At the end of the first lunar month, a heavy snowfall came.

The snow arrived with sudden ferocity. Within a day and night, it had accumulated past the knee.

Zheng San and A-Sen were sweeping snow in the courtyard with brooms and shovels when they saw the personal maid of Madam Wang, wife of Colonel Wang Yi who guarded Zhuanglang, passing by the gate accompanied by two young maids.

Both men had good memories and bowed to them from a distance.

Madam Wang’s maid politely exchanged pleasantries with them: “How has Miss Fu been these days?”

“Thank you for your concern. All is well!” Zheng San smiled. “Where are you coming from? The weather is so cold. Why not come in for a cup of hot tea before you go?”

“Many thanks!” Madam Wang’s maid smiled and said, “I just came from Records Clerk Chen’s house at the Pacification Office on my lady’s orders. I still need to see Madam Wang.” Seeing the confusion on Zheng San’s face, she explained, “Madam Wang is the wife of the wealthy merchant Mr. Wang from Zhangye. Since she shares the same surname as our master, she and our lady have become sworn sisters. Many people have frozen to death in the city, and our lady wants to distribute steamed buns in the western part of the city. She has invited Madam Chen and Madam Wang to discuss this matter at our residence.”

“This is truly a virtuous deed that accumulates merit!” Zheng San, having survived famine before, knew that at times like these, even a single meal could save a life. His words of praise were sincere, unlike some people’s superficial politeness.

Madam Wang’s maid felt quite pleased hearing this. She chatted with Zheng San for a while before leaving.

Zheng San went back and told Zheng San’s mother about it. While doing needlework with Fu Tingyun, Zheng San’s mother couldn’t help but sigh: “It’s fortunate we met Miss Fu. Otherwise, we might have been the ones freezing in the snow.”

Outside, dark clouds gathered as the north wind howled, rattling the window frames.

They sat on the heated kang bed that burned hot, feeling warm and cozy.

Fu Tingyun smiled and asked her what had happened.

Zheng San’s mother told Fu Tingyun about Zheng San meeting Madam Wang’s maid.

Fu Tingyun’s expression gradually became serious as she listened. She instructed San’s mother: “Go wrap up ten taels of silver to send to Madam Wang, as our donation. Though the silver is little, it’s a sincere gesture. Please ask Madam Wang not to think it too modest.”

Helping others within one’s means was a pleasant thing to do, especially for Zheng San’s mother, who came from humble origins and had known hardship. She was delighted and repeatedly praised Fu Tingyun for having the heart of a Bodhisattva, then said: “I’ll also donate five fen of silver!”

Fu Tingyun naturally agreed.

Zheng San’s mother happily weighed out ten taels of silver with a scale, and despite the renewed snowfall outside, she went to Madam Wang’s place with an umbrella, trudging through the uneven snow. She didn’t return until it was time to light the lamps.

“I saw someone who had frozen to death in the street!” She shook the snow from her body, her face somewhat pale. “It was a child, about the same age as our Linchun.” As she spoke, she began to wipe away tears.

Hearing this, Fu Tingyun felt heavy-hearted. That night, she wrote a letter to Zhao Ling, asking about the weather in his area.

The snow continued for seven or eight days before it cleared. The streets were covered in muddy water everywhere. Zheng San went out to buy lamp oil and returned to tell Fu Tingyun: “They’ve started distributing steamed buns in the west of the city.”

Fu Tingyun thought for a moment and asked Zheng San’s mother to go to Madam Wang’s: “See if they need help there. If they’re shorthanded, stay and help for a few days.”

Zheng San’s mother readily agreed and went to Madam Wang’s place.

Madam Wang’s household happened to need someone to knead dough.

Zheng San’s mother would rise early each day to prepare breakfast, keep it warm in the pot, and then go to the west of the city to help.

Madam Qi came to visit and, seeing that A-Sen was serving tea, asked about Zheng San’s mother: “Has she caught a cold? Doctor Zhu at Spring Return Hall on our street corner is quite good. If you go for medicine and mention our master’s name, he will certainly throw in some licorice or honeysuckle.”

Fu Tingyun smiled and thanked her, then told Madam Qi about Zheng San’s mother helping with the bun distribution in the west of the city.

All the ladies in the official quarters knew about this matter. Madam Qi was habitually stingy and felt that anonymously donating money was less effective than burning a few more sticks of incense at the temple. When Madam Wang had asked her, she had hemmed and hawed, brushing the matter aside. Fearing that others might inquire and cause her to lose face, she thought that since Zhao Ling was not part of the Commander-in-Chief’s office and Fu Tingyun was an unmarried young lady, they surely wouldn’t know about this matter, so she came to socialize. Unexpectedly, not only did Fu Tingyun know about it, but she had also sent her servant to help in the west of the city. Madam Qi immediately felt embarrassed and awkwardly said: “You know our family situation, with four or five children to feed, we rarely even get to eat meat… How about I donate five fen of silver?” As she spoke, she watched Fu Tingyun’s expression closely.

Each person has their own choices. Charity should come from the heart rather than be done reluctantly.

“Many hands make light work,” Fu Tingyun smiled. “Small amounts add up!”

“Yes, yes!” Seeing that Fu Tingyun showed no signs of contempt, Madam Qi immediately became jubilant and said, “It’s just that our family is truly struggling…” She went on to list many difficulties.

Fu Tingyun looked at the bright red gold-embroidered padded jacket she wore and smiled without commenting.

Madam Lu, seeing that the weather had cleared, also brought Xue Mei to visit.

Seeing Madam Qi present, her expression immediately cooled. She nodded slightly in greeting, then smiled and pointed to the food box in Xue Mei’s hand: “The snow has been heavy these past days, and I haven’t visited Miss Fu. Having nothing to do, I made some flower-shaped buns. Miss, please try them and see how they taste.” As she spoke, Xue Mei had already placed the food box on a nearby tea table.

Fu Tingyun smiled and thanked her, asking A-Sen to take them to the kitchen to steam: “Let everyone have a taste!”

Madam Qi responded with a “Good” through her smile, but Madam Lu found her tactless and deliberately brought up topics that Madam Qi wouldn’t know about. As Madam Qi listened, she began to feel uncomfortable. After eating the buns, she smiled and rose to take her leave, saying: “Now that these hot buns have filled my stomach, I feel warm all over. And since the sun has come out, I’ll go look at the place where Madam Wang is distributing buns and donate some silver while I’m there.” Then she smiled at Madam Lu and said: “I heard that General Mo also donated quite a bit of silver. Would you like to come with me to see?”

For such important matters, it would be improper for a concubine to take charge.

“You…” Madam Lu ground her silver teeth in anger, and only after a while did she calm down and say with a cold smile, “The snow is deep and the ground slippery. I fear breaking my leg.”

Hearing this, Madam Qi’s face flushed crimson. Just as she was about to retort, Fu Tingyun stood up and took her arm: “Madam Qi, it’s getting late. If you don’t go to Madam Wang’s now, you’ll have to wait until tomorrow.” Madam Qi cast a cold glance at Madam Lu before following Fu Tingyun out the door.

When Fu Tingyun returned, Madam Lu was sitting there with her head lowered, quietly weeping. Seeing Fu Tingyun enter, she looked up with tearful eyes and complained: “Just because she’s the principal wife, she looks down on me like this. If I weren’t considering that we’re neighbors, I would report this to the General, and their Clerk Qi would surely face consequences…” Fu Tingyun consoled her for quite some time before she finally wiped her tears and, supported by Xue Mei, returned home.

These people completely disregarded proper behavior and place, even quarreling in her home.

Lying in bed, Fu Tingyun felt as if she had stepped into a muddy pond, her feet heavy with each step.

That evening, Zheng San’s mother returned and happily told her: “The Marquis of Yingchuan has arranged with Mr. Wang for him to take charge of disaster relief. Starting tomorrow, I won’t need to go anymore.”

At the end of the Spring and Autumn Period, Tian He, the Prime Minister of Qi, became Duke of Qi. The Tian family often lent grain with large measures but collected repayments with small measures, thus winning people’s hearts. Later, they deposed Duke Kang of Qi and established themselves as rulers. Since then, throughout the dynasties, merchants had been forbidden from privately building bridges, repairing roads, or distributing grain from granaries. With the Marquis of Yingchuan’s authorization, Mr. Wang no longer had anything to worry about.

Fu Tingyun was delighted to hear this.

Relying on women and children to distribute buns to save people had limitations in both financial and human resources. It was best to have government officials and capable merchants like Mr. Wang take charge.

“Let’s just pray to the heavens that it doesn’t snow again.”

Zheng San’s mother nodded repeatedly.

In the following days, not only did it not snow, but the north wind also stopped, and the weather gradually warmed up.

Fu Tingyun and Zheng San’s mother were airing quilts and bedding in the courtyard when Madam Wang unexpectedly came to visit with two of her maids.

“I’ve long heard everyone praise your virtue and propriety, but never had the chance to meet you. Now that I see you, you indeed live up to your reputation.” Madam Wang took a sip of tea and smiled as she observed Fu Tingyun.

She saw that Fu Tingyun wore a moon-white coarse cloth jacket and a bright blue horse-face skirt. Her black hair was neatly arranged in a bun, revealing a clean forehead. She looked clean and tidy, which made Madam Wang nod slightly in satisfaction.

Fu Tingyun sat at the lower seat beside Madam Wang and hurriedly responded modestly, “Thank you for your kind words, Madam.” From the corner of her eye, she also observed this Madam Wang whom she was meeting for the first time.

She was only in her early thirties, of medium height, slender and dignified, wearing a sapphire blue padded jacket with a treasure vase pattern, which made her appear somewhat frail.

Hearing Fu Tingyun’s words, Madam Wang smiled slightly, her expression becoming considerably more amiable: “They all know that I am the least likely to praise others. I invited you to attend the spring banquet, but you declined out of filial piety for your elders; when you learned people were freezing to death in the city, you not only donated silver but also sent someone to help… You truly deserve to be called ‘virtuous and proper’!”

Was this praise or criticism?

Fu Tingyun hadn’t expected Madam Wang to speak so sharply, and became alert in her response: “Madam overpraises me. I’m merely following in others’ footsteps.”

“Yet some people aren’t even willing to follow in others’ footsteps!” Madam Wang’s brow revealed a hint of coldness. “Zhangye is becoming more and more chaotic these days!”

This statement covered too broad a topic, so Fu Tingyun merely smiled without speaking.

However, Madam Wang did not intend to change the subject and asked: “What does Miss Fu think?”

Fu Tingyun naturally did not wish to engage in verbal sparring and smiled: “I’ve just arrived and am in mourning, so I rarely go out. I haven’t noticed anything unusual.”

“Is that so?” Madam Wang raised an eyebrow and smiled: “I heard General Mo’s concubine has been learning proper conduct from you?” Her tone carried a hint of disdain.

Fu Tingyun was startled.

Madam Wang continued: “Although you are engaged to Ensign Zhao, you are still an unmarried lady. For her, a concubine who serves with her beauty, to be coming and going from your place—even if others know she’s learning proper conduct from you—people will inevitably whisper: what could such a fox-like seductress possibly learn from an unmarried lady? There are some matters you should consider carefully.” By the end of her speech, her tone had become somewhat earnest. “Although General Mo has old ties with your family, sometimes one must still live one’s own life!”

These words left Fu Tingyun in a cold sweat.