The final bell rang, echoing through the quiet village. Lin Mei packed her books carefully, careful not to draw attention to her daydreaming.
The path back home was lined with golden corn stalks swaying in the gentle wind. The late afternoon sunlight cast long shadows on the dirt road. Her mind wandered back to the mysterious planting space-and the faint warmth still lingering on her wrist.When she reached the small courtyard of her home, the familiar smell of steamed buns and burning firewood greeted her. Her father was in the yard, repairing a broken plow, while her mother swept the steps of the house.
"Lin Mei! Did you study hard today?" her mother called.
"Yes, Mother," Lin Mei replied, bowing slightly.
Her home was modest but warm. Her father, though tired from working the fields all day, always had a smile for his daughter. Her mother's hands were rough from spinning cotton and mending clothes, yet her eyes shone with gentle pride.Lin Mei glanced at the empty chairs at the other side of the table. Her grandmother and grandfather lived with her English uncle, who had returned to Qinghe Village many years ago and insisted they stay with him for better care. It had been strange at first, but Lin Mei knew they were safe and well-fed.
She thought of her two aunts. One lived in a small country town, running a teahouse, and the other in the next village, tending to her own family and fields. Visits were rare, but letters arrived often, filled with gossip, advice, and the occasional teasing remark about Lin Mei's stubborn curiosity.Lin Mei put down her bag and wiped her hands on her faded blouse. The bracelet under her sleeve tingled faintly.
"Not now," she whispered to herself with a giggle. "You wait until dinner."
Her curiosity, however, was impossible to contain. She thought of the planting space again: the endless green fields, the clear streams, and the mysterious voice calling her "Master."
Her father called her to help with fetching water, and she hurried to do so, careful not to spill the wooden bucket. As she walked, she glanced toward the corner of the yard where she usually tended a few small vegetables. Nothing happened-yet. But she could feel the bracelet pulsing softly, as if waiting for the right moment.
Lin Mei smiled to herself. Life in the village seemed simple, predictable... and yet, she knew deep down that her ordinary days were about to become extraordinary.
The sun dipped lower in the sky, painting the walls of her home in shades of amber. Lin Mei returned to the house, carrying the water bucket, and thought, Maybe tonight I'll try the planting space again... just a little peek.
She couldn't know what mysteries-or adventures-awaited her once the sun set.