My dao to eternity

Winter passed gently that year, mild enough that the market never fully emptied even on its coldest mornings, and Old Mu's health held its steady rhythm through the whole of it, three weeks between spells stretching, twice, into four. Li Fan allowed himself a cautious measure of relief over the stretch, careful not to mistake a good season for a cure, but grateful for it regardless.

The shop settled into a rhythm neither of them needed to discuss anymore. Li Fan opened most mornings now. Old Mu worked the smaller pieces at his own unhurried pace, corrected Li Fan's larger commissions when correction was warranted, and complained, with real feeling, whenever a customer haggled too aggressively over a fair price. Between them, the work continued.

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