In the land of the Yellow River valley in the lóng gǔ village a lone girl sat in a rice field. Her dark hair was tied back in twin buns, well it was supposed to be but the wind was so refreshing that she couldn't help but take her hair down at let it flow wildly in the wind. This girl, to the average eye was just an ordinary daughter of a rice farmer but-
"Mei!" Her eyes snapped open at the sound of her sisters voice. She looked over in interest "father's calling you"
"Great. What does that old man want now?" Mei grumbled as she tied her hair back in twin buns. She knew he'd only complain if he saw her hair a mess.
"Mei you shouldn't talk about father like that, it's disrespectful" her sister scolded her lightly. Despite only being twelve years old she acted like a mother. Perhaps that came from the girls losing their mother young and feeling a need to fill up that space but still, who's supposed to be the big sister here!
"Don't treat me like a kid jing" mei shot a glare at her sister "I'm the older sibling. Maybe you should start treating me with respect!"
"Respect should be earned mei and you have a long way to go" mei stumbled back at her sister's words. jings words cut deep, mainly cause of how accurate they were. She couldn't refute it so she shoved her hands in her pockets and begrudgingly followed behind her.
As they walked back to their countryside home mei as she often did took in the surrounding. They lived on a small hill at the edge of the village, miles away from civilization. It was just as she liked it. People were far too frustrating to deal with.
"Alright old man" she casually threw the door open "what do ya want-ya!" Her brown eyes widened as a high kick came inches from her face. Instinctively she ducked out of the way and stuck him in the face with a kick.
"Seriously old man? This is the third time this week!" Mei shook her fist angrily as the older man slowly rose to his feet.
"You're reflexes are as sharp as ever, my daughter" he approached her with a proud smile. Mei stayed on the defensive as the older man reached out and touched her hair "you're grown into such a beautiful young lady" tears brimmed in his amber eyes "I'm so proud of the woman you've beco-"
"I told you to stop touching my hair!" Mei grabbed his wrist and threw him over her shoulder, he hit the ground with a painful thud "you messed up my hair, stupid old man" she grumbled as she patted it down.
"Hehe sissy beat you up again daddy" her youngest sister Maomao laughed before getting on her knees to inspect him "you didn't hit your head did you daddy?"
"You're a strange child Maomao. One minute you're laughing at me, the next you're concerned" he shook his head as he picked the small girl up "you shouldn't bend down like that my little Maomao. You'll get your lovely kimono dirty and I don't have time to clean it"
"No you'll just make jing do it because men are useless" mei said coldly.
"When did you get so cruel. You were so sweet as a child" he hung his head with a depressed sigh.
Mei's eyes flickered with guilt. She knew her words hurt her father dearly but she couldn't help. The man just frustrated her. He was known across the village as Jiehong tao, the great descendant of Chen Tao, one of the twelve warriors who sealed the zodiac beasts away one thousand years ago. He used to be a hero, but ever since their mother passed away he's been different.
It was like he had died along with her.
"Enough messing around you three" jing stepped out of the kitchen, wiping some rice off her cheek "I've prepared dinner. Wash your hands and sit at the table with me"
"Yes mom" mei said teasing as she headed outside where the washbasin was. She rubbed her hands with the honey locus soap they recently bought. Smirking mei splashed her little sister in the face. Maomao squealed as she splashed her back. Laughter rang through the meadow accompanied by the buzzing of insects.
Life was peaceful for a couple of poor rice farmers, despite what their family used to be nowadays they were just an ordinary family.
But peace doesn't last without the price of bloodshed.