At the Farm
David walked around the farm, his eyes fixed on the many healthy goats bleating cheerfully. Their shiny fur glimmered in the sunlight, evoking a sense of wonder. As he approached the farm owner, an old man named Mr. Brian, his friendly face was lined with wrinkles that spoke of much experience.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Brian! I want to buy a goat for my son," David said with an enthusiastic tone.
Mr. Brian looked at David, recognizing the familiar face. "Ohhh... it's you, David! What's up? You want to buy a goat for your child?" he replied, his voice lively, as if sensing the great desire behind David's words.
"That's right, Mr. Brian! Tian, my son, suddenly wants a goat," David answered, a bit hesitant but still trying to appear confident.
"Ohhh... is that so? Well then, let me show you the goats." Mr. Brian pointed to a group of goats wandering around. The jingling of bells around the goats' necks could be heard as they ran and played in the field.
As David looked closer, his eyes were captivated by a strong and healthy male goat. Its bright eyes and smooth fur sparkled in the sunlight, making David's heart flutter. The soft bleating of the goat, "Baa! Baa!" added to the charm of the scene.
"I'm looking for an adult one," David said, trying to sound firm. "I'm afraid Tian won't be able to care for a kid. If it's already an adult, it can be used right away if something happens."
Mr. Brian nodded, agreeing with David's reasoning. "That's a wise choice. Let's take a closer look." He walked towards the goat David had chosen, the sound of his footsteps crunching on the dusty ground, "Creak, creak!" catching the attention of the other goats.
After chatting and negotiating the price, the atmosphere grew warmer. David felt excitement flowing within him, his voice full of confidence echoing as he made his decision. "I'll take this one!" he declared with a satisfied smile, his heartbeat vibrating with happiness. After paying around 4 silver coins, David hurriedly took the goat home.
At that moment, Tian had just returned from playing with his friends. His breath was still a bit labored, and sweat soaked his forehead as he stepped into the house. As soon as he passed through the door, his mother greeted him with an amused look.
"Tian, look at you! You're so dirty!" his mother exclaimed, sighing. "Before you bathe, go check the back first."
Tian frowned in confusion. "Why do I have to go to the back first?" he thought, but he obeyed anyway. With curious steps, he walked towards the backyard.
As soon as he arrived there, his eyes widened. On a wooden post near the garden stood a male goat, bleating softly. Its fur was clean and its legs strong, a sign that the animal was healthy and well cared for.
"Wow!" Tian exclaimed, his voice almost squeaking with excitement. "Dad really bought me a goat!"
Unable to contain his happiness, he immediately ran back into the house, searching for his father. He found him at the dining table, sitting comfortably while enjoying warm tea.
"Dad! Thank you! Thank you so much!" Tian jumped up and down, his face shining with joy.
David, his father, smiled at his son's reaction. He set down his teacup and looked at Tian gently. "I'm glad you like it. But remember, Tian. The goat is not a toy. Taking care of it requires time and responsibility. Do you promise?"
Without hesitation, Tian nodded enthusiastically. "I promise, Dad! I will take good care of it! I'll have many goats later!"
David chuckled softly and nodded. "Alright, we'll see if you can really take care of it."
Hearing her son's response, Tian's mother laughed lightly while wiping her hands, which were covered in dirt from gardening. "Tian, the goat won't multiply just because you stare at it all day. Tomorrow, go to the meadow near the village to get food for your goat, okay?"
Tian nodded firmly, though in his heart he felt a bit disappointed, thinking his goat could grow big just by being watched. "Okay, Mom. Tomorrow I'll get the grass."
His mother smiled with satisfaction and then returned to the kitchen to prepare dinner. Meanwhile, Tian hurried to take a bath, washing off the dirt and sweat after a day of playing outside.
~The Next Day~
The sound of roosters crowing echoed through the village as the sun began to creep over the mountains. Golden light streamed through the window, waking Tian from his slumber.
"Yawn... is it morning already?" he murmured while stretching.
From the kitchen, he heard his mother calling. "Tian! Breakfast is ready! Hurry down before your food gets cold!"
"Yes, Mom!" Tian quickly got up and rushed to the dining table. His father, David, was already sitting down, enjoying a cup of warm tea, while his mother was busy preparing a bowl of hot porridge and some slices of dry bread.
As he ate, Tian couldn't wait to head to the meadow. He wanted to take his goat out and watch it graze happily.
After finishing his meal, Tian ran to the back of the house to fetch his goat, which was tied to a post. At that moment, his father, who hadn't left for work yet, saw Tian getting ready with a rope in hand, as if he was about to take something.
"Are you ready to go, Tian?" his father asked, raising an eyebrow.
Tian turned around excitedly. "Yes, Dad! I want to take it to the meadow so it can eat a lot and grow big!"
His mother, overhearing, said, "Why not just take some grass instead?"
Tian replied, "I want to play too, Mom."
"Alright, but don't come back too late," his mother reminded him.
"Yes, Mom," Tian answered, then set off towards the meadow. His father also prepared to leave for his woodworking shop.
As he arrived at the edge of the village, Tian saw his friends Lian, Ark, Aris, and Damar playing. "Tian! You got a goat!" Lian shouted, waving his hand.
Tian approached them and replied, "My dad just bought it a few days ago. I'm taking it to the meadow to feed it so it can grow big."
One of his friends, Aris, asked, "Tian, doesn't your male goat need a female goat to multiply? Because I went to a goat farm with my dad, and that's what I was told."
Tian, hearing this, innocently replied, "Is that so? Then I need another one."
Lian smiled and said, "Come on, Tian! Why don't you join us to play?"
Tian nodded with a smile. "Okay, but I can only play for a little while. I have to take care of my goat," he replied, continuing his steps towards the meadow.
"Alright!" shouted Ark.
The five of them then walked together through the lush wheat fields lining the road. The morning breeze blew gently, making the fields sway like a sea of gold shimmering in the sunlight.
Upon arriving at the meadow, Tian untied his goat, allowing it to graze freely. He lovingly patted the goat's head before turning to his friends.
"So, what are we playing today?" he asked eagerly.
Damar lifted something in his hand and smiled widely. "We're going to play ball toss! I brought the ball!" he shouted, showing off a ball made from a bundle of compressed cloth.
The ball toss game was a simple yet exciting game. One team had to throw the ball to hit the opposing team, who would run away within a designated area. If the throwing team managed to hit all the opposing players, they won. However, if anyone managed to evade being hit for ten minutes, the running team would be declared the winner.
Lian glanced at his friends. "So, who will be the throwers and who will be the runners this time?" he asked eagerly.
Ark grinned and patted his chest. "Don't forget the punishment for the losers," he said enthusiastically.
Tian thought for a moment before suggesting, "How about Damar and I become the throwers? You three can be the runners. What do you think?"
Ark chuckled lightly, then looked at Tian with a challenging gaze. "Are you sure, Tian? Don't regret it if you can't hit me!" he said boastfully.
Lian merely shook his head, smiling. "Don't be too confident, Ark. That might just backfire," he replied.
"That's true," Aris chimed in, crossing his arms over his chest.
Ark snorted lightly. "Yeah, yeah! But trust me, I'll easily dodge all of Tian's throws!" he said confidently.
Aris laughed softly, then raised his index finger. "If that's the case, the loser still has to face the usual punishment, right? Their face will be smeared with mud!"
"Agreed!" they all shouted in unison.