Early spring, the sky was a clear blue with wispy clouds. A flock of birds flapped their wings, flying in formation before gradually disappearing into the distant horizon.
Looking down from above, one could see a large village stretching from the mountain peak down to its foot, shrouded in a thick layer of morning mist. The village, faintly visible within the fog, exuded an ethereal aura.
At the mountain's base stood a small two-story house made of dark ironwood. Soft light streamed through the cracks of the second-floor window, revealing a little girl nestled under her blankets, sleeping soundly.
The corners of her lips were curved upwards, her long eyelashes were shut, and her face showed pure contentment.
At that moment, a young woman's voice called out from the first floor.
"Xiao Jiang! Xiao Jiang, get up now!"
Startled awake by the calls, the little girl mumbled in her sleep.
"Just five more breaths..."
After incessant calling, the woman finally went upstairs and stood opposite where the girl was sleeping, gently shaking her.
"Look at you! You keep mumbling 'five more breaths,' but a whole ke (一刻 - 15 minutes) has already passed."
"Last night you were so excited because today is the opening day of the spring semester, haizz... But now you won't even get up."
Hearing her mother's voice, Xiao Jiang slowly opened her eyes, her face still drowsy, with a trail of drool at the corner of her mouth.
Her mother saw this and shook her head.
"Change your clothes and come down for breakfast."
After instructing the girl, the mother went back downstairs to wait at the dining table, already set with various dishes: white rice, sticky rice cakes , meat-filled buns, and braised pork, all looking incredibly appealing.
Upstairs, the girl finally pushed herself up, her eyes still bleary and dazed. She used her small hands to gently rub her eyes, and after about ten breaths, she was fully awake.
Lan Jiang hurriedly changed into the gray-blue outfit hanging on the wall, then stepped over to a large, elongated rectangular mirror. She took a comb to her hair and fastened a sandalwood hairpin behind it, exuding an elegant and refined aura.
Lan Jiang's appearance was adorable with chubby cheeks, sparkling black eyes, rosy lips, and long, flowing hair that cascaded like a stream.
Once ready, Lan Jiang ran downstairs and saw her mother waiting at the table, her right hand holding a bamboo scroll, intently reading the characters on it. Her father was outside chopping wood.
Lan Jiang walked over and sat beside her mother.
Lan Ha tucked the bamboo scroll into her robe and called out,
"Little Jiang's father! Take a break and come eat with the family!"
Ai Shang Laoquan, who was chopping wood, stopped his movements, wiped the sweat from his brow with his hand, and came over to sit at the table.
Lan Jiang sat sandwiched between them, her mother on the right, her father on the left.
Suddenly, she spoke up:
"To welcome the new spring, I wish our family everlasting happiness and peace!" As she spoke, her smile bloomed like a flower.
Hearing this, Lan Jiang's parents responded with tender smiles.
Lan Ha said softly:
"I also wish you a successful start to the semester and hope you make many new friends at school." She patted Lan Jiang's head.
Her father then took out a jade pendant engraved with the character "福" (Fortune) and gave it to his daughter.
"I hope my little girl will always be as happy as this jade pendant engraved with 'fortune'."
Touched, Lan Jiang took the jade pendant her father had given her.
"Thank you, Father. I will keep it safe."
Her father looked into Lan Jiang's eyes with kindness and nodded.
With that, they all continued their meal.
Lan Jiang picked up a piece of sticky rice cake and put it in her mouth, her cheeks puffing up like a little squirrel's.
Every morning I wake up, I always wonder what today will be like? Because I have such a wonderful family. My mom might sometimes be grumpy with me, but she always takes care of me when I need it. And my father spoils me rotten; he always treats me with the utmost gentleness.
Mom is already thirty, but she still looks quite young. She has black hair like me and fair skin. In my eyes, she's as beautiful as a fairy. She works as a weaver and embroiderer of silk garments in the village. My father, on the other hand, has red hair, tanned skin, is tall and incredibly strong. He works as a guard, escorting the village's goods to the capital.
I love my parents immensely!
Lan Jiang hung the jade pendant her father had given her on her waist, slung a bamboo backpack containing scrolls, bamboo slips, a brush, and ink over her shoulder, all ready for studying.
"Dad! Mom! I'm off!" Lan Jiang shouted loudly, waving goodbye to them from a distance.
Then she ran off. After running for a while, she got out of breath and had to slow down to a walk, panting. She passed a few intersections and then walked through the rice fields.
The sun had not yet fully risen over the distant mountain range. In the early mist, the golden rice stalks swayed in the field, where farmers bent their backs, diligently planting each seedling. The sound of water buffalo hooves sinking into the muddy ground created a rhythmic, squelching sound.
Lan Jiang slowed her pace to catch her breath and also to enjoy the scenery before her.
As she continued up the mountain, the scene became more bustling with people coming and going... some going up, some coming down. Among them, someone was pushing a wooden cart full of goods, its wheels rolling slowly on the bumpy dirt path.
An old man dressed in ragged clothes was pushing a wooden cart filled with jars of wine. With his hunched back, he struggled greatly. Seeing this, Lan Jiang ran over and helped the old man push.
The old man glanced over, surprised. But then he remained silent and continued pushing.
A while later, the two of them had managed to push the cart halfway up the mountain. Instead of going further up, they turned onto a side path and pushed towards a small house, about one-third the size of Lan Jiang's house.
Lan Jiang and the old man stopped. The old man hobbled towards his small house, gesturing slightly for Lan Jiang to follow him inside.
Lan Jiang entered and saw the interior was very simple, containing only a bed and a small kitchen area beside it. The old man rummaged around, took out a bowl, and poured some liquid from a jar for the girl.
"Here you go."
Thinking the liquid from the jar was wine, she hastily refused.
"My parents said I can't drink wine until I'm grown up."
The old man shook his head.
"No! This is Ling Shui Tao Hua (Spirit Peach Blossom Nectar). This water is pressed from thousand-year-old immortal peaches."
Hearing this, Lan Jiang stopped being polite and took the bowl from the old man, drinking it all in one gulp.
"Ahhhh! It tastes amazing!" she replied enthusiastically, her eyes shining.
The old man smiled kindly.
"You really remind me of my granddaughter."
Lan Jiang, thinking she might meet someone her own age, grew curious.
"Where is she now?"
The old man shook his head with a bitter smile.
"She's gone."
Lan Jiang felt embarrassed by her nosiness.
"I'm sorry... I..."
The old man waved his hand.
"It's alright, it was a long time ago. I find you very adorable, just like my granddaughter back then."
"Whenever you want more of this drink, just come see me. I have plenty. This is my thanks for helping me push the cart from the foot of the mountain up here."
Lan Jiang's face brightened up again.
"My parents taught me to always help others, so of course it was the right thing to do."
The old man nodded slightly.
This child seems to have been raised in a very happy environment; her aura makes it easy for others to sense that. However, if this child one day grows up... and experiences the harshness of this world... it would be truly cruel, ah, truly utterly cruel.
"It seems today is your first day at the school on the mountain peak, isn't it?"
Lan Jiang happily replied.
"Yes! I've been looking forward to today. Well, I should get going now."
"Have a good day, grandpa!"
The girl waved goodbye to the old man and continued on her way.
After walking a bit further, she saw two rows of cherry blossom trees stretching along the path. The petals were falling profusely and magnificently, making her emotions drift dreamily along with this beauty. She walked on, captivated and sighing in admiration.
The cherry blossom petals continued to fall. A while later, as she walked amidst the cherry blossom trees, she glanced under a particular tree and saw a boy about her age holding a bamboo scroll, reading.
Suddenly, the wind picked up, and the falling cherry blossoms began to fall even more heavily. Lan Jiang's clothes and black hair fluttered in the wind. The boy's hair was also blowing; his long, light blue hair and amber eyes stood out. The two looked at each other for a moment.
Then the boy under the tree spoke.
"What are you looking at? Get lost!"
Lan Jiang was stunned by his words, her mouth twisting into a frown.
Not bothering to say anything else, she continued walking, each step stomping heavily on the ground, her face scowling.
Hmph, he looks pretty but why is he so rude?
My morning was so joyful until now, then this jerk suddenly appears out of nowhere...