shu

As if your body's experiencing every suffering on this land at the same time.

And how does that feel?

Like... when a most beloved relative, or best friend passes away, and you know they'll never come back...

I still don't understand...

You say you don't, but you've been here with me for so long.

Well, I do enjoy our days together. My work feels less tough when I have someone to chat with.

It'll be hard for me if you leave one day, so I'll figure out a way to make you stay here for a while longer.

Oh, I didn't mean you <i>have</i> to stay here... I just remembered that you said you wanted to understand us 'mortals'.

Can you feel happiness now?

You called 'Shennong' a fool...

Have you heard the old farmers saying you can't look up when harvesting?

You have to keep your head down, and courageously reap the crops before you. Once you look up and look out at the fields that stretch to no end, you won't be able to move.

Humans live only a few short decades, and lack the luxury of time to care about what will come after they're gone. Focusing on what's in front of you is tiring enough.

But once you lock in on something, you'll achieve many things before you even realize it.

Can you guess how far Dahuang's fields stretched when Shennong passed?

Maybe half of what we have right now? Or one-third?

See that hillside to the south? Back then, the fields stretched to the foot of that mountain.

That small...?

The conditions then were incomparably worse than what we have right now. We didn't have these Originium devices, and it took so much effort just to pull a proper plow through the fields.

We couldn't dig up the rocks on the mountains, nor the permafrost up north. So Dahuang stretched only from that hillside in the south to the Shennong statue right here.

Where was this recorded? How do you remember it so clearly?

Where exactly...? I've forgotten myself.

The books say Shennong wanted to cultivate the land up north in her later years, but eventually succumbed to illness on her northward search for the 'Shen Gu' super grain.

So why does this statue face southward?

Shennong labored her entire life away just to prevent her fellow man from going hungry and cold. She would've been very attached to the people of her hometown.

That's probably where she was looking, in her final moments.

Actually, what made you decide to become an Nongye Tianshi in the first place?

When I was young, I learned how it felt to starve, once. Since then, I decided I wouldn't let anyone else go through that.

So you also suffered a famine...

Well... that was long, long ago.

Just like Shennong...

Dahuang has many farmers and Nongye Tianshis that have more or less have similar reasons as to why they're here.

The sun gradually rises as the spring breeze blows warmth into the air and onto the people.

The wind pushes the clouds away, letting a slanted ray of sunlight shine onto the statue's face.

I'm suddenly thinking about the various legends we have here, 'Shennong', 'Excavator', 'Yan'...

We still don't know if they were historical people or just myths. Could it be that Shennong wasn't just one woman?

She only hoped for more to follow in her footsteps, instead of remembering who she was, so she hid her identity.

But this way, no one really remembers the person she was...

If someone like that really existed, do you think she'd care if the people here remembered her name at all, if she could see what Dahuang has become?

Or maybe she was just shy and didn't want to leave her name and likeness behind.

Phew...

If you don't behave and go back home, there won't be any meat in your meals for the next few days.

Shu... you shouldn't be bullying the elderly.

Then act your age. Do you think it's romantic to watch the snow fall outside with just one layer on you? Today is Xiaohan, you know.

I knew it. My waist always starts hurting this time of year, right on schedule... how could you expect me to just lie in bed at home?

This winter has been so cold. Will the soil manage to defrost in time for the next spring...?

That's not something you should be worrying about right now. Keep neglecting your health and you'll might not even make it to next spring.

That won't do... I'm planning to go north again when spring comes. I got lost in the northeastern forests last time, so I'll try walking west this time.

You're trying to anger me.

Once you're in the ground, I'll have them build a statue here, looking towards the north that's always on your mind.

I couldn't ask for anything more.

But don't let them carve the statue the way I am now. Too ugly.

And as for the clothes, reference the outfit your brother gave me. I'm quite fond of it.

Oh, speaking of which... I haven't seen him in so many years. I wonder if I'll manage to see him one more time...

Time flies so fast... it feels like I met you just yesterday. Several decades gone, just like that.

Over the course of those decades, Dahuang's fields have tripled in size, and our annual crop yields have more than doubled... everyone calls you <i>Shennong,</i> the godly farmer, why not be content with that?

Humans are always greedy for more. We're never content.

Grow two yields of rice this year, and you'll want three the next; once you have a hundred mu of fields, you'll want two hundred...

Someday, when Dahuang's fields stretch beyond what I can see from here, I wonder if I'll still be able to visit the picturesque place you talked about?

Sure. Once you're well again, I'll bring you there in the spring.

You're lying to me again... I realized it a long time ago, you blink hard whenever you lie.

Shu... you knew this day would come.

Of course. Didn't I say so? I was used to this long before even I met you.

All living things abide the laws of mortality...

I...

Do you feel it now?

Feel what?

Feel like a <i>human...</i>

Feel happiness over something trivial, feel sad knowing how something ends, feel anticipation, reluctance...

I know how you feel... this is how humans connect with one another, through our common feelings.

You spent your entire life just to teach me a single thing... you're a pretty bad teacher, honestly.

So can you stay here in my stead, after I'm gone?

I don't need you to be their patron saint. Just live here, as a human.

Teach the children the farming methods we developed, a woman as bright as you will surely do a better job teaching than me.

They'll remember there was once a woman who spent her entire life on this freezing snowfield just so her people wouldn't go hungry.

Just me alone? I clearly had a Xian in human form at my side this whole time.

But no matter. You live the same way as we do, so no one knows you're a runaway Xian who sneaked into the mortal realm.

I won't get to see it, but perhaps a day will come when Dahuang becomes the place you spoke of... I'm sure there'll be many by your side to admire the scenery, and you won't be lonely anymore.

When the winter jasmines on that hillside bloom next year, will you weave a wreath of them for me?

It's getting late, Laoshi. I'll go prepare the transplanting tools.

I'll give it my all, no matter how this year goes.

Mm, off you go.

See? They still remember you.

An ascetic like you is still on their minds, even after a thousand years... What can I say?

A fowlbeast brings up a small yellow flower in its beak and drops it on the statue's bamboo hat.

It seems to have picked a good nesting spot, and fetches several more flowers with branches in bunches. Yellow flowers soon cover the brim of the hat.

The flowers bloom so beautifully after that parting, I wonder if you still know the way home.