It is raining lightly in the sky, and the raindrops moisten the branches in the mountains, then slide down along the leaves, and finally drip onto the hard cement pavement, gurgling along the drainage channels, and interacting with fallen leaves, gravel, and peeling bark.
A joyful rafting adventure.
Although it is a city in the mountains, it is not backward. Neat houses are distributed on both sides of the road. They have tiled walls and purple roofs of different shades. These houses are decorated with a sense of life. Many people’s yards
There are also trees planted, which are tall and big, bringing some shade and uniqueness, and revealing a touch of tranquility in the neatness.
In this continuous rain curtain, there are occasional vehicles passing by on the road, and the sound of water splashing from the tires comes from far away, and then disappears in the hazy drizzle.
"Ahead is the Mountain Cherry Museum. Children, please be prepared and follow the teacher. Don't get lost." On a bright yellow bus, a young female teacher said to the ten-year-old children on the bus.
remind.
"Children who have umbrellas and raincoats can find them in advance. If they don't bring them, please raise your hand. The teacher has spare ones here."
She walked through the aisle of the bus, checking on the children one by one, while everyone was chirping, some saying that they were ready, some did not listen to the teacher, and kept leaning against the glass window, looking at the receding scenery outside, and...
Some looked anxiously at the people around them, as if they had something to say.
After the two teachers checked one by one and made sure that everyone had rainproof equipment, they returned to their seats with confidence. At this time, the bus slowly climbed up the slope and entered deep into the mountain.
On the car window, large water droplets kept sliding down, making the outside world look cold and wet. There were gradually fewer cars on the road, and thick woods appeared on both sides, and the ground was full of wet
Dark red fallen leaves.
The rainwater gathered into a stream and flowed on the hillside outside the road, taking away some wet leaves and rolling pebbles.
Unknowingly, the bus had reached the deep mountains, and after turning a corner, the scenery suddenly opened up, and a spacious open space and the ancient Western-style building standing under the big tree also appeared in everyone's eyes.
"That's the museum we're going to today. It's said to have been renovated from a foreign mansion a long time ago. There are still many things used by nobles in the past."
"Oh, it's something used by nobles. It feels very powerful~" Some children looked out the window with envy and expectancy.
"Humph, nobles are ancient people. I heard from my mother that the things used by nobles in the past are of little use now. For example, the ice cream snacks we eat now and the clothes we wear are all things only nobles used in the past."
A little girl in a red skirt folded her arms and hummed, and the children around her looked at her with admiration.
"Xiao Ning is so amazing~" one child said, and the teacher smiled beside him.
Soon, the bus stopped steadily in the square in front of the huge mansion. The staff from the guard room came out and exchanged a few words with the driver. Then the stretch fence in front of the mansion gradually opened.
"Now, everyone, follow the teacher and get out of the car. Come one by one. Don't be anxious. Remember to put on your raincoat and hold up your umbrella."
"Yes~" the children replied obediently in unison.
In the cold rain, these children lined up in a long queue, followed the teacher, walked through the closed fence, and entered the simple and elegant mansion.
Climbing the marble steps, they took one small step at a time, then regrouped under the tall doorpost, then cleaned the water drops on their umbrellas and raincoats, placed them in the designated place, and then carefully walked into this quiet place.
interior of the museum.
It is very quiet inside, with mahogany furniture and brass decorations everywhere, the ground is as clean as a mirror, and there are some guiding signs on both sides of the road.
Two museum employees came and told the children about the origin and history of each object.
"This is a colored porcelain tea table used by the local Viscount Wenlani during the Green Empire period. It is said to have been specially customized from the East. It has sand red and light gold patterns and was used by the Viscount when entertaining guests at that time..."
"Look good~" The children lay outside the glass closet and looked at the objects inside. However, a few children were not interested in these. Instead, their eyes wandered around the museum and looked at the dome above their heads.
"Here is the full-body armor used by knights during the imperial period. Next to it are matching vests, lances, and swords." As he spoke, the staff introduced another item.
"Wow, this feels great." Compared to the previous tea table, the children were much more excited at this time.
"Oh, this is plate armor. I heard my grandfather say that when he was a child, he envied the cavalry on horseback. In the past, the empire had an organized cavalry team, which was very gorgeous."
"It's very gorgeous, but didn't the teacher talk about it being very dark during the Empire class? Maybe you are just a soldier working hard behind the knight, huh."
"Ah, you are always arguing, I won't play with you anymore."
"Shhhh, if you don't want to play, I won't play. You still think I'm a child, yeah." The child made a face as he said this.
…
The staff took the children through various places in the museum, explaining one by one the objects stored in it. Most of them came from the Green Empire period, including utensils used by nobles, armor and weapons, and some with extremely complicated decorations.
The formal dress caused a burst of exclamations from these children.
"Finally, before we leave the museum, we would like to thank the donor of this museum and the original owner of most of the objects, Grandma Gweir."
With that said, the staff came to the back door of the museum. There was a smaller room near the exit. There was an oil painting in it. There were also some manuscripts and some sketched patterns in the glass grid below.
In the oil painting, a slightly thin woman with silver hair is sitting on a red sponge chair, with her hands in front of her. Although she is old, she can still see a bit of youthfulness in her eyebrows and corners of her eyes.
She was astonishingly beautiful at the time. This woman wore a medal with a white flower emblem on her chest, wore a long black dress and white cuffs, and her eyes were very quiet and kind.
"Grandma Gweir is not only the founder of the museum, but also an important early member of the Dryas organization. She has contributed a lot to the establishment of the Cuixing United. She is a respectable senior. Everyone salutes, and today's visit is over.
"
"Thank you, Grandma Gweir." After saying this, the children bowed in front of the portrait, and then followed the teacher out of the museum.
After walking out of the darker and quiet museum, it was bright outside. The rain had stopped, and the clouds in the sky had dissipated. It was very bright.
Back on the bus, the teacher started counting people again.
"1,2,3,...22,23,24, well, it seems they are all here."
"Then let's go back now. By the way, remember to share your thoughts when we come to school next Monday."
"Ah..." There was a sound of wailing and sighing in the carriage, and the previous happiness and relaxation also dissipated.
"I have to write again, ugh..." the children complained, but they had to think hard. Some even started to take out a small notebook to write down what they saw today, so as not to forget it when they go back.
————
Southern Territory, South Reef Harbor.
This is a small city in the south of Cuixing United. The port in the city is not big, and only a few passenger ships stop here.
Today, a rare white passenger ship sailed into the quiet U-shaped bay and then docked on the shore.
"Go this way, mother, please be careful." A middle-aged man with blond hair helped an old woman with dark brown hair walk out of the cabin, and then slowly disembarked along the steel steps.
"It's okay, Hells." Although the old woman's back was a bit hunched, her face still looked healthy. However, her legs and feet seemed to have some old problems, so she needed to be careful when going down such a steep staircase.
Step by step, under the nervous eyes of her family, the old woman walked up the stairs and arrived at the port ground. She looked around and stared for a long time, her eyes full of nostalgia.
"What are you looking at, grandma?" A boy about fifteen years old came to her and asked curiously.
"I'm looking at this familiar place, Xadia." She stroked the boy's head with her slightly withered hand and said slowly.
"Grandma was born in this southern region when she was a child, but she left later."
"Yeah, I heard my father tell me before that there was civil strife in the empire on the Western Continent, and our family moved to the east at that time."
"Yes, yes..." The old woman stroked the child and spoke slowly, as if there were thousands of emotions in her eyes.
Just as the two stood there talking slowly, the middle-aged man came over.
"I've already called and they said they'll pick us up right away."
"Are you causing trouble to others again? I've told you that it's best not to do this. Our family is in a special situation. It's best to break off all the previous relationships." The old woman shook her head.
"I know, mother, but no matter what, I still have to report it to Cuixing United. After all, the situation is quite special, otherwise it will be a bit rude." The man said carefully in the woman's ear, and the other party seemed to understand.
In the end, I had no choice but to sigh helplessly and approve of his actions.
"Then just wait a little longer." After she said that, she took a cane and walked slowly along the tree-lined avenue next to the port.
"Do you see the apple tree over there?"
"I saw my mother, what's wrong?"
"When I was a child, we had an apple orchard at home. I often went there to play. It is said that I got to know your father because of an accidental apple picking." The woman stopped talking as she spoke.
"How did my father meet my mother? I have never heard you tell me before." At this time, the middle-aged man also became very curious, because he had never dared to ask about the past for fear of making his mother sad. This is a rare opportunity.
Today she took the initiative to mention it.
"That's right..." The old woman looked at the apple trees in the distance, thinking of that bright and distant summer.
…
"I jumped down from the tree and was picked up by your grandfather, so we got to know each other at that time."
"Wow, the meeting between grandma and grandpa was so romantic. Oh, I wish I could meet such a cute girl." The grandson on the side listened attentively, with eyes full of envy.
"Haha, if you can find a girl who treats you sincerely, grandma will feel at ease. It's good to hear about such romantic things occasionally, and don't get too obsessed with it." Grandma said as if she had been there before.
After a pause, she continued, "However, what happened later was not so lucky and romantic."
"What happened?" The boy was extremely curious.
"Don't ask, Xia Diya." The father beside him stroked his head and made a silencing gesture.
"Well..." Although he didn't know why, but seeing his father like this and some things he occasionally knew before, the boy quietly closed his mouth.
"Hey, it's nothing, I can see it now." The old woman shook her head.
"Later, your grandfather died young. Due to the sudden change in the situation in the empire, I had to take your father to flee. I met many people to help me, and some of them died on the road." She sighed.
.
"Although they are here for their own reasons or missions, no matter what, they are the benefactors of our family. If you can find their descendants or family members in the future, Xadia, please give them more help."
"Yes, grandma!" the boy replied in a clear voice.
"Okay, the car is here."
At this time, they saw a row of white cars approaching in the distance, and then slowly stopped in front of them. The car body was pure white, and there were fairy wood emblems with green background and white flowers on the doors and front of the car.
"Welcome back, Ms. Lily Esther." Several staff members walked out of the car door and welcomed.
One month later, what was once Baron Esther's manor is now a private residence.
It was afternoon. There were many children playing in the courtyard of the mansion, and there were many adults sitting in the house. They gathered together to reminisce with each other. There were fruits and snacks on the table, and programs were playing on the TV nearby. From time to time,
Music comes from it.
"This is Uncle Ruland's child, Aunt Lily." A woman squatted next to Lily and introduced her nephew who was in his forties.
"Oh, it's Brother Rulande's child. Hello, I'm sorry, I'm old and I may not be able to remember your appearance for a while."
"It's okay, Aunt Lily, your good health is everyone's happiness." The man in a suit with a big belly squatted down slightly nervously so that the aunt could touch his face.
Although he is now a senior executive of a chamber of commerce and has considerable power outside, he still dare not have any pride in front of the family's legend, Aunt Lily.
Without this Aunt Lily, their family or himself would probably be unknown ordinary people today, and might even disappear in the civil strife of that year. But it is precisely because of this aunt that their family has continued, and in the
He was not treated harshly after the war.
Lili Esther, the last Red Queen of the Empire, this legendary queen who was born as a commoner, is still circulated in various movies, TV series and novels. After all, the story of Cinderella and the prince is always so attractive.
After the man introduced him, other people in the hall came over one by one to let Lily know him. Among them were her brother's children, her sister's grandchildren, and so on.
Esther's family has a large number of people. Lily was the youngest sister in the family at that time. She had three brothers and two sisters, so she never had any pressure at home. Her parents also gave her a lot of care and she had a very comfortable and happy childhood.
, which developed her simple and carefree character, and it was precisely this that made Edman fall in love at first sight with this innocent and lovely girl from the south of the empire.
Time passed in a blur for half a hundred years. After being away from her hometown for decades, she finally returned to the familiar place where she grew up.
Three days later, I sat in a wheelchair and was pushed by Shadia for a walk by the river, telling him some past memories of my childhood.
"See that patch of grapes?"
"I saw it, grandma."
"When I was very young, my father hugged me and said that this grape field would be kept as my dowry. I was very happy when I heard that. I would come here every summer to watch these grapes blossom and bear fruit, and then in the
Enjoy the shade under the trees by the river."
Lily asked Xia Dia to push her closer to the green grape field, and caressed the tender grapes with her fingers.
"To this day, I still often dream about this grape field and think of the summers I spent here."