"The legend I want to tell is related to the nine-flowered bellflower.
Unfortunately, the specific content of this legend has been lost, and all I know is the ending of the legend - which was told to me by my grandma."
The old woman squinted her gray eyes and smiled as she recalled the past. The little boy also put down the straw knitting in his hand and listened to the old man's story wholeheartedly.
In legend, the bellflower with nine "wind chimes" is a symbol of luck. As long as you can find the nine bells, you will get happiness and longevity!
However, since the nine-flowered bluebell cannot be found, people usually use bluebells dried in the sun as a substitute, and weave them into straw windchimes together with the mangul tree fruits to pray for good luck in the year.
."
Fiona's lake-blue eyes widened upon hearing this, and she asked the old woman curiously.
"Old lady, have you ever found a nine-flowered bellflower?"
"The nine-flowered bellflower..."
As if some memories were triggered by Fiona's question, a happy smile appeared on the old woman's face, and her voice couldn't help but become a little hoarse.
"I've been knitting old ladies all my life, but I only saw her once when I was young!"
"Did you know? Little girl, in fact, we were not originally residents of Kallas, but came from a small mountain village dozens of kilometers away.
During an animal tide, our village was destroyed by the animal tide. As a last resort, my husband and I took our three children and came to Kalras.
In order to make a living, my husband chose to become an honorable city guard.
I picked up the straw weaving craft I learned from my grandma again, knitting some small things in my spare time at home, and then taking the finished products to the market to exchange money to support my family.
I had a very hard time during that short period, but it was the happiest time in my young life.
But beautiful things are always fragile. Three years later, during a Warcraft invasion, my husband's throat was torn open by a wind wolf.
As compensation, we received official resident status in Kallas and a residence in the lower town.
Although I lost him, life goes on, and the children still need my care. But at that time, my straw weaving skills were not good, and my daily income was not much, which was not enough for my daily needs.
For a long time, the family could only eat two meals a day, and the eldest daughter had to go out and do some odd jobs to support the family..."
Speaking of this, the old woman couldn't help but sigh.
“One afternoon during the golden moon that year, I braved the scorching sun to gather fodder in the fields outside the city.①
But the originally clear sky turned cloudy within a few minutes. Soon, heavy rain began to fall.
I had no choice but to wear a basket of grass on my head and run towards the hill with bushes, hoping to find shelter from the rain.
But because I was running too fast, I tripped over a stone and fell heavily into the mud. My clothes were covered with mud, the cold rain soaked my whole body, and the grass in the basket spilled all over the floor.
For a moment, I really wanted to lie down on the ground and never get up again——
However, I can't do that. My three daughters are still waiting for me at home.
I gritted my teeth and climbed up, braved the heavy rain, and put the spilled grass back into the basket bit by bit. Fortunately, the heavy rain came and went quickly, and the sun soon emerged from the clouds again.
On the way back, I passed by a big rock. At this time, something shining attracted me."
As she spoke, the old woman's tone began to rise.
"In the crevice of that rock, I saw it -
The emerald green stems are like gems, with crystal water drops shining on them. The white flowers hang down from the stems, swaying in the wind like real wind chimes.
I remember that scene very clearly——
There are exactly nine flowers, one flower is not too many, and one flower is too few!
At that time, I rushed home and didn't think too much. I just thought the grass was very eye-catching.
It wasn't until the frosty moon of that year, when I was sorting out my grandma's belongings, that I thought of this legend again, but the grass had long since withered and withered.②
In the Feiyu month of the next year, I went there again, but this time, the number of flowers was the normal twelve."③
"I often regretted that time. If I had thought of that legend at that time, I would have picked it off. It should be able to sell for a lot of money and improve our family conditions.
But later on, my straw weaving skills improved again, more and more people bought them, and my living conditions gradually improved.
Moreover, in the annual professional talent test, my second daughter and youngest daughter have also been tested for professional talent.
Although it is not high, it has reached the level required to enter a professional college. The eldest daughter is also married to a good husband and lives a very happy life."
At this point, the old man raised his face and narrowed his eyes when he was smiling. Deep in the continuous wrinkles, there was an extremely deep and peaceful contentment.
"Now that I think about it, this ending is not bad. Although I didn't pick it, I still found it after all——"
As she spoke, the old woman seemed to suddenly notice something, and looked at the two of them again, with a hint of apology in her eyes.
"Sorry, you two little girls have taken up so much of your time. As people get older, they tend to become more verbose..."
"No, old lady, thank you for your story."
Fiona, who was fascinated by the story, came back to her senses. When she heard the old woman's words, she quickly shook her head, but she had already made a decision in her heart.
She held the straw wind chime and signaled Annie to pay.
Then, she took back the bunch of fruits from Annie's hand and smiled at the little boy who was peeking at her. Her delicate hands wearing white gloves put the bunch of fruits into his hand - she noticed the little boy's gaze before
.
"Here, take it and eat it."
Looking at this scene, Anne hesitated to speak. Although she liked the kindness of the eldest lady very much, as an Olivendi little princess, after all, she should not have too much interaction with common people.
Finally, Anne sighed and decided to pretend not to notice her young lady's disrespectful behavior.
After all, she is just a little half-elf maid.
"Thank you sister..."
Grasping the bunch of fruits, the little boy's face turned red and he seemed a little shy. He quickly thanked Fiona.
Fiona was stunned for a moment, then smiled, feeling very fresh about being called sister - she had never been called that before.
"May the gods bless you, kind little girl."
The old woman also showed a grateful smile.
Fiona smiled and nodded to the old man, and then left the stall with Annie. As the two watched with gratitude, the slender figures of the two girls gradually disappeared into the dazzling sunshine at the other end of the alley.
In the distance, the faint conversation between the little boy and the old man could be heard.
"Grandma, I will be old enough next year. When the adults in the academy come to test my talent, I will definitely pass the test and become a mage!
That way, grandma, the straw knitting you knit can really move in the future, and it will definitely sell well!"
"Okay, little Luo Qi, grandma, I will definitely wait for that day -"