After dinner, the field was silent. Humans could not hear, and plants in the dark world were busy discussing tomorrow's life. The colder it got, the more vibrant it became. Frost covered everything with a warm blanket, promising another good harvest for farmers next year.

The door creaked gently shut. Inside, grandpa was about to start smoking his pipe.

I put down my phone and advised him, "Grandpa, could you please stop smoking?"

Grandfather looked at me seriously, smiling. “Why?!”

"I seem a bit helpless, 'Didn't I tell you countless times? Don't smoke! It's bad for your health. I told you not to drink either, but you never listen. When will you ever listen to me?'"

"Grandpa still smiled at me with pity and said, "Xing Yi has grown up! Now Grandpa needs to listen to you."

I was a little flustered, "No, Grandpa, I'm doing this for your own good, just trust me!"

"Grandpa continued his actions, taking the soil and gently puffing on it to soften it. Then he said: "Xing Yi, you should understand Grandpa's situation. These are my only two hobbies. If I gave them up, how boring life would be."

For a moment, I realized that since we came back, Grandpa hasn't smoked much. If we weren't around Grandpa all the time, he must be incredibly bored!

I looked at my grandfather's kind face, etched with the marks of many years. His life was usually rough and ordinary, bringing him too much sweat and hardship. But only when facing these two hobbies would he relax, patiently and happily enjoying the process.

My grandmother passed away when I was very young, so there is no image of her in my memory. I try to imagine what my grandfather would have been like if my grandmother had been by his side. Back then, my grandfather definitely wouldn't have wasted time on smoking and drinking because he had someone to keep him company.

Looking at my grandfather carefully covered in dust, a smile on his lips, his movements so practiced and light, I have to admit that although the harm it can cause is undeniable, the joy it brings him is also evident!

I compromised and sat down saying, "Grandpa, you can smoke but please try to smoke less. If you're really bored, just call me. I'm pretty bored at school too."

Grandpa nodded slightly, but his heart definitely wouldn't agree.

I calmed myself down and watched him work intently. Watching him remove the hard stems from the tobacco leaves, leaving only the leaf portion, then roll them into a cigarette. It seemed simple, but it was done with care. He rolled several layers, each with a different softness, from the inside out. The innermost layer was the crispiest and longest because it was used to ignite the outer layers.

After wrapping it up, grandpa took out his pipe (first sound). It was a masterful tool, though it was thin and long its hole ran clear through. The most delicate part was where the tobacco was placed, commonly known as the "tobacco chamber". Every elderly man in the village had their own unique tobacco chamber, but they all shared one common feature: a round hole for filling tobacco.

Just like grandpa's, but grandpa's is more delicate. The pipe bowl is oval-shaped, besides the large hole in the middle, there are also two screw-threaded spheres on both sides, which look like a head with two round ears when placed on top, it's so cute.

Soon, Grandpa lit the tobacco with a lighter, watching it disappear little by little in the flickering flames. Sometimes, circles of red would appear, but there wasn't much smoke. On the contrary, Grandpa seemed to exhale clouds and mists. I accidentally inhaled a puff and almost choked.

"Cough, cough, Grandpa, I choked!" I covered my mouth and nose, hurriedly stood up and walked to the side.

"Grandpa jokingly said, 'It's alright, get used to it in advance! You'll definitely be smoking in the future.'"

I strongly disagree. “Don’t worry, grandpa, I definitely won’t smoke, I wouldn’t want to become a chimney!”

Grandfather looked at me in shock, "What, a range hood?"

I nodded seriously, "Yeah! All smokers."

"Alright, whatever you say! You're still young now, you'll understand when you enter society. Alcohol and cigarettes are part of life!"

I still scoffed, "Bah, only someone too bored would touch those things. I! Life is too good, why would I bother with them?"

"Grandpa exhaled a plume of smoke, "You! You've been spoiled rotten by your parents."

I don't understand, I looked at Grandpa, "Why say that!"

"Grandpa smiled, 'You'll understand later. You'll have to face these things sooner or later.'"

Grandpa stopped talking, and I only understood half of it.

Grandpa said, "Oh my! Where is Yangyang? It's been so long, where could he have gone?"

"Grandpa, just ignore him, he's gone to the toilet."

"That shouldn't be the case! It's been so long, your legs shouldn't be numb, right?"

"I don't know! He usually wouldn't squat for so long! It's okay, Grandpa, I'll go check the restroom."

"Hmm."

I came to the door of the restroom. The light inside was off, and I felt a pang of unease. I hurriedly knocked on the door, but it creaked open slightly. When I turned on the light, there was no one inside.

I suddenly felt relieved, then questioned in a puzzled tone: "If not in the bathroom, where could he be?"

I went back home and said, "Grandpa, he's not in the bathroom."

Grandfather said, “How could that be! Go see if he’s in the room. Where would he go at this late hour? With his personality, he definitely wouldn't go to someone else’s house.”

I rushed upstairs, first going to his room, it was empty. Holding onto the last sliver of hope, I walked to my room door and pushed it open, still finding no one there.

I walked downstairs feeling dejected when I suddenly heard my grandfather's sharp voice: "Where did you go to the restroom? You made Xingyi look for you all over."

A familiar voice came, "I apologize, Grandpa Qin. I was standing outside the courtyard for a while just now."

I ran excitedly to their faces, looked at Leng Yang with delight, and then changed my tone to anger: "What were you doing? I thought you fell into the toilet!"

He whispered, "The toilet hole is too small."

Though both my grandfather and I were initially angry, I couldn't help but laugh when he spoke like that.

Leng Yang looked at the two of us softly, then said: "I'm sorry to have worried you."

I retorted, "Who cares about you! You're all grown up, not like you can't find your way home."

Grandpa glared at me, then said gently, "It's alright, it's over now. Sit down, I have something to tell you both."

Lán Yang pulled me down to sit. I haughtily "hummed" and then sat down.

"What's the matter! Grandpa, why didn't you say it just now, and have to wait for Leng Yang to come before telling me."

Grandfather looked seriously at the two of us and said to me, "Because this is something entrusted to the two of you."

Lěng Yáng suddenly became serious, looking at his grandfather with a sincere gaze.

Grandfather said, "Today your older brother Da Yong isn't coming to our house, is he?"

"Yeah, he even said we should go to his place for dinner tomorrow." I said.

The grandfather nodded and then said, “He did say that, because tomorrow his family is going to slaughter the pig for the New Year.”

"Really? So, we're going to eat killing pig rice tomorrow?" My eyes met Leng Yang's and we both lit up with excitement.

Grandpa nodded, then with a serious expression, said, "But you see, even though he didn't invite us to help, we can't just eat for free, can we!"

"Hmm."

"Grandpa said earnestly: "That's right, because now the young men in the village haven't come back yet, and I can't help much either. But you two can."

My eyes widened with excitement, "So, we're going to help slaughter the pig?"

Cold Yang's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Yes," Grandpa said with a smile, "but the two of you lack experience, so tomorrow you'll just help hold down the pig." He smiled at the two of us. "Is that too much to ask!"

Leng Yang immediately nodded, "I agree."

I said, "Okay, then I'll go press pig's feet!"

Leng Yang smiled and looked at me, his eyes full of tenderness as he said, "Then I'll have pig's trotters too."

I scoffed and said, "Come on, with your strength, you'd be lucky to hold onto a pig's tail."

Leng Yang stared at me silently, his face filled with disbelief and provocation, as if he wanted to show me something amazing.

Grandpa chuckled from the side and said, "Xingyi, you're more suited to pulling a pig's tail than Yangyang. It'd be a waste of his talent to have him do it. He's so strong, he could easily hold down both hind legs."

Leng Yang wore a proud expression.

I said, "Grandpa, how do you know he's strong? Besides, I'm pretty strong too, you know. He can hold down two legs, so can I."

Grandpa said, "Good, good. I'll definitely go and watch which one of you two is better at butchering tomorrow."

I glared at Leng Yang, unconvinced. He smiled back at me and said softly, "Come on."

" Tch, who's afraid of whom. Whoever can't hold back and drops the chain tomorrow will have to face the consequences."

Leng Yang smirked, "Okay, don't lose to me!"

I defiantly showed off my arms, but under the puffy coat, there was no change. Leng Yang looked at me gently and smiled softly, "Alright, I'll wait to see your muscles in summer!"

……

Grandpa called us back to our room and said, “Remember to wake up earlier tomorrow!”

"Got it."

Okay

(Editor in charge：precious based on the novel)