act31side

In my old job, there were a lot of things that hadn't been cleared up, but Father wouldn't let me investigate. I'm not even sure what I'm doing here...

Wow, your dad's scary.

When the teachers at the Tianshi Bureau scold the kids even younger than me, they say that if you don't behave, your baba and mama will come and punish you.

Well, Candlestick got punished by his baba. But I've made so many mistakes, so why don't my baba and mama come and punish me?

Your parents...?

Shu says my parents are Tianshis in a place far away. But she never told me what they do, or why I don't hear from them.

The Xiangzhang says my parents named me Xiaoman, or Grain Buds, because they think we should be content with the little things, like grains in the field.

General Zuo must be hoping that you'll live a happy and carefree life, Zuo Le.

The Grandmaster must hope that you will be content and comfortable in whatever situation then, Yun.

Come to think of it, I never got the chance to ask you your name.

Yun Qingping. People sometimes say it sounds like a girl's name.

Not at all. It's nice.

Reminds me of lotus ponds in summer.

Xiaohe's name has a story behind it too! The farmers found him in the rice fields. The old folks thought he was born from the rice crops, which is how he got a name that means rice stalk.

Shu still has a picture from back then! I'll bring it tomorrow.

Grain Buds!

Everyone loves that photo. Candlestick and Inkbrush should see it too!

(Why doesn't He Sheng get a nickname beyond Xiaohe?)

(Why not contribute one? Grain Buds here seems quite amendable to suggestions.)

The summer evening breeze brushes their hair, to the accompaniment of cicada songs.

A few fireflies take to the air, while stars fall from the sky.

Grain Buds is no longer chasing the fireflies. She sits on the grass smelling of night dew, panting from the chase.

There is no room for gloom or worry in the heart of the young and innocent. She only has eyes for the sincere joy of the present.

Look! Shooting stars!

According to Shu, the old Shennong stories say that crops grow well where the shooting star falls.

Should we go and see where they fell?

She said that to get you to come down from your tree and go to bed. You seriously think it's true?

Of course I do!

But it's very far away, way beyond Dahuang.

Then we'll leave Dahuang.

What if they fell at the edge of Heaven?

Then we'll go to the edge of Heaven! I'll go. You'll come too, Xiaohe, and the rest of you, too.

There's a lot of time to look for them before the sun rises.

Maybe we'll never find them, and keep walking until we're all grandpas and grandmas.

Searching for stars?

Hah, yes, searching for stars.

Has it occurred to you that this may be what you're supposed to be looking for?

Stars?

Yeah!

Come, let's cross this stream!

Hey, Zuo Le.

How old are you?

Nineteen.

Hm...

What's the matter?

Nothing... I'm older than you.

Wei, what are you talking about over there?

Tomorrow is the Xiazhi. Dahuang will be holding the Shennong Festival, welcoming Shennong with songs and costumes. Let's go have some fun!

Didn't you say you wanted to look for the stars?

I said, until the sun rises.

The Shennong Festival? That's not for fun, is it?

Of course it is! They put on plays and fairs, and there's lots to eat! The Xiangzhang says everybody has been working so hard, we should relax a little.

Xiaohe's going. I'm gonna play the flute... there are other shows too!

Alright, I'll go and see.

I'll see... and think.