The Slender Waist

In the first year of Tian Shou Era of the Dajin dynasty, a snowstorm descended, lingering for two long months before the weather gradually warmed up in early March.

The sun was halfway up the sky, yet the snow on the ridges of Huaxi Village’s fields had not melted away.

Feng Yun, accompanied by Xiaoman, emerged from the manor. Looking out at the vast expanse before her, the world was a spread of silvery white, as breath turned to frost in the air.

"Village Chief’s wife, are you going into the city?"

The one calling her was Mrs. Wang from the Yao family, holding a snow shovel in her hand and clearing the snow beside the path outside her house.

Feng Yun replied with a smile, asking her, "Are you getting ready to turn the soil?"

Mrs. Wang said, "Indeed, our head of the household said, ’If you don’t rush with the spring plowing, your face will turn yellow with hunger by autumn.’ After lunch, we will drag the whole family out to prepare the land. Oh right, could I borrow a couple of hoes from your place? We only took two from the tool shop last time we had them made, and now we don’t have enough to use."

Feng Yun naturally agreed, then added, "Once the weather completely clears up and all the trade routes are open, the tool shop will start working. Then, I’ll have the old craftsmen select a couple of suitable hoes for you."

Mrs. Wang beamed with gratitude. She covered her eyes with her hand and looked toward the horizon.

"It should finally be stable weather now, right? If this snow keeps falling, it will delay the spring planting."

On the day the snow first fell last year, many people watched the snow fall as if salt was sprinkling from the sky and said, "a timely snow promises a good harvest." Who would have expected what followed would be a once-in-a-century severe blizzard?

"Fortunately, the sky has cleared. Otherwise, it would mean heaven is taking our lives."

Extreme weather is always harshest on the livelihood of the people, especially hard on the commoners.

It’s not only the delay of spring plowing that affects the harvest, but the far-reaching consequences of the snow disaster are innumerable.

Roads impassable, commerce damaged – aside from the merchant houses, aristocratic families, and wealthy clans who have the habit of stockpiling food and goods, ordinary folks couldn’t even secure their basic needs. There was a widespread shortage of firewood, rice, cooking oil, and salt, making life extraordinarily difficult.

After chatting with Mrs. Wang for a while, Feng Yun saw Nan Kui and Chai Ying walking over from the other end of the village path.

Both were wearing veiled hats, chatting and walking, their bodies radiating with sunshine and smiles, their steps sprightly.

Upon spotting Feng Yun, Nan Kui called out,

"Madam."

Feng Yun smiled at them, "Why are you walking back? Didn’t you wait for the ox cart?"

Nan Kui shook her head with a smile, "We caught an ox cart right at the gates of Andu City and rode it all the way to the village school. Chai Ying and I walked the rest from there."

During the days of heavy snow, everything came to a standstill. However, Huaxi Village School started classes right after the Lantern Festival.

Previously, only children from wealthy families had the luxury of education, but now children from Huaxi Village could attend school on an equal basis, which was a source of envy for countless poorer families.

Even large households from the city, upon hearing rumors of the unparalleled mathematics teaching at Huaxi Village School, went out of their way to send their children there.

Feng Yun didn’t turn them away. The children from Huaxi Village paid less tuition or, for the poorer ones, were exempted entirely. As for the children from wealthy families, not from the local registry, they were charged a high fee – they could pay either in money or exchange food, fabric, or other resources.

It had to be satisfactory to Feng Yun.

Unexpectedly, despite Feng Yun’s exorbitant fees, there was still a constant stream of people wanting to enroll their children in the village school.

Those who had connections, asked someone to recommend them.

Those without connections, found roundabout ways to ask.

Feng Yun hired new teachers and cleared out two rooms from the idle spaces of the tool shop, which still left them in high demand.

Nan Kui had just heard a whole earful of praise at the village school and stared at Feng Yun with sparkling eyes, as if she couldn’t get enough of her, filled with admiration.

"Madam, how do you manage to be so extraordinary? People from Yupu Prefecture, Wanning County, and even places further afar, all want to come to our village to study... If the new Emperor doesn’t grant you an official title to recognize your talent, it really would be a waste."

Feng Yun replied with amusement, "You do love to talk."

In Huaxi Village, she didn’t allow others to call her Princess, and everyone gradually got used to addressing her as "Village Chief’s wife," which felt much more intimate than any title.

But because they were close, these mischievous girls even dared to jest with her.

After sharing a laugh, Feng Yun said, "I thought you wouldn’t be back until the afternoon, or maybe you’d stay over in the city and return with Wen Hui tomorrow."

Nan Kui’s face turned somber as if something had just crossed her mind.

"Today, the Government Office only distributed porridge for one hour."

Feng Yun asked, "What? Does the Governor no longer have any grain in storage?"

Nan Kui shook her head, a shadow crossing her eyes.

"I’m not sure about that. But I noticed there are a lot more refugees in Andu City than before the year ended. They gather in groups, dragging along their families. Even children tall enough to reach your knee are dragged out to beg, with snot dribbling down, looking pitiful."

Great distress follows great disasters, as natural calamity often leads to human tragedy.