Siheyuan (traditional courtyard house): Don't touch my parents!

The clinic was deserted, not a soul in sight. A thin layer of dust covered the medicine cabinets, the tables and chairs were icy cold, and even the teacups on the tables were covered with a layer of frost.

She walked to the table, took out the ten silver dollars, and laid them out neatly one by one. Their silvery light was cold and clear, reflecting on her slightly thin face, like a handful of scattered stars on the table.

These days, very few families could afford to take out ten silver dollars in one go, especially since the person paying was a teenager.

She recalled He Yuzhu's eyes—at first glance, they seemed honest and simple, like they held a clear spring, but the expression deep within them was something she couldn't quite make out, like a lamp in the fog.

He Yuzhu pulled the cart around the street corner and plunged straight into a secluded alley. There was no one around, and it was so quiet that only the wind howled, swirling snowflakes that pelted against the alley walls with a soft, rustling sound.

With a flick of his wrist, the rickshaw vanished into thin air, as if sucked into a crack in the ground by the snow. He then took off running wildly through the snow, his cotton trousers billowing in the wind like a bird flapping its wings.

Snowflakes pelted his flushed cheeks, and the biting wind stung like knives, yet he felt no cold at all.

The fire in my heart burned fiercely, baking away all the chill. Mother is alive, and my sister has been born safely. He Daqing, let's see where you can run this time!

He rushed back to the courtyard gate in one breath. As soon as he stepped onto the steps, he saw a familiar figure hurriedly stepping over the threshold. The hem of his cotton robe swept across the snowdrift, leaving a shallow mark.

"Father!" He Yuzhu shouted at the top of his lungs. His voice echoed in the empty courtyard, hit the eaves, and bounced back, making it exceptionally loud.

He Daqing turned around abruptly and saw his son looking like this—

Soaked to the bone by snowmelt, with fine ice crystals clinging to his hair like a layer of white frost; water droplets dripped from his cotton-padded coat, splashing into small puddles on the ground.

The uppers of my shoes were covered in snow and mud, leaving black marks with every step.

"Zhu Zi! What happened to you?!" He Daqing rushed over in three strides, his voice trembling, like a taut string, "How is your mother?!"

He Yuzhu wiped his face haphazardly with his sleeve; snow water mixed with sweat streamed down his chin, icy cold, yet his eyes curved into crescent moons as he smiled.

"I've gone to take the doctor home! Dad, Mom gave birth, it's a little girl! Mom and my little girl are both safe and sound, nothing's wrong!"

He Daqing's steps suddenly froze on the spot, as if his feet were nailed to the ground, and he could not move an inch.

He opened his mouth slightly, unable to speak for a long time. His throat felt like it was blocked with a wet cotton ball, making it difficult to make a sound. His eyes instantly welled up with redness, like cherries soaked in water.

His lips trembled uncontrollably, and it took him a long time to squeeze out a word, his voice trembling with a sob.

After a long while, he slowly raised his hand and patted He Yuzhu's shoulder hard—the force was so great that He Yuzhu swayed and almost lost his balance.

"Good... He Daqing's voice trembled like a candle flame in the wind, yet it shone brightly. Good... My Zhuzi has truly grown up. Hurry home! Go see your mother and sister!"

He Yuzhu grabbed his arm and half-pulled him into the yard. His cotton-padded coat brushed against the back of his hand, carrying a warm, damp scent.

"Yes, yes, let's go home..." He Daqing staggered a couple of steps before coming to his senses and responding, his steps following his son's strength as he moved step by step into the house.

As soon as he stepped into the courtyard, He Daqing bent down and scooped up his son in his arms.

The ten-year-old boy already had the weight of a child, but he carried it with exceptional steadiness, as if he were holding the most precious treasure in the world in his arms.

He took long, fast strides, heading straight towards the central courtyard.

Upon reaching their front door, the father and son vigorously shook off the snow covering their bodies under the porch. Snowflakes fell softly, accumulating into a small pile at their feet.

After pushing open the door, the two of them tacitly squeezed into the room sideways.

His movements revealed an undisguised urgency, as if he were afraid of bringing in even a trace of cold air and disturbing the person resting on the kang (heated brick bed).

At this moment, only Yi Lishi was left in the main room, carefully taking care of the person on the kang (a heated brick bed).

He Chenshi leaned against the headboard. Although her face was still a little pale, she had recovered from her previous weakness. Her originally dim eyes were now shimmering with a gentle and bright light.

He Yushui was sleeping peacefully in her swaddling clothes. Although her little face still had the wrinkles typical of a newborn, it faintly revealed a vibrant life.

He Daqing rubbed his hands, which were red from the cold, and moved closer with light steps.

I just reached out to touch the child—

"He Daqing!" Madam He's eyes widened, her tone stern and unyielding.

"How dare you! You're radiating cold; do you want to freeze my daughter?"

He Daqing shuddered at the shout, hastily withdrew his hand, and stood obediently in place, a weak, silly grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.

He Chenshi turned to look at her son, her eyes welling up with tears again.

"Pillar……"

"Mother, please stop talking," He Yuzhu said first, her voice tense.

"Your safety and your sister's well-being is the most important thing," he said, his eyes reddening.

Yi Li had already told He Chen everything that had just happened.

If it weren't for her son's cleverness and understanding, the lives of the mother and son would probably be hanging by a thread.

Looking at her son, whose hair was soaked, He Chenshi saw the cold water from melting ice dripping down his temples. His cotton-padded jacket, trousers, and shoes were completely soaked, as if they could be wrung out and drip water.

A sudden, sharp pain shot through my chest, like being pricked repeatedly by tiny needles.

"He Daqing!" Her voice was still weak, but it contained an unyielding spirit.

"Why aren't you going to boil some water for my son so he can take a bath and change into some dry clothes? If my son gets cold, you can forget about ever sleeping on my bed again!"

Startled by the shout, He Daqing quickly replied, "Yes, yes, I'll go right away!"

As she spoke, she bent down, picked up He Yuzhu, and walked straight to the kitchen.

The fire by the stove hadn't completely died down, its warmth still lingering in this small space and dispelling some of the chill.

He Daqing placed his son on a low stool and let him dry off the moisture from his body by facing the stove fire, while he turned around and found a large wooden basin.

He first poured hot water into the basin, then added some cold water, and tested the water temperature with his hand. He found it to be just right, neither too hot nor too cold.

Turning around, he saw his son still standing there in a daze. He quickly and nimbly stripped He Yuzhu's wet clothes clean.

A sudden blast of cold air hit him, and He Yuzhu couldn't help but gasp, his skin instantly breaking out in goosebumps.

Immediately afterwards, He Daqing grabbed him and put him into the warm wooden basin of water with a "plop".

Less than half a minute later, He Yuzhu let out a soft hum of comfort, and even his previously furrowed brows completely relaxed.