v6c51: Today’s Date

“You know, my dear husband, the people of that other place were truly depraved,” Meimei said, her eyes locked on to me. “Absolute degenerates.”

 

I looked down at my apron. It was the only thing I was currently wearing, and it didn’t cover much.

 

“I can go change if you’re offended,” I replied, raising an eyebrow back to my wife while setting down our breakfast. We had gone traditional today, with a sweet congee of dried berries and honey, as well as tea eggs.

 

“You will do no such thing!” came the instant rebuttal. “I spoke only in simple admiration. Now go and get momma some more tea.”

 

I turned around and smiled at the absolutely perverse giggles that echoed out from my wife. She sounded like a dirty old man. I knew what was coming with the sound of her chair shifting, but allowed the sneak attack to land. I just laughed as her hand hit my butt with a meaty thwack.

 

The legendary naked apron was a hit. A very big hit. And after breakfast my wife showed me just how much she enjoyed it.

 

While the house normally felt a little empty with everyone away, sometimes it was nice to have the place pretty much to ourselves, especially after how busy everything had been.

 

It made it a lot easier to have a date day. Peppa had taken Zhuye out for us after his morning meal, so we had the entire day to ourselves. It was really nice to have a day to just mess around.

 

After our late and lazy morning, we set off arm in arm on a walk around the property. We bundled up in our winter finest: me with the coat Meimei had made me, and her wearing the hat with two deer humping I had made her.

 

It was her favourite hat.

 

The snow was deep, but it bothered us none. While we could probably walk on top of it with cultivation, it was a lot more fun to simply trudge through the white powder. It was up to Meimei’s waist in some places, and in those parts instead of powering through she hopped onto my back, pointing forwards and kicking her legs.

 

“Go forth, my mighty steed!” she commanded me. Naturally, I obeyed, snorting and bucking like a bronco, much to Meimei’s delight.

 

We wandered over frozen streams that we could still hear flowing weakly under the ice. I picked Mei up so she could clamber on top of the biggest rocks. We balanced and walked along the tops of fallen trees, letting ourselves slip and fall into a soft blanket of snow.

 

The air danced with iridescent ice crystals, and the forest was quiet and still. Cold light shone from above a canopy of bare branches and evergreens.

 

We let the chill in, to give the air just a bit of bite. We let our noses and cheeks turn red from the cold. We wandered in the middle of winter, happy with all it was.

 

We walked the land, the pristine and the scarred alike. We knew every route we could take, because we had walked them all before. This was our home, and it was good.

 

We walked past branches full of birds, their feathers puffed from the cold, and not a one took flight. We walked among a herd of deer, their heads down and hooves pawing at the snow to get at buried plants. The buck, a majestic one even without his antlers, looked directly at us and snorted, before paying us no more mind. We walked alongside two foxes as they bounced, rolled, and yapped at each other, with not a care in their little world. They chased each other around our legs for a while, before they shot off, heading deeper into the forest.

 

We both had smiles on our faces as we finally started the way back home, cold and slightly wet.

 

We passed by Babe, the ox examining characters he had carved into the snow along with Gramps.

 

“Clean, but too clean,” the old man commented. “The flourish is what elevates writing to art, the personality of the calligrapher.” Gramps looked up and saw us before waving us over. “Granddaughter! I know today is yours, but might I borrow your husband?”

 

“I expect him back shortly!” she commanded, and I rolled my eyes as Gramps chuckled.

 

I walked over to where Babe was standing, glancing at the character. Turtle. A fairly complex character honestly. I picked up a nearby stick and, after a moment, wrote the same character in the snow. Bold, and strong. Tough.

 

Babe’s cuts were sharper and more square, while mine flowed.

 

Gramps sighed. “Look at him, he writes so beautifully, but resorts to chicken scratch in his personal notes!” the old man lamented.

 

‘A clean cut can also flow like water, rather than have such rigid straightness,’ Babe said after a moment, nodding. ‘I will meditate upon this. This one thanks you for your instruction.’

 

Gramps smiled. “Calligraphy is a wondrous art that teaches a man much, both about himself and about the world. All who seek its study should receive pointers. But this isn’t the only reason you called me out, no?”

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

Babe shook his head.

 

‘This one found much enjoyment in carving wood block print stories with Bi De. This one was wondering if perhaps Master Shen Yu had any stories that would be acceptable for this medium.’

 

Gramps chuckled. “Oh? You’re going to illustrate my feats? Sure, why not! I think I have a good one…”

 

We left them to it and continued our walk.

 

As we got closer to home, we noticed how quiet it was. Bowu had given the drop hammer and forge a rest. He and Washy were both sitting at a firepit, roasting chestnuts and potatoes. Nearby were Chunky and Peppa, who were also outside with Zhuye. Both Peppa and Zhuye were sitting on the boar’s back as he made a slow circuit around the fire.

 

Peppa looked quite radiant, a soft smile on her face.

 

“Adaba!” Zhuye cheered.

 

“Adabada~” Peppa sing-songed back, much to Zhuye’s giggles. Then our little man noticed us and threw up his arms.

 

“Ah! DaMa!” he babbled, reaching for us.

 

Naturally, neither of us could resist.

 

“Are you being good for your big brother and sister?” Meimei asked while we cuddled him.

 

‘Little brother is very good!’ Chunky answered happily.

 

“He stood up again earlier, and got another step in!” Peppa said with a bright smile.

 

I let go of our son and gave Peppa a big hug too.

 

“Thanks for looking after him,” I said.

 

“It’s never any trouble,” Peppa answered, holding me tight.

 

“Make sure you ask us for help with your own,” I told her, and she blushed prettily.

 

“I don’t yet know when that will be,” she demurred, but she was glowing.

 

Then I hopped onto Chunky’s back behind her. Our big man let out a grunting laugh and took off to Peppa’s shock at first, before she started laughing as we charged around for a while.

 

When we came back, the roasting potatoes were done.

 

“Cheers!” I said as Washy did one up for me with butter and cheese. Meimei wrinkled her nose a bit at my choice but otherwise didn’t comment. “You’re a champion!”

 

Washy snorted. “Obviously!” he declared, and continued onto making one for Peppa, which ended up so red with spice it looked radioactive, but she looked to really enjoy it.