CHAPTER 739: CHAPTER 736: THE ROAD HOME

Apricot stared blankly at Meizi, and just as Dou Dou was beginning to feel impatient, Apricot suddenly broke into a smile, revealing an immensely happy expression.

"Meizi, it’s so nice to dream of you. This time the dream is so clear," Apricot said.

"Apricot..." Meizi didn’t know how to explain to her.

But before she could explain, Apricot bent over and hugged her close.

"This lucid dream is so wonderful, Meizi, I miss you... sobbing..."

Suddenly, Meizi’s voice sounded by her ear.

"Alright, Apricot, don’t cry, I’ll take you to the town."

Hearing this, Apricot felt a bit puzzled and turned her head to look around.

In the distance, a green mountain peak was shrouded in mist, the leaves were lush green, the air was humid, filled with the scent of earth.

In front of them lay a muddy dirt road, just after a light rain had passed.

Memories that Apricot had forgotten began to emerge from her mind, becoming clearer and clearer.

This was her home. She looked down at herself and saw she had turned into her childhood self.

Clothes were dirty, with stains on the cuffs that had hardened into shells that gleamed.

She quickly turned her head to look toward the other end of the muddy dirt road and saw a low mud house appearing before her eyes, with an elder standing at the door, watching them from afar.

"Grandma."

Apricot stumbled and ran towards her, tears rolling down her cheeks.

The elderly grandmother came forward to greet her, wearing a washed-out sky-blue jacket with beautiful patterns on the collar, though already faded, their past brilliance could faintly be seen.

Apricot was briefly stunned. Although she was now in her childhood form, she already possessed her adult memories. This should be a traditional clothing from some ethnic minority.

"Apricot, the mountain path is difficult to walk, stay home and keep me company."

Grandmother reached out and touched her head, the rough yet warm palm, giving her an incredibly real experience, making her feel like it wasn’t a dream at all.

Apricot didn’t answer her grandmother’s words, but instead, urgently asked, "Grandma, where is this place, where is our home?"

But grandmother didn’t answer her either, just continued, "Meizi will soon return. I’ve told her to bring your favorite golden crispy treats."

"Grandma, you haven’t answered me yet, where are we, what’s the name of this place?"

Apricot kept asking grandmother while "greedily" staring at her, wanting to remember every detail of her appearance.

But grandmother still didn’t answer, instead saying, "Later, feed the pigs. The rain has just stopped, and the mountain road is hard to walk. Don’t go collecting pigweed today."

At this moment, Apricot vaguely understood, gave grandmother a deep look, and turned to run towards Meizi.

Meizi remained standing there, seemingly waiting for her, never leaving.

"Meizi."

"Call me Sister," Meizi looked at her with a smile.

"Sister."

Looking at her sister’s warm smile, Apricot slowed her pace, and her anxious mood seemed to calm down.

"Apricot, let’s go. Stay close to my steps, don’t get lost," Meizi said with a smile.

Then she carried a big bamboo basket and walked forward. Apricot quickly followed, the muddy dirt road made it quite difficult for her small self to tread, her pants getting soaked with mud water.

Yet Apricot gritted her teeth and persevered.

At this moment Meizi turned around and said to her, "Apricot, walk on the grassy embankment, it will be much easier that way."

Apricot turned her gaze to the narrow and winding path beside the road, the embankment covered with weeds, some places even had thorns, maybe because of this, no one had completely trodden on it.

Apricot carefully placed her foot on it, although it was narrow and a bit difficult, it was much better than the ankle-deep muddy path.

"They’re so silly, don’t they know how to fly?" At this moment, a very discordant voice sounded beside them.

Apricot looked up, seeing two little girls squatting owl-like on a tree trunk nearby, looking at them with curiosity.

Apricot recognized one of them as the child who had just been riding a goldfish, the other one seemed vaguely familiar, but she couldn’t remember where she had seen her before.

This sense of disharmony and abruptness made Apricot’s heart skip a beat because it indicated that the dream could wake up at any moment.

She was very interested in dreams and loved dreaming because only in dreams could she find enough warmth and comfort.

So she became urgent again.

Quickly called out, "Meizi."

"Call me Sister."

Meizi’s voice came from in front, then she turned around to look at her.

Apricot didn’t dare to dwell too much, hurriedly inquiring, "Sister, where is this place?"

"This is Huangyan Village," Meizi pointed behind.

Apricot quickly turned her head and saw a village looming in and out of the morning mist.

"This is Dajiao Mountain Town," Meizi also pointed in the other direction down the road.

Apricot quickly turned back and saw an ancient little town appearing not far away.

Apricot was still looking carefully, and then heard Meizi say, "Do you remember?"

Apricot quickly nodded.

"Once you remember, you can find your way home," Meizi said with a smile.

The surrounding scenery rapidly changed, and Apricot found herself standing on an embankment.

The slope of the embankment was covered with soft grass, across a river was a field of golden rapeseed flowers, swaying in the breeze, the air filled with the fragrance of rapeseed, peeking over the expansive fields, one could faintly see some tall buildings.

The scenery here once again sparked Apricot’s memories. This was one of her favorite places when wandering with Meizi in the past.

She hurriedly searched around, and sure enough, saw Meizi sitting on the grassy slope of the embankment.

"Meizi."

Apricot hurriedly strode towards her.

Meizi heard her call and waved to her.

"Oh wow~"

At this moment, two children slid down the grass beside them, and the once still world seemed to come alive.

"One more time, one more time..."

Dou Dou, who had slid to the bottom, was full of excitement.

"Sister, who are they?" Apricot asked in confusion.

"That’s Dou Dou and Duoduo. Because I met them, I could meet you in the dream."

Meizi said as she waved at Dou Dou and Duoduo.

"You know this is a dream?" Apricot asked in surprise.

She thought Meizi was just someone she dreamed of, but it didn’t seem so now, and she felt something was amiss.

"Of course I know, don’t you also know? I’m Meizi, you’re Apricot..."

Meizi pointed at herself, then at Apricot.

Apricot looked at Meizi and nodded blankly.

"Do you still remember where our home is?" Meizi asked with a smile.

Apricot sat down beside Meizi, her gaze fixed on the rapeseed fields in the distance.

The golden rapeseed flowers formed waves of gold under the breeze.

"Dajiao Mountain Town, Huangyan Village, right?" Apricot smiled at Meizi.

Her body began to ripple like water, gradually returning to her adult form.

From the perspective of an adult, Meizi was so small and seemed very fragile.

"Apricot."

Suddenly Meizi called out to her.

"What?" Apricot looked down at her.

Meizi’s face was covered in tears at some point, making her look even dirtier.

"I’m sorry." Meizi forced out a smile that was more like a grimace.

The surrounding scenery began to shake, and everything shattered.

Apricot suddenly sat up in bed.

"Meizi."

She shouted, then looked around, whispering softly.

"Sister."

Tears pattered down; it turned out she was crying.