When she came back from Niulan Mountain and hurried to Aunt Lian’s home, Aunt Lian had just died.

“My mother wanted me to thank you very much. She kept repeating your name till the end.”

Tears streaming down her cheeks, Aunt Lian’s daughter held Mrs. Yi’s hand tightly.

“You are my mother from now on. You meant more to my mother than anyone else.”

Mrs. Yi couldn’t say a word; her heart hurt.

Aunt Lian’s eyes were half closed, and Mrs. Yi closed them gently for her.

On the way home, Mrs. Yi kept hearing Aunt Lian saying, “I can’t wait for you. Where have you been? I can’t wait . . .” Mrs. Yi answered in her heart, “Where could I be? It was someone in need who held me up, so I missed seeing you off.” But then she wondered if Ginger had really needed her help. Maybe not.

“Woman, you don’t look well today. What’s the matter?” her husband asked.

“I am getting old. I can’t tell what’s real and what isn’t . . . Aunt Lian is dead.”

“Ah . . . You didn’t see her at the end?”

“No. I lost my way on a side path and when I came to my senses and arrived at her house, she had left. I was so stupid . . .” She began to cry.

“Don’t cry, don’t cry. Niulan Mountain planned it this way, so the two of you would think of each other in two different worlds. This way, Aunt Lian will never be forgotten.”

“You have a point.” Mrs. Yi stopped crying and began to recall, “No wonder I was daydreaming all the way to Niulan Mountain. In fact, Niulan Mountain informed me about Lian’s death. Oh, Lian, we were closer than sisters!”

“That’s a good thing about living in Yun Village—What shouldn’t be forgotten will never be forgotten.”

Mr. Yi handed her a bowl of hot soup.

After drinking the soup, she felt much better.

“You don’t have to worry about Ginger. Over time, she’ll grow up,” Mr. Yi said.

There was a noise outside the door. Someone was there.

Mrs. Yi opened the door. It was Lian’s daughter Qiu.

“Qiu! Come on in. You must feel terrible. Do you want to talk to me?”

“No, that isn’t why I’m here. Mrs. Yi, I want to ask you: in the future may I help you take care of the herb garden?”

“Of course. You have a lot of housework of your own. Aren’t you afraid of getting worn out?”

“No, I’m not. It’s what I want to do, and it was also my mother’s last wish. I’ve always wanted to learn more about herbs. This is very useful in life.”

“Okay, thank you very much, Qiu!”

“I ought to thank you. Ah, my mother showed me a way out!”

When the girl left, Mrs. Yi stood in the doorway with her husband, looking at Qiu’s lonely figure for a long time.

“She grew up all of a sudden. She loved her mother so much that she loved me, too.”