The days flowed quietly amidst the laughter in the forest and the hard work in the fields, like the clear Little Stream in front of the village—ordinary, yet full of life.
The bond between Luo Ling and Eve grew ever closer.
Their bond was no longer just that of companions adventuring in the woods; it became intertwined with the daily routines of life.
In the rising smoke of the hearth, through the simple act of sharing food, it deepened day by day.
Life in Falling Wind Village was not wealthy, and most villagers relied on self-sufficiency.
Luo Ling’s skills were decent, enough to exchange for some grain and cloth, but things like meat and eggs were rare treasures.
Luo Ling had learned a few skills from the village hunters and could sometimes catch Wild Rabbits or Pheasants in the forest, or gather precious Wild Mushrooms and Herbs to trade in Town for a few coins, improving his family’s meals.
Every time Luo Ling caught prey or found something good, the first person he thought of was Eve.
Sometimes it was a plump Wild Rabbit.
Luo Ling would clean the rabbit, split the meat into two portions—one for home, and the other, delivered quietly into Eve’s hands before dinner.
Eve would always look at Luo Ling with sparkling eyes and whisper, “Thank you, Luo Ling’s Brother! We have rabbit to eat tonight!”
Luo Ling only gave a faint smile.
“I caught an extra one. Leaving it would be a waste.”
Then he’d turn and leave, leaving Eve standing there, hugging the rabbit, happy as if she’d received the most precious gift.
Sometimes, it was fresh wild fruits, like sweet Raspberries or tart Hawthorns.
Luo Ling would wrap them in large leaves and bring them to the Ancient Tree they often visited, sharing them with Eve.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, shining on the faces of the two children as they split the wild fruits.
The girl ate with a wide smile, red juice staining her lips, while the boy sat quietly beside her, occasionally handing her an even redder, larger fruit, his gaze gentle.
Eve always thought of Luo Ling, too.
She knew Luo Ling liked her mother’s Pumpkin Cakes, so every time her mother made them, she would secretly hide the biggest, roundest ones, wrap them in a clean cloth, and run off to find Luo Ling.
“Luo Ling’s Brother, for you! My mother just made Pumpkin Cakes—they’re still warm!”
She would present the cloth-wrapped bundle like a treasure in front of Luo Ling, her face showing a small, proud smile.
Luo Ling would take the bundle, still warm from Eve’s hands, open it, and the golden Pumpkin Cakes would release a tempting aroma.
He picked one up and took a bite—soft, sweet, and full of the taste of home.
“Delicious. Thank you, Eve.”
“Hehe, I knew you’d like it!”
Eve watched him eat, picking up one herself and nibbling it in small bites, her eyes squinting with satisfaction.
Aside from sharing food from home, they spent even more time “adding to their meals” outdoors.
In summer, they would catch fish and shrimp by the stream.
Luo Ling used a homemade spear to catch fish, while Eve threaded the small fish and shrimp onto sticks and roasted them over the fire.
There weren’t any seasonings, but the golden, crispy grilled fish, full of natural flavor, was their favorite snack.
In autumn, they would pick ripe wild chestnuts and hazelnuts, find a sheltered spot, build a simple stove out of stones, and bury the chestnuts in hot ash to roast.
The wait for the chestnuts to cook was always long and full of anticipation.
Eve would keep asking, “Are they done? Luo Ling’s Brother, are they almost ready?”
Luo Ling would patiently reassure her.
“Wait a little longer. If you rush, you can’t eat hot tofu.”
When the fragrant chestnuts were finally ready, the two would eagerly peel the hot shells and share the smoky sweetness inside.
Sometimes, if luck was good, Luo Ling could catch a fat Wild Duck.
They would find a clean spot in the forest, clean the duck, wrap it in mud, and roast it over the fire.
This was their rare Feast.
When the mud cracked open and golden duck fat sizzled, the aroma could travel far.
Eve always ended up with her mouth shining with oil, but didn’t forget to tear off the plumpest duck leg and hand it to Luo Ling.
“Luo Ling’s Brother, this is for you. You worked the hardest!”
Looking at her oily little face and sincere eyes, Luo Ling felt a warmth he couldn’t describe.
He would shake his head with a smile and put the duck leg back in her bowl.
“You eat it. I like the wings.”
Sharing food was more than satisfying the taste buds; it was a way to exchange feelings and convey intentions.
In that era of scarcity, giving the most precious things to another represented the deepest trust and purest friendship.
With every act of sharing, Luo Ling felt the warmth of being needed and cherished.
For Eve, each exchange brought the comfort of a reliable companion and the sweetness of friendship.
This bond, slowly woven in the smoke and aroma of food, grew like a vine, silently winding around their hearts, becoming ever stronger and unbreakable.
Luo Ling increasingly felt that these days were truly good.
Having an Eve to share food, joy, and secrets with.
That was everything he longed for—the happiness he was willing to protect at any cost.