The last two days passed in a blur.
Jia Lan carried basket after basket from her planting space, always timing it carefully so no one noticed the weight or wondered at the source. In the mornings, she strolled to the market with an empty basket, humming lightly as if she had only errands to run. By the time she returned, the basket would be heavy with bounty rice that smelled faintly of earth and sunshine, vegetables so crisp their green leaves seemed to glisten with dew, and fruits polished as if the winter air itself had sharpened their shine. One day she transferred twenty kilos of rice; the next, it was thirty kilos of fresh cabbages, radishes, and greens. Some days, she slipped in a mix of apples and pears, their skins glowing like winter jewels, red and gold against the pale light.
Each time she placed the baskets in the kitchen or storeroom, the sense of satisfaction warmed her chest. The pantry grew fuller with every trip sacks of rice neatly stacked, crates of vegetables lined up, fruits arranged carefully so they wouldn't bruise. It looked as though the family had prepared for an entire season, not just a month, and that sight alone made Jia Lan's heart lighter.
Her mother and grandmother were busy preparing preserved snacks, candied fruits, roasted nuts, pickles, and winter cakes, crispy fried strips that would last the journey. Xu Li and Yao Jing lent their hands, chattering all the while. The entire family knew time was short.
And Jia Lan… she wasn't ready to leave. She had grown too comfortable here. Days drifted by in an easy rhythm waking up to the smell of breakfast cooked by her mother, teasing words tossed at her by her brothers, the sound of her grandmother's soft words followed by fond nagging. Everywhere she turned, she was surrounded by laughter and warmth, spoiled by the constant doting of her family. Her life here was like being wrapped in a soft cocoon, safe and golden, where even the simplest moments sharing an orange by the stove, braiding her hair while gossiping, stealing pieces of candy from the jar became memories she wanted to bottle up forever.
The thought of returning to the capital unsettled her. Books and classes, schedules and rules those things suddenly felt cold compared to the joy she found here. The capital was grand and bustling, yes, but it was also distant and heavy with expectations. Here, she could simply be. Loved. Cherished. Needed.
So every laugh she shared these past few days carried a bittersweet edge. Each bite of fruit or snack tasted fuller, richer, as though her senses wanted to memorize the flavor. With every hug from her aunts, every offhand joke from her brothers, the knot in her chest grew tighter. The more she tried to brush away the thought of leaving, the heavier her heart became.
And Jia Lan… she wasn't ready to leave. She had grown comfortable here. Surrounded by laughter, doted on by everyone, her days felt like a warm cocoon. The thought of returning to the capital, to books and classes and distance, made her chest tighten.
Jia Lan felt a knot in her chest with every bite she tasted, every laugh she shared. The thought of returning to the capital so soon made her heart heavy.
That evening, after dinner, everyone gathered in the main hall. The coal brazier glowed warm, casting a soft golden hue over their faces. Jia Lan sat curled on the couch, hugging a pillow while her family lingered around her, reluctant to part ways.
Tonight, her bags were already packed neatly in her room. She had eaten dinner, but her appetite was restless. Now, everyone was gathered in the warm sitting room, a small brazier glowing red at the center.
Father Jia leaned back with a sigh. "Lan'er, when you're in the capital, you must take care of yourself. Don't skip meals just because you're busy. And remember, don't be polite if you need money just send word."
"I know, Father," Jia Lan replied softly, warming her hands over the brazier. "I'll take care of myself."
Xu Li, her eldest sister-in-law, exchanged a teasing glance with Yao Jing before speaking with a laugh. "Lan'er, if you meet a good man in the capital, don't be shy. Tell your sisters-in-law right away!"
"Exactly!" Yao Jing added with a mischievous grin. "We'll help you judge if he's good enough. Don't keep secrets from us."
"Eh?" Jia Lan nearly choked on her tea. "Sisters-in-law!"
The room burst into laughter. But Father Jia's face darkened slightly as he shot them a glare.
"She's still so young! Why are you already talking about marriage?" he scolded, frowning. "She should focus on her studies first. That's more important."
Mother Jia chuckled and patted his arm. "You men always take everything so seriously. It was just a joke."
Grandmother Jia gave a sharp grunt. "Your father is right. Lan'er doesn't need to worry about these things yet. Hmph. Let her focus on her books."
"See?" Father Jia said proudly, straightening. "Even Father agrees."
Jia Lan peeked out from behind her pillow, her cheeks pink. "Grandfather! I'm not a child anymore."
That was when her elder brother, Jia Zhe, smirked and leaned back lazily.
"Not a child? Then how come you still run to Mother every time you get a papercut?"
Second brother Jia Wei snorted in agreement.
"Exactly. And didn't you just cry last month when you couldn't untangle your hair?"
"I did not!" Jia Lan shot upright, glaring at them.
"You did," both brothers said in perfect unison, grinning wickedly.
Jia Zhe, the eldest brother, smirked. "Oh, Father, don't worry so much. It's not as if a line of suitors is knocking at our door every day."
"Not yet," Jia Wei chimed in with a grin. "But if Lan'er keeps walking around the capital with that face of hers, who knows how many poor young scholars will lose sleep?"
Jia Lan groaned, covering her face. "Second Brother!"
Everyone laughed again, the warm sound filling the winter night.
Yao Jing leaned toward Jia Lan and whispered dramatically, "Don't worry, we'll interrogate every suitor thoroughly. None will pass without our approval."
Xu Li winked. "That's right. The sisters-in-law have sharp eyes. No one will trick our little Lan."
The whole room burst into laughter. Even Father Jia, who had been frowning, couldn't help but let the corner of his lips twitch upward.
Jia Lan crossed her arms with a huff, puffing out her cheeks.
"Hmph. You're all bullying me because I'm leaving tomorrow."
Xu Li reached out to smooth her hair gently.
"Silly girl. We're teasing you because we'll miss you."
Jia Lan shook her head helplessly, but her lips curved into a small smile. Even if they teased, she knew it was because they loved her.
The brazier crackled softly. Outside, the cold wind rattled the windows, but inside the house, warmth and laughter wrapped around them like a blanket.
Jia Lan looked at each of their faces carefully, trying to imprint the moment in her memory. Tomorrow, the train would take her back to the capital. Tonight, she only wanted to remember the sound of her family's voices, the light in their eyes, and the way their teasing made her feel less like she was leaving, and more like she was carrying them with her.
The warmth of her words silenced the room for a moment. Everyone exchanged quiet glances. The laughter softened into something tender, heavy with unspoken reluctance.
Jia Lan's eyes prickled as she looked around at the faces she loved so much.
Tomorrow, she'd be gone again.
For now, though, she curled back against her pillow, letting their chatter continue Father's nagging, Mother's soft laughter, Grandmother's stories, Grandfather's occasional grumbles, her brothers' jokes, and her sisters-in-law's playful teasing.
The night stretched on, wrapped in warmth. And though goodbye loomed on the horizon, tonight was theirs.