Negotiations

Liu Xing sat down by the coal basin, his palms close to the newly risen flames. The gentle fire warmed his pale, frostbitten hands, and the ice in his hair slowly melted under the heat.

Once warmed up, Liu Xing turned to Xiao Li, "Brother Xiao Li, why are you here again today?"

In this freezing weather, many roads were icy and slippery. A trip to the town now took twice as long as usual, if not more. In winter, there were barely any people even going to the cooperative store to exchange goods.

Xiao Li had come the day before, trading half a cart of wild vegetables and pickles for a few kilograms of flour. Liu Xing thought he wouldn't see him again for at least half a month, but here he was the very next day.

Xiao Wu had been called away by the village chief for other chores, and with Xiao Wu's wife having just given birth and still in confinement, Xiao Wu couldn't leave the village. Therefore, all the town's business fell to Xiao Li.