RPS – Chapter 72 Fire in the Snow

Ever since soap was accidentally created by Li Feng, bathing and washing hair became much more frequent. Greasy hands no longer needed to be scrubbed for ages just to get clean. Although the soap still didn’t look very appealing — neither quite round nor square — its appearance didn’t affect its usability.

Of course, whenever something good was invented, it had to be shared with the whole tribe. While it wasn’t exactly a necessity, it was certainly better to have than not. After all, who didn’t enjoy being squeaky clean? Taking a bath, especially with soap, left one feeling thoroughly refreshed — almost as if a burden had been lifted.

“Li, why is the snow outside still falling? It’s been days, hasn’t it?” The group sat around a brazier in the center of the living room, chatting while warming themselves by the fire. It was deep winter now. It had snowed a few times earlier — not too heavy, but not light either. Li Feng had originally thought those earlier snowfalls were already pretty heavy, especially since they could submerge his ankles. But this current snowfall truly redefined “heavy snow” — it had been snowing continuously for several days, and today was already the fourth day, yet it still hadn’t stopped.

It had snowed day and night without a break. The snow in the yard had nearly piled up to the gate. Fearing that the animals might freeze to death, they had gone out to inspect the hay sheds again. They reinforced the sheds, especially by adding gates and plugging up gaps with straw. Thankfully, the sheds already had dry wood and hay inside, making them warm, and with all the animals huddled together, the space stayed cozy. When Li Feng checked, the animals seemed fine — none were frostbitten or frozen.

“It’s okay. It’s like this every year,” Li said, reaching out to touch Li Feng’s cheek. Thankfully, it wasn’t cold — although the snowfall lately had indeed been quite heavy.

“Yeah, but this year is so much better. We’re so lucky now!” Nuo was resting his head on Bu’s thigh, wrapped in a fur blanket, lying on thick straw mats and animal pelts — cozy beyond words.

“Indeed. In the past, every snowfall was a time of suffering. People often starved or froze to death. But now, that’s no longer the case.” Bu gently ran his fingers through Nuo’s long black hair, smiling warmly at him as he spoke.

“Li Feng, it’s all thanks to you!” Li pulled Li Feng into his arms, letting him rest his head on his thigh to relax. Ever since Li Feng gave birth to the baby, he seemed to have transformed into a completely different person — clever and full of surprises. Though still a bit shy and quiet, he had become incredibly capable, constantly surprising everyone with all kinds of strange but useful inventions, including foods they had never even dreamed of before.

If Li Feng hadn’t told them what to do, they might never have known how to safely survive this winter. Winters used to be the most brutal time of year — the weak and sick rarely made it through, and even the survivors would become noticeably frailer. The root cause was the cave dwellings — damp, cold, and dark — combined with severe food shortages. Just having one meal a day was considered lucky. Sometimes, they went days without food, surviving only on water…

Li Feng blushed a little from all the praise. “It’s really not my achievement. I only wanted to improve life for our family — to help us live a little better!” He never had grand ambitions or noble ideals about changing the tribe or leading them into a brighter future. Everything he did was for Li, the baby, and his loved ones. Whether the tribe benefited or not was just a byproduct. Even if he didn’t teach the tribe, they still needed those tools, improved food methods, and knowledge of edible plants for their own household.

“Yeah! Uncle Li Feng is amazing — he makes the best food!” Mo and Lu couldn’t express any profound thoughts, but their genuine feelings were that Li Feng’s food was the most delicious they had ever eaten. In the past, their meals were barely edible — just plain roasted meat.

“Alright, that’s enough praise, or I’m going to float away from all the compliments,” Li Feng laughed as he relaxed on Li’s lap. All this flattery made him feel a bit awkward. He wasn’t as amazing as they said.

After all, he was just a drifting soul occupying someone else’s body. That thought made Li Feng feel a bit melancholic and worried. Though he and Li had bowed to Heaven and Earth with solemn ceremony and received no warnings from the heavens, he still occasionally feared that he might one day wake up and find that all of this was just a dream. What if this whole experience — traveling to a primitive society, giving birth as a man to a cute baby, falling in love with a ruggedly handsome man — was just an illusion? That would be the most tragic and unbearable thing imaginable.

Of course, the others had no idea about Li Feng’s inner turmoil. Their lives were steadily improving — even now, they were already living a life of happiness.

They lived in a sturdy house that sheltered them from wind and rain, warmed by a blazing fire. They had family, comfortable clothing, blankets, and shoes to keep warm. Most importantly, there was no more worry about food. Their pantry was well-stocked — especially with grains like corn, soybeans, taro, and sweet potatoes. Plus, they still had livestock in the pens.

Now, the whole family was gathered around the fire, chatting, eating delicious food, and sipping hot meat soup. What could be better than this? This kind of life was once unimaginable. Now that the impossible had become reality, what was there left to fear? They were blissfully happy.

Li Feng wasn’t the type to wallow in self-pity or overthink things. As the saying goes, “The cart will find its way around the hill, and the boat will straighten itself when it reaches the bridge.” Overthinking was pointless. It was better to enjoy the present and snuff out any creeping doubts. Embracing the spirit of Ah Q, he thought: Why worry so much? Being alive is already a blessing. He had a decent partner, a lovable child, and several family members. They were all together, happily sipping hot lamb soup, chatting and laughing without a care — what more could he ask for? Seizing the moment was what truly mattered!

“Alright, here, have some lamb soup.” Li handed a bowl to Li Feng, who had sat up from his lap. Everyone else also cradled their own bowls, happily sipping away.

Ever since Li Feng started making lamb soup, everyone kept pestering him to finish off the remaining lamb. They were determined not to stop until they had eaten and drunk it all. So now, whenever there was free time, Li Feng would prepare some lamb soup. After all, there were still plenty of bones, and drinking lamb soup in winter was nourishing. As for the meat, he didn’t rush it — just added a bit to each batch. Ironically, this made everyone crave it even more. Every time they had soup, they gleefully fished around for pieces of lamb. Li Feng was tempted to just throw in a whole chunk of meat — but when he did, they didn’t want it anymore.

The reason was bizarre—because they weren’t actually hungry to begin with. The soup was meant to be drunk when there was nothing else going on. Eating it like this was just a waste. It would be better to save it for mealtime. Hearing that, Li Feng was left speechless. What do they mean by “waste”? Eating during a meal or sipping soup in between—how is that different?

But since they insisted they didn’t need it now, he didn’t add too much all at once. Still, he put in more than before, so everyone’s bowl had some.

The baby was now over six months old and had grown a few teeth. Though he couldn’t speak or walk yet, he had become strong enough to crawl quickly. So now, Li Feng would occasionally let the baby have a little taste—not much, just enough for a sample. He loved watching the baby squint his eyes and smile in satisfaction after tasting something delicious. That kind of expression was incredibly cute and content.

But Li Feng never forgot that the baby was still very young. So each time, he only gave a tiny bit. Otherwise, the baby’s digestive system might not be able to handle it. If the baby ended up uncomfortable, it would hurt him and break their hearts. He couldn’t allow a brief moment of indulgence to cause future trouble. But the baby didn’t understand any of that. He’d only get a little bit each time, and whenever Li Feng didn’t give him more, he’d start crying.

Unfortunately for the baby, that crying trick didn’t work anymore. When it came to the baby’s health, Li Feng was unwavering.

He remembered in his past life seeing countless reports about parents who weren’t careful—feeding their children things they shouldn’t eat at that age. The results ranged from choking to diarrhea to poisoning. And in this era with virtually no medical care, Li Feng simply couldn’t allow that to happen. If it could be prevented, he would absolutely prevent it.

To keep the baby from crying over not getting more mutton soup, Li Feng would make him things like steamed egg custard or mashed taro—plain foods without any oil or salt.

Poor little baby. He was too young to even have salt. He could only eat bland and tasteless things. Looking at the soft, tiny baby in his hands, Li Feng sighed, “Baby, when will you grow up? You can’t even speak yet.” At the moment, the baby could only babble, still unable to clearly say the word “daddy.”

He knew it was because the baby’s vocal cords weren’t fully developed yet, so even if the baby wanted to say it, he couldn’t. But Li Feng still enjoyed teaching him to say “daddy” every day. As a result, no matter what the baby was trying to say, the first sound out of his mouth was always something like “baba.” Though it was just meaningless baby babble, Li Feng insisted that the baby was calling for him. So, he taught him even more diligently. Even when feeding the baby, he would make him say “daddy” first before giving him food.

Everyone laughed at Li Feng’s childish behavior. The baby was so small—how could he possibly know how to talk? But Li Feng firmly believed the baby’s drooling babble was him trying to say “daddy.” And the baby cooperated too. Every time Li Feng said “Call me daddy,” he would blow a few spit bubbles, making Li Feng ecstatic.

After staying in the room for four days straight, only stepping out to use the toilet, the lively and energetic Nuo couldn’t take it anymore. After finishing his mutton soup, his body steaming with heat from staying cooped up, he tugged on Bu and Li and suggested they go outside for a snowball fight.

In the past, they were too busy finding food and afraid of the cold to play in the snow. But now it was different. He was even sweating now, so going out for a bit of fun sounded great. Otherwise, staying indoors every day would just make them gain weight.

After eating, the baby soon fell asleep in the warm room. Looking at the peacefully sleeping child, Li Feng felt a tug in his heart. They used to have snowball fights as kids—he didn’t play often, but he loved the cheerful atmosphere. It had been a long time since they relaxed like this. Now was the perfect chance.

Mo and Lu could stay in the room to watch over the baby. They were still too young. If they caught a cold, it would be bad. Better to let the adults play. The kids could join in when they got older. For now, they couldn’t—no matter how eagerly their eyes pleaded to be taken along.

Li Feng pretended not to notice. Li, on the other hand, gently patted their heads and explained, “You need to watch your little brother. He really likes you two, you know? How about once we come back, it’ll be your turn to play outside?”

That earned a disapproving look from Li Feng. What if they caught a cold? How could Li agree to let them play in the snow?

Li gave Li Feng a look that said “Don’t worry, they’ll be fine.” Li Feng was puzzled but didn’t press the issue just then.

Meanwhile, Mo and Lu, being kids, lit up at the thought of being allowed out later. Now they were more than happy to watch their baby brother. When Uncle Li Feng came back, they’d get their turn!

Li nodded with satisfaction and pulled Li Feng out the door. Nuo and Bu had already gone out and were trudging through snow nearly up to their calves. Forget snowball fights—they could barely walk. How were they supposed to throw anything?

But that didn’t matter. The point was to have fun in the snow, not necessarily to fight. Still, since they were already out here, not throwing snowballs would be a waste, right?

So Li Feng, walking behind them, quietly rolled a snowball and hurled it at Nuo when he wasn’t paying attention. Bullseye—hit him square on the back! It wasn’t big and didn’t hurt, but some snow slipped down Nuo’s neck, and that was definitely cold. Bu noticed, stopped walking, and retaliated, flinging a snowball of his own back at them. The distance between them was perfect—just right for a good snowball fight.

Li Feng and the others weren’t about to take it lying down. They trudged through the thigh-deep snow, dodging and throwing back. Thankfully, they were all wearing wolfskin pants, so their legs weren’t freezing.

The four of them split into teams of two and began bombarding each other back and forth. Most of the snowballs hit their bodies, but since they were wearing thick winter clothes, it didn’t hurt. Instead, it just fired up their competitive spirits. They got more and more into it—even Li and Bu, who had initially been half-hearted, joined in enthusiastically.

The clean white snow in the courtyard was soon riddled with holes and messy handprints. But no one cared about the mess. The snow made it easy to scoop up and throw more. After a long while, all four were covered in snow. Li Feng and Nuo finally flopped onto the ground, exhausted.

Playing in deep snow like this wasn’t easy. They were sweating and panting. Lying on the snow actually felt pretty comfortable.

The four of them lay in two groups, a good distance apart. Li suddenly pounced on Li Feng. He was lying on the snow, wrapped in a red fox fur. Whether it was the snow reflecting on him or him glowing against the snow, his face looked like flawless white jade. His cheeks were flushed from the excitement, his eyes dewy, and his lips—chapped and overly red from the dry air and licking—were especially striking.

In the silent, snowy atmosphere, Li felt like a fire had ignited in his chest. Despite the icy surroundings, he burned with passion. The heat spread from his heart and belly to his entire body. Overcome, he pinned Li Feng beneath him and kissed him hard.

Li Feng’s lips were just as hot. The red lips were passionate and irresistibly tempting. Li bit and sucked at them fiercely. Before Li Feng could even react, his breath was already taken away. It felt like Li wanted to devour him. Why was he suddenly acting so crazed?

Li Feng tried to push him away and bend his knees to get up, but Li held him down tightly. With the snow so deep, their bodies were half-buried, invisible from a distance. Still, what if Nuo or the others saw them?

But he needn’t have worried. Over on Nuo’s side, things were heating up in a similar way. Winter sports had clearly stirred everyone’s inner fire!

Neither pair could see the other, so both were nervous about being discovered. But that mix of fear and excitement made things even more thrilling. Li Feng, overwhelmed by Li’s kisses, started responding, wrapping his arms around Li’s neck and kissing back—completely forgetting where he was.

Li Feng’s response fired Li up even more. His kisses grew deeper, almost swallowing Li Feng’s tongue. His large hands slipped beneath Li Feng’s clothes. Lost in the moment, neither noticed the snow around them had started to shift from their vigorous movements.

Suddenly, the snow above them collapsed, burying them both. It wasn’t a lot, but enough to jolt them awake. The icy snow instantly extinguished their burning desires. They scrambled out, gasping for air.

When Li Feng emerged, his lips were swollen and red—clear evidence of what had just happened. Nuo and his partner also emerged with similarly puffy lips.

The four of them exchanged glances—first embarrassed, then bursting into laughter. What was there to be shy about? They’d already pledged themselves to each other. This was their home, after all. They all laughed at their own wildness and bashfulness.

With that shock, their passion cooled a bit. It was still broad daylight, so returning to their rooms wasn’t really an option. But since the fire hadn’t completely gone out, Li Feng decided they might as well “extinguish” it fully—by building snowmen.

Li Feng and Li built a big snowman, nearly as tall as themselves. They had nothing better to do, and it helped cool their heads. Building a snowman only took two large snowballs. The rest could be refined later. Nuo and his side did the same. The snow was plentiful and easy to roll into balls. The more they rolled, the bigger the snowballs got, and soon they were just pushing them around.

In the end, they used charcoal for the eyes, dried red berries for the mouth, and polished the snow smooth with seashells. They even put straw hats on the snowmen’s heads. From a distance, they looked almost lifelike.

Li Feng went back to the room to fetch Mo and Lu, who were playing together. The baby was awake too, lying quietly nearby watching them. No one had noticed he was awake until Li Feng walked in. Since everyone was up, he got them all dressed and took them out to see the snowmen. They couldn’t play, but it was nice to look!

Mo and Lu were amazed. The snowmen were so big, with real eyes and mouths and even hats! They patted the snowmen and discovered they were really cold, then started running around them in delight. Even the baby grinned, showing his few little white teeth, and clapped his hands excitedly. He wanted to touch too, so Li Feng brought him closer for a quick feel before pulling him away again. The baby laughed even more joyfully after that. Li and the others stood nearby, smiling happily.

The whole family stood in the courtyard, admiring the two giant snowmen at the gate. It was like looking at mysterious guardians. Everyone’s eyes sparkled with wonder and joy. These could be their household gods now—protectors of their home!