I caught only the word "kin" in what she said. I figured her meaning was: "We're kin by birth, so looking after each other is just natural."

I smiled and asked, "No favors to return?"

The lady pondered then replied, "Since these incidents happened recently, villagers have decided to stop fishing for now. Food's scarce. If you truly want help, catch some fish from the lake nearby. It'll replenish our stores."

Thinking she meant sea fishing, I blushed and said, "But I can't steer a boat..."

She shook her head, "No need for sailing. Head east two hours past village gate to that big lake. This cold weather should freeze its surface solid. Make an ice hole with chisel, lure fish using lanterns, then net some of them."

The idea intrigued me—I'd seen ice-fishing on TV before and always longed to try it myself. So I nodded, vowing to help.

Daming and Lian Qian entered with dishes just as we finished lunch. They joined us eagerly when hearing about the fishing plan.

We borrowed nets and a pail from Rabinsky, then set off. I even brought my Russian book for boredom breaks.

Snowstorm had eased by dusk. Though snow still fell steadily now, it was merely moderate. Wooden cottages and loft houses along the dirt path were all draped in fresh white blankets, trees also wrapped in icy shawls. The entire village became a silver world.

As we passed central square, wolf tracks vanished completely—the cages holding sea girl corpses gone too. Square's ground now buried under 12-15cm thick snow layer, making yesterday's tragedy look like never happened.

I noticed Daming heading toward fence posts, shoveling snow mysteriously with his trowel. "What're you doing?" I asked curiously.

He grinned enigmatically, "You'll see soon."

Holding net while Lian Qian carried pail, we watched him dig in the snow until he uncovered an empty bowl. Then I understood his plan.

Daming had cleared a large pit around fence post, revealing gray soil beneath but no target.

"Knew it," he muttered, "That black dog must've eaten the meat finally. Still remembers the little girl."

Lian Qian frowned, "What if another wolf took it?"

Daming shook his head, "Ever see ministers dare to steal emperor's meal?"

Just then, a short figure emerged from nearby house—her right hand bandaged and left holding trowel. She carefully closed door behind her, exhaled white breath, cheeks flushed red with cold.

I recognized the girl immediately. Her clutching trowel meant she had same objective.

She stepped forward but startled when spotting us. Two braids nearly stood straight up in alarm. But relaxed upon seeing me and hurried over excitedly, muttering Russian words.

Previously I couldn't understand her, now could comprehend clearly—she called me "Uncle" with sweet voice.

I smiled back in Russian, "You should stay home with your wound."

Her eyes widened as she saw my sudden fluency. Lian Qian mirrored same shock expression.

I chuckled, ruffling girl's head.

After surprise passed, girl noticed empty bowl in Daming's hand and whispered, "That was mine!"

Daming's pervert nature surfaced instantly with his grin. In Russian he said, "Nope, found it first so belongs to me."

Girl's nose wrinkled, tears welling up. Lian Qian knelt down, scooped her into arms and scolded Daming sternly, "Give bowl back!"

I snickered since knew Daming couldn't withstand such maternal authority.

Sure enough, seeing girl about to cry, he quickly shifted tone, ruffling her head again, "Oops sorry! Here you go!"

Girl accepted bowl with teary smile and asked excitedly, "Where's meat?"

Daming pointed at dug hole, "Gone—probably eaten by black dog."

Girl's braids flew upward in delight, "Really? Ate it!" We all laughed heartily.

Lian Qian then pointed house across square with slender finger, asking in Chinese through me, "This your home? What's your name?"

Girl answered via translation, "I'm Tini. Mom at home doesn't know I came out—would spank bottom."

Daming chuckled at her name, "Great! Sounds like 'Nier' in northeast dialect!" Using mixed Russian-Chinese he then asked, "Nier, what's mom doing? Ate dinner yet? If so I'll take you fishing!"

Girl stared blankly for several seconds before finally replying with single word: Good.

I assumed she already had dinner. Though injured, kids are naturally curious. Her mother likely wouldn't mind. So we led her toward village outskirts prairie.

Passing central square again, same houses along both sides as morning—some villagers sweeping snow off roofs or tapping branches to prevent snow damage. Many nodded and smiled warmly at us.

At end of this street stood weathered archway made from two thin wooden posts supporting "Daban Village" sign. Sign bore heavy ice-snow load with old-western charm. This must be village gate mentioned in Andre's story last night.

Outside lay vast prairie where heavy snow had flattened waist-high grasses. Yet gaps between blades still existed beneath surface, causing legs to sink when stepped on. Fortunately water source path remained trodden by villagers fetching water. We followed this trail until sight of frozen lake appeared ahead after passing several snow-draped pines—those lone trees looked like giants guarding the plain from distance.

Tini in Lian Qian's arms suddenly became excited, wriggling to reach ice surface. But responsible big sister refused and asked me, "Check if ice solid enough."

I groaned silently—I hope she wasn't afraid I'd fall through! Yet she conversed freely with Tini using Chinese while girl spoke Russian, creating hilarious cross-language dialogue.

Daming noticed my glare and backed away nervously, "What? No way—too fat to risk falling in!"

I deadpanned, "Meaning if I do fall in, you better rescue me quick."

Relieved sigh escaped him as he patted chest proudly, "Sure thing! Trust me!"

Approaching lake edge, I examined ice. Thick and transparent with snow gradually melting on surface to merge into frozen layer below. Even saw silhouettes of several large fish gliding beneath—probably salmon since only they remain active in such cold water. Other species would be nearly motionless this winter. This explained why Rabinsky suggested using lanterns, as salmon are highly phototactic.

I tested ice by stomping firmly and even jumping lightly—confirmed it was solid though edge areas froze faster than center. So needed caution when moving toward middle later. When Tini jumped down from Lian Qian's arms onto surface unsteadily, I braced for fall but she balanced perfectly, clearly no stranger to frozen lakes.

She giggled excitedly and challenged Lian Qian in Russian, "Sister chase me!"

Lian Qian smiled and carefully stepped onto ice to join the game as I shook my head with Daming. We unrolled nets and tools at shoreline when suddenly—I glimpsed shadow of animal darting past trees at lake's edge!