Chapter 285 - 183 Contrast_2
In the morning, Cheng Yue looked at her son and daughter dressed in thick cotton robes and skirts and nodded in satisfaction. Then, looking at the snowflakes filling the sky, she said, "Poor Hongji, with his bare head and no hair, must be so cold."
Qian Yixiu said, "Mother, don’t worry, if he feels cold, he’ll wear a monk’s hat."
"But I forgot to make him a monk’s hat," Cheng Yue said reproachfully, her eyes reddening.
"Mother didn’t make him one, but there are people at their temple who specialize in making clothes; they will do it," Qian Yixiu comforted her. She seldom saw the Little Monk during the winter, as he usually left in the winter month and wouldn’t return until the spring of the following year. In her memory, she had never seen the Little Monk wearing a hat.
When not mentioned, they are often most apt to appear; just as her younger siblings had started a lesson, lasting only fifteen minutes, the Little Monk came by for a visit. Mr. Yu graciously gave Qian Yeejin and Qian Yixiu a day off and went to the backyard to watch the masters making furniture.
The Little Monk didn’t wear a hat, and he wasn’t even in a cotton jacket, just an interlayer garment, which left his little cheeks and nose reddened from the cold, and his lips were tinged with blue.
He had come to say goodbye, as he was going to travel with his master, planning to spend the New Year at Baoguo Temple in the Suburb of Capital and wouldn’t return until next spring. As it was cold in the yard, the Little Monk was invited to play in the west wing parlor. Cheng Yue tenderly covered his face with her hands and said, "Why aren’t you wearing a jacket? Your aunt made one for you. And your head, so bare, why aren’t you wearing a hat?"
The Little Monk laughed and said, "This weather is not that cold yet. Once we go north, where water turns to ice, I will need to wear a cotton jacket and a hat."
"This weather isn’t cold? Look, your lips are turning blue," Qian Yixiu remarked.
The Little Monk said, "The monks at the temple who practice martial arts don’t wear jackets in this weather; they’re used to it and don’t feel cold."
After warming the Little Monk’s face, Cheng Yue stopped embroidering and instead watched her son and daughter talking and playing with the Little Monk.
Close to noon, little Qian Yiduo came by. Yesterday, the third branch had brought over a small jar of spiced meat purchased from the county town, which was extremely fragrant. However, the meat was tender, and Old man Qian and Old woman Qian ate most of it, leaving her with only two pieces. Thinking that the third branch might have some more, she came over to ask for some spiced meat. When she saw the Little Monk there, she was very disappointed.