After their little boy fell asleep, the couple went outside hand in hand.

The hill behind their house was glowing hazily, even shimmering. They stared in awe. Did it recognize its new owner? This hill had originally been owned by Yang, an old widower who lived at the other end of the village. Yang didn’t plant anything on the hill, but he went up there every day. He looked around and squatted down to talk to the weeds and the little fir trees. Mia’s impression was that Yang was an interesting man. He was also sick. In the springtime, his left leg was swollen like a bucket. When Mia offered to lease the hill, he agreed at once.

“How much do we owe you then? Tell me what you want for it,” Mia asked him in trepidation.

“Money? I don’t want your money. It’s yours now,” Yang answered calmly.

“But this—this isn’t right. It’s your property.”

“I’ve done nothing with it. I don’t deserve it. I’d be happy to give it to you and your husband for free.”

“In that case, then, I’ll work it out with Lohan and give you some money anyway.”

“As you please. I don’t care, really. What do I want money for?”

When Mia told her husband this, Lohan was silent for a long time before saying, “Yang is the soul of our Deserted Village.” Neither of them felt that Yang was like others living in today’s society. He was more like an ancient wanderer who had settled down in the village.

“Listen!” Mia whispered.

They heard Yang’s indistinct voice. On such a night, under such a hazy moonlight, listening to such a voice . . . the couple was deeply intoxicated.

“Would it be a mistake to turn this hill into a garden of herbs?” Mia hesitated.

“No. It can only get better. You see, isn’t it welcoming us? Yang is discriminating, and he chose us. We are lucky,” Lohan said.

“Ah, you’re a clear thinker. Perhaps you should be a barefoot doctor?”

“When you become a doctor, I’ll also be half a doctor. It’s a spousal benefit.”

“I am the one who gets the spousal benefit, my dear. Sorry I didn’t see your merit sooner.”

“Don’t say that. I didn’t see your true character, either, did I?”

They heard Yang’s voice from the hill, again. But was it really Yang?

“Lohan, how can a dream come true all of a sudden? I feel like crying.”

“But you don’t have time for crying now. You may cry later.”

When they reached the edge of the hill, Yang’s voice died away. It seemed that it wasn’t Yang just now, because the light in Yang’s house was still on. Could the hill be imitating Yang’s voice? When Mia asked this, Lohan was moved. He hugged his wife tightly.

Then they climbed halfway up the hill and sat down to watch the night scene.

“Mia, I heard you say something just now.”

“But I didn’t say anything,” Mia whispered.