frightfiction Chapter 6 Please give us a home!
Chapter 6 Please give us a home!
The remnant soul Xueyang asked Lin Yue, "Do you still remember the spells I taught you before?"
Lin Yue said, "I remember, I was practicing too. This time I mastered the Qi, and then you had me concentrate my mind and cultivate my spirit to strengthen my mental power."
Lin Yue frowned and thought for a moment, then said, "What else? I've been thinking, practice writing 'Fu Lu' (福禄, meaning good fortune and prosperity) with a single breath." I'm not good at this; I can't keep the breath continuous, and I haven't drawn a single "Fu Lu"!
The remnant soul Xueyang said, "Also, you're supposed to practice the techniques I asked you to practice every day. Have you done all of that?"
Lin Yue quickly nodded and replied, "I've done it all."
The remnant soul Xueyang said with satisfaction, "It is precisely because you completed these cultivation exercises as required that your perception and spiritual power have been greatly enhanced, so you can now see the little willow tree spirit and understand its words. This is a sign that your cultivation has been effective."
Lin Yue suddenly realized and said, "Oh, I see. So what should I do next?"
After pondering for a moment, the remnant soul Xueyang said, "Continue to maintain this training rhythm, but be more careful and cautious, and don't let others discover your special ability."
~~~Cute dividing line~~~~
The little mouse spirit and the little willow tree spirit stood in the cold wind for a long time before returning to the gray mouse spirit's house. The little willow tree spirit said, "Brother Gray Mouse, it's late, and I have to go back to my willow grove. If, and I mean if, your house really can't be saved, considering we're still too young, you really can move your home to under my willow stump. Although my willow stump is almost half-dead, there's empty space underneath. You can move there, and that way we can be together every day. I can help heal your wounds, and you can keep me company."
The little willow tree spirit's voice was full of sincerity and expectation, and its tender green willow leaves trembled slightly, as if it too was worried about the gray rat spirit's situation.
The little gray mouse spirit was so touched that its eyes reddened. It gently patted the willow branch of the little willow tree spirit with its little paw and said, "Little Willow, thank you. You always think of me so much. But I don't want to leave my home unless absolutely necessary."
The little willow tree spirit nodded understandingly and said, "Alright then, Brother Gray Mouse, I hope your home will be safe and sound. I'm off now, see you tomorrow." With that, it turned and walked towards the willow grove.
The little gray mouse spirit watched the little willow tree spirit's departing figure, its heart filled with warmth and gratitude.
A week later, the rumbling of excavators echoed from the construction site. The little mouse's house was crumbling, with dirt falling everywhere; half of it had collapsed. The little mouse peeked out from beside the sewer, watching helplessly as its house was torn to shreds. It struggled with all its might, managing to salvage only a few of its most precious possessions.
The little willow tree spirit ran quickly towards the little mouse spirit. It had heard the loud rumbling sound near the willow grove and was filled with worry, thinking that all its willow trees would be destroyed. But when it arrived at the little gray mouse's home, it saw the gray mouse brother carrying a small bundle on his back, holding a branch, and crying incessantly.
The little willow tree spirit looked at the little gray mouse with heartache, its branches swaying gently as if comforting its companion. The little gray mouse sobbed, "My home... it's gone just like that." The little willow tree spirit quickly said, "Brother Gray Mouse, don't be too sad. Come with me to my willow grove." The little gray mouse wiped away its tears, nodded, and followed the little willow tree spirit away from this place that had caused it so much sorrow.
Throughout the journey, their hearts were heavy, unsure of what the future held for them.
It was another sunny weekend. Lin Yueyue got up early and started preparing breakfast, making cold noodles, as well as a lot of wontons and dumplings that could be eaten outdoors. They were all pre-cooked and could be eaten simply by boiling them in water. She also made a delicious cold beef salad, prepared some biscuits and bread, and packed all her camping gear.
Gong Yong carried Xiao Bao, while Da Bao and Er Bao held their favorite kites, and Lin Yue towed the campervan. The family happily headed towards the spot where they had sunbathed together the previous weekend.
On the way, Gong Yong said, "You carry Xiao Bao, this thing is heavy, I'll pull it." Lin Yue smiled and replied, "It's not heavy, you carry Xiao Bao. You work all day, and Xiao Bao is a boy after all. He needs to spend more time with his father so that his personality can develop well. Little boys need their fathers to take care of them more. You work all day and only occasionally get to spend time with him. It's a rare free weekend, so I'll leave Xiao Bao with you today. I'll spend time with my two daughters."
Gong Yong nodded, hugged the baby tightly, and smiled happily. The family walked along, chatting and laughing, the warm sunlight shining on them, creating a heartwarming and beautiful scene.
They arrived at the grassy area next to the small bridge. Lin Yue then took out her camping gear, and together with Gong Yong, they set up a sunshade, essentially a canopy. Next, they took out everything and boiled a kettle of water.
The children were running and flying kites happily on the lawn. Little Bao followed his two older sisters, shouting, "I want to fly one too! I want to fly one too!" Dad took the smallest kite and patiently taught Little Bao. "Little Bao, run faster! Run forward! It's almost flying! It's almost flying! Go, go!" Dad's encouraging voice echoed across the lawn.
Lin Yue took out lemons, rock sugar, and chrysanthemums and brewed a pot of lemon-chrysanthemum tea. Then she took out the children's water cups and put them away, and also took two sweat towels, worried that the children would sweat from running around. After that, she sat in the sun playing on her phone, occasionally glancing up at the children playing, a satisfied and gratified smile on her face.
Sunlight streamed onto the lawn, a gentle breeze carried the sweet fragrance of flowers and grass. The children's laughter blended seamlessly with the tranquil beauty of nature, creating a vibrant and heartwarming scene.
Lin Yue was engrossed in using Douyin (TikTok), laughing heartily at a joke. Suddenly, she felt something tapping her shoulder. Turning around, she saw...
"Hey, little willow tree spirit, is that you?" Lin Yue said with a smile. The little willow tree spirit replied, "Hello, little baby's mother."
Lin Yue quickly sensed that the little willow tree spirit seemed unhappy.
The new mother, Lin Yue, asked him, "What's wrong? Can you come over today?"
The little willow tree spirit said, "Yes, I can go anywhere within a three-kilometer radius, but beyond three kilometers, there must be a willow tree for me to go."
Lin Yue asked curiously, "Can't we go if there are no willow trees?"
The little willow tree spirit replied, "Yes."
Lin Yue asked with concern, "What's wrong with you today? Are you unhappy? Who upset you?"
The little willow tree spirit said sadly, "The humans dug up Brother Gray Mouse's house. Brother Gray Mouse has no home anymore, so he has moved into my house and lives with me. But Brother Gray Mouse is so sad."
The little willow tree climbed onto the camping table, sat down, and tapped the table with a twig—or rather, a finger—and a few leaves.
"Mommy, Mommy, we want a home. Before, I lived in a very, very big mountain. I grew to be very, very big, and I could only see animals around me, many large animals. But one day, humans passed by me, circled me a few times, and said, 'This tree is growing so well.' Then, not long after, I was dug up. A big truck dug me up, sawed off my top, and I became a stake. They took me to the city and planted me in the park across the bridge. Then, the riverbank in the park was filled with many small willow trees, but they were just willow trees, not spirits. I, on the other hand, absorbed the essence of the sun and moon in that mountain, and I finally became a spirit. Because they cut off my branches and leaves, my vitality was greatly damaged, so I became very, very small. Now, Brother Gray Mouse is like me; his home was destroyed by humans, and so was mine. My cultivation has decreased a lot, and I can no longer help the small animals around me. Now my ability can only help very, very small animals heal. Brother Gray Mouse is so sad now."
Lin Yue listened to the little willow tree spirit's lament, her heart filled with sympathy and guilt. She gently stroked the little willow tree spirit's branches and said, "Little willow tree spirit, don't be too sad. Maybe we can think of a way together to find you and Brother Gray Rat a safe and stable home again."
The little willow tree spirit raised her head, a glimmer of hope in her eyes: "Really, dear mother? Can you really help us?"
Lin Yue nodded firmly: "As long as we work together, there will always be a way."
Just then, the older gray mouse emerged from the nearby bushes, its little eyes still filled with tears: "I don't want to lose my home again, I'm so scared."
Lin Yue lifted her brother Gray Rat onto the table and comforted him, "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, we'll get through this together."
The sunlight shone on them, as if bringing a warm expectation for their future.
From a distance, Gong Yong turned his head and saw his wife seemingly talking to herself, patting something with her hands. He was busy taking care of the children, and Xiao Bao was calling out, "Daddy, hurry up and follow me!" Then he turned back and saw Lin Yue continuing to talk. He didn't pay attention and went to take care of the three children.
Hearing the little willow tree spirit's account of his journey from the mountains to the city, Lin Yue imagined the devastation humans had inflicted on nature for their own benefit—it was truly astounding. Some people spend their entire lives planting trees, even in the desert, while others desperately seek to gain economic benefits from nature. Even grass cries, trees cry, animals cry; all things have a spirit.
Lin Yue couldn't help but sigh, "Little willow tree spirit, you're right. Humans should respect and protect nature more, instead of wantonly destroying it."
The little willow tree spirit swayed its branches, as if in agreement: "Yes, dear mother, how wonderful it would be if everyone could love and care for us."
After a moment of contemplation, Lin Yue said, "I will do whatever I can, even if it's just a little bit, to contribute to protecting your home."
After returning from the park, Lin Yue took her child to the local government office the next day before school to inquire whether the park was slated for demolition. A government official replied, "The park itself won't be demolished. Only the land next to the park is for housing construction and has already been sold. The park area itself won't be affected for now. However, we don't know what will happen in the future due to urban planning, as that area is a semi-rural area. The government might acquire the land in a few years, which would involve demolition issues. That area is relatively open, with few large buildings and still inhabited by farmers, making it suitable for urban reforms."
Lin Yue said, "When we bought the house, we considered that there was a park nearby, which was relatively quiet, and we didn't want the park to be changed."
A government official responded, "Of course, nobody wants to be changed, but if the country has a need, we will definitely meet the country's needs."
Lin Yue felt somewhat disappointed upon receiving this reply, but she also understood that the country's development and planning involved a broader perspective. Holding her baby, she walked thoughtfully out of the government building.
Lin Yue, carrying her baby, hailed a Didi ride and arrived at the willow tree spirit's dwelling area. Just as she crossed the small bridge and reached the riverside near the willow trees, the little willow tree spirit popped out from a corner: "Baby Mommy, you're here again! Can you tell us some new news?"
Lin Yue said, "I just went to the government gate and asked, and they said there won't be any changes here for the time being. You can rest assured and stay here."
The little willow tree spirit said, "If, if one day, someone digs up my tree stump, could you, Little Bao's mother, help me find a place to replant it? Can I come with you?"
At this moment, the little mouse spirit also ran out and jumped out, saying, "Hello, baby mother. I have lived for many, many years. But I haven't had intelligence for very long. It was suppressed before, and my intelligence only developed in recent years. I have never harmed humans."
The little willow tree spirit replied enthusiastically, "Even though I was in the mountains, I didn't hurt them when they first dug me up. But when I was very angry, I whipped a few humans with willow branches because I had just gained sentience and didn't understand why they dug me up, why they pruned me, or whether we could live with you forever."
"But what? But what?" the little willow tree spirit and the mouse spirit asked eagerly.
The little willow tree spirit said, "We have lived for many, many years, and only you can hear our voices and see us. We have been in the mountains for a long time, and humans could neither hear our voices nor see us. But you humans have such short lifespans, such short lives."
Listening to their words, Lin Yue was filled with emotion and pity. She gently said, "Don't worry, as long as I'm here, I will do my best to protect you and stay with you." Xiao Bao, nestled in Lin Yue's arms, opened its big, innocent eyes, seemingly also experiencing the wonder of this moment.