Morning sunlight filtered through the paper windows, painting soft gold across the wooden floor. The scent of roasted boar and freshly steamed buns still lingered from last night's dinner.
Achu tied her long hair into a loose braid, humming as she kneaded dough on the kitchen counter. Her movements were steady and practiced — each push of her palm shaping the soft dough into neat little rounds.
Behind her, Ran was sweeping the floor while Chen carried a pail of water from the well. Fei sat in a small basket nearby, gnawing on a wooden spoon like a tiny warrior preparing for battle.
"Ran, be careful with the broom. Don't let the dust fly near the dough," Achu said without turning around.
"Yes, Mom," Ran answered, sticking her tongue out playfully.
"Chen, when you finish fetching water, help me carry the smoked meat to the storeroom."
"Okay, Mom."
It was an ordinary morning — simple, but full of warmth.
When breakfast was ready, the three children gathered around the low table. Pancakes, rice porridge, and thin slices of smoked boar were served alongside pickled vegetables.
"Mom, your cooking is the best," Chen said with his mouth full.
"Of course," Achu replied, pretending to be smug. "Who else can roast a boar better than your mother?"
Fei giggled as if agreeing, slapping her little hands on the table.
"Eat slowly, Fei," Achu said, scooping a tiny spoonful into the baby's bowl. "You're going to choke if you keep bouncing like that."
After breakfast, Ran cleaned the table while Achu stepped outside. The early breeze carried the smell of wet grass and fresh earth. The villagers were already awake — smoke rising from chimneys, roosters crowing in distant yards, and laughter drifting from the nearby stream.
Achu waved to a few passing villagers before heading toward the small office she had built near the entrance of the village.
She didn't wear fine robes or jewelry — only a simple linen dress and a thin rope belt — yet everyone who saw her bowed with respect.
To them, she wasn't a noblewoman or a cultivator.She was the Mother of Anning Village.
When she arrived at the office, a family was already waiting — two adults and a young girl around eight. Their clothes were worn from travel, and their eyes carried a trace of fear and exhaustion.
Achu smiled gently. "You must be the newcomers Ran mentioned."
"Yes, Lady Achu," the man said, bowing deeply. "We're grateful you allowed us to settle here."
"No need for titles. Just call me Achu," she replied softly. "Have you filled out the paperwork?"
"Not yet… we wanted to thank you first. We heard this village is safe for commoners. That no bandits or tax collectors come here."
Achu nodded. "You've heard correctly. We're far from the capital, and everyone here works together. You'll find peace here if you're willing to live honestly."
The woman clasped her hands tightly, her eyes glistening. "Thank you. My husband and I lost everything in the border war. We only wish to start anew."
"Then you're in the right place," Achu said warmly. "I'll have Chen and Ran help you settle near the southern fields. The soil there is soft and rich — good for spring planting."
The little girl peeked from behind her mother's skirt. Achu crouched down to meet her gaze.
"And what's your name, little one?"
"Mei…" she whispered shyly.
Achu smiled. "Welcome, Mei. I think Fei will like having someone her age around soon."
By noon, the new family was settled into a small house near the stream. Chen helped fix the roof tiles while Ran brought them extra blankets. Achu supervised quietly, occasionally giving small instructions.
When the work was done, she stood at the edge of the field, looking out over the patchwork of homes and farms she had built from nothing.
The wind rustled through the grain fields, sunlight glinting off the small stream that wound through the village.
It wasn't the palace she had been born into — no marble halls, no silken curtains.But here, among laughter and soil, she found something far more precious.
Peace.
That evening, as stars began to bloom across the sky, Achu sat outside her home with a cup of warm tea. Chen and Ran were chasing fireflies, and little Fei slept soundly in her cradle.
Achu smiled to herself, the sound of the night insects filling the quiet.
"Another family found their home," she murmured. "Another heart healed."
The lantern beside her flickered softly, casting golden light over her calm face.
Anning Village — her creation, her refuge, her world — continued to grow, one gentle day at a time.