A thick layer of snow weighed heavy on the bamboo branches in the courtyard, scattering in all directions at the faintest gust of wind.
Ling Long walked around the blanket of snow on the ground, only draped in a cloak.
"Ling Long, why have you only returned now?"
A host of young ladies swarmed her in the courtyard, offering her their hand warmers and gently brushing off the accumulated snow from her shoulders with a feather duster.
"The snowfall held us up for a while. These are gifts from the master, he wanted me to bring them back and share them with everyone." Ling Long said with a smile - the master was never a stingy man. With New Year's Eve approaching, he had bestowed upon them quite a few gifts.
"Come on in." The girls hurried Ling Long towards the house, leaving behind the muddied snow in the yard.