Chapter 2: The First Snow (Grade 5, Volume 1)

  With wine enough and food full, the host and guests dispersed with joy. Lei Wanchun still remembered his promise in the morning, and hurriedly pulled Li Bai and Gao Shi to one side while everyone was saying goodbye, quietly telling them that he had promised to compose a poem for each of them to give to Madame Gongsun.

  Li Bai and Lei Wanchun, this straightforward fellow, were quite congenial. Seeing a hint of embarrassment on the other's face, he intentionally furrowed his brow, speaking in a low voice: "I thought today's wine was free, but it turns out we still have to pay. We're already drunk like this, how can I write poetry?"

  "I originally wanted to bring it up during the banquet, but everyone present is a poet, I'm afraid... I'm afraid..." Lei Wanchun's face turned slightly red as he scratched his head and explained.

  "Tai Bai, don't be so hard on people!" Gao Shi couldn't help but laugh and pushed Li Bai forward, "If Master Qing Lian drank wine, he wouldn't be able to write poetry. This 'Exiled Immortal' title would have belonged to someone else long ago. Old Lei, don't listen to him, just get the pen and ink ready!"

  "I'm really at my wit's end today!" Li Bai put away his mischievous smile and shook his head gently. "Now, with the image of Madam Gongsun's dance still flashing before my eyes, even if I were to force out a few lines, they would be hardly worth giving as a gift. I think Madam Gongsun is not a petty person either; what she said about 'binding one's head' was just a joke. Why don't you go and tell her to give me a few more days? When the poetic inspiration strikes me again, it won't be too late for me to send her an even better poem!"

  "It should be so. A hasty and sloppy work, indeed, is not worthy of today's sword dance by Gong Sun!" Gao Shi nodded in agreement, smiling, "Gao will also take a few days off. No harm in waiting for a while, then settle the account with Tai Bai together!"

  Lei Wanchun had no choice but to go and apologize to Lady Gongsun. However, he saw that Lady Gongsun was standing in front of the wall, staring blankly at the words she had written about him and Zhang Zhongwu.

  "Does everyone like Tan Hualuang's calligraphy? I'll go ask for a copy on your behalf?" Lei Wanchun, feeling guilty about his debt, took the initiative to show kindness.

  "The ink treasure of Tan Hua Lang is indeed a first-rate one!" Madam Gong Sun smiled and nodded, then gently shook her head. "But what I find even more strange is how you can write so many words with your sword in mid-air. It's only a matter of three or two breaths..."

  "It's not worth a master's smile to say this out loud!" As soon as the sword technique was mentioned, Lei Wanchun immediately regained his spirit. Borrowing a sword from Grandmother Gongsun, he demonstrated on the spot for the opponent to see, "Before writing, first go through all the strokes in your mind and try to connect them together. After taking off, put the force point on the sword as much as possible and slightly tilt the sword tip downwards. In this way, the time left in the air will definitely be longer than when there is no support, and with the addition of the light body technique, it can be done!"

  Gongsun's wife closed her eyes, replayed Lei Wanchun's words in her mind, and smiled sweetly. "Indeed, thank you, Master Lei, for pointing that out. If this method is incorporated into the dance movements, the Lingbo Micro-Step style can be easily imitated!"

  "It's nothing, just a small effort!" Lei Wanchun waved his hand repeatedly and then repeated what Li Bai and Gao Shi had said. Madame Gong Sun smiled and said in a low voice, "I was just thinking of how to thank you. Since that's the case, consider this guidance as your own personal debt! As for Li Taibai and Gao Dafu, I'll visit them another day to collect it!"

  Having said that, she pulled Bai Hua Zhi to prepare to leave. Bai Hua Zhi had 120 unwilling thoughts in her heart and looked at Wang Xuan with eager eyes, hoping he could speak up and ask her to stay behind and travel together later. But unexpectedly, Wang Xuan was anxious to discuss matters with the Qin brothers and when he saw Gong Sun Da Niang and Bai Hua Zhi walking towards him, he immediately took a few steps forward, smiling as he reminded: "Since you're going with Gong Sun Da Niang, I can rest assured. Today I still have some miscellaneous things that need to be arranged, after everything is settled, I'll come find you another day!"

  "Is Erlang's matter troublesome?" Bai Jieci's scorching heart was poured a ladle of cold water, and her face immediately looked somewhat gloomy.

  "Zi Da has run into some trouble. A few of my brothers and I are trying to figure out a solution." Wang Xuan didn't keep it from her either, nodding his head and lowering his voice in response, "You go first. I'll probably be busy with this for the next two days. I'll fill you in on the details later!"

  "Hmm!" Bai Wei Xi lowered her head, following Gong Sun Da Niang onto the carriage with a dejected expression. The carriage had driven far away, and through the thin silk window, she couldn't help but keep looking back at Lin Feng Lou. Seeing this, Gong Sun Da Niang couldn't help but laugh, softly advising: "Little sister, you should bring your eyes back now, he won't be chasing after us! Men, at his age, consider friendship more important than life itself!"

  "How annoying! That Yuwen person is always causing trouble from dawn till dusk!" Bai Jieci let down the carriage curtains and complained in a low voice.

  "There are those with the surname Yuwen, and also those with the surname Wei Chi!" As someone who has been through it all, Lady Gongsun saw things very clearly. "Young lady, you must get used to these things, otherwise, I'm afraid some tears will be shed!"

  "Hmm!" Bai Wei responded in a low voice, feeling somewhat disheartened. She hung her head and thought for a moment before tugging on Gong Sun's sleeve and asking softly, "Sister, do you think I occupy any importance in his heart?"

  "Who?" Gong Sun's wife was closing her eyes and pretending to sleep, hearing Bai Wei's childish question, suddenly opened her eyes and smiled teasingly.

  "Sister!" Bai Wei's face turned bright red with shame as she pulled on Gong Sun's arm, shaking it back and forth.

  "Alright, alright! Old bones and legs are almost shaken off!" Madam Gongsun was forced to apologize. "From his performance today, he must have feelings for you. Otherwise, he wouldn't be hastily showing you off in front of friends. Men being a bit reckless isn't scary. What's scary is those with deep schemes, making vows to you on one hand, but not willing to let you meet their friends on the other. Hoping no one knows you exist!"

  Upon hearing this, Bai Wei's heart felt a little more at ease. She rolled her eyes and said with feigned reserve: "Who'd want to show off in front of his friends? I'm not some object that can be flaunted!"

  "Niezhen, you're so stubborn!" Grandmother Gong Sun pinched her powdered face and scolded with a smile. "Who was it just now, whose tears almost fell, pretending I didn't see?"

  Bai Wei buried her face in Mrs. Gong's bosom, too ashamed to show herself. Mrs. Gong patted her back lovingly and continued, "However, there is one thing you should understand, my child. He may have encountered a very difficult situation recently. That's why he's been absent-minded all the time. I noticed it when we were drinking wine. But you're a bit careless, didn't notice at all!"

  "Ah!" Bai Wei raised her head, her mouth agape in a half-circle. After carefully recalling all of Wang Xun's actions today, she slapped herself hard and said regretfully, "Look at these eyes of mine, tempered for so many years, yet..."

  "In your heart, he is different from others. That's why you won't always be watching him like a guest! Aunt Gong Sun shook her head and continued to persuade. "It's also good this way, don't do anything on purpose. Otherwise, after a long time, there will come a day when you can't pretend anymore!"

  Bai Wei nodded and sighed. She was stunned for a while, then asked in a low voice: "Sister, do you know if he's encountered any trouble? Has anyone mentioned it to you?"

  "We're all meeting for the first time, of course they wouldn't tell me everything!" Madam Gongsun chuckled and shook her head. "But since he's not willing to talk to you now, it means that in his heart, you're just someone with whom he can share joy, but not someone with whom he can share troubles. This kind of feeling is a bit shallow, how to grasp it, you should pay attention yourself."

  "Ah?" Bai Wei Ci was stunned again, her eyes wide with uncertainty, lost in thought. After a long while, she finally came back to herself, looking anxious as she asked for guidance, "Sister, can you teach me what I should do specifically?"

  "You little girl! So anxious to marry yourself off!" Mrs. Gongsun stretched out her hand and poked her with a finger. "I was still counting on you to inherit my legacy, how could I let you rush into someone else's family?"

  "Sister-----" Bai Wei continued to whine in a spoiled tone, like a young daughter clinging to her mother. Lady Gong Sun sighed helplessly and said in a low voice: "With your talent, after a few years, taking my place would be easy as can be. But once you choose to marry into another family as a concubine, it's likely that you'll never have the chance to show off your singing skills again. Think carefully, wouldn't that be a waste?"

  Seeing Bai Hua's determined expression, she smiled and continued: "Since you're willing to spend the rest of your life singing only for him, no one can stop you. If you want to ask me for advice, I can only say that you should find a way to let him know that you're not just a clinging vine that can't live without him. When the storms come, you should be able to stand with him together. Only then will he truly respect and love you from the bottom of his heart, rather than treating you like a pampered pet. Even if you become a concubine in the royal family, as long as you've weathered the storms with him, you'll always have a place by his side. But if all you know how to do is share happiness with him and not face hardships together, then when you're old and gray, I'm afraid you'll have your regrets!"

  "Hmm!" Bai Wei nodded slowly, her eyes shining brightly, but it was unclear how much of what Gong Sun had said she had actually understood. "You child!" Gong Sun stroked her hair lovingly and sighed. "All of you are still children! The road ahead is probably going to be long!"

  The road ahead is still long. Every man has a woman in his heart, but the more capable the man, the broader the world outside him. How far can one accompany him on this journey, and in that moment of embrace, it's always unknown.