy from you next time.”
“How’s your house coming along?”
“Just finished cleaning, about to put up the couplets.”
You Xu walked around the wooden pillar-like legs, thinking about the gray wooden house, devoid of any bright colors. It was almost New Year’s, and in ancient times, people were quite particular about these things, so perhaps…
She wandered back and forth in the shop selling red paper couplets. At the very front, an old man was writing couplets on the spot, his characters strong and beautiful, attracting many onlookers.
You Xu squeezed through the gaps between people’s feet into the shop, sneaking under the wooden table. She picked out a small piece of red paper, about the size of her palm.
Analyzing the surrounding conversation, she figured the old man had passed the imperial examinations in his youth and was quite famous in the village, hence the attention and praise he received for his couplets.
Seeing that no one was paying attention to her, You Xu secretly dipped her paw in ink and drew a blurry “福” (Fu, meaning good fortune) character on the red paper. She accidentally left a cat paw print on it, which she tried to rub off with her other clean paw, but couldn’t remove, so she gave up.
“Hey? Why is there a cat down there?”
Someone had already noticed her, so You Xu abandoned the idea of rewriting it and darted away with the red paper in her mouth.
You Xu ran home, where Li Yi’er was sorting through the bamboo strips he had brought back, intending to weave a basket or something. As soon as she appeared, he noticed her immediately and stopped what he was doing.
You Xu handed him the red paper she was carrying in her mouth. Li Yi’er took it knowingly and looked at it. It was an irregularly shaped piece of red paper with a “福” character written on it, and a cat paw print on it.
His eyelids were lowered, making his emotions unreadable. After looking at it for a while, You Xu even doubted whether she had written it wrong. But all the “福” characters on the street had the same stroke; even if Li Yi’er couldn’t read, he should be familiar with the character.
You Xu moved closer to his feet and saw his slightly damp eyes, bright and clear, like moonlight.
“Meow—” You Xu meowed, raising her dark paws and sticking out her tongue at him.
Li Yi’er looked away and saw that many of her furs were stained with ink, and the white fur around her tongue and mouth was stained with the red of the red paper, making her look funny and cute.
His eyebrows relaxed, and the corners of his lips curved into a smile.
You Xu was stunned. This was the first time she had seen him smile, a warm and pure smile, like a box of small glass balls shining slightly in the sunlight.
Even if these small glass balls had been buried and never seen the light of day, even if they had many cracks, she hoped that they would always have a moment to be illuminated.
The author has something to say:
Sorry for being late. I had writer’s block today and didn’t write many words. Double update tomorrow [fist pump and hard-working face].
My little one will be all grown up tomorrow, and no one will bully him anymore; he’ll be the one bullying others.
Li Yi’er, his face cold: “Is this why I have this name?”
The author laughed: “You’re my first male protagonist with a three-character name, be happy, young man!!!”
Li Yi’er: “…Oh.”
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