Chapter 1: The Calm Before the Storm
Little feet could be seen running across the dirt path that wound through the village, kicking up dust with every swift step. The wind blew gently through the trees, the sun casting its warm glow on the small, peaceful community. Xu Mingyan, the young boy, felt the excitement of another errand to run. His face was flushed as he darted between the houses, his laughter echoing in the air. He was on another task, helping out the elderly women in the village, just like every other day.
"Do not forget to give your mother this!" shouted Mrs. Lee from her doorstep, waving a small bundle in her hands. "And do not forget to come and help me on the farm!"
"I will not, Mrs. Lee!" Xu Mingyan shouted back, waving enthusiastically before running off.
It was another peaceful day in the village. The simple rhythm of life carried on, with the children running errands, the elders tending to their chores, and the air filled with the sounds of laughter and conversation. Xu Mingyan felt free, filled with the joy of being a child, with no cares beyond the tasks of the day.
As he ran back toward his home, the familiar sight of the little hut came into view. He pushed open the door, a smile on his face as he shouted, "Mother! I'm home!"
His mother, a kind and gentle woman with soft eyes, looked up from the hearth where she was preparing dinner. "Good, now go wash your face and hands so we can eat. What about your father?"
Xu Mingyan's smile faltered just a bit. "I'll go get him, don't worry."
He rushed outside, his small feet pounding against the earth. "Dad! Mama says it's time to eat!" Xu Mingyan shouted, hoping to catch his father's attention.
His father, a tall, broad-shouldered man with a calm and steady demeanor, looked up from where he was working outside. He raised a hand, signaling for Xu Mingyan to wait a moment. He was busy fixing something at the side of the house, sweat beading on his forehead as he worked diligently.
Xu Mingyan, being mischievous as ever, couldn't resist teasing. "Mama dad says he is not going to eat, that he don't like her food!" he called out loudly, a grin on his face as he watched his father pause.
Immediately, his father stood up, his face turning to a mix of mock outrage and amusement. "You little rascal," he said with a chuckle. "I didn't mean that! I was just busy with my work, not refusing your mother's cooking."
Xu Mingyan smiled widely, enjoying the playful back-and-forth. "See? I told you mama would get mad!"
At that moment, his mother's voice rang out from inside the house, teasing as well. "You're not going to eat, huh? I'm sure you're eating somewhere else, are you?"
Xu Mingyan's father, acting as if he had been caught, placed his hands on his hips and turned toward the house. "Hah, I swear, I didn't say that! I'll go eat her food now before she gets angry!"
With that, Xu Mingyan's father walked into the house, shaking his head with a fond smile at his wife, who was standing near the hearth, an amused glint in her eyes.
Xu Mingyan, chuckling, rushed inside and washed his hands and face, excited for the meal. His father entered shortly after, still laughing from their playful argument. The family settled down at the table, and the teasing continued, as usual, with Xu Mingyan's mother lovingly scolding his father for not admitting when he was wrong, and his father playfully pretending to be offended. It was all a part of their routine—laughter and love filling the small house.
As they sat down to enjoy the meal, Xu Mingyan couldn't help but notice how perfect everything felt. The food was warm, the house filled with the smell of rice and vegetables, and the family was whole. His father's strong presence beside him, his mother's gentle smile, the comfortable silence that filled the room—it was everything he had ever known.
But the peacefulness was fleeting.
Suddenly, the house began to tremble. The ground beneath them shook violently, the walls rattling as if they were going to collapse. Xu Mingyan's heart skipped a beat as the table beneath them jolted, shaking fiercely. He clutched the edge of the table, eyes wide with fear.
"Mama! Papa!" Xu Mingyan cried out, his voice trembling as the vibrations continued. It was as though the very earth had come alive, thrashing and shaking beneath them.
"Quick! Get under the bed!" his father shouted, his voice filled with urgency. Without question, Xu Mingyan's mother grabbed him and pulled him down, her arms wrapped tightly around him as she ushered him to safety.
They crouched under the bed, the sounds of the trembling earth reverberating in their ears. Xu Mingyan's breathing was fast and shallow, his small chest rising and falling with each breath. His mother held him close, whispering comforting words into his ear, but Xu Mingyan could feel the fear in her voice. Even his father, usually so calm and steady, was tense.
It was only a moment, but to Xu Mingyan, it felt like an eternity.
And then, as quickly as it had started, everything stopped. The shaking ceased, and the village was silent once more, save for the distant sounds of birds chirping. The air felt heavy with the aftermath of the tremors, but the world outside seemed to be settling once again.
His father gently pulled him out from under the bed, his face pale but determined. "It's not an earthquake," he said, though his voice was thick with confusion. "Something else is happening."
They rushed outside, with Xu Mingyan trailing closely behind them. As they stepped out into the open, the sight that greeted them was unlike anything Xu Mingyan had ever seen.
Dozens of soldiers, mounted on horses, had appeared at the village's edge. Their armor glinted in the fading sunlight, their weapons held at the ready as they lined up in front of the small village. The rhythmic sound of hooves striking the ground echoed through the air, a stark contrast to the peaceful village they had known.
Xu Mingyan's mother immediately moved to shield him, stepping between him and the soldiers, her face a mask of worry. She glanced nervously at Xu Mingyan's father, who stood tall, his posture tense. Without a word, his father moved toward the soldiers, his voice low but firm.