It’s fine to fall in love with someone whose habits are very different from yours, but be cautious about marriage. Think about whether you can endure those differences for a long time.

The winters in Xiao Liu Village are particularly cold. As soon as winter arrives, snow falls for several days in a row, covering the mountains, trees, and roads with thick white snow. Walking on it makes a creaking sound, so when night falls, smoke rises from every house, doors are closed, and hardly anyone goes out.

However, at some point, playing mahjong became popular in Xiao Liu Village. This game attracted many men and women who couldn’t sleep at night. A few families would gather to play together, having a great time all night long. But gradually, no one liked to play for free anymore. Who would be willing to stay up all night just to wear out their fingers? So, they started betting small amounts of money: one dime… two dimes… five dimes… one yuan, and the stakes kept rising.

Achen loved playing mahjong, especially when money was involved. He felt that playing mahjong made life more enjoyable, so he would go out to play every night, leaving his wife Chunxi alone at home. She never bothered to ask about him, lying on the heated kang bed, engrossed in the fourteen-inch black-and-white TV.

In fact, Achen didn’t always go to play mahjong. Sometimes, he used it as an excuse to visit Widow Wang at the east end of the village. Widow Wang, in her early thirties, was quite attractive with a pretty face and a good figure since she had no children. She spoke slowly and gently, unlike his wife Chunxi, who lay in bed like a corpse, lacking any charm.

After Widow Wang’s husband died, Achen often helped her, and she was naturally grateful. Gradually, they developed feelings for each other. In the summer nights, they would often meet in the small woods, but in winter, it was inconvenient to meet.

But with the excuse of playing mahjong, they were like fish in water, enjoying each other’s company like newlyweds every night. However, the snowy roads were a nuisance, as every step left footprints. The footprints of a woman and a man were naturally different. To avoid leaving obvious footprints, Achen would drag his feet through the snow, leaving a long trail behind him. Though still noticeable, at least it didn’t reveal that they were a man’s footprints.

Every midnight, Achen would return home punctually, always stepping heavily on the snow as if afraid others wouldn’t see his footprints. He would knock loudly on the door, waking up the neighbors, before Chunxi slowly got up to open the door. He would curse and complain, “Damn woman, can’t you open the door faster?”

Chunxi ignored him, letting him curse, and turned back to bed.

One late night, Achen went to Widow Wang’s house but was met with a closed door. He had no choice but to return home. As he approached the house, he vaguely saw someone at the door, walking strangely, dragging their feet through the snow just like he did when visiting Widow Wang. Achen’s heart raced with anger. He ran up and pounced on the person, who screamed in fright.

The scream stunned Achen. He hadn’t expected it to be his own wife, Chunxi.

Angrily, he asked, “Why aren’t you sleeping in the middle of the night? What are you doing out here?”

Chunxi wrapped her clothes tighter and said, “Mom said she lost five yuan during the day and couldn’t sleep from worry. I came out to look for it.”

Achen breathed a sigh of relief, seeing Chunxi’s face red from the cold. Feeling a pang of guilt, he said, “Let’s go inside. I’ll give Mom five yuan later and say we found it.”

“Hmm, I should have thought of that,” Chunxi replied. She adjusted his collar and said, “You must be cold. Let’s go inside.”

Achen didn’t dare look into Chunxi’s eyes. They were as pure as the snow, as clear as a spring, making him feel more guilty and afraid. If one day, because of his neglect, her eyes lost their purity and trust, what would he do?

That night, he tossed and turned, unable to sleep. The next day, he heard the news that Widow Wang had remarried. This news made him both sad and relieved. After that, Achen changed his ways and never went out to play mahjong at night again.

Thank you for reading! ” Sitestorys “