Shi Yumei stood still in the empty house, it was warm like spring, yet she felt recurring chills over her body.
Ren Zhixian wrapped the more than eighty taels of silver in a handkerchief and stuffed it into his clothes, then ordered Cui Bao to fetch a thick cloak, and stormed out of the Shi Mansion in a huff.
He refused to believe that without the Shi family, he, Ren Zhixian, couldn't survive! In the vast Qingzhou City, couldn't he buy a few decent and proper gifts?
Ren Zhixian aimlessly wandered the streets for a while, watching the bustling throng of people, and observing the brightly decorated shops draped with red lanterns and colorful ribbons, all festive and full of New Year's spirit. A dreary and desolate feeling slowly engulfed him from within. He suddenly felt disheartened and dejected.
