Stepping on the rice straw in the furrows—straw she and Qingmu had brought to cover the young vegetable seedlings at night, fearing they wouldn't survive the cold—she crouched down to get a good look at the yellow-hearted cabbage that had endured frost and snow.
The outer leaves of the entire plant were curled back, lying flat against the ground. The leaves were pockmarked with little hollows, some still holding bits of straw ash. The yellow heart in the center, however, was gathered into a tight cluster. So tender!
She let out a satisfied sigh and, though a little reluctant, chopped down two heads and placed them in her basket. After one last careful inspection to ensure nothing was amiss, she stood up.
Straightening up, she saw that the Big Cabbages in the distance were also beginning to form heads. The Yang family, wanting them to head up faster, had tied them with straw ropes, making the rows of Big Cabbages look as if they were being tortured, all trussed up!
