Meet
the Wanderer

The sun rays were still low in the sky, slowly bathing the fields around Kaifeng in yellow hues. It was one of those calm and cold spring morning, with few clouds and just a breeze, farmers already buzzing like bees. "What a peaceful, pastoral sight!" one could think while admiring the view, with only distant chatters, wood-chopping, birds' cooing... and a loud, rusty and male voice shouting at a running silhouette.

"Bring that back, you damn qióngguāng dàn! Wait until I catch you!"

Far across the meadows, a broad-shouldered farmer waved his pitchfork angrily, chasing a pregnant woman. As she drew nearer, one could realize she wasn't really a pregnant woman, but a slender figure with a big belly. Wait, it wasn't a belly at all... "It's just a melon, uncle!" the woman shouted back, fleeing at great strides, each step jingling with out-of-tune guqin strings. "Look! That's my friend!" she added, out of breath, "They are going to pay you! For the jade comb also!"

"Good luck traveler!" she voiced as she sprinted past an unknown person happening to be on the road, leaving them with the furious farmer closing in.

Yuelan, also known as the stranger, looked shocked but also unsure about how to handle the approaching farmer. Eventually, she took a deep breath and made herself seem more guarded. The farmer's pitchfork was held by their side, eventually stopping in front of her, seeming exhausted from having chased the melon thief.

"Hah… damn brat..." he says, catching his breath. "You there—was that your accomplice?" His voice was a guttural mix of anger and exhaustion, each word edged with frustration as he panted heavily. His tone was sharp yet trembled with fatigue. Yuelan's gaze was piercing, locking onto him with a fierce intensity that felt almost like a challenge. "No. No, I am not." Her sharp and commanding, drawing the attention of anyone nearby with its clarity and gravity.

He would continue to yell and even demand that Yuelan tell them who the woman was or offer up a form of payment. Yuelan was getting visibly frustrated as he continued, not leaving her alone. Aggressive and angry, the farmer had good reason: not only had the thief stolen a melon -how much was one fruit worth in a whole field?-, but also something far more precious. Something not easily replaceable, not for common folk like him.

From afar, atop a hill, Ye Yu sat on a rock, catching her breath, eyeing the growing crowd around the loud peasant and the unknown traveler: neighbors, workers, bystanders drawn by the commotion. She sliced the fruit and bit hungrily into the red, juicy fresh part. "Aaah... yes. It's even better when it's free" she murmured for herself, retrieving a small jade comb from her pouch, weighing it thoughtfully in her palm. Not the finest quality, probably some old family legacy, yet valuable enough for a farmer, not to mention its possible sentimental worth. Raising the chunk of melon like a toast, she continued her meal, observing the scene she created.

The crowd was roaring, rallying to support the farmer. Yet, no one came to help the innocent person caught in all of this.

"I told you, I have no part in this!" Yuelan's voice grew louder, but her words were drowned out by the crowd. There seemed to be no end to the chaos. The whispers in her mind began to coalesce, growing more distinct and urgent, weaving together her fears and hopes into a chorus of nonsense. Ideas of wanting to escape this situation grew as well, but that would only confirm their ongoing accusations. But also staying could lead to something far worse.

Monitoring the situation from her lookout, Ye Yu tried to suppress a growing feeling of guilt. Why were the farmers still gathered around that traveler? By now, they should have realized she'd lied, that this stranger had nothing to do with her! "Why are people so stupid when they group together?" she lamented, cutting another piece of melon. "Well... It's not my problem anymore. They will handle this just fine..." she told herself, only half-convinced. "Who cares anyway?". She shrugged off her morals, yet eyed the gathering with a frown. "Definitely not me."

Deciding enough was enough, Yuelan pushed one of the bystanders out of the way. "Help! She's coming at me!" The bystander yelled for everyone to hear, sparking an uproar from the crowd, which now shouted insults at Yuelan as she made her way down the road, calling for her to come back. Rocks were thrown her direction, one of them hitting the back of her bruised ankles. Her condition improved slightly the farther she got away, despite the pain from the rock that had hit her ankle. It was a difficult walk. She looked around to see where the melon thief had gone, but there was no sign of them. Deciding it was best to take a break, Yuelan sat down to rest her ankle and calm her mind after all the chaos.

Moment passed, five or ten minutes, before rustling could be heard behind Yuelan. Were the villagers back for more trouble? Was it a bandit preying on a wounded, isolated girl? A wild animal foraging fruits nearby? No, worse. It was all of that in one person: a wild melon thief! Ye Yu, still wearing her half broken mask, appeared nonchalantly, carrying her 1/4 eaten prize under one arm, another slice in her other hand. "You should be more careful" she simply said, making a few steps out of the nearby bushes she was coming from. "I've seen a big boar around. And I'm not referring to that farmer... Want some melon?" she asked, extending her arm forward in an invitation to share her meal.

- Beginning of "It's just a melon, uncle!"