As they walked back to their home under the early evening sky, their steps were lighter. The possibility of seeing their plants begin to grow provided a tangible reward for their efforts and a hopeful glimpse into the potential of their new role as young farmers in Fangwood Hamlet. Mrs. Lin's parting words not only served as an encouragement but also as a reminder of the little wonders that hard work could bring in even the harshest conditions.
As they made their way home, the twilight casting long shadows around them, Leon's curiosity about their past survival strategies bubbled to the surface. "Mei, what was it like taking care of me at home while also having to handle foraging?" he asked, glancing up at his sister with wide eyes.
Mei chuckled softly, ruffling his hair in a playful gesture. "Oh, you mean when you were the little emperor of mischief?" she teased, her tone light and teasing. "Honestly, keeping you out of trouble was a full-time job all on its own!"
Leon giggled, enjoying the light-hearted ribbing. "Was I really that bad?"
"Worse!" Mei exclaimed with exaggerated shock. "You always found the best times to create chaos—right when I needed to be quiet and sneaky outside." She then mimicked tiptoeing around, her actions causing Leon to laugh out loud.
But then her expression softened, and she switched to a more serious tone. "But really, foraging wasn't just picking berries off bushes. It's tricky and can be really dangerous." She glanced around as if to make sure no curious creatures were eavesdropping.
"Tell me more, Mei. What's out there?" Leon asked, his voice a mix of fear and fascination.
"Well," Mei began, lowering her voice to a whisper, "there are creatures out there... Fast, strong, and not very friendly. I had to be super careful not to be spotted while I collected herbs or plant materials. It's like being in a game of hide and seek, except getting caught means a lot more than just losing a game."
Leon's eyes widened, and he made a swooshing sound, imagining the creatures darting through the woods. "Swoosh! Like that?"
"Exactly, swoosh!" Mei confirmed, smiling at his enthusiasm. "I had to be like a shadow, moving quietly and keeping my eyes peeled for anything useful—and for any danger."
"How do you know what to pick?" Leon's question was filled with genuine curiosity.
"That's the tricky part," Mei replied. "You have to know which plants are good to eat or use for other stuff like medicine. It's a lot of learning on the go, and sometimes you make mistakes." She shrugged, her tone casual but honest.
"Did you ever get scared?" Leon's voice was a mix of awe and concern.
"Every time, little brother. But being scared helps you stay safe—it makes you extra careful," Mei said, her voice steady and reassuring.
As they reached their humble home, the conversation had given Leon a deeper appreciation of his sister's bravery and the challenges she faced to keep them both safe. Mei's tales of her foraging adventures painted a vivid picture of their struggle for survival, blending the harsh realities of their world with the strength and resilience they both possessed.
As they sat down for dinner in the dimly lit room of their modest home, the simple meal before them seemed more comforting following their hard day's work. Leon, his curiosity never fully sated, had another question burning on his mind as he poked at his food. "Mei, what's it like out there, in the big world outside our village?" he asked, his eyes wide with the boundless curiosity of a child.
Mei set down her spoon, her expression thoughtful as she gazed back at her little brother. "I've never been outside our village myself," she started, "but Mom and Dad used to tell stories about it when we were little, remember?" She smiled slightly, her eyes glinting with the magic of nostalgia. "They talked about warriors so strong they could lift boulders as if they were pebbles, and mages who could call down rain from a clear sky or make flowers bloom with a mere whisper."
Leon's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Really? Tell me more!"
"Well," Mei leaned in, lowering her voice as if sharing a great secret, "there was one tale about a warrior who could leap over mountains in a single bound. He was on a quest to find a hidden kingdom said to be suspended in the clouds. Each leap would send shockwaves through the forests, scaring away any beasts lurking nearby."
"And then there was the story of the Wind Whisperer," Mei continued, her hands gesturing to paint the scene in the air between them. "She was a mage with the power to talk to the winds. With her command, she could send powerful gusts to push ships across oceans or gentle breezes to aid the farmers in pollinating their crops."
Leon, thoroughly captivated, urged her on. "What else, Mei? What else did they do?"
Mei chuckled at his enthusiasm. "Oh, there was also the Beast Tamer, who could calm any wild creature with just a look. Tigers, bears, even the great serpents of the northern wilds bowed to his will. He roamed the lands, ensuring that villages like ours were safe from the dangers of the wild."
"Did they ever come here?" Leon asked, momentarily looking around as if expecting a legendary hero to walk through their door.
"Not here, no," Mei answered, smiling gently. "But the tales always made it seem like anything was possible, no matter how far away from the action we were. These stories taught us about courage and kindness more than anything."
Leon nodded, deep in thought, then piped up again with a playful grin. "Imagine if I could jump like that mountain warrior! I'd hop out of bed, over the village, and right into the fields in one go!" He demonstrated with a little jump from his seat, nearly upsetting his dinner.
Mei laughed, her heart lightened by the joy such tales brought to them despite their stark reality. "Maybe start with small jumps, like over puddles, and work your way up to mountains," she teased.
As dinner came to an end, their small room filled with laughter and the warmth of shared stories. These tales, passed down from their parents, served not only as entertainment but as a beacon of hope and a reminder that beyond their small, encircled world of Fangwood Hamlet, there was a vast land brimming with adventure and wonder, waiting to be discovered.
As the night deepened, Leon, exhausted yet content from their day's work and the stories of adventures shared over dinner, fell into a deep sleep. In his dreams, he found himself standing in a vast field that stretched beyond the horizons, an endless expanse of green, vibrant and teeming with life. The sun shone warmly down on him, bathing the land in a golden glow that made the rich, dark soil beneath his feet seem to sparkle with promise.
Around him, the crops swayed gently in a soft breeze, their leaves whispering secrets of growth and abundance. The field was dotted with every kind of plant Leon could imagine, and some he couldn't; vegetables and fruits in such bountiful amounts that the stems bent with the weight of their yield. Here, in this dream, there was no sign of the hard, unyielding soil of Fangwood Hamlet—only fertile earth that was a joy to till.
Beside him walked Mei, her laughter light and carefree as they both harvested the fruits of their labor. They filled baskets with produce, more than they could ever carry, yet the task felt effortless. In this peaceful world, there was no danger lurking from the wilderness, no harsh survival decisions to make—only the joy of farming and the satisfaction of a hard day's work turned fruitful.
Back in the real world, Mei finished her evening chores quietly, making sure everything was set for the next day before she too retired for the night. As she lay down, drifting towards sleep, she noticed Leon's face, relaxed and smiling as he dreamt. A gentle curiosity warmed her heart, wondering what visions danced in her little brother's mind. Seeing him smile like that, even in sleep, brought her an immense sense of peace; it was a stark contrast to the often furrowed brow he carried from the day's worries.
She hoped he was dreaming of something wonderful—perhaps of a world as fertile and kind as the ones in the stories they shared, a place where their efforts were met with generosity from the earth itself. As sleep claimed her, Mei's thoughts lingered on the hope that one day, their waking world might reflect the beauty and peace of Leon's dreams, where they could live without fear, surrounded by the bounty and beauty of a forgiving land. Her last thought before falling asleep was a silent wish that the sweetness of Leon's dreams would one day be their reality.