Xie Zheng
The winter wind swept through Qinghe County, carrying the smell of snow and smoke from closing market stalls. Lanterns flickered along the empty street as the night grew colder. Inside a small butcher shop, Fan Changyu wiped her hands on her apron and sharpened her cleaver with steady strokes. Since her father’s passing, the stall had become her responsibility. With debts to pay and a younger sister to support, she had no choice but to work harder than anyone else.Just as she prepared to close for the night, the door curtain shifted.A man stood at the entrance.He looked strangely out of place in the humble shop. Tall and pale, dressed in simple but refined robes, he carried himself like a scholar rather than a traveler. Snow clung lightly to his shoulders, yet his calm gaze remained steady.“we’re closed,” Changyu said bluntly.The man coughed lightly into his sleeve. “I’m not here to buy meat.”Changyu frowned. “Then what do you want?”He stepped forward and placed a pouch of silver
About Xie Zheng
The winter wind swept through Qinghe County, carrying the smell of snow and smoke from closing market stalls. Lanterns flickered along the empty street as the night grew colder. Inside a small butcher shop, Fan Changyu wiped her hands on her apron and sharpened her cleaver with steady strokes. Since her father’s passing, the stall had become her...Read more