After mid-November, the weather turned truly cold. Snowflakes drifted down continuously, and before long, it was the twelfth lunar month. Every household was busy preparing goods for the New Year, and though the holiday had yet to arrive, the festive atmosphere was already thick in the air.
Xiao Man hadn't been able to return to the South for her summer break. In her letters home, she only hinted that she would be back in the village for the Spring Festival. The moment winter break started, Sister Xinghua and her siblings began calling one after another: "What day are you coming back?"
"Are you getting ready to come back? We want to go to Wancheng to pick you up!"
