She shuffled through the snow, it had already surpassed her shoes, all around her was a vast expanse of white. The park was desolate, yet she could vaguely hear voices in the distance. The sky would brighten soon, and she expected someone to come clear the snow. Regardless, the park paths at least had to be cleaned.
Qin Xiangnuan took out the keys, opened the door, and waited a while before entering with Jian Zhiqing. Qin Xiangnuan lit the stove and kneaded dough, while Jian Zhiqing grabbed a broom to sweep the snow outside, clearing a small path. After eating here, he needed to head to work early. The closer it got to the New Year, the busier he became, having been swamped for over a month, yet still returning late every day. Qin Xiangnuan couldn’t help much with this as she was also busy, yet she managed to juggle opening her shop and making clothes without missing a beat.
Soon after, as dawn broke faintly, the cleaners arrived to tidy up. Since the paths were untouched in the morning, they were easily cleared, and soon, the roads buried under the snow revealed their true form. Qin Xiangnuan’s business started as well; many residents came to buy her pancakes, including some students, so her business was indeed thriving. Despite the heavy snow, many other small stalls in the park were closed or absent for days, but hers was always open, never missing a day. At least, they wouldn’t come in vain, full of hope.
Before eight o’clock, she sold all her pancakes.
After closing up, she still had to go to school. She would return in the afternoon to prepare the items needed for the next day.
Back home, Conghua followed her around. She then remembered she hadn’t fed Conghua, who looked at her with pitiful eyes, wagging its tail occasionally.
Qin Xiangnuan prepared some food for it, a soup soaked pancake and yesterday’s leftover bone. Although it was just a bone, Conghua still enjoyed it.
She grabbed the broom and swept the snow in the courtyard. By eight-thirty, she was ready to head to school. Today, there was a semester-end mini-test at school. She didn’t know how well she would score, but she wasn’t worried because she had already reviewed all her courses thoroughly, noted down key points, finished all necessary revisions and memorizations, even for the toughest subject, English.
The mini-test covered only a few subjects, yet it was extremely crucial. This was their first year of high school. Teachers would determine their approximate grade from this test, possibly affecting the teachers’ year-end evaluations. That’s why every class teacher paid extra attention, as it related to whether they could achieve excellence and have a good year.
Moreover, Ba Yi was now famous because a student from Bayi Primary School won first place in a dance competition across five provinces and would even participate in this year’s local spring festival gala. This was a major event at school. Although they were high school students, they were still managed by Ba Yi School. Qin Xiangnuan couldn’t have imagined that a dance she introduced early would become so popular and even make it to the spring gala. She thought, after the New Year, the cassettes might sell well too, unfortunately for the songwriter and composer.
Indeed, it was a sensation throughout the nineties, yet none like before.