But the cold which induces the plum to flower is the cold of southern China. Across the Qinling Mountains in the real north country, where the winter's chill freezes the ground a yard deep, the cold is too severe even for the cold-loving plum.
但是越冷越開花，也是江南的冷；翻過秦嶺，到了冬來地凍三尺的真正北國，那冷，就連寒梅傲骨，也經受不起了。