Proving God begins with the principle that no effort is wasted.

The snow fell all night and didn't stop even when the sun broke through the clouds.

The wind swept through the reeds, swirling snow against the wooden door with muffled thuds.

Cheng Erniang was making dumplings in the kitchen, kneading and pressing the dough repeatedly until it became firm.

Jiang Lan was tending the stove, adding firewood. The flames flickered, casting dappled light and shadow on his profile.

"Go visit your grandfather in Wanli."

Cheng Erniang suddenly spoke.

"When my son and I were in dire straits, he wouldn't offer us a single helping hand."

Cheng Erniang poked at the stove fire, "But he is still your grandfather. He squeezed together with your second uncle and aunt in the snow. Even if he doesn't love you, he is still an old man."

"Your trip is not to completely sever all ties and debts from the past—from now on, you go your own way, he enjoys his old age, neither of you owes the other anything, and you can have peace of mind."

He paused, then added a sincere expression of concern: "The snow is heavy and the roads are slippery. Deliver the goods and leave immediately. Don't listen to his gossip, and don't get cold."

Jiang Lan stuffed firewood into the stove, sparks flying everywhere. She got up, brushed the dust off her trousers, walked to the cabinet, opened the box, and took out her belongings.

Two bolts of dark-colored silk, simple and suitable for the elderly; a pot of aged wine, untouched.

After thinking for a moment, he grabbed some loose silver, wrapped it in coarse cloth, and put it in his pocket.

Cheng Erniang glanced at them, then turned back to continue rolling out the dough.

Jiang Lan pushed open the door, went out onto the street, crossed the bridge, and arrived at Reed Bay.

The footprints on the snow were messy and varied in depth.

The wall of Jiang Laogen's house stood in the wind and snow, with a corner of the woodpile at its base covered by straw mats, which had collapsed under the weight of the snow. The gate was ajar, and the courtyard was quiet.

Jiang Lan pushed open the door and entered.

The birds huddled together for warmth in a corner of the chicken coop. Jiang Laogen was sweeping snow, wearing an old blue cloth robe with mud clinging to the hem. The broom was taller than him, and he looked like he was struggling to swing it.

Snowflakes kept falling, covering the freshly swept ground with white again in an instant. He bent down to sweep, straightened up to catch his breath, then bent down again, unaware that someone was behind him.

Jiang Lan stood at the door, silent.

Old memories resurfaced, leaving me neither sad nor happy. On a snowy day when I was young, my father passed away. Jiang Laogen stood in this courtyard and said to Cheng Erniang, "This is all the land and property we have at home. We have to take care of the second son and raise Xiao Hao."

I can't take care of you two, mother and daughter.

Whether the road leads to survival or death is up to you to find your own way.

Call me biased or heartless, but everyone has their own livelihood, and I can only try to support one side.

Cheng Erniang did not cry, and moved to the thatched hut that very day.

At that moment, watching the old man's hunched figure sweeping the snow, he finally spoke.

"grandfather."

Jiang Laogen paused, his broom planted in the snow, and slowly turned around. The wind and snow blurred his vision, and he squinted to make out who it was. He staggered forward two steps before he could see who it was.

"Alan?" The voice was dry and weathered.

Jiang Lan walked into the courtyard, placed the silk, wine, and silver coins under the eaves, and stood there, not allowing anyone to enter the house.

"Why are you here on such a snowy day?"

"Let's take a look while we're on the way."

Jiang Laogen opened his mouth, but the words caught in his throat. He turned and shouted towards the kitchen, "Second brother, boil some water!"

Jiang Dazhuang lifted the curtain and peeked in. Seeing Jiang Lan, his expression shifted several times, a mixture of surprise, embarrassment, and apprehension. He nodded in agreement and quickly withdrew his head. The sound of rushing water came from the kitchen.

The kitchen window was slightly ajar, and a pair of eyes peeked in, meeting Jiang Lan's gaze. The window immediately closed tightly; it was He Shi.

Jiang Laogen put down his broom and walked up to him. Jiang Laogen was half a head shorter and had a hunched back, so he had to look up to see Jiang Lan's face.

"Go inside, the stove is burning, it's warm."

"No, I have other things to do."

Jiang Laogen rubbed his hands together, his gaze shifting between him and the objects in the corridor. He lowered his voice, "I've heard about your situation... Nine acupoints?"

"Yes."

"Good, you've made something of yourself." Jiang Laogen nodded repeatedly, raising his hand to pat his shoulder, but paused in mid-air before finally falling.

"The New Year is coming soon, let's buy some new items," Jiang Lan said.

Jiang Laogen looked at the bag of loose silver and refused to accept it, his hands trembling even more: "I haven't touched the twenty-five taels you returned; I'm keeping it for you."

"That's to pay off a debt, this is a token of my appreciation." Jiang Lan placed the purse under the silk, her tone leaving no room for refusal. "Take it."

Jiang Laogen stopped making excuses. His eyes reddened, but he didn't shed a tear. He just stood there, letting the snow fall all over his shoulders, without moving.

Jiang Dazhuang carried the tea out, caught in a dilemma. He could only place the tea on the windowsill and quietly leave.

Jiang Lan turned around and walked towards the courtyard gate.

"Ah Lan!" Jiang Laogen hurried after her, but his foot slipped. He steadied himself by grabbing the wall. "Take it easy..."

Jiang Lan didn't stop or turn around; she pushed open the door and left.

He walked along the dirt road in Reed Bay toward the bridge. When he reached the old site of the dock, he saw a man squatting beside a wrecked boat.

He squatted in the snow, clutching a carrying pole with empty loads at both ends—it looked like he was going to the docks to find work, but with so much snow, where could he find any work?

Jiang Lan approached, and the man looked up.

A dark, thin face with high cheekbones and deep-set eyes.

His lips were chapped, and his hands were covered in chilblains. It was none other than Li Antian!

He used to work at the docks with Jiang Lan.

At that time, Li Antian was ten years older than him, stronger, could carry more goods, and earned a few more copper coins.

He had taught him how to use a carrying pole to save effort: "Don't bend your waist, keep your legs bent." That time, Jiang Lan broke the hemp rope while carrying the load, and two hundred pounds of soybeans spilled all over the ground. Li Antian helped him pick them up for half an hour without asking for a penny of payment.

Later, Jiang Lan stopped doing manual labor and went to a martial arts school to practice boxing. Li Antian was still at the dock, carrying boxes and moving goods.

"Brother Yasuda," Jiang Lan called out.

Li Antian's pupils contracted slightly. He recognized Jiang Lan—the boy who had been carrying goods shirtless alongside him.

Jiang Lan now stood before him, dressed in clean, thick cotton clothes, with a straight back, rosy complexion, and not a speck of mud on her body.

He hurriedly stood up. He frantically put down the carrying pole, as if afraid it would block Jiang Lan's path.

His eyes first went from Jiang Lan's face to her shoulders, then to her waist, and finally to the pair of fur boots on her feet—the boots were new, clean, and could walk steadily in the snow.

Then his gaze returned to the ground, fixed on his toes. His shoe had a hole, and his toes were sticking out.

"Master Jiang... Master Jiang." His voice was dry, like sandpaper rubbing against wood.

Jiang Lan's eyebrows twitched slightly. "Brother Yasuda, just call me A-Lan."

"No, no, no, that won't do." Li Antian shook his head vigorously. "You're a person with official rank now, I... how can I..."

He couldn't continue. He stood there, unsure what to do with his hands. He rubbed his chapped hands, then wiped them on his trouser legs, but they were still dirty.

"Why are you out in such heavy snow?" Jiang Lan asked.

"No... there's no other way." Li Antian's voice was very soft, as if afraid of saying the wrong thing. "If you don't work at the docks, you won't have anything to eat. My wife and two little ones are waiting to be fed."

He rubbed his hands together, breathed on them, and the white mist dissipated quickly in the wind and snow.

"My old customers don't recognize me anymore. They want to sell to young and strong people, but I... I'm too old to carry heavy loads. I can only do odd jobs, and I don't know where I'll be tomorrow."

"Master Jiang... you've reached the ninth acupoint now?" He raised his head, glanced quickly at Jiang Lan, and then lowered it again.

"Um."

"Okay, okay. I knew you weren't an ordinary person back then." Li Antian's voice grew lower and lower, until it seemed he was speaking only to himself. "Back then, when you couldn't earn your wages, you even helped my family out. That winter, my wife was in confinement after giving birth, and we didn't have money to buy eggs, and you..."

He didn't finish speaking; his Adam's apple bobbed, and he swallowed the rest of his words.

Jiang Lan reached into his pocket, pulled out a silver ingot, weighing two taels. He then took out some loose silver, making a total of three taels, wrapped it in cloth, and stuffed it into Li Antian's hand.

"Take it."

Li Antian's hands trembled. The bag of silver was heavy, and he held it with both hands. "Master Jiang, this...this is too much, I..."

"not much."

"That year, you gave me fifty coins. My wife said she'd remember your kindness for the rest of her life." Li Antian's eyes reddened, but there were no tears, just a redness. "My wife said that Alan is a kind-hearted child, and she'll definitely amount to something. If she knew you were like this now… she…"

He couldn't continue, so he lowered his head and his shoulders shrugged.

Jiang Lan waited for him to calm down for a moment before asking, "Is there anything you need at home?"

"No, no, thanks to you..." Li Antian hurriedly waved his hand, but stopped halfway through.

"It's just... my two children are getting older and they're not getting enough to eat. The older one wants to go to school, but we can't borrow books, so I..."

Jiang Lan took out all the loose silver he had on him, squatted down, and stuffed the silver into Li Antian's satchel.

"If you need more books for your child, come find me in the alley."

Li Antian's body stiffened, his lips trembled violently, and he suddenly knelt down before Jiang Lan, his forehead hitting the snow with a thud.

"Master Jiang, I, Li Antian, will never forget your immense kindness..."

Jiang Lan grabbed his arm and pulled him up. "Brother Antian, don't do this."

Li Antian's lips trembled as he repeatedly murmured, "Thank you... thank you so much, Master Jiang... thank you, Master Jiang..."

"It's freezing cold, so add some more firewood to the house."

"Go back early."

……