Chapter 3 wild rose hat

wild rose hat Daughter Xuezi is especially looking forward to the teacher's arrival.On the day, we will pick you up at the bus station.However, just in case, draw a simple map. Holding such a postcard in one hand, I started looking for the Zhongyuan family's villa. When I got off the bus, no one came to pick me up. As a result, I could only rely on this "simple map" and search for it while walking.However, this map is simply full of fallacies.The distance from the bus station to the fir tree is only eye-to-nose distance, but it is drawn as if it were longer than a station on the train.But at a far corner on the opposite side, it seems that there are only two,

Three steps away.In this way, how far do I have to go to reach the villa?I don't even have a score in my mind.What is the feeling of the person who wrote this postcard?From now on, I've been a little pissed off. Living in that villa is a girl named Xuezi Zhongyuan whom I am going to teach this summer, and her mother.Live in a villa in the mountains to be a tutor - I almost jumped for joy when I was introduced to this job.I thought, this would be great.The child to be taught is already a middle school student and will not be too tired.Moreover, three meals are also given, and it is said that the allowance is not a small amount.I stuffed my backpack with the books I wanted to read, and I brought a sketchbook and a guitar.Although I said to myself more than once, it's not for fun, but I still whistled non-stop.Ah, how many years have you not been to the mountains?

However, when the bus left me alone in this mountain station and hurried away, especially when I found that there was no one here, I suddenly became uneasy. The time is 3 o'clock in the afternoon.The wind rustled the leaves, and the mountain was unbelievably quiet in broad daylight. I waited at the bus stop for a while, but no one came to greet me, so I walked slowly according to the map.He stopped and walked, walked a few steps and then tilted his head to think about it, at least he had reached the miscellaneous forest drawn on the map.In the woods, as shown on the map, there is a thin path passing through.I breathed a sigh of relief and headed up the trail.

At this moment, a figure flashed past in the depths of the forest on the right hand. (Huh!) I stared at it. No matter how you look at it, it looks like a child.Carrying a big basket, he seems to have gotten used to it, walking staggeringly.It looked like he was sent to go shopping, and he was walking back slowly.Soon, the figure ran out of the woods, and suddenly appeared in front of me about thirty meters away.Then, he quickly walked to the opposite side. It was a girl wearing a big hat. When I saw her back, I almost couldn't help laughing out loud. (Isn't it like the hat is walking?)

The girl's straw hat was a bit ridiculously big, with white flowers adorning the brim of the hat.No, it is not so much decorated as it is filled with white flowers.Like a Southland Mardi Gras hat. The flowers were all wild roses. Under the hat, which was studded with wild roses, were two long, bare braids, hanging down to her waist.Between denim trousers and white socks, she could see her thin ankle.Probably a girl from the city.Age, thirteen or fourteen... At this moment, I suddenly realized: (This is probably Xuezi Zhongyuan!) I hurriedly looked at the map, at the end of this road, it should be the Zhongyuan family.Because it is an inaccurate map, distance?Can't see how far it is.But no matter what, the villa is at the end of this forest, so it can't be wrong.

(In this way, she is really Yukiko, so I will just follow her) -- Such a beautiful guide girl appeared, I thought happily. The distance between the girl and me is still thirty meters.The girl didn't seem to notice that I was following behind at all, and she was still walking in a hurry.Many green apples protruded from the square bamboo basket.Xuezi was probably sent by her mother to go shopping, right?Mother I must have said that, the teacher is coming today, let's go buy more fruit!I really want to sit on the balcony of the villa and eat those apples. However, maybe I should say hello to the girl here.

But somehow, I was uncharacteristically timid.But it's such a trivial thing as saying hello, at least today, I seem to need a lot of courage.Although if the girl turns her head away, all I need to do is smile and say "Hi". "Are you Yukiko Nakahara?" Just a brisk greeting-- The girl never looked back.It just went straight forward, almost like an army marching, striding forward. I imagined Xuezi's appearance. Wearing a floral hat, white skin, and big black eyes, a portrait of a young girl somewhat similar to Laurence's painting emerged in my mind. But no matter what, the villa is too far away!In this area, the beautiful red roofs should be visible soon, but this trail in the wet forest is walking, walking, and it is impossible to finish.

Immediately I became restless and quickened my pace a little. Then, for some reason, the girl's footsteps also quickened.If I go faster, so will the girl.Tap, tap, tap, tap... The footsteps of two people sounded. Obviously, the girl has realized that I am following behind!Maybe they have already found me.Even so, she refused to turn her head even once, what a shy child! Gradually, the trail became narrow and dangerous.I was either tripped by the vines and almost fell, or I was startled by the sharp cry of the bird. (Will there be a villa in this kind of place?) I suddenly thought.It wasn't until this time that I began to realize that this person might not be Xuezi Zhongyuan.I may have misidentified and followed a stranger for so long.

I finally shouted at the top of my voice: "Ah... Hey, hey!" It didn't matter if I shouted like that, but suddenly, the girl ran up suddenly.The green apples in the basket, two or three, tumbled and fell to the ground.The girl was like a rabbit being chased by a hunting dog, but ran away like crazy.I was stunned.However, I immediately started running. "Don't be afraid--hey!" I shouted loudly, chasing after the girl. "Hey--, I just want to ask for directions--" But, watching, the distance between me and the girl has been opened.At the end of the narrow path, Wild Rose's hat became a little idea.The white hat looked like a butterfly in the forest, fluttering away. "I can't help it!" I stopped, panting heavily.

But I can only go after girls.There is no way to go back to the bus station, because the sun has already set in the west.I can't stay overnight in a place like this.As long as you follow that child, whether it's a mountain hut or a charcoal burning hut, no matter what, you'll be able to reach a place with people.I stumbled and took a step. Saw Wild Rose's hat again.Far, far away, it looked like a small white dot. (I'm going to start chasing again!) I quickened my pace. But after chasing for a while, the white dot suddenly became blurred and became two. (…) I rubbed my eyes.

Now there are three white dots. (Strange, strange!) I stood there, staring at it, and this time it became four, five, six... I couldn't help but ran over.I thought it must be a large group of girls wearing wild rose hats, suddenly coming out of nowhere. The closer I get, the more hats there are.I'm already dazzled. "Hi, Yukiko--" While running, I shouted loudly. But in the blink of an eye, there was a sea of ​​white wild roses in front of me. ... I do not know when, I strayed into the wild rose forest. Here, not even a girl in a hat. Very still.I smell a sweet floral fragrance.If it is a living thing, I am the only one... At this moment, I suddenly heard such a voice: "Mom, I was scared to death. I don't know who is chasing me from behind!" I swept around.I recognized that voice, which came from a thick bush next to me.I was about to get in, but I was immediately caught by the thorns of the rose, and a series of openings were drawn. At this time, the following dialogue came from the bushes: "What kind of person is that? With a gun?" "No idea. I haven't looked back once." For some reason, I had a strange feeling. I gazed into the rose bushes.And then... through the layers of leaves I saw something white and alive.Still moving.two horses. (It's a deer!) I immediately understood.It was two white does—probably one a doe and one her daughter.On the head of the deer daughter, there is a wild rose hat alone. I seemed to see hallucinations. At this time, the eyes of the doe and mine met together with a "snap".it says: "Who is it?" indeed the deer said.For a moment, I was speechless.Just eyes wide open, panting heavily.So the doe asked again: "Who is it?" There was a kind of awe in the voice.As expected of a deer, even the attitude of this animal is so solemn.I was completely tongue-tied. "Ah... I'm a tutor, I'm lost..." Doe thought for a while and asked me: "Teacher, isn't that the teacher we often say?" "Well, maybe it is." "Really? That's just right." "Ah?" Hearing my question in a daze, the doe said slowly: "So, can you teach my daughter by the way?" I panicked when I heard it. "No no, how can I teach Lu's daughter! Besides, I have to go to Zhongyuan's house now." However, Mrs. Lu is really enthusiastic: "Please, it only takes two or three days, no, no, a day or half a day is enough. Please teach this child roughly. After I finish, I will definitely give you a generous gift." "A generous gift?" I was a little moved. "What can you give me?" said the doe in a solemn voice: "I'll teach you the magic of hats!" (Ha,) I see. (So ​​that’s what happened. The deer daughter just put on a wild rose hat and turned into a girl. But if I put on that hat, what will I become?) I suddenly became excited. "Well then, let me be a governess for a while! But what shall I teach?" said the doe slowly: "Let's teach reading, writing and arithmetic, and general common sense." "Common sense?" I blinked blinking. "Yes. For example, how to say greetings, how to greet guests, how to write letters, how to treat people to dinner, how to give gifts...and..." I was a little bored and interrupted it midway : "I don't think it's necessary for the deer to remember these things." Unexpectedly, the doe lowered her voice and muttered: "No, this child is about to become a man's bride." "..." "I shouldn't have taught this child the magic of hats in the first place! This child wears a hat of wild roses and takes the form of a man." , ran around all over the mountains and plains. It didn’t take long, and I got better with the hunter’s son. No, the wedding will be held soon.” “That’s right.” I nodded seriously.The doe continued: "Although we are called deer, we are also called Baixue. This is a kind of noble origin. In the past, there were many companions in this mountain, but we were chased by wild dogs and killed by people. Now there are only two horses left. .We are the last white snow. The reason why we hide here is because the thorns of roses protect us." "That's right, it turns out to be the stronghold of wild roses! Don't say it, if you don't pay attention, you really can't break in. But, can you let me in?" "Of course. Please go around to the back. There is a gap the size of a rose tree in the back, please get in through there." I nodded and walked around the edge of the bush.Just on the opposite side, there is a narrow gap, which is the entrance.I drilled in from there. The center of the grove was empty.The rose trees form a circle with a house-sized space in the center.Two snow-white and snow-white deer stood there upright. "Wow..." I narrowed my eyes.Suddenly, I felt as if I had flown into an old oil painting. Looking back now, at that time, I was already bewitched by the white deer, right?Why do I say that, because at that time I had completely forgotten the villas in the Central Plains.Moreover, I think this deer's daughter is Yukiko, who came all the way from Tokyo to be Deer's tutor. Deer Xuezi has big watery eyes.In contrast, Mother Deer's eyes are more cold, somewhat worrying, but, I think, it is a kind of lament for her beloved daughter who is about to become a human bride. I sat on the grass and started to eat green apples. Perhaps because I was hungry, I ate five in a row. How long have I been with the deer since then, and what have I eaten to survive?I can't recall any of these things. In my rucksack, I stuffed all kinds of things.Several volumes of study reference books, books for boys and girls, plant illustrations, atlases, guitar scores, sketchbooks and drawing tools, riddles and nine chains.All these things came in handy. Like teaching people, I spent a lot of effort teaching a deer's daughter who knew nothing about the world, but Yukiko's memory is superb, and she learned the usual reading, writing and calculations all at once. Sometimes - when the doe is away, I ask Yukiko something about her "fiancée". "What kind of person is he?" When I asked, Xuezi's white ears would suddenly twitch, and she would happily answer me: "He is like the moon at dawn." Then, she stared blankly at him. Looking into the distance, he continued: "The first time I saw him was on my way back from visiting my father." "Ah, do you have a father?" "Yes. My father is in the science classroom of the village primary school. My father has a beautiful head Antlers, glass eyes, just standing there. But Dad didn't say a word, and he didn't breathe. Even so, I always turned into a human and went to see Dad. I was going home On the way, I met him unexpectedly. Because the fog was too thick, my nose almost touched a piece, but I didn't notice it. I was so surprised that I almost jumped up. Just a little bit, the hat fell to the ground. He suddenly spoke: --Have you seen hunters around here? -- I do not speak.So he continued in one breath: --Meet a man in a leather jacket?is my father.I went hunting and never came back—at that moment, for some reason, his eyes were particularly bright, and I was afraid, so I took a few steps back.So, he suddenly laughed: --Don't be afraid--he said.I did not know how to do it, and I was ashamed as hell, and said: --Look for it--and ran away with a bang.However, his smiling face will always remain in my heart. I don't know why, but I am in so much pain... When I saw him again, I asked: --Have you found your father? -- Hearing my question, he shook his head sadly: -- Take your time -- he said.He smokes.A nice smell.Since then, we have often dated in the mountains.At first, I was just trying to tease and tease people.But in the end, when I wake up, well, I have agreed to marry someone..." Hehehe, Xuezi smiled through tears. "So, he doesn't know the hiding place yet?" Xuezi nodded. "He doesn't know you are a deer?" Xuezi nodded again. "However, can this be concealed forever? Even if she puts on a wild rose hat, turns into a human and gets married, the truth will be revealed one day!" "It's okay." Xuezi answered very simply. "Mother will use a special kind of magic to make me completely human." "Oh, what a wonderful deer your mother is!" "Yes. Although all white deer have magical powers, mother's is especially powerful. So, We will live until today." After saying this, Xuezi suddenly lowered her voice and said something like this: "However, teacher, it's better not to think about magic. You must not even think about magic!" Xuezi's voice was very serious. "Why?" "Why..." But at this moment, Xuezi closed her mouth.The doe came back quietly.Then, a stern and frightening face stared fixedly at Xuezi. Afterwards, I taught Xuezi how to make phone calls and how to say greetings.He also taught her that the leaves of bok choy can be used as a medicine to treat boils, and that if you catch a cold, drinking wine with egg yolk and sugar will cure you.As a thank you, Yukiko taught me such a lovely magic.Fill your palm with petals, and blow with a sharp breath: "Look, doesn't this create a blizzard of little flowers? Make a wish before they hit the ground. If you say it before all the petals fall to the ground, that wish , it will definitely come true. I always make a wish to be a good bride.” Then one day, Xuezi will finally marry into a human village.Instead of a hat, her hair was full of wild roses, and she would never turn back into a deer again. Yukiko, dressed as a beautiful bride, slipped out of the fortress of roses and left. It was just me and the doe. The doe said in her usual courteous tone: "You're tired." Its eyes, like glass.At that moment, the image of the deer's mate flashed through my mind.The primary school in the village has become the glass eyes of a taxidermy stag... Thinking of this, I get goosebumps all over my body.I suddenly wanted to go down the mountain. "I want to go back……" While talking, I grabbed my backpack and walked towards the exit.But at this moment, a doe's awe-inspiring voice came from behind: "Well, let me teach you the magic of hats!" This made my heart jump. "I don't want to learn magic. I've seen enough." I refused.But the doe shook her head: "No. We agreed from the beginning. I'll feel sorry for you if you don't wear that hat." Really?I think.However, I turned around and thought, if I learn a simple trick of magic now, it will be convenient in the future. Wild Rose's hat, thrown at my feet.I bent down and picked it up. "Put your hat on, please," said the doe.I gently put the hat on my head. The doe ran up and down in front of me, saying a spell.Long incantation.Surrounded by the sweet scent of wild roses, I just stood there and fell into a drowsy sleep. ... Chirp chirp chirp chirp chirp, a bird chirp sounded on my shoulders and I opened my eyes. The white deer lay motionless in front of me.The rose leaves, glowing with dazzling light, swayed.The surroundings are no different from before.I wanted to stretch my arms and yawn, but I was taken aback when I didn't want to.His body became extremely hard.It's almost like a stick. I wanted to say something, but couldn't make a sound.I tried to twist my body, but I couldn't - Ah, I have become a rose tree! It was turned into a tree that just blocked the exit of the fortress. "Okay, now you have become a wild rose guarding the deer." The doe said solemnly. Then, the long, long chatter began-- "Do you think I have deceived you? But do you know how people deceive deer? They use deer flute to lure the deer to be deceived. Because the deer flute can imitate the sound of a female deer. At the sound of it, young deer with beautiful antlers would walk into the moonlight. Then they were killed. My father did it, my brother, my cousin, my spouse, all of them. This is how man deceives deer. In order to catch more deer at a time, people will form a large group and surround the mountain.Women, children, and even dogs joined the hunters.They formed a huge semicircle, chasing the deer to nowhere.This happened several times.With so many deer rushing over the mountain path, it was like a white gust of wind.People screamed and chased after them.Our Baixue's partners have been drastically reduced in this way. When did it happen?It was also the time when I was being chased to nowhere. In order to protect my daughter and myself, I used the magic that I had always kept in my body.I turned all those who surrounded us into wild roses.We've been living in seclusion since then.These wild roses here are all from that time.Not just the hunters, but the men, women and children of the village.Even now, family members often come to search for the unaccounted for.This is my greatest revenge on people. "I was trembling with fear. As I trembled, I thought: (Even so, there is no need to turn me into a wild rose, right? I never even thought about hunting deer! Not only did I never think about it, but I also taught Xuezi so many things.) The doe read my heart and nodded again and again: "Yes, you did teach my daughter a lot. But you saw my daughter get married. That's why I turned you into a tree." "..." "Because you are the only one who knows her secret People. Yes, even if one person knew that the child was a deer, it would not be able to guard the child's happiness. It is to keep my daughter's secret that I turned you into a wild rose. This is my last magic. "After speaking, the doe quietly closed her eyes. Then, a long time passed. I watched intently as the spider weaved a silver thread into a beautiful geometric pattern, slowly hanging it from the rose branch, and then back again.I watched the snail slowly climb away and counted the long queue of ants. The sun rises again and again, and sets again and again.I thought it would be a round yellow moon, but unexpectedly, it was thin and shining like a table knife.I felt as if I had stood there for decades. "Hey, what are you doing there?" One day, I suddenly heard a human voice. "You've been standing there for a long time, thinking about something?" It was a young man who seemed to be a local.But I still didn't move.Because the rose tree cannot move.At this time, the man patted me on the shoulder with a "snap".At that moment, my knees suddenly bent, and I fell limply to the ground. "What's wrong with you?" The man glanced at my face. I just put my hands on the ground, panting, and told him my experience from beginning to end. "Is that a hallucination? You are hallucinating Shirayuki who lived on this mountain a long time ago!" said the man. "But, this hat..." I raised my hand to my head, without the Wildrose hat.And not just the hats, the white deer and the rose bushes were gone too.The surrounding area is just a grove of miscellaneous trees at dusk.The man opened his mouth wide and laughed: "Have you lost your way? Where are you going?" "Yes... Zhongyuan..." I put my hand in my pocket and took out the crumpled postcard.The man stretched his head and looked: "Haha, this is the forest in front! You got off the wrong train just now, and you got off one stop earlier." I was so ashamed that I wanted to find a crack in the ground and crawl in.I have always been so rash, and finally made such a big mistake.However, the man said to me: "If you walk from here, it will take about 30 minutes. You can get there before dawn. Shall I be your guide?" I followed the man, and while walking on the forest path, I picked up the petals of the hydrangeas blooming on the path.I also quietly tried the magic that Xuezi once taught me.When the little blue flowers fell in a blizzard, I thought of the real Xuezi Zhongyuan.Xuezi must be white with big eyes, right?The legs must be long, right?And she must be an innocent and gentle girl... I suddenly thought that in the future, I will see Yukiko who has come to the world again! A long summer evening.