The morning mist hadn't completely dissipated, but a dense crowd had already gathered under the crooked old locust tree at the entrance of Liuxi Village. The roosters had fallen silent, the dogs had stopped barking, and even the sound of the flowing stream seemed to have softened. Familiar, weathered faces were etched with deep reluctance to part.
Xiao Chengkang and A Yuan stood in the middle of the crowd, carrying simple bags. Besides a few changes of clothes and Xiao Chengkang's treasured medicine box, the bags were filled with things the villagers had secretly slipped in over the past few days—a few clean pieces of white rice cake, a small packet of dried wild mushrooms, a few boiled eggs, and even a few pieces of malt candy that the children had secretly given them. At this moment, these things weighed heavily on A Yuan's shoulders, and even more so on her heart.
"Young Master Kang, Miss A Yuan, are you really leaving?" Uncle Zhang leaned on his cane, his cloudy old eyes glistening with tears. "Why don't you stay a few more days? Look at the weather, it might rain again!"
"Yes, yes! Miss Yuan's injury hasn't fully healed yet, has it? Let her rest a little longer!" Aunt Wang squeezed forward, carrying a heavy basket filled with dew-kissed greens and a small jar of homemade pickled vegetables. "Take these with you! Eat them on the road! They're not worth much!"
Old Man Li, whose legs were weak, was helped by his son and tremblingly handed over a small cloth bag: "Young Master Kang, this is... this is the money you left after you treated my leg sores last time... I can't accept your money! Take it with you on your way!" Inside the bag were a few polished copper coins.
"Young Master Kang, Miss A Yuan, take this!" Uncle Zhao, holding a string of dried cured meat strung on straw rope, tried to stuff it into Xiao Chengkang's hand without saying a word.
"Fellow villagers!" Xiao Chengkang's voice was clear and resonant, carrying a gentle yet undeniable strength. He cupped his hands, looked around, and bowed deeply. "I am deeply grateful for your kindness! But I absolutely cannot accept these things!"
He straightened up, his gaze sweeping over the earnest faces, and said sincerely, "Life in Willow Creek Village is hard for everyone. Every bowl of porridge, every meal, every vegetable, every piece of meat is the result of hard work. Kang Kang and A Yuan have been bothering us for so many days, we already feel unworthy of their kindness, how could we take away our livelihoods? We appreciate these tokens of our appreciation," he pointed to the noticeably bulging bundle on A Yuan's shoulder, "but please be sure to take these things back."
He walked up to Aunt Wang and gently pushed the heavy basket back into her arms: "Auntie, the vegetables are fresh and tender. You can keep them to cook for the children."
He then turned to Old Man Li, carefully placing the small coarse cloth bag containing copper coins back into the old man's rough palm, and tucking his fingers together: "Uncle Li, the money for the medicine is rightfully yours. You've given me the herbs you collected, and besides, you're just getting better, so you can keep it to buy some meat to nourish yourself."
Finally, he refused the cured meat that Uncle Zhao offered, saying, "Uncle Zhao, hunting is hard work for you, keep it for your own enjoyment."
His movements were unhurried, yet carried an undeniable persistence and sincerity. The villagers, looking at the gentle yet resolute expression on his handsome face, and then at the gifts in their hands—gifts that might seem insignificant to city dwellers but were incredibly precious to them—fell silent for a moment.
Aunt Wang's eyes reddened, and Uncle Zhang wiped his eyes with his sleeve.
A-Yuan stood half a step behind Xiao Chengkang, watching his tall figure and how he gently yet firmly rejected every heavy expression of affection. An indescribable warmth and bittersweet feeling welled up in her heart. Silently, she untied the bundle from her shoulder, took out the food items filled with heartfelt sentiments, and gently placed them back into the hands of the nearest villager.
"Dear uncles and aunts," A-Yuan's voice was not loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly, "Young Master is right. We appreciate everyone's kindness. Please take these things back with you. We will come back to see you all when we have more free time."
Finally, amidst the villagers' reluctant gazes and repeated words of advice, Xiao Chengkang and Ayuan embarked on their journey south along the village road. Behind them, the outline of Liuxi Village gradually blurred, and the lingering crowds remained.
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