Chen Wei and Ming Hao became friends in the most unexpected way.
Ming Hao was the son of a wandering merchant who had settled in Xialong years ago, a decision that surprised many in the village. Unlike the reserved, tradition-bound families of Xialong, Ming Hao's family had brought with them stories of faraway lands, vibrant trinkets, and a touch of the unfamiliar that both intrigued and unsettled the villagers.
Ming Hao, with his quick wit and easy smile, had always been an outsider—too clever for his own good, some said, and too bold in speaking his mind. He was a stark contrast to Chen Wei, who, even as a child, was composed and serious, the dependable boy everyone in the village looked up to.
Their paths first crossed during one of the village's autumn harvests. Ming Hao, barely ten at the time, had been caught sneaking into the storage shed behind the market square. Chen Wei, tasked with overseeing the produce as part of his family duties, found him crouched over a pile of rice sacks.
"What are you doing here?" Chen Wei had demanded, his voice firm but curious.
Ming Hao had grinned sheepishly, holding up a broken jar of honey. "I was trying to fix this. My little sister dropped it, and I thought maybe I could find something to seal it with."
Chen Wei had been skeptical at first, but something about Ming Hao's earnestness stopped him from calling the village elder. Instead, he had offered to help, surprising even himself.
"I'll get you another jar," Chen Wei had said, disappearing into the storeroom and returning with one in hand.
Ming Hao's eyes had widened in disbelief. "You'd do that for me? Aren't you supposed to be the perfect son who never bends the rules?"
Chen Wei had shrugged, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Sometimes rules are meant to be bent."
From that moment, an unlikely camaraderie had formed between them. Ming Hao, with his endless curiosity and knack for finding trouble, brought a sense of adventure to Chen Wei's otherwise structured life. In return, Chen Wei's calm demeanor and natural leadership grounded Ming Hao, steering him away from the worst of his impulsive tendencies.
Over the years, their friendship deepened. They often met under the willow tree to share their dreams—Chen Wei spoke of duty and responsibility, while Ming Hao painted vivid pictures of the places he wished to explore beyond Xialong.
"Ming Hao," Chen Wei had once said with a chuckle after one of his friend's more outrageous tales, "you're going to get yourself into trouble one day."
"And you'll be right there to pull me out," Ming Hao had replied with a grin.