End of February.
A heavy snow fell in Pingyang, with the snow accumulating thick enough to cover the ankles.
"Ha, the rooster hasn't crowed and I'm already up, destined to be a busybody, check in, check in, ah-choo! It's really cold today, freezing to death. I should have worn an extra pair of pants."
"It's really cold. When I got up this morning, the ice in the water tank was three inches thick."
"Snap! Snap!"
Two crisp sounds.
On the steps at the entrance of the River and Lake Office, two officials stomped the snow off their shoes, so the melting snow wouldn't soak their new socks. They rubbed their red and itchy earlobes, ran into the wood shed, half-hid their hands in their sleeves, grabbed cold and hard bamboo brooms, and swept the snow while chatting about daily life.
"It's so damned tiring. A festival went by, and I feel like I didn't do anything. Ten days off disappear without a trace. When's the next rest day?"
