“It is. Does he think I should leave here?” Mia asked.

“He came to see if you had any intention of leaving. I think he’s the kind of saint who watches the sky and the earth at the same time. Is he pressuring me or encouraging me?”

“We Deserted villagers also look at both the sky and the earth,” Mia said with a smile.

Lohan was silent. He sensed the ancient feeling, as Mia did.

A man who was one of Mia’s patients came in.

“My ears are buzzing all the time. Should I just get used to it?” he asked.

The patient was a man of forty. He was troubled, but he seemed to be in high spirits.

“Try to get used to it. Things will get better,” Mia said, looking him in the eye.

“I see. It means I still have some kind of power, doesn’t it?”

“You still have a lot of power. I’ll give you a tea mushroom that you can brew at home.”

Holding the jar with both hands, the man left.

“You’re right,” said Lohan, nodding appreciatively at Mia. “The Deserted villagers have the same blood as Dr. Lin. This gives us freedom in life.”

“I have more work than I can handle every day; there just isn’t enough time.”

“Dr. Lin got the answer he wanted.”

They saw their son Milan watering the several castor oil plants. Joy rose in Mia’s heart when she saw Milan concentrating on what he was doing.

Someone came in. It was Fourth Uncle, looking very vigorous today. Milan ran to his granduncle, and they hugged each other.

“Mia, I have a life of my own now!” he said huskily.

After Fourth Uncle left, the family stood listening in front of the door. They heard a suspicious sound. Suddenly, they ran to the backyard.

The dried-up well in the backyard was bubbling, and a large patch of sparse grass was being watered. Milan clapped his hands in ecstasy and shouted, “Mom, he’s coming!” He raced over to the little boy standing in the shallow puddle and took his hand.

“Whose child are you?” Mia asked the little boy.

“I came from the other side. I just came to check on this well. I’m leaving now,” he said as if he were an old hand.

“Mom, he’s going away!” Milan was downcast.

The boy shook off Milan’s hand and ran quickly out of the garden.

“How did you know he was coming, Milan?” Mia asked gently.

“We had an appointment. He came to see if I had grown up yet.” Milan stared blankly.

Lohan and Mia felt like crying.

Through the tree branches, a ray of sunlight fell on Milan’s small profile. Milan stood motionless on the spot. He had shown fortitude.

Lohan was remembering. He remembered that the well had run dry in his boyhood. He used to lie by the well and dream of water rising from the earth. But the miracle had never happened, probably because of his temperament. “What momentum! It’s all because of Dr. Mia,” he said.