The courtyard of the new house was much larger than the one in Panlong City; it was at least sixty square meters. Beneath the eaves sat a large water vat, big enough to fit an adult inside with room to spare.

In this freezing weather, Ms. Sun was, of course, not in the water. She was standing beside the vat, drawing water.

He Lingchuan stepped forward and very consciously picked up the bucket, carrying it into the house.

In the living room, the firepit was blazing merrily. The moment he walked in, warmth wrapped around him from head to toe.

A large basin rested over the firepit, big enough for bathing a child. Soaking inside it were several dozen thin bamboo strips.

Sun Fuling pointed at the basin. “Pour it in.”

He Lingchuan lifted the bucket and poured the water inside. Then he fished out one bamboo strip to test it. It was very thin, but quite resilient.

He sucked in a...