The next day, the snow had stopped, but the world was blanketed in a thick layer of white.
Mo Lixia woke up early. She checked on the sweet almonds she had soaked the night before. Today, she planned to make some almond oil cream.
In this dry winter, her skin felt tight and uncomfortable. The ancient cosmetics were full of lead and mercury, so she decided to make her own.
She peeled the soaked almonds, ground them into a fine paste, and squeezed out the milk. Then, she slowly simmered the milk over a low fire until the oil separated. It was a tedious process, requiring constant stirring.
While waiting for the oil, she melted some beeswax and mixed it with rose water she had distilled in the summer. Finally, she added the precious almond oil.
The result was a small jar of creamy, fragrant ointment.
She applied a little to her hand. It was smooth, absorbed quickly, and left a faint, sweet scent.
"Perfect," she murmured, satisfied.
This could be a good business opportunity in the future. Women were always willing to spend money on beauty.
In the afternoon, the sun came out, melting the top layer of snow, which then froze again into slippery ice.
Mo Lixia decided to check on Aunt Shen. She packed some of her new almond cream and headed down the mountain.
The stone steps were treacherous. Each step required careful balance.
Just as she was about halfway down, her foot slipped on a patch of black ice.
"Ah!"
She lost her balance and fell backward. The basket flew from her hand.
She closed her eyes, bracing for the hard impact on the stone stairs.
But the pain never came.
A strong arm caught her waist, pulling her back from the fall. Her back slammed into a warm, solid chest.
"Careful!" A deep, concerned voice rang in her ear.
Mo Lixia opened her eyes, her heart pounding wildly. She looked up and met a pair of intense, dark eyes.
It was Shen Muqing.
He was breathing heavily, his face flushed from exertion, likely from rushing up the mountain to find her. His arm was still tightly wrapped around her waist, holding her steady.
For a moment, neither of them moved. The world seemed to stop, leaving only the sound of their breathing and the howling wind.
"Are you hurt?" Shen Muqing asked, his voice rough with worry. He realized how close they were and quickly let go, stepping back a respectable distance, his ears turning red.
Mo Lixia steadied herself, her face also burning slightly. "I... I'm fine. Thank you, Brother Shen."
"I was coming to tell you my mother is much better," Shen Muqing stammered, looking anywhere but at her. "The fever is gone, and she stopped coughing. She wanted to thank you personally, but the road is too slippery."
"That's good news," Mo Lixia recovered her composure. She picked up her basket. "I made some ointment for dry skin. I thought Aunt Shen might like it."
Shen Muqing took the jar from her, his fingers brushing against hers. He flinched slightly but held on.
"Let me help you down," he offered, extending his hand again, but then hesitating. Instead, he offered his sleeve. "Hold onto this. It's slippery."
Mo Lixia looked at the sturdy sleeve in front of her. In this era, men and women shouldn't touch directly. She smiled gratefully and took hold of his sleeve.
"Thank you."
With his help, the rest of the journey was safe. Shen Muqing walked carefully, matching her pace, a silent guardian in the snow.