The snow kept falling, originally just a light flurry, but gradually turning into a blizzard by nighttime.
When Wen Qian woke up in the morning, she was surprised too, judging by the area she shoveled each day to estimate last night's snowfall.
With the snow unrelenting, Wen Qian got up and used the hot water from the stove to brush her teeth and wash her face.
Afterwards, she put on her hat and gloves, grabbed a lightweight iron shovel and bamboo pole kept upstairs, and began clearing the accumulated snow from the roof and outhouse.
After clearing the roof, she returned inside to eat the hot food warmed on the stove, then went back out to continue shoveling snow.
From top to bottom, from the back alley to the front.
This task could likely take her the entire morning, but it was still better than doing nothing at all.
Due to the snow, she didn't go to Xiaochenwa to pay New Year's visits, nor did anyone come to her place.
Her outermost clothes were windproof and waterproof, but Wen Qian was sweating, feeling stuffy even with her layered clothing.
She also shoveled some snow from the hill behind her house, worried that snow sliding down from there might block the back alley, possibly burying the stove's chimney too.
Fortunately, since she had been clearing it regularly, there wasn't too much snow buildup on the back alley.
After lunch, she took an afternoon nap, sleeping very well as she had been getting more rest lately by going to bed earlier.
Damp clothes had to be changed or dried by the fire promptly, as catching a cold at this time would be extremely unpleasant.
Moreover, being ill would zap her energy, perhaps leaving her too weak to continue shoveling snow, risking the house being buried if left uncleared.
Wen Qian was always mindful of her health, bundling up fully whenever leaving the warmth of the stove.
In Xiaochenwa, Fang Ya was also sitting by the stove, with sweet potatoes roasting in the drawer giving off an enticing aroma.
However, she had already eaten enough, leaving these for Chen Ming.
Fang Ya remarked how foresighted Wen Qian was to have stockpiled so much firewood, unusual for a young woman.
Chen Ming wasn't surprised, saying that was just how the village operated.
Uncle Chen wasn't one to sit still, venturing into the mountains daily in addition to shoveling snow.
Spotting pheasant footprints, he wished to catch some, but only found exceptionally long feathers, not any live creatures, in the traps he had set.
If the snowfall persisted, he might just succeed eventually.
Uncle Chen had already given up hope for his wheat crop surviving this year's heavy snowfall, only wishing to have time to replant after winter passed.
Compared to the boredom of rural life, city dwellers were having it much worse, to the point that those with rural homes regretted not returning sooner.
Only after passing the Lunar New Year could one truly consider the holidays over, with the snow continuing unabated from night into day.
Weather reports showed varying degrees of snowfall across different regions, and despite the New Year, there was no festive atmosphere as people stayed home as much as possible, awaiting warmer weather and a return to normal life.
When working, everyone looked forward to holidays, but now unable to work, they couldn't accept being cooped up at home all day either.
Even playing on phones eventually grew tiresome.
Wen Qian's place lost power again, but she didn't care how long it would last, as it would return eventually, and life would go on even if it didn't.
Wen Qian boiled some snow into water, discarding the bottom residue and keeping the rest in a bucket.
Soaking her feet before bed would help her sleep more soundly.
A week later, Chen Ming should have returned to work, but the company postponed its reopening.
After a few days without electricity, power was restored to the village, so he brought his laptop back, preparing his work tools despite the uncertain restart date.
When the snow let up slightly, he and his father would venture into the mountains.
Since Uncle Chen had been clearing one particular path, it wasn't too difficult for them to go out each day, albeit not too far from their usual route.
Through their efforts, they managed to catch a pheasant, their sole prize so far.
Compared to the plight of city dwellers, or at least the general public, Chen Ming felt it was better to remain in their hometown.
In the city, there weren't even places to burn firewood, and relying solely on electricity for 24/7 heating caused bills to soar, a significant burden when many were unpaid during work stoppages, exacerbating food insecurity.
Of course, the government considered this, providing rations and vouchers to struggling households.
In areas with heating difficulties, community warming centers were established, as huddling together was preferable to freezing alone, while some places offered food in exchange for maintaining municipal operations.
Later, even internet access was lost, depriving the homebound of their main diversion.
With their pent-up energy and inability to go outside, tensions rose from the constant confinement, casting a gloomy pall over cities.
The cold weather brought increased health issues, with some losing their lives to the extreme chill.
Fortunately, being the New Year, villagers had ample provisions, enough for some until the Lantern Festival, for others beyond the first lunar month.
Especially with the heavy snowfall approaching the holidays and forecasts of worsening conditions, many stocked up heavily, clearing out grain reserves at local depots.
Only those addicted to smoking and drinking were truly suffering, having never imagined such an extended period of immobility.
Without her phone, Wen Qian began handwriting records during the day, not quite a diary but noting her main activities week by week, leaving blank days when uneventful.
Every day was snow, or more snow, so in such circumstances, one had to find tasks to avoid becoming despondent, fortunately something Wen Qian could easily do.
She began organizing her space, including many hoarded items previously left in disarray. She also assembled survival kits and medical supplies based on advice from online forums, packing them into boxes or small bags for ready access.
Some were online purchases, opened or still sealed, which she unpacked and repackaged.
She also portioned out previously prepared foods into disposable containers, ready to eat without cooking.
While working on these projects, she kept her doors and windows securely closed.
Though visitors were unlikely at present, it was still wise to take precautions.
