Chapter 483 Xiao Nuan and Da Ju! The peach blossoms remain, but where have the faces gone?

Time flies.

Xiao Nuan is growing up day by day.

Every day, Yi Cheng and his friends would play with Xiao Nuan on the hilltop. When they had nothing to do, they would often ride the two plump and fat Emerald Pigs with Xiao Nuan on their backs and wander around the yard endlessly. Sometimes they would even bring Xiao Nuan along when performing plays.

It's a pity that Master said Xiao Nuan is still too young and wouldn't let me take her on mountain patrols. Otherwise, Yi Cheng would have loved to take Xiao Nuan to hunt tigers.

The book says, "Wu Song fighting the tiger is a true hero."

Yi Cheng also wanted to show Xiao Nuan her powerful appearance so that Xiao Nuan would admire her, her third senior aunt, even more.

Once, Yi Cheng finally couldn't resist. While Qin Shou was in seclusion refining pills, he and Little Fatty Black Rabbit secretly carried seven-month-old Xiao Nuan to the mountains to fight monsters. As a result, they encountered a black and ugly wild boar covered in barbs, which scared Xiao Nuan so much that she cried loudly.

Yi Cheng, Xiao Pang, and Hei Tu took turns making funny faces to coax and amuse the little guy, but he only cried louder.

Yi Cheng and Xiao Pang were very flustered. They couldn't coax Xiao Nuan back to the mountain because they were afraid their master would see them. So, it wasn't until sunset that Da Mei came looking for them and dragged the little ones back.

Da Mei smiled gently with her eyes crinkling, coaxed the little guy a couple of times, and he stopped crying, opening his arms for a hug.

Yi Cheng exclaimed in surprise, "Holy crap! Da Mei Nen is so amazing! Can you please not tell Master?"

As a result, the three chubby boys were punished by being forced to stand on the hilltop for two days and two nights without food.

One year later.

Xiao Nuan can already run all over the place.

"Third Aunt, Nuannuan wants to take a nap on your big belly at noon."

"good. "

"Third Aunt, after Nuannuan's afternoon nap, she wants to bounce around on your big belly."

"Okay. Little Fatty, Black Rabbit, Big Treasure, you all come and lie down, so Little Warmth can step on your belly and bounce around."

"Third Aunt, Nuannuan said she'll play after lunch and her nap."

"good. "

"Third Sister-in-law, where are you all going?"

"Little Nuan, the geese are going to hunt wild boar. We'll make you some bone broth for lunch to help you get stronger, and we'll also catch a few small green lobsters for you to eat."

"Wow~, Third Aunt, you went to hunt wild boars again! You're so amazing!"

"Hehehe, no problem at all! One slap from a goose can kill dozens of wild boars, and a single thrust of its little belly can kill tens of thousands. Don't believe me? Ask Little Fatty."

Little Fatty was very troubled, his little brows furrowed... and Yi Cheng started showing off again.

"Wow~ Wow~ Wow wow wow oh~~~"

"Ho~ Ho~ Ho ho ho ha~~~~"

——

soon.

Xiao Nuan is three years old.

In winter, the courtyard is covered with snowflakes.

Xiao Nuan, dressed in a bright red brocade cotton-padded jacket, was playing with snowballs with the golden tiger in the yard.

The little snowball rolled and rolled between the two of them, and the two of them had a great time.

"Giggle giggle..."

"Big Orange, you pounced on me again~"

"Big Orange" is the nickname Xiao Nuan gave to the golden tiger, saying that it was as big as an orange.

"Meow~"

The golden tiger pounced on Xiao Nuan, scratching her side with its claws, making Xiao Nuan giggle.

"Big Orange, wake up! It's warm and itchy."

"Meow~"

The golden tiger rolled over, and Xiao Nuan climbed on top of it, wrapping her arms around its neck. The golden tiger carried Xiao Nuan as it sped around the yard, scattering snowflakes all over Xiao Nuan's face. The little creature didn't get angry but laughed instead.

The clear, bell-like voices of children drifted through the snowflakes on the mountaintop, seemingly carrying a natural healing quality. As Qin Shou, who was sitting cross-legged under the peach tree playing the zither and resting his mind, watched this scene, a pleasant smile involuntarily appeared on his lips.

"Hehehe, Big Orange, you're running so fast now!"

"Meow! Meow~!"

The golden tiger, praised, ran even faster with its short legs.

As it ran, it tripped over a small, protruding rock hidden beneath the snow. The already large, fat orange cat tumbled a long way, dragging Xiao Nuan down with it.

"Oh my, Orange, you really can't take a compliment."

"Every time I praise you, you make a mistake."

"Your little bottom is hurting from all that shaking."

"Meow~ Meow~ Meow~~"

The golden tiger barked a few times apologetically and rubbed its head against Xiao Nuan's chest, begging for forgiveness.

"Hehehe, Big Orange, it's okay, I was just kidding."

Xiao Nuan gently patted the golden tiger's head with her little hand, and then the two of them started playing and rolling around in the snow again.

Clang!

Incense is burned and the snow is bathed in its light; the sound of the zither fades into the distance.

Petals fell one after another from the trees, glistening pink, pure white snow, paired with an unparalleled face... Is there any more beautiful scene in the world?

"Master, please warm my cold little hands."

Perhaps tired from playing, the little boy ran up to Qin Shou and stretched out his little hands, which were red from the cold.

"Then let Master warm Little Nuannuan's hands with his big hands."

Qin Shou stopped playing the zither, smiled, and reached out his large hands to grasp the warm little hand.

"Hehehe, Master, your big hands are so warm, so warm, so warm."

The little guy tilted his rosy cheeks up and snuggled into Qin Shou's arms.

"Nuannuan's little face is cool too, Nuannuan rubs against it."

"good. "

Qin Shou laughed and hugged the little guy in his arms, his spiritual energy surging and bringing warmth.

"Xiao Nuan, have you finished your homework today?"

Qin asked.

"It's finished."

The little one tilted her head back and said in a clear voice, "Grandmaster, Nuannuan isn't lazy like Third Aunt. Every morning after breakfast, Nuannuan does her homework with Aunt Damei for half an hour. Only then will Aunt Damei let Nuannuan come out to play with Daju."

"And also, Master, Nuannuan memorized another poem today."

"Oh! Really? Nuannuan is so smart!" Qin Shou pinched the little one's rosy cheeks. "Do you still remember the poem your master taught you yesterday?"

"Yes, I remember! Nuannuan has a great memory. If you don't believe me, Nuannuan can recite it to Master."

The little guy jumped off Qin's lap and stood there prettily reciting.

"Goose, goose, goose, with its neck curved towards the sky, it sings; its white feathers float on the green water, and its red webbed feet stir the clear waves."

Clap clap clap!

Qin Shou immediately clapped loudly.

"Nuan Nuan is so amazing!"

"So, which poem did your Auntie Da Mei teach you today? Can you recite it for your grandpa too?"

"good. "

The little guy immediately agreed, and after being encouraged, his big eyes lit up as he began to recite.

"Last year on this day, within this very gate, her face and the peach blossoms reflected each other's rosy hue. But where has that face gone? The peach blossoms still smile in the spring breeze..."

The clear, crisp voices of children swirled and drifted down in the courtyard, accompanied by gusts of snow.

Qin Shou watched the little guy reciting earnestly and clapped his hands in agreement with a smile.

But this smile gradually turned desolate as the poem's content unfolded.

"The face is gone, I know not where; the peach blossoms still smile in the spring breeze... The face is gone, I know not where; the peach blossoms still... smile in the spring breeze..."

A north wind blew through the courtyard, and Qin Shou murmured to himself over and over again.

Before I knew it, tears were streaming down my face.

The peach blossoms remain.

Where has that human face gone...?

What if I had made a different choice that snowy night...?

But......

There are no "what ifs".

There's no... choice at all...