The golden sunlight was scattered over the rice fields as if heaven had spilled all its gold onto the earth. The air carried the scent of soil, that very fragrance that ran in the veins of every inhabitant of Tranquility Village. And in that same soil, making little footprints, a child was running.
His name was Shen. But the villagers affectionately called him Little Shen. Seven years old, slightly shorter than other children his age, but with eyes that held a strange depth, like a clear lake whose bottom couldn't be guessed.
"Son, pass that water pot to your father!" the voice came from the edge of the field. Shen's father, Lin Fu, was standing straight, stretching his back. Beads of sweat glistened on his face like pearls.
"Yes, Father!" Shen replied, panting, and ran towards a small earthen pot. He picked it up, which was quite heavy for him, and carried it with unsteady steps to his father.
Lin Fu took the pot and took a long sip of water. A drop fell from his chin and was absorbed into the earth. "The sun is fierce today," he said, looking at the sky. "Seems like rain tomorrow. The clouds are gathering."
Shen looked up at the sky too. Wisps of white cotton were scattered across the blue canvas. He couldn't see any clouds. "How do you know, Father?"
Lin Fu smiled. The wrinkles on his face were spread out like a story. "When you spend this many years with Mother Earth, you too will start to understand her every word, son. The direction of the wind, the chatter of the birds, the movement of the clouds... they all tell you."
Shen nodded solemnly, as if learning a profound secret. His gaze stuck on a butterfly, white and yellow, hovering over the rice plants. He had just turned to chase it when another voice called out.
"Little Shen! Come, have some food!"
At the edge of the field, under the shade of a small hut, stood his mother, Mei. She held a basket from which steam rose, spreading its aroma.
A sparkle came into Shen's eyes. The feeling of hunger suddenly intensified. Forgetting his father, he ran towards his mother.
"Slowly, slowly, son!" Mei said, laughing as Shen bumped into her. She ruffled his hair affectionately. "You run around all day. Just sit for a bit, won't you?"
Sitting in the shade of the hut, Shen ate warm cornbread and vegetables. His mother had made a cup of herbal tea, its aroma washing away the fatigue.
"The village storytelling is tonight," Mei said. "Elder Zheng will tell a new story. About Immortals and demons."
Shen's eyes widened even more. "Really? Do they really exist, Mother? Immortals who fly in the sky?"
Mei said with an affectionate smile, "Who knows, son. Elder Zheng will tell us, won't he? But until then, finish your work. Help your father."
The day began to wane. The sky had draped itself in a blanket of gold and orange. Shen continued to work in the field with his father, his small hands working, sometimes falling in the mud, sometimes laughing.
By the time they returned home, it was night. After eating, Shen lay in bed. His mother told him an ancient folktale about a warrior who cut a mountain with his sword.
Fatigue made his eyelids heavy. Finally, he looked at the stars visible from the window. They twinkled, as if sending him a message.
And then, sleep took him.
The dream began as it always did. Fog. White, thick fog, spread all around. But today was different. The fog was lifting. And then, he saw it.
A tree. But a tree like he had never seen. Its leaves were blue, emitting a faint silvery light. And its branches were thin and flexible like golden threads, reaching up towards the sky. And the sky... the sky was purple. A deep, mysterious purple, where two moons shone—one white, one blue.
Shen stood there, amazed, astonished. He reached a hand towards a branch... and just then—
"Little Shen! Get up, it's morning!"
His eyes opened. His mother's face was in front of him. Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating his ordinary room.
He sat up abruptly, his heart beating fast. "Mother! I had a dream! A tree with blue leaves! And a purple sky!"
His mother smoothed his hair. "Okay, okay. Growing children have all sorts of strange dreams. Come on, get ready and washed up. We have to work in the north field today."
Shen nodded, still breathless. The dream had been so clear... so real.