The second day, Lian Ma no longer waited for A Chun. Li Shiyi steeped a pot of the Taiping houkui that she had bought yesterday, tidying things up in preparation for leaving on the journey back. A Yin had long since arranged her suitcase, and sat at the table, prodding the stove. “This winter day is getting longer and longer,” A Yin said with a yawn. Li Shiyi gave her a cup of tea, listening to the sound of Lian Ma moving outside, picking greens. A Yin glanced at her, and said, “Have you thought of what time next month it is?” Li Shiyi sat at her side, and asked, “What do you mean?” A Yin put her hands over the warm stove, and said, “Next month is the anniversary of my shifu’s death; since interring her, it’s unexpectedly been a great number of years since I’ve gone to see her family; this time, it’s to loosen my old bones, so if you have the time, come accompany me.” Seeing Li Shiyi properly considering it, she added, “Your shifu is buried there, too; let’s go see both at once; it’ll ...