I am a literary giant in Russia

Chapter 143 A day is longer than a hundred years, an embrace without end.
In Russia these days, the first thing a typical St. Petersburg citizen does upon waking up is naturally to clear the snow from the sidewalks and corresponding street areas in front of their house—a regulation that has been written into law.

Failure to clear snow in a timely manner may result in warnings and fines from the police, or even forced labor.

This job sounds simple, but since it's in Russia, it's bound to be anything but easy.

In short, according to data, Russia has an average of 120 days of snow cover per year during this period. The snow can easily reach above the knees if it is even slightly heavy. In addition, the continuous low temperature makes it difficult to melt, which is a considerable test of the physical strength of ordinary citizens. If they also encounter the not uncommon blizzard, they have no choice but to work hard in the blizzard.

Nobles had their own servants to do the work, while the middle class had to expend their energy or hire people to help. As for ordinary citizens and the poor, the whole family often had to work together. In addition, they would earn a meager income by shoveling snow for the rich.

Nowadays, Mikhail can be considered middle class in a strict sense. However, at the beginning, Mikhail did not really think about asking for help. Although the workload was heavy, Mikhail usually ate and slept a little too much, so it would be good to take this opportunity to get some exercise.

Although he hasn't gained weight yet, he would definitely like to take precautions if possible. Mikhail doesn't want to start getting fat and balding after he turns thirty, as many of his friends seem to be in the same situation.

In short, Mikhail initially decided to do it himself. However, the first time, although he told the young maid to wake him up early to shovel snow, the girl Mira didn't wake him at all. After Mikhail woke up and took a while to react, he hurriedly went outside and saw the girl diligently shoveling snow with a shovel almost half her height. Next to her was Mikhail's cook.

Before they knew it, large snowflakes had already covered their hair.

Why didn't you wake me up?

Although he had a pretty good idea of ​​the reason, Mikhail still asked with some helplessness.

"You are a kind gentleman."

It seems that they've spent more time together. The little girl, who used to be timid and hesitant in front of Mikhail, is now able to raise her head and look at him seriously. She then said, "Besides, you can write such words. I've heard from your friends that you'll write even greater things sooner or later. How can you put your hands on a snow shovel?"

"These two things are not contradictory. Besides, sometimes it's more important to put your hand on the shovel than to write anything. Don't do it again. You must wake me up next time."

After giving a brief explanation, although the maid Mira seemed a little confused, Mikhail didn't elaborate further. He simply shook the snow off their hair and clothes and then invited them inside for some hot tea.

As for Mikhail, after putting on his coat and gloves, he took the shovel and started working at his own doorstep.

To be honest, while working, Mikhail couldn't help but think about what the hard labor in Siberia would be like, which would be even more physically demanding than what he was doing now.

Of course, Mikhail only thought about it for a moment before putting it out of his mind, feeling that thinking about such things too much was indeed unlucky.
Doing this kind of work is definitely tiring, but fortunately Mikhail didn't have anything else to do. In addition, the maid Mira and the cook in Mikhail's household insisted on helping, which made things easier.

However, this period of shoveling snow himself did not last long. Mikhail's current residence is quite nice, but the area he lives in is mostly poor. Perhaps it was because Mikhail was well-dressed, and the people who frequented his home were all respectable-looking gentlemen.

Not long after, someone from the neighborhood came to Mikhail's house and knocked on his door.

The person who knocked on Mikhail's door didn't look very old, and although he seemed to be wearing as many clothes as possible, he still looked somewhat thin. After a timid smile, he explained his purpose:

"Sir, may I shovel the snow for you? My price is very fair, and I will never take advantage of you."

Upon hearing this, Mikhail, after observing the man's attire and briefly inquiring about his family situation, naturally agreed, and the payment he made was higher than the normal price.

After that, perhaps because the news got out, many more people came to Mikhail looking for work. But since Mikhail's needs were limited, he had to do some screening and select those whose families might be in dire straits.

Even so, there was still a surplus of labor. Seeing this, Mikhail would sometimes simply carry a shovel and take some people to help his friends.

The first stop was definitely the old apartment building near Mikhail. However, when she saw Mikhail personally helping to shovel snow, his former landlady, Pavlovna, almost gasped in surprise. Then, she looked at Mikhail with a slightly pitying gaze and said:
"Mikhail, have you run into some trouble and gone bankrupt? Is that why you're thinking of doing this job to make a living? If so, just say the word. I'll still let you live in your old house, and even if you're down on your luck, I'm still willing to marry my daughter to you!"

Mikhail: “?”

So you were still thinking about this?

Although he was grateful for Pavlovna's kindness, it still took Mikhail quite a while to explain it to her. Even though he understood, Pavlovna still shook her head in confusion: "Look at this strange quirk of yours."

Even so, Pavlovna thanked Mikhail for his help, even though shoveling snow was not a big problem for her.

After all, Pavlovna only needed to take out her specially made large shovel, and then swing her powerful arms to shovel away the amount of snow that would take two Mikhails to shovel. And while shoveling, she could turn around and chatter to Mikhail: "Did you see that, Mikhail? If my daughter were here, she could probably do more work than me. If there's any chance between you two, then you'll have a good helper!"

Mikhail: “.”

Although she is indeed a very capable girl, perhaps we are just not meant to be.

For some reason, apart from Pavlovna, the other minor officials and merchants who still lived in the apartment, like the old maid Nastasya, were all stunned for a moment when they saw Mikhail shoveling snow. Then they couldn't help but ask about Mikhail's recent situation to see if he had encountered any difficulties.

In their eyes, someone like Mikhail, who had already become a master, should no longer be personally involved in this matter.

Of course, Mikhail just wanted to get some exercise and, incidentally, give someone else a paycheck.

Aside from his friends at the apartment, Mikhail probably wouldn't need his help from his literary friends. However, after a moment's thought, Mikhail finally remembered his poor friend Belinsky, who had lung problems. Although Belinsky was relatively well-off now, the cost of his overseas medical treatment was too high, and Belinsky had been quite nervous about money lately. So, Mikhail decided it would be good to check on Belinsky's situation.

For some reason, when Mikhail, carrying a shovel and accompanied by his helpers, knocked on Belinsky's door and explained their purpose, Belinsky suddenly trembled several times upon seeing Mikhail with the shovel, and then pointed directly at him with his large hand:
"Mikhail! If it were you, perhaps you could truly mobilize our people in the future!"

Mikhail: “???”

Isn't this just a simple employment relationship? What are you talking about, Lao Bie?!

If the secret police overhear this, you'll really be in big trouble for me!

Fortunately, Belinsky said this at his home, so the safety factor was relatively high. But perhaps Mikhail's snow-shoveling action triggered something in him, and Belinsky, despite his severe tuberculosis, wanted to rush over and work in the snow with Mikhail and the others.

To this, Mikhail can only say, "Old Bie, don't die at your own doorstep before you even have a chance to go out for treatment. That would be too tragic."
After much persuasion, Mikhail finally managed to stop Belinsky, but in any case, it would be better to just send someone to Belinsky's place to help with the snow removal. Mikhail decided it was best not to linger around Belinsky too much.

The above is roughly what Mikhail did during the winter of that year, aside from reading, writing, and studying. And on the last day of the year, even though the important Russian holidays don't seem to fall on New Year's Eve, it was still a day worth commemorating.

Therefore, relatives and friends usually get together on this day.

The Modern People magazine also made arrangements for this. Normally, the editorial department of Modern People would host a banquet for its writers every month. However, since it is not possible to get everyone together every month, after discussing it, they decided to hold a big banquet on the last day of the year and try to make sure that everyone could attend.

The banquet was originally planned to be held at Mikhail's house, but Mikhail's house was not big enough to accommodate so many people, so in the end the banquet was held at Panayev's house instead.

Because there were so many participants, it was quite troublesome to entertain them. So Mikhail sent his maid and cook to Panayev's house to help out. As for Mikhail, he had some business to attend to, so he left a little later than the others.

By the time Mikhail went out, it was already dark, and all was quiet. The heavy snow was falling almost vertically to the ground, and there were hardly any pedestrians on the street. Only the streetlights were still flickering coldly.

Mikhail braved the cold night and snowstorm to walk toward Panayev's house.

When he finally arrived at his destination, the others seemed to have been waiting for him for quite some time. With a report from a servant of the Panaev family, the bright and warm hall was immediately filled with shouts of "Mikhail has arrived!"

When Mikhail took off his coat and shook off the snow, he went straight inside, and the joyful faces of his friends appeared before him one by one: Belinsky, Nekrasov, Turgenev, Dostoevsky.
On this cold winter night, Mikhail's friends greeted him warmly and slowly led him to the center of the group. Because of his good position, Mikhail could clearly see the expressions on his friends' faces, and they certainly had their own hopes for the new year.

Belinsky probably thought he would spend his life on politics in "The Modern Man" and that sooner or later he would be able to push things to change. Nekrasov, who was still looking at someone, probably thought that his love would be realized in the next year and continue forever.

Dostoevsky, who was finally able to relax a bit, probably thought his literary career might be even more successful next year, while Turgenev, mingling among the crowd, likely wanted to continue boasting and get along well with everyone he considered decent.
Mikhail looked at his friends and pondered his own and others' fates, and before he knew it, he was lost in thought.

Until someone shook him and said, "Mikhail, don't you want to say or write something on a day like this? And why aren't you even eating the snacks that are left over there?"

Mikhail then came to his senses. Faced with the question, Mikhail gave a somewhat complicated smile. While the others were still chatting, laughing, and drinking, Mikhail actually took out paper and pen and unconsciously wrote something down.

When he finished, the once lively scene had quieted down considerably, but this was not because it was dull; rather, it seemed like preparation to make the scene even more lively.

Finally, Mikhail recited the poem he held in his hand as the end of the year:

"In many harsh winter seasons"

I remember those days around the winter solstice.

Each day is unique.

Yet it reappears countless times.
.
Those days gradually
Connected into a whole —

Those were the only days left.

We feel that time has stopped moving forward.
.
I remember them all without exception:
Half of the harsh winter is almost over.
The roads were wet, and the roof was dripping.

The sun gets warmer and warmer on the ice.

The sleepy hands of the clock

Too lazy to turn the dial.

A day is longer than a hundred years.
Embrace without end.

Those days that are truly precious to people, even if they are only one day, may feel longer than a hundred years.

With this in mind, Mikhail quickly began to feast at the New Year's Eve banquet.
(End of this chapter)