An old man in a straw hat and raincoat, fishing alone on a snowy lake.

It is already winter.

Qiantang County experienced its first snowfall of the year.

The snow began to fall at night. At first, it was just fine sleet, pattering against the windowpane. By midnight, the snowflakes had grown larger, like fluffy cotton or goose feathers, falling thick and fast. Overnight, the distant mountains, nearby trees, and gray-tiled roofs were all white.

The next morning, when Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai woke up, the snow had stopped.

The banana trees by the courtyard wall, their leaves half-withered, were piled high with snow, the remaining leaves bending under its weight. Snow also covered the top of the wall, a pristine white contrasting against the gray tiles.

The rest of the backyard was also covered in snow, with only a few footprints visible on the cobblestone path.

The distant mountains were draped in white, and the pine forest appeared even more profound against the backdrop of the snow.

The sky was somewhat hazy; the sky after the snow wasn't as bright as it would be on a clear day.

At this moment, Zhu Yingtai stood in front of the schoolhouse, gazing at the snowy scene before her, her voice filled with joy: "Brother Liang, it snowed so heavily last night!"

Liang Shanbo stood beside him and nodded, saying, "Yes."

"I like snow." Zhu Yingtai turned to look at him, her breath turning into a cloud of white mist in the cold air as she spoke.

Liang Shanbo looked at her and smiled slightly: "I also like snow."

Zhu Yingtai's eyes lit up, filled with joy: "Brother Liang, you also like snow? Then we have another thing in common."

Liang Shanbo nodded and asked, "We're off today, shall we still go to the county town?"

Zhu Yingtai decisively replied, "Of course we should go. The snow has stopped, and we can enjoy the snow scenery along the way. Also, I'd like to go to Qiantang Lake to see the snow. The snow scenery on the lake is definitely different from the snow scenery in the mountains. How about we go to Qiantang Lake to see the snow first, and then go to the county town?"

Liang Shanbo laughed and said, "Alright. I'll do as you say, my brother."

Zhu Yingtai smiled, turned around and went into the schoolhouse to pack her things for the trip.

Soon, Liang Shanbo, Zhu Yingtai, and Yin Xin left the schoolhouse and headed towards the school gate.

Today, Liang Shanbo wore a fine linen padded jacket, the very one Zhu Yingtai had given him that day. The fine linen had two layers, with a layer of silk floss in between, making it warm but not bulky. The cuffs were neatly gathered, and the collar was folded tightly. The color was a light bluish-gray, which looked clear and bright under the snow.

He wore a pair of hemp-lined cotton shoes, the same ones Zhu Yingtai had given him that day. The shoes were made of fine hemp cloth and lined with thin cotton, making them feel steady and comfortable on the snow, neither slippery nor cold.

After leaving the school gate and walking through the pine forest, the scenery suddenly opened up before my eyes.

The fields after the snow were as beautiful as a painting.

Those ordinary farmlands, paths, haystacks, and dirt roads, once covered by snow, have all been transformed into a vast, undulating white snowfield. Occasionally, a few field ridges reveal the yellowish-brown soil beneath, like a few light ink strokes painted on a plain white silk.

Looking at the snow-covered fields, Zhu Yingtai sighed, "How beautiful! Usually, I see pine forests every day at the school, and when I go down the mountain, I see ordinary fields. But this snow has turned these ordinary things into a painting."

The three walked along the snow-covered path. The snow on the path was thin, soft underfoot, making a slight "crunch" sound. They left footprints as they walked. Zhu Yingtai, feeling playful, suddenly fell behind Liang Shanbo and followed in his footprints. Liang Shanbo turned and looked at her; they smiled at each other.

After walking for a short while, we arrived at the shore of Qiantang Lake.

Qiantang Lake is located just south of the county town, adjacent to it, only a few hundred steps away.

The lake wasn't frozen over; its water was a vibrant green. The willows along the shore, their branches drooping, were laden with tiny icicles. Most of the reeds were flattened by the weight of the snow, and snow also piled up on the rocks by the lake.

On the lake, there are two small boats.

One leaf is in the east, and one leaf is in the west, not far apart.

On that small boat to the west sat a man. He wore a gray-brown raincoat and a bamboo hat, and held a fishing rod, fishing quietly. He sat very still.

On the small boat to the east sat two burly men.

Zhu Yingtai's gaze fell on the small boat to the west. She exclaimed "Eh!" and turned to Liang Shanbo, saying, "Brother Liang, why are there people fishing on the lake in this snow? It's so cold after the snow; shouldn't all the fish be hiding in the deep water?"

Liang Shanbo glanced at the angler on the small boat and said, "That's not entirely true. Although it's snowing, the snow has stopped, the lake isn't frozen, and there's no thin ice to hinder it. Besides, the north wind isn't strong, the water is calm, and it's safe to navigate. After a snowfall, the water is still, and fish may come out to feed, so fishermen often take advantage of this to fish. Therefore, fishing in the snow is a common practice for fishermen."

Zhu Yingtai nodded: "Brother Liang knows a lot."

Liang Shanbo then changed the subject: "However, I think that the person fishing is probably not an ordinary fisherman."

Zhu Yingtai was slightly taken aback: "How do you know?"

Liang Shanbo looked towards the small boat to the east: "Look at that small boat over there. There are two strong men sitting on it. They are neither fishing nor talking. They just sit there. They don't look like fishermen. They look like the attendants of the fisherman. So I guess the fisherman is of high status. Today he is fishing on Qiantang Lake, probably not for fish, but to sit quietly alone and fish to pass the time."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yingtai looked at the lake carefully again, then looked away and said to Liang Shanbo with a hint of admiration, "Brother Liang, your observation is keen and your words are reasonable. This person is probably not an ordinary person, but rather an elder from a prominent family."

Liang Shanbo nodded.

He looked at the angler once again.

Just then, the fisherman on the small boat suddenly looked towards the shore and began to gaze at Liang Shanbo from afar.

At this moment, it seemed as if only this one view remained in the world.

The angler looked at Liang Shanbo across the lake and nodded slightly.

Liang Shanbo paused for a moment. He had seen that nod, but he figured it was just polite conversation between strangers, since he clearly didn't recognize the angler.

He quickly bowed to the angler across the lake.

The angler then turned his gaze back to the motionless fishing rod in front of him.

Zhu Yingtai was unaware of this scene; her gaze was fixed on several wild ducks swimming on the lake, which had come out to forage for food after the snow stopped.

She watched for a while, then turned back to Liang Shanbo and said with a smile, "Brother Liang, how about we sit in that thatched pavilion over there? We can sit there and enjoy the snow scene for a while before heading into the city."

Liang Shanbo came to his senses and nodded in agreement.

The two walked along the stone path on the lake shore toward a thatched pavilion not far away.

Liang Shanbo took a few steps, then couldn't help but look back again.

The small boat remained moored there, and the angler remained motionless.

That small boat and that angler seem to have blended into the snow-covered lake and mountain landscape, becoming the lightest yet deepest stroke in the painting.