Clean the yard and tidy up the decoration in the room.
Luo Chuan carried the wooden bucket to the stream again, drew water with his own hands, and wiped the tables, chairs and window lattice in the house.
The cool water of the stream soaked his fingertips, and the simple touch of earthly fireworks penetrated into the depths of his soul.
By the time the small courtyard was tidy and brand new, the sun was already setting in the west, and the sky was full of sunset that dyed the mountains and forests behind it red.
Luo Chuan brought an old bamboo chair and sat quietly in the courtyard.
The evening breeze blows slowly, falling flowers are fluttering in the air, the streams are tinkling and flowing, and smoke gradually rises from the villages in the distance, mixed with the faint sounds of children playing and farmers returning home.
In the days that followed, Luo Chuan completely integrated into Falling Flower Village's ordinary life.
Every day when the sky was just getting light and the mist was hazy in the mountains, he would get up, open the courtyard door, and take a slow walk along the clear stream.
Watch the morning dew condense on the grass blades, listen to the chirping of tits in the forest, watch the morning sun break through the sea of clouds and spread over the mountains and fields.
During the day, you can either sit quietly in the courtyard, sip tea and watch flowers, or stroll in the fields and quietly watch the villagers working.
The villagers are simple and honest. Seeing that he has lived alone in the back hill all year round and has a gentle temperament, no one knows his origins. They only think that he is a down-and-out scholar who lives in seclusion.
Luo Chuan would often help out when he had nothing to do. Seeing the old farmer struggling to carry the load, he would silently step forward to share the load.
When he sees a child accidentally falling down and crying, Luo Chuan will step forward and softly comfort him; if a fence is damaged or a field bank collapses, he will take advantage of his free time to repair it with his own hands.
He never uses any extraordinary strength, only uses the ordinary strength of his body to do trivial things within his ability.
Over time, the entire Falling Flower Village villagers became particularly fond of this gentle young man who lived alone in the back hill.
From time to time, village women would steam new rice cakes and cook multigrain porridge, and children would pick wild fruits and flowers from the mountains. They would carefully deliver them to the door of the backyard, put down the food, and then run away with a smile, never disturbing his purity.
Luo Chuan Whenever he accepts the kindness of the villagers, he will slightly nod his head to say thank you and savor these ordinary mundane delicacies.
There are no killings by the gods, no disputes over the great avenues, no deductions of martial arts, and no competition among the stars.
Being a mortal for a hundred years means waking up at sunrise and resting at sunset, watching flowers bloom and fall, watching clouds rolling and relaxing, and appreciating the triviality, tenderness and stability of mortal life.
Every evening breeze blows on his face, every wisp of smoke drifts, and every whisper of human fireworks turns into the tiniest Daoist rhyme and quietly blends into his soul.
The days are as plain as water, and the years flow slowly. Luo Chuan's Daoist heart becomes more and more clear and transparent in the mundane fireworks day after day.
The spring breeze was warm and the mountain flowers were blooming. He walked slowly deep into the back mountain alone, hoping to take advantage of the tranquility of the mountains and forests to regain some of the charm of the ordinary world.
Walking to the depths of the dense forest, where there were thick vegetation, Luo Chuan's eyes paused for a moment, and he saw a thin child curled up under the mottled tree shadows.
The child looked about three or four years old. His body was covered in dirt and grass clippings, his clothes were in tatters, his hair was messy and knotted, and his face was so dirty that his original appearance could not be seen clearly.
The silent child was lowering his head, chewing hard on the sour wild grass roots, and devouring them, as if he had been accustomed to eating them for a long time.
Sensing the sound of footsteps behind him, the child's body tensed up instantly and he raised his head suddenly, his dark eyes filled with extreme vigilance and cowardice.
The child subconsciously shrank back, arched his small body, bared his teeth at Luo Chuan who was slowly approaching, and let out a low and childish whine in his throat.
Like a little untamed beast struggling to survive, it tried its best to assume a threatening posture and protect its only food.
Luo Chuan stopped slightly, his expression was gentle, and he didn't mean to force him in the slightest.
He looked at this little figure struggling to survive in the barren mountains, and his heart moved slightly. He slowly raised his hand and took out a few crystal-clear and sweet fruit gummies from his sleeve.
The candy was translucent in color and looked particularly beautiful in the dim light of the forest. It was a snack given by the villagers on weekdays, but he had never eaten it.
Luo Chuan lowered his voice and spoke softly. His tone was so gentle that it could melt the spring breeze in the mountains. "Don't be afraid, I won't hurt you. Come back with me."
The child stared blankly at the exquisite candy he had never seen before in his palm. His original guarded posture relaxed slightly, and his eyes were full of confusion and curiosity.
After hesitating for a moment, he cautiously and tentatively walked forward slowly, stretched out his small black hands, picked up a candy, awkwardly peeled off the wrapper, and put the sweetness into his mouth.
In an instant, the sweet and soft taste melted in the mouth, dispelling the sourness of eating grass roots and wild fruits all year round.
The child's dark pupils suddenly lit up, and his eyes instantly burst into unprecedented brilliance, and his ignorant face was full of surprise.
This was the first time in his life that he tasted such a sweet taste.
All vigilance and precautions disappeared in an instant. He raised his dirty little face and stared at the gentle and smiling Luo Chuan. He silently moved his steps and followed him obediently.
Seeing this, Luo Chuan raised a faint smile on his lips, turned around and took the child slowly down the mountain, back to Falling Flower Village.
All the way to the village, all the villagers working on the road saw the little wild child following Luo Chuan, and they all stopped their work and looked surprised.
Several elderly villagers came forward quickly and whispered warnings with worried expressions.
"Master Luo, why did you bring this wild boy back?"
"This child was cruelly abandoned by his family in the mountains six months ago. He has no father or mother, and is extremely wild. He lived alone in the dense forests of the back mountains for several months. He did not get close to anyone and did not understand human affairs."
"The people in the village have tried to help him, but he is always wary of strangers and no one can get close to him. You'd better stay out of other people's business to avoid causing trouble in the future."
Everyone gave their advice in good faith, knowing full well that this lonely child was reclusive and untamed, and no one could take him in.
Luo Chuan lowered his head and glanced at the little figure who was following closely behind him, timidly clutching the corner of his clothes. His eyes were gentle but firm, and he spoke slowly.
"It doesn't matter."
"From now on, he will live with me."
"From now on, I will take care of him."
Luo Chuan's words were soft, but with an unchangeable determination. After all, this child might be able to bring a different feeling to him this time.
The spring breeze blew through the village, falling flowers were flying, and the lonely and helpless little wild boy finally found his own destination in this mortal world.
And Luo Chuan also gave him a name, Luo Nian'an, which means peace of mind and peace every year.
Two months passed in a blink of an eye. Luo Chuan also regarded Luo Nian'an as his own son and personally taught him how to read and write. He was no longer as rough and savage as he was before.
"Dad, why do I have to study every day? It's so boring... I want to hang out with Da Niu at the entrance of the village. They have a lot of delicious food."
Luo Nian'an, who was wearing commoner clothes, pursed his lips, held the bowls and chopsticks in front of him and said, "And dad, they all said that I am not your son..."