Chapter 110: Missing the Warmth

The night passed swiftly.

The next day was the first day of the Lunar New Year.

While Bai Xi was still deep in sleep, every household had already risen and begun tidying up, all eager to finish breakfast quickly and come early to pay their New Year respects to her.

Some, in their haste, didn’t even eat breakfast.

Before the old customs were abolished, the Taoist temple dozens of miles away thrived with incense and worshippers, and many from the surrounding villages would set off before dawn to offer their incense early.

Back then, at the busiest times, lantern after lantern lit up the entire mountain path.

Now, the temple was gone. Even if it still existed, the people of Niuluo Village had no intention of going.

They had their own young lady to honor; paying respects to their own deity was enough. Why seek blessings elsewhere?

Xiao Hei listened to the commotion downstairs and hesitated for a moment but decided not to wake Bai Xi on the second floor.

Her master had been cultivating late into the night yesterday; it was better not to disturb her rest.

Downstairs, no one wanted to wake Bai Xi either. The young lady was still quite young and needed her sleep. If she didn’t rest enough, how could she grow tall?

Those who arrived early waited quietly; those who came later busied themselves greeting the early arrivals. Everyone lowered their voices in unison, clasped their hands in respectful New Year greetings, and patiently waited for Bai Xi to awaken so they could pay their respects to her.

“Why did you all come so early? I thought my family was early enough, but it looks like I was the last,” someone remarked.

“Hehe, well, we wanted to be the first to come and wish the young lady a Happy New Year,” another replied.

“Old Li’s family was the earliest—they didn’t even eat breakfast before coming. Had I known, I would have gotten up earlier,” someone else said.

Old Li’s family couldn’t hide their delight at the praise, though they modestly downplayed it.

Though unspoken, everyone tacitly agreed that those who came earlier would receive more blessings than those who arrived later—just as people all vie to offer the first incense at temples.

Some parents scolded their children for waking late, grumbling, “I told you to get up early, but you just kept playing. Now look, you’re dawdling and won’t even catch a warm meal.”

But the reprimands were brief, quickly hushed by others. On the first day of the New Year, scolding was frowned upon—besides, the young lady was upstairs, and no one wanted to spoil her mood.

No one expected that Bai Xi would sleep through a long, lingering dream, not waking until nearly noon.

“Is the young lady ill?” someone asked.

The question was met with a glare from the crowd.

“Pah! It’s the New Year; can you not think of something auspicious?”

“No, I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just that although the young lady usually wakes late, she never misses breakfast. And now it’s almost lunchtime.”

True enough.

The waiting crowd grew anxious. If not for Xiao Hei occasionally poking its head out, they would have thought Bai Xi was no longer there.

“Village chief, what should we do?” everyone turned to Chen Daliu, hoping he would make a decision.

Chen Daliu stroked his chin, hesitating.

“She shouldn’t be ill. The young lady is in good health—she hasn’t even coughed once before. There’s no reason for her to feel unwell.”

This was true. Half a year ago, the young lady had nearly drowned but managed to walk back to her treehouse herself and was lively the very next day without any sign of discomfort.

Chen Zhaodi chimed in, “Don’t worry, the treehouse has Xiao Hei. Xiao Hei understands humans; if the young lady felt unwell, it would have come down to find someone. Since Xiao Hei is quiet, she’s probably just overslept.”

Everyone nodded in agreement. After all, even adults sometimes oversleep.

“Let’s be patient and wait. It’s the New Year, and no one has pressing tasks.”

At Chen Daliu’s words, everyone agreed. Indeed, no one would leave now even if asked.

Young and old alike waited for Bai Xi. Their own grandparents, parents, and children stayed put. Little Shunzi and the others remained obediently by their parents’ sides. No one was going anywhere.

Bai Xi awoke, still recalling the strange scenes from her dream. Hearing the faint chatter downstairs, she didn’t dwell on it and pulled back the covers, emerging from her warm bed.

“You didn’t even wake me up?”

Xiao Hei whimpered softly. “Master, I saw you were sleeping soundly, so I didn’t disturb you.”

Bai Xi held no grudge—she had slept deeply.

The air seemed to have chilled significantly. Just out of bed, Bai Xi shivered and shook herself. At times like this, she couldn’t help but long for her treasured warm clothes.

Under Xiao Hei’s amused but cautious gaze, Bai Xi quickly dressed in the clothes at the bedside, feeling warmer before heading to wash up.

“Go fetch two people upstairs. They’ll help me carry some things down later.”

Barely had she finished speaking when Xiao Hei obediently whined in response and trotted downstairs.

Seeing Xiao Hei descend so calmly, everyone immediately knew the young lady had awakened.

“You, and you, come with me.”

Xiao Hei scanned the crowd, then lazily raised a paw and pointed at two people before barking at another.

What did that mean?

Everyone exchanged confused looks.

Xiao Hei took a few steps forward, and seeing no one follow, frowned slightly with its tiger-like eyes. It turned back, urging the two again, barking, “Hurry up! What are you waiting for?”

Chen Rui quickly grasped the meaning. “Xiao Hei wants you to follow it.”

“Probably the young lady wants to do something and sent Xiao Hei to fetch help.”

Xiao Hei nodded, looking pleased with Chen Rui, drawing amazed exclamations from the crowd.

“Oh, oh!” Little Shunzi immediately broke free from his father’s shoulder and scampered forward.

Little Liuzi, quick-witted, also hurried up, while Little Shitou, a step behind, looked aggrieved. “Xiao Hei clearly meant me.”

“Who told you to dawdle?” Shitou’s mother poked his forehead sharply, borrowing the earlier scolding from Chen Damao, “If you drag your feet, you won’t even catch a warm meal.”

Seeing how clever Little Liuzi was, Shitou’s mother glanced at his parents with envy.

Shitou’s father, mindful, nudged his son’s shoulder. “Then hurry up too.” Since Xiao Hei hadn’t specified, the casual paw point could mean either Shitou or Liuzi. Having an extra person wouldn’t hurt.

Shitou, not overthinking it, followed upstairs immediately.

The onlookers gazed enviously at the parents of Little Shunzi and the others. The young lady had just woken, and the first to be called were their children—such luck!

Some were already making mental notes: from now on, they must cultivate a good relationship with Xiao Hei.

After all, Xiao Hei and Little Shunzi’s group were often around and were the first called upon when something needed doing.