One who smiled always won forgiveness. Tarico was just like a naughty boy, with whom Ye Xiaoxian couldn’t be angry.
“Why don’t you ski? You don’t have boots?” he asked.
Ye Xiaoxian replied with a smile, “It has nothing to do with boots. I don’t know how to ski.”
“It’s very simple. I can teach you,” he said.
She hesitated, especially after she found physical contact was unavoidable when Jia Zhenbo taught Liu Qianqian how to ski. Apart from them, the other couples were also close to each other when they slid.
So Ye Xiaoxian declined politely. “I’m fine just watching from here.”
“It’s boring just watching here. The snow is cold and wet.” Tarico tried to persuade her.
“I’ll be leaving soon,” She insisted.
He grinned. “Are you scared?”
“A little bit,” she admitted.
“Wait a moment.” He put on his ski boots immediately.
Then, he slid down the hill skillfully. After a while, he reappeared dragging a wooden basin with a rope tied to it.
He scrambled up the hill and placed the basin in front of her. “Sit in it.”
“Sit in here?” She thought of the sand-boarding and rafting that she had once seen on television. It must be also very thrilling to slide down here, sitting in the basin.
“It’s safe. No skills are needed. Just sit in it.” Tarico explained.
It’s not polite to decline one’s kindness twice, especially after he brought the basin up, Ye Xiaoxian thought. Besides, she had also grown excited at the sight of the wooden basin.
On an impulse, she settled herself into it.
Tarico helped her hold the basin at first. When she was ready, he gave the basin a push to let it move down slowly. When it reached the middle of the slope, it suddenly sped up. She couldn’t help screaming. What an adventure!
Tarico followed her down and soon came to her side. He asked with a smile, “Is it fun?”
“Yes!” she affirmed.
“Again?”
“Of course!”
She wanted to drag the basin up by herself, but it was too heavy to move. Tarico took it at once and put his boots in it. “I’ll do it.”
Like this, she would be side by side with him. Keeping a distance, she didn’t feel embarrassed with him. Since she knew his story from Dilly, she had deemed him a good man who she didn’t need to guard against.
Tarico was very talkative the whole way. “Is the man who came here that day your husband?”
“Who?” She was surprised by his question.
“The king,” he said.
“Oh, him!” She laughed as she panted and climbed up. “You misunderstand. How could he be my husband?”
“Why not?” He was confused.
It occurred to her that the class divide was not that serious in this tribe. So she explained, “Those in the royal family can’t marry ordinary people. I’m just a commoner.”
Since Tarico usually wandered around, he knew the people elsewhere indeed had such social rules. But he asked, “He likes you, or you also like him?”
She burst into laughter. “That’s impossible. It’s all in your mind.”
Liu Qianqian had also teased her about this after Li Chengru had left that day. The other people even supported her being with Li Chengru, though she might become a concubine as she didn’t have a strong background. They said nothing would matter as long as he treated her well.
Ye Xiaoxian thought they must have let their imagination run riot. For one thing, she didn’t want to be a concubine. For another, Li Chengru wouldn’t fall in love with a widow. Anyway, she didn’t want to get herself involved in such a drama of palace intrigue. She knew she was not smart enough to survive one episode if she was put in a TV series of that kind. So she was serious when she asked the others not to joke about this. Just like them, she treated him as an ordinary friend who had once shared great difficulties with them.
…
Reassured by her certitude, Tarico didn’t ask anymore.
She joked, “Why are you so…” Since she didn’t know how to say “nosy” in the local dialect, she finally used, “much like my mother”.
He got her meaning and gave her a big smile. “I’m just curious.” Then, he took out his ski boots and handed them to her. “Grab them. I’ll pull you up.”
Ye Xiaoxian panted heavily as she climbed up. After all, it was her first time walking in deep snow, which was almost as difficult as swimming for a beginner. So, she stretched out her hands and grabbed the boots without hesitation. Then, he began helping her up in front, which saved her a great deal of energy. Soon, they reached the top and darted down happily once more with the basin and boots.
Ye Xiaoxian had a great time that day. But she didn’t notice the curiosity in the locals’ eyes as they looked at her and Tarico.
…
Bored at home, Ye Xiaoxian began making potato pies. The pies proved to be a great success. All her companions loved them very much. Therefore, she planned to give some pies to Dilly and chat with her.
Since it was freezing cold outside, the food would easily turn cool. So she made a simple thermal box, placing food in the top layer and hot water in the bottom layer. This way, the pies could remain warm when Dilly ate them. Then, she trudged through the snow to Dilly’s house
Delighted by Ye Xiaoxian’s visit, Dilly welcomed her to the yurt hospitably. The stove was burning, on top of which was a pot of hot water. It was much warmer inside.
Ye Xiaoxian took off her coat and blew on her hands to warm them up. After a while, she opened the box. “Auntie Dilly, I’ve brought some potato pies for you. Please try some.”
“Oh, thank you!” Dilly took out a piece of pie and had a bite. She savored it and said that she liked it very much and that it reminded her of her hometown. Then, she asked, “I remember you planned to pick snow lotuses in the mountains, right? Did you do it?”
“No,” Ye Xiaoxian said with a sigh. “They’re worried about being frozen to death.”
Dilly laughed. “Indeed, it requires courage and also a local’s company, or you won’t know what to do when facing heavy snow. I suggest you go in spring.”
She thought for a while and went on, “But you can go fishing.”
Ye Xiaoxian had also learned from some documentaries that one could catch fish in winter even when the river was frozen. But she didn’t know the specific method.
Dilly advised, “You can ask Tarico. He also catches fish in winter. Oh yes, you can have his company when you pick snow lotuses. He’s a master in this. I remember he once picked five lotuses in a day. The others might explore the mountains twice without finding any.”