Young eagles leave the nest
The wooden cabins on the mountaintop seemed to have been fast-forwarded.
As dawn breaks, the courtyard awakens.
The black ball, fitted with a plow, chugs and puffs as it moves forward with all its might.
Occasionally, they would stop and contentedly lick a few mouthfuls of honey.
The soft rustling sound of the plowshare breaking through the fertile soil.
The shouts and reading voices of children practicing their skills.
And the concerto of pots and pans in the kitchen.
They intertwine to form a vibrant morning melody in the mountains.
Shen Yan changed into the same coarse cloth shorts as Ling Zhan.
Although the styles are similar, his upright posture makes him appear more neat and tidy.
He was no longer a bystander, but truly immersed in the torrent of spring plowing.
Following behind Ling Zhan, I learned from her how to hold the plow and sow seeds.
Those hands that are diligently maintained.
Holding the rough plow handle felt somewhat clumsy, and calluses quickly formed on my palms.
Sweat mixed with dirt soaked his clothes.
But his eyes shone with a light he had never shown before—
That was the sense of security that came from creating something together with her, a connection to the earth.
Ling Zhan remains the core of the entire operation.
Her movements were precise and her efficiency was exceptionally high.
It seems as if they were born knowing how to dance with the rhythm of the earth.
Chen Yan occasionally clumsily trampled the newly raked furrows.
Or perhaps the seeds were sown at varying depths.
She merely glanced at it indifferently and corrected it with the simplest instructions.
"Move half a foot to the left," "Keep your hand steady, don't shake."
There was no blame, not even much emotion, yet it inexplicably made Shen Yan feel at ease.
He looked at her temples, which were damp with sweat.
Looking at her focused and powerful profile.
Looking at her cheeks, slightly flushed from working...
A feeling mixed with satisfaction, appreciation, and a deeper longing quietly fermented in the lake of my heart.
Night fell once again over the mountaintop, and the rising steam from the hot springs washed away all the fatigue.
Chen Yan leaned against the warm pool wall.
Looking at Ling Zhan beside her, who was only wearing a thin undergarment and resting with his eyes closed.
The moisture moisturized her skin, making it crystal clear.
The lines that are usually sharp are softened by the hazy effect.
Her long eyelashes drooped, casting a faint shadow on the water's surface.
It was as tranquil as a water lily under the moon.
Chen Yan's heart started racing uncontrollably.
He instinctively pressed his hand to his rapidly beating heart.
Suddenly, I realized that I am now twenty-four, and Ling Zhan is twenty-two.
They have been married for three years.
Although they were "older" men and women forcibly matched by the government.
But these three years of weathering storms together, sharing life and death, especially these days of peaceful companionship on the mountaintop.
They had already formed a deep bond in his heart.
It's time to consummate the marriage!
This thought was like a bubble rising from the bottom of a hot spring.
It bubbled up, carrying a scorching heat.
“Ah Zhan…”
He cleared his throat.
His voice was hoarse from being immersed in the hot spring and carried a hint of barely perceptible tension.
"Look how beautiful the moon is tonight, and the spring water is warm too... We..."
He carefully considered his words, trying to find a reason that wouldn't be too abrupt.
Ling Zhan slowly opened his eyes.
Those clear, cool eyes, reflecting the moonlight and water vapor, looked at him calmly and without wavering.
They seem to be waiting for his next words.
Shen Yan felt a tightness in his heart as she looked at him.
If you're prepared, you'll freeze instantly.
Her gaze made it seem as if he were merely discussing tomorrow's weather or the rice seedlings in the field.
"Uh... I mean..."
The lingering romantic thoughts in Shen Yan's heart were instantly extinguished.
All that's left is the familiar feeling of helplessness and frustration.
He habitually unleashed his "nagging technique".
He tried to hide his embarrassment and also tried to elicit even the slightest different reaction from her.
"...I finally managed to harrow that ridge today, and Little Bull said I've made great progress! The irrigation method in 'The Exploitation of the Works of Nature' that the Taoist priest talked about this afternoon was really interesting. Could we perhaps improve our water supply system in the back mountain? Oh, and Suihe recognized several herbs I'd never seen before today. She said..."
He rambled on about the trivial things that had happened during the day.
Her speech quickened, but her gaze kept drifting towards Ling Zhan.
Ling Zhan simply listened quietly.
Occasionally, when he gets to a crucial point, she will nod very slightly to show that she is listening.
Her expression showed no impatience whatsoever, and even a hint of...
Tolerance that we've become accustomed to.
The nagging sounds seemed to be the mountain breeze, the sound of the spring, an integral part of the mountain night.
This tranquility is almost "infinitely tolerant".
This intensified Shen Yan's sense of humiliation, yet strangely, it also brought a touch of warmth.
At least, she doesn't bother him.
The next morning.
Shen Yan rested briefly by the edge of the field.
Looking at Ling Zhan in the distance, who was helping the children identify herbs, she couldn't help but sigh again.
Xuan Chenzi walked up to him at some point.
He stroked his long beard, his gaze falling on Ling Zhan with a knowing smile.
"Why do you sigh, young master? Are you troubled by your wife's lack of understanding of romance?"
He was disgusted by having his innermost thoughts revealed.
His face flushed red.
Somewhat embarrassed, I looked away.
"You jest, Taoist priest..."
Xuan Chenzi chuckled and lowered his voice.
"Young master, please do not be hasty. The lady's temperament is resolute, like ancient jade in a cold pool, which needs time to be nurtured. However, judging from her words and actions, she is no ordinary person when it comes to you."
Shen Yan's spirits lifted: "Is what you say true, Daoist Master?"
"nature."
Xuan Chenzi's eyes were resolute.
"She allows you to be close, permits you to travel with her, and listens to your rambling without getting annoyed. This is definitely not her usual temperament. If she didn't have something on her mind, with her abilities, she would have kicked this noisy person off the cliff long ago. Young master, think about it carefully, isn't this 'tolerance' the most special thing about her?"
Shen Yan carefully recalled Ling Zhan's seemingly indifferent yet tacitly tolerant actions.
Especially that calm look in his eyes by the hot spring that night...
A secret joy, like a vine, quietly climbed up the wall of my heart.
Yes, her "boundless tolerance".
Perhaps it is her unique way of being gentle?
"Thank you for your guidance, Daoist Master!"
A spark of hope rekindled in Shen Yan's eyes.
Their gazes fell unanimously on Suihe—Da Ya—not far away.
The fifteen-year-old girl had already grown taller.
She sheds her childlike roundness, revealing the delicate features of a young woman.
She was wearing a neat short-sleeved shirt similar to Ling Zhan's, with her trousers rolled up high, and her bare feet were on the wet mud.
They are carefully transplanting a newly discovered rare herb.
Sunlight shone on her focused profile, sweat trickled down her temples, but her eyes shone with an astonishing brightness.
Her hobbies.
From childhood, it was crystal clear: land, crops, herbs.
Ling Zhan is her most admired mentor and role model.
She spent more time with Ling Zhan than with Shen Yan.
Those hands, covered in mud, always nurtured crops that grew exceptionally well.
His talent for identifying herbs even amazed Xuan Chenzi.
However, recently, Chen Yan has keenly noticed this.
It was as if a pebble had been thrown into the calm lake of her daughter's heart.
While she tended the herb garden.
Sometimes he would gaze northwards in a daze, his fingers unconsciously twirling a blade of grass.
When she asked Ling Zhan for advice.
Occasionally, I would casually ask about the climate and soil of the Bison Valley in Northern Xinjiang, and what crops were suitable to grow there.
She was preparing herbal packets for Little Bull and Little Stone.
They would always prepare an extra one, carefully pack it, and entrust it to the Shura Guard to be delivered to the North, for... Tiger and Bean Sprout.
The girl's thoughts, like wildflowers blooming in a mountain stream, shyly yet stubbornly peeked out.
Shen Hong, the boy who stayed in the North and is now one of the important pillars of Buffalo Valley.
Suihe and I are childhood sweethearts who grew up together.
That friendship, under the catalyst of parting, seemed to have quietly changed.
That evening after dinner.
Suihe cleaned up the dishes.
They walked up to Ling Zhan and Shen Yan, who were checking the planting plan for tomorrow under the corridor.
Her little face was tense, with a solemn expression of determination.
"Father, Mother."
Her voice was clear and crisp, but her gaze was firm.
"I want to go to the Wild Buffalo Valley in Northern Xinjiang."
Ling Zhan raised his eyes and calmly looked at his daughter: "Reason?"
“There’s a lot of newly reclaimed land over there, and they need manpower. Bean Sprouts and my older brother are working very hard, but they don’t have as much experience as me in farming and identifying herbs. I can help.”
Suihe spoke clearly and logically, with sound reasoning, displaying her characteristic pragmatism.
Chen You's heart sank suddenly.
He looked into his daughter's eyes and saw the expectation and trepidation that she tried so hard to hide but still revealed. He understood perfectly well what he was doing.
What are the deeper motives behind this "help"?
He seemed to see a young girl's heart, just beginning to sprout, tender yet burning with passion.
He opened his mouth, as if to say something, but the words stuck in his throat.
I was worried that she was too young and naive, and that she would rush into things headlong.
He was also worried that Shen Hong was so focused on the affairs in the valley that he hadn't yet figured things out and was still clueless.
He was even more worried that his daughter's enthusiasm would ultimately be met with disappointment and heartbreak.
But how could he say these words to his daughter's clear and determined eyes?
Should we expose the girl's hidden feelings?
“Suihe, you’re still young…” Shen Yan said carefully, her tone full of worry.
"father!"
Suihe interrupted him, her little face slightly flushed, showing her anxiety and grievance at being misunderstood.
“I know the rules you and Mother set! Before I turn eighteen, I will never talk about marriage! I will keep them in mind!”
She straightened her back, her voice carrying an undeniable seriousness.
“I just want to help my older brother and Douya with their farming! Buffalo Valley is also our home, and they need me more there! Mother always said that farming is a great skill for making a living and sustaining people!”
She glanced at Ling Zhan as she spoke her last sentence.
His eyes held a look of filial piety and a desire for recognition.
Ling Zhan's gaze lingered on his daughter's face for a moment.
Then his gaze swept over Chen Yan's face, which was filled with worry.
She put down her work and nodded.
In short: "Yes."
Ling Zhan's approval was like a final, decisive statement.
Suihe's eyes instantly lit up like stars as she excitedly looked at Shen Yan.
Shen Yan looked into her daughter's eyes and saw the pure light burning for her ideals (and that boy).
Then look at Ling Zhan's calm yet powerful eyes.
All words of dissuasion turned into silent sighs.
My daughter has grown up and has her own path to walk, as well as people and places she wants to protect.
As a father, despite his deep reluctance and worries, he could not break the wings of his fledgling eagle.
"……good."
Chen Yan managed to utter a single word with difficulty, his voice somewhat hoarse.
"But... write back often. Take good care of yourself."
"Thank you, Dad! Thank you, Mom!"
Suihe was overjoyed and nodded vigorously, tears of excitement welling up in her eyes.
On the day of our departure, the mountain breeze was slightly cool.
Ling Feng, the commander of the Asura Guard, came in person.
He stood tall and straight like a pine tree, and was taciturn, yet he gave people a sense of unwavering reliability.
He strapped Suihe's simple luggage to the sturdy mechanical horse.
With red eyes and tears streaming down his face, the little bull stuffed several packets of his treasured seeds into his sister's hands.
Little Stone also took the initiative to hug Suihe, which was quite rare for him.
He whispered, "Sister, it's cold in northern Xinjiang, wear more clothes."
Frostblade White Wolf gently rubbed its nose against Suihe's hand.
Xuan Chenzi gave her a small, protective medicine pouch.
Ling Zhan patted his daughter on the shoulder and said only two words: "Be attentive."
Suihe agreed to everything, and finally looked at Chen Yan.
Shen Yan forced a smile, wanting to say a few more words of advice, but her throat tightened.
All he could do was ruffle his daughter's hair and say, "Go...be safe."
"Father, Mother, take care!"
Suihe mounted her horse and took one last deep look at the wooden house and her family on the mountaintop. Although there was sorrow in her eyes, there was even more determination and anticipation to go far away.
She nodded to Ling Feng.
With a low shout, Ling Feng's mount shot off like an arrow.
The figure carrying the girl quickly disappeared at the end of the winding mountain road, heading towards the distant northern frontier.
The mountaintop suddenly became much quieter.
Shen Yan stared in the direction where her daughter had disappeared, remaining motionless for a long time.
The setting sun cast a long shadow on him, making him appear exceptionally lonely.
It felt like a piece of my heart had been ripped out, leaving me feeling empty and hollow.
Worry, reluctance, and uncertainty about the future of her daughter's budding feelings.
It weighed him down heavily.
Just then, a cool yet strong hand gently covered the back of his clenched fist, which was trembling slightly.
Shen Yan was startled and turned his head in astonishment.
It's Ling Zhan.
She remained expressionless, her gaze not fixed on him, but fixed on the direction her daughter had gone.
It looked as if it had just been casually put together.
But the warmth and undeniable strength emanating from that hand.
But it was like a warm current, instantly piercing through the heavy sense of loss and emptiness in his heart.
"Young eagles must eventually leave the nest."
Ling Zhan's voice was calm and even, yet it clearly reached Shen Yan's ears.
"The path she chose is not bad."
This was one of the few times Ling Zhan had spoken proactively and with a clear sense of comfort.
Shen Yan stared blankly at her cool profile.
Feel the brief yet intensely heavy warmth on the back of my hand.
A bittersweet feeling welled up in my eyes.
Subconsciously, with a barely perceptible force, she grasped Ling Zhan's hand, which he was trying to pull away.
Hold on tightly and don't let go.
This time, Ling Zhan did not immediately withdraw.
The setting sun cast its glow on the two figures standing side by side.
The long shadows were cast onto the black soil, which had just been sown and was brimming with vitality.
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