âZhao Yang, youâve finally found your own friends. Now that you can leave with them, Grandma is truly happy,â the old woman said with a warm smile. âI no longer have to worry about your safety or your dreams.â
Hearing her words, Zhao Yang nodded and slowly crouched down in front of his grandmother.
âGrandma, Iâm going to leave with them now. If anything happens, please be sure to go find my parents,â he said softly. âDonât worry, Iâll definitely come back to this village. Iâm just going to take a look at the world outside.â
Grandma nodded slowly. âItâs good for you to go out and see the world, to gain experience and broaden your horizons. Only those who leave and return understand just how precious this life truly is.â
âMake sure you get along with these friends of yours. Remember not to act spoiled or be temperamental. Donât behave like you do at home.â
Zhao Yang nodded again. At that moment, his grandmother turned her gaze toward Zhang Nu and the others.
âYouâre taking Zhao Yang out into the world. Please, be patient with him. Heâs lived here his entire life and has never ventured out. Itâs only natural that he wonât understand a lot of things. Teach him wellâheâs a good child at heart.â
Zhang Nu nodded and, just like Zhao Yang, crouched in front of the old woman.
âGrandma, donât worry. Iâll take good care of Zhao Yang,â he said sincerely. âWeâre friends. On this journey, we wonât abandon or give up on each other. No matter what happens to him, weâll pull him back.â
Grandma nodded with approval. âGood, good. Thatâs good. As long as you treat him well, he wonât disappoint you.â
Zhang Nu nodded again. He could tell that this grandmother was truly kind and understanding. She respected the will of her loved ones and never forced her opinions on others.
âGrandma, donât worry. We wonât be disappointed in Zhao Yang. Weâll definitely treat him well.â
Hearing his words, the old woman nodded once more and gently closed her eyes, a serene smile spreading across her face.
âIf youâre planning to leave, then go quickly. If you wait too long, you may not be able to leave at all.â
Zhang Nu and the others had wanted to stay with her a little longer, but after hearing those words, they were about to protestâonly for Zhao Yang to stop them.
When Zhao Yang heard his grandmother say that, he knew she wasnât lying. If they didnât leave now, they might really never be able to.
âGrandma, then weâll head out now,â he said. âYou take good care of yourself. Iâll come visit you again when I return from the outside world.â
Grandma nodded once more, and Zhao Yang led Zhang Nu and the others away in a hurry.
Zhang Nu and the others didnât understand why Zhao Yang was so anxious. Shouldnât he have stayed and spent more time with his grandmother?
âZhao Yang, why are you in such a rush to leave?â Zhang Nu asked. âShouldnât you spend more time with your grandmother? Who knows when youâll get to see her again?â
Hearing Zhang Nuâs confusion, Zhao Yang replied calmly. âDidnât Grandma already say it? If we donât leave now, we wonât be able to leave at all. We have to listen to herâwhatever Grandma says always comes true.â
Zhang Nu and the others were stunned. Could she really be that powerful? Was she truly able to predict the future?
âNo way⊠Grandmaâs really that amazing?â
Seeing Zhang Nuâs skeptical reaction, Zhao Yang chuckled. He understood their disbeliefâhe hadnât believed it either at first. But after many experiences, he realized that everything his grandmother said would come true. From that point on, he dared not doubt her anymore. Anything she said, he would follow.
âIâm serious. If you donât believe me, youâll see next time we come back. Everything Grandma says will come true.â
Zhang Nu and the others nodded. They sincerely hoped they would have the chance to witness that for themselves.
âWell then, if weâre lucky enough to return, weâll be sure to stay longer and see just how amazing your grandma really is.â
Zhao Yang nodded with a smile. At that moment, none of them knewâonce they stepped out of this place, the chance to return would become a distant luxury.