Waking early that day, Juhua noticed the bright light filtering through the window and guessed, 'Did it snow? The cold doesn't bite when it snows, only when it melts. And today, it really doesn't feel that cold.'
But even this "not-so-cold" weather was more than she could bear. She was bundled up from head to toe in a cotton-padded jacket, cotton-padded trousers, and cotton-padded shoes—fully armed, save for a hat. 'I'll make a hat today,' she thought as she quickly braided her hair. 'And a scarf would be good too.'
Once she was all ready, Juhua hunched her shoulders and stepped out of her room.
Her mother came in from outside, closing the main door behind her. "It snowed last night, and it's still coming down this morning," she said. "Juhua, make sure you wear enough layers. I've put some charcoal embers in the brazier for you to warm yourself with. Don't catch a chill in this weather."
