There is a light rain in the sky, and the raindrops wet the branches in the mountains, then slide down along the leaves, and finally drip into the hard concrete road, gurgling along the drainage ditch, and have a cleanup with the fallen leaves, gravel, and peeling bark. A joyous rafting adventure.
Although it is a city in the mountains, it is not backward here. Neat houses are distributed on both sides of the road, with 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 a little shade and chic, and revealing a trace of peace and happiness in the neatness.
In this continuous rain, there are occasional vehicles passing by on the road, and the sound of water splashing from tires rolls up from far to near, and then disappears in the hazy drizzle.
"There is the Mountain Cherry Museum in front of you. Please be prepared, children, and follow the teacher so that you don't get lost." On a bright yellow bus, a young female teacher spoke to the ten-year-old children on the bus. remind.
"Children who have umbrellas and raincoats can find them in advance. If you don't have them, please raise your hand. The teacher has spares here."
She walked through the aisle of the bus, checking the children one by one, while everyone chattered, some said they were ready, and some didn't listen to the teacher's speech, and kept throwing themselves by the glass window, watching the receding scenery outside. Some looked anxiously at the people around them, as if they wanted to say something.
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 the depths of the mountain.
On the car window, bean-sized drops of water kept sliding down, making the outside world cold and wet. The number of cars on the road gradually decreased, and thick forests appeared on both sides, and the ground was full of wet Dark red leaves.
The rainwater gathered into a creek and flowed on the hillside outside the road, taking away a few wet leaves and rolling pebbles.
Unknowingly, the bus had arrived deep in the mountains, and after turning a corner, the scenery in front of them suddenly opened up, and a spacious open space and the ancient western-style buildings standing under the big trees also appeared in everyone's eyes.
"That is the museum we are going to today. It is said that it was remodeled from a foreign-style house a long time ago, and there are still many things used by the nobles in the past."
"Oh, the things used by the nobles, it feels very powerful~" Some children looked out the window enviously and expectantly.
"Hmph, the nobles are all ancients. I heard from my mother that the things used by the nobles in the past are nothing now. For example, the ice cream snacks we eat now and the clothes we wear are all things that the nobles used to use." A little girl in a red dress folded her arms and whispered, and the children around her also looked at her with admiration.
"Xiao Ning is so amazing~" A child said so, and the teacher smiled beside him.
Soon, the bus stopped steadily in the square in front of the huge mansion, and the staff in the guard room came out and exchanged a few words with the driver, and then the stretched fence in front of the mansion gradually opened.
"Now, everyone get off the bus with the teacher, come one by one, don't worry, remember to put on the raincoat and hold up the umbrella."
"Yes~" the children answered in unison obediently.
In the cold rain, these children lined up in a long line, followed behind the teacher, walked through the closed fence, and entered the simple and elegant mansion.
Climbing up the marble steps, they stepped over the small water splash step by step, and then regrouped under the tall doorpost, then cleaned the water droplets on the umbrella and raincoat, put them in the designated place, and carefully walked into this quiet place. museum interior.
The interior here is very quiet, mahogany furniture and brass decorations can be seen everywhere, the ground is as clean as a mirror, and there are some guiding signs on both sides of the road.
Two staff members of the museum came and told the children about the origin and history of each of the objects.
"This is a colored porcelain tea table used by the local Viscount Wenlani during the period of the Green Empire. It is said that it was specially customized from the East. It has patterns of sand red and light gold. It was used by the Viscount when he entertained guests..."
"Look well~" The children lay on the outside of the glass closet and looked at the objects inside, but there were also a few children who were not interested in these, but looked around the museum, looking at the dome above their heads.
"Here is the full-body armor used by knights in the empire period, and next to it are matching vests, lances, and long swords." As he spoke, the staff introduced another item.
"Wow, this feels great." Compared with the previous tea table, the children are much more excited now.
"Oh, this is plate armor. I heard from my grandfather that he envied those cavalrymen who rode horses when he was a child. In the past, the empire had a well-organized cavalry team, which was very gorgeous."
"It's very gorgeous, but didn't the teacher tell you that it's very dark in the empire class, maybe you are a soldier who is exhausted after the master knight, hehe."
"Ah, you're always arguing, so I won't play with you in the future."
"Hush, don't play if you don't play, you still think I'm a kid, yeah." The kid even made a grimace.
…
The staff took these children through various places in the museum, explaining the objects stored in it one by one, most of which came from the period of the Green Empire, including utensils used by nobles, armor and weapons, and some with extremely complicated decorations dresses, causing these children to exclaim.
"Finally, before leaving the museum, we would like to thank the benefactor of this museum, the original owner of most of the items, Grandma Geweier."
With that said, the staff came to the back door of the museum. Near the exit, there was a small room with an oil painting portrait in it. There were also some manuscripts and a few sketched pictures in the glass lattice below.
In the oil painting, a thin woman with silver hair is sitting on a red sponge chair with her hands in front of her body. Although she is old, she can still see a bit of youth from the eyebrows and the corners of her eyes. The astonishing beauty of the time. This woman wears a medal with a white flower emblem on her chest, wears a long black dress with white cuffs, and her eyes are very quiet and kind.
"Grandma Geweier is not only the founder of the museum, but also an important early member of the Younger Dryas organization. She has contributed a lot to the establishment of the Emerald Star Alliance. She is a respectable senior. Let everyone salute, and today's visit is over. "
"Thank you Grandma Geweier." After finishing speaking, the children bowed in front of the portrait, and then followed the teacher out of the museum.
Walking out of the dark and quiet museum, the outside is bright, the rain has stopped, and the clouds in the sky do not know when it dissipated, it is very bright.
Back on the bus, the teacher started counting the number of people again.
"1, 2, 3, ... 22, 23, 24, well, it seems that they are all here."
"Then we're starting to go back now. By the way, when you come to school next Monday, remember to make a review."
"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, woo..." the children complained, but they had to think hard, and some even started to take out a small notebook to write down what they saw today, so as not to forget it when they went back.
——
Southland, South Reef Harbor.
This is a small town 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, be careful." A blond middle-aged man helped a brunette old woman out of the cabin, and then slowly disembarked along the steel steps.
"It's okay, Hells." Although the old woman was a little hunched, she still looked healthy, but her legs and feet seemed to be old, and she needed to be careful when going down such a steep staircase.
Step by step, the old woman walked up the stairs under the nervous eyes of her family and came to the ground of the port. She looked around and stared for a long time, her eyes full of nostalgia.
"What is grandma looking at?" A fifteen-year-old boy came to her side and asked curiously.
"I'm looking at this familiar place, Shadia." She stroked the boy's head with a 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 from my father before that there was civil strife in the Western Continent, and our family moved to the east at that time."
"Yes, yes..." The old woman stroked the child, and said slowly, there seemed to be a thousand emotions in her eyes.
Just as the two were standing there and talking slowly, the middle-aged man came over.
"I've called and they said they'll come pick us up right away."
"Are you troublesome people again? I told you that it's best not to do this. Our family is in a special situation. It's best to break up the previous relationship." The old woman shook her head.
"I know, mother, but no matter what, I still have to report to Cuixing United. After all, the situation is quite special, otherwise it will be a bit impolite." The man carefully whispered in the woman's ear, and the other party seemed to understand, In the end, he had no choice but to sigh helplessly, approving his behavior.
"Then wait a little longer." After she finished speaking, leaning on a cane, she walked slowly on the boulevard by the port.
"Do you see that apple tree over there?"
"I saw my mother, what's wrong."
"We also had an apple orchard at home when we were young. I used to go there to play. It is because I accidentally picked apples that I met your father." As the woman spoke, her voice stopped again.
"How did father and mother meet? I've never heard you say it 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. Today she took the initiative to mention it.
"Then..." The old woman looked at the apple tree in the distance, thinking of that bright and distant summer.
…
"I jumped off the tree and was picked up by your grandpa, and that's when we met."
"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, eyes full of envy.
"Hehe, you, if you can find a girl who treats you sincerely, grandma will feel at ease. Just listen to this kind of romantic thing once in a while, don't be too obsessed." Grandma said as if she had come here.
After a pause, she continued, "However, what happened later was not so lucky and romantic."
"What happened?" The boy was very curious.
"Don't ask, Shadia." The father beside him stroked his head and made a silent gesture.
"Hmm..." Although he didn't know why, but seeing his father like this, and some things he knew occasionally 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, and I had to flee with your father because of the sudden change in the situation in the empire. I met many people to help, and some of them died on the road because of this." She sighed. .
"Although they are for their own reasons or missions, they are all benefactors of our family no matter what. If you can find their descendants or family members in the future, Shadia, you should give more help."
"Yes, grandma!" The boy replied crisply.
"Okay, here comes the car."
At this time, they saw a line of white cars approaching in the distance, and then slowly stopped in front of them. The body was white, and there were fairywood 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 greeted them.
A month later, the former Baron Esther's manor was now a private residence.
It was the afternoon, and there were many children playing in the yard of the mansion, and many adults were sitting in the house. They gathered together to reminisce about the old days. Fruits and snacks were placed on the table, and programs were broadcast on the TV at the side. Music comes out of it.
"This is Uncle Ruland's child, Aunt Lily." A woman squatted beside Lily, introducing her nephew in her forties.
"Oh, it's Brother Ruland's child. Hello, I'm sorry, I'm getting old, so 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 stomach squatted down nervously, so that the aunt could touch his face.
Although he is now a high-level executive of a chamber of commerce and has a lot of power outside, he still dare not have any pride in front of Aunt Lily, the legend of this family.
If it weren't for Aunt Lily, their family or himself would be ordinary people who are unknown today, and might disappear in the civil strife back then, but it is because of this aunt that their family has survived, and in He was not treated harshly after the war.
Lily Esther, the last red queen of the empire, this legendary queen who was born as a commoner, is still spread in various film and television dramas and novels. After all, the story of Cinderella and the prince is always so attractive.
After the man's introduction, other people in the hall came over one by one to let Lily know, including her brother's children, her sister's grandchildren, and so on.
Esther’s family has a large number of people. At that time, Lily was the youngest sister in the family. There were three older brothers and two older sisters, so she never had any pressure at home. Her parents also gave her a lot of love, and she had a very comfortable and happy childhood. , which formed her pure 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 southern part of the empire.
Half a hundred years passed in a flash, and after being away from her hometown for decades, she finally returned to this 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, talking to him about some childhood memories.
"See that grape field?"
"I see, Grandma."
“When I was very young, my father hugged me and said that this grape field would be reserved for me as my dowry. Enjoy the shade under the trees by the river."
Lily asked Shadia to push her closer to this green grape field, stroking the green and tender grapes with her fingers.
"Until now, I still often dream about this grape field and think of the summers I spent here."