"A healthy garden is not one where every plant survives by itself. It is one where each season teaches the soil how to care for whatever grows next."
Spring arrived quietly.
The persimmon tree blossomed again.
The community garden behind the Workshop had grown far beyond its original size.
What had once been a few raised beds now stretched across several neighboring lots.
Vegetables.
Fruit trees.
Medicinal herbs.
Wildflowers.
Rain gardens.
Bee houses.
Composting stations.
A children's planting circle.
The garden no longer belonged to one neighborhood. It now symbolizes that community and growth require patience and collective effort, encouraging hope for future connections.
People traveled across the city to spend an afternoon there.
Marshal's newest descendant examined a row of tomatoes.
"They appear edible."
"They aren't ripe."
Lan Yi replied.
"They possess admirable potential."
"You say that every spring."
"I have faith."
"You have impatience."
"Both."
The Empty Bed
Near the center of the garden stood one large planting bed.
Empty.
Fresh soil.
Watered.
Maintained.
Nothing planted.
Visitors asked about it constantly.
"Did something die?"
"No."
"Are you preparing for next season?"
"No."
"Then why is it empty?"
Jun smiled.
"Because..."
"...someone..."
"...we haven't met yet..."
"...may need somewhere..."
"...to begin."
The Seeds
One morning—
A refugee family from another country visited the garden.
They carried a small cloth pouch.
Inside—
A handful of seeds.
The grandmother held them carefully.
"We brought these..."
"...when we left home."
"What are they?"
Yaoyao asked.
"Our beans."
"Can they grow here?"
"We don't know."
The family had carried the seeds through three countries.
Across two refugee camps.
Through countless border inspections.
They had protected them...
Longer than many people protected jewelry.
Not because the seeds were valuable.
Because...
They remembered home.
The Soil Test
Kai immediately volunteered.
"We'll plant them."
The grandmother gently stopped him.
"Not yet."
"Why?"
"They may not survive."
"We'll help."
"They may..."
"...change..."
"...your soil."
Professor Ning Xue smiled.
"Then..."
"...we should learn..."
"...about both."
Instead of planting immediately—
They studied.
Soil.
Temperature.
Rainfall.
Local insects.
Growing seasons.
Nearby plants.
Not because they feared change.
Because...
They respected consequences.
The Children
The youngest volunteers became impatient.
"When do we plant?"
"Soon."
Lan Yi answered.
"You always say soon."
"I know."
"What if..."
"...they never grow?"
An elderly gardener overheard.
"Then..."
"...we'll learn..."
"...how to care..."
"...for the next seeds."
The children thought about that.
One little girl nodded.
"So..."
"...the lesson..."
"...still grows."
Gallery Zero
Another question quietly appeared.
What did someone protect...