The Love of the Osmanthus Trees
In a tranquil valley, two osmanthus tree seeds began their journey. Dropped by a bird from the sky, one seed landed in moist soil and quickly sprouted, while the other struggled to survive near a rock. Despite the harsh conditions, they grew with each other's encouragement and eventually met. Together, they faced the changing seasons and grew from unnoticed seedlings into a magnificent tree. Their beauty and value were discovered by people, leading to their tragic separation. Transplanted to different locations, they still yearned for each other. Ultimately, unable to bear the separation, both trees withered. Yet, their story remains an eternal symbol, inspiring others to believe in the power of love and hope.
In a tranquil valley, long before the noise of modern life intruded, two osmanthus tree seeds began their journey. A joyous bird, carrying the seeds in its beak, flew over the valley and accidentally dropped them onto a barren piece of land by a narrow path. One seed nestled into a patch of moist soil, while the other landed near a rock, more than a meter apart.
The seed in the moist soil quickly sprouted, sending out roots and embracing its new life with enthusiasm. Meanwhile, the other seed lay next to the rock, struggling to find hope. Days passed, and it seemed as if the second seed was destined to wither away. But in its despair, it heard a faint, encouraging whisper – it was the roots of its counterpart, breaking through the hard ground and reaching out.
Encouraged by the call, the second seed absorbed the rainwater from a sudden thunderstorm, broke through its thick shell, and sprouted two tender green leaves. The two seedlings, separated by distance, began to grow, each facing their own challenges. The first, with ample moisture, thrived and stood tall. The second, near the rock, grew slowly, its progress hindered by the harsh environment.
Seasons changed, and they endured a rainy season followed by a harsh winter. By their first spring, they were growing vigorously. The taller of the two barely reached the height of common grass. In this season, they finally met. The one by the moist soil saw the other immediately, noting her frail appearance. His heart ached, and he extended his roots further towards her, determined to provide support.
Inspired by his effort, she gathered rainwater with renewed determination. Despite the bitter cold of midnight breezes and the scorching heat of the sun baking the rock, she stood tall, opening her leaves to absorb the cool night air. She was fearless, enduring the burn of the heated rock. Her resilience attracted admiration from other plants, but she rejected them all, for her heart belonged solely to him. She knew that without his encouragement, she would have rotted away inside her shell. By the next winter, she had grown to a meter tall, while he had grown much taller, shielding her from the cold valley winds.
During this winter, he endured harsh winds that often stripped him of his leaves and frost that damaged his branches. She watched, her heart aching, yet there was nothing she could do. She was too frail to reach even his nearest leaf. All she could do was gaze at him, her eyes filled with gratitude, encouragement, and a touch of tenderness. This made him stronger, standing tall and spreading his branches wide, ignoring the harsh elements, forgetting he was still just a young sapling.
With the spring breeze, their roots finally touched, and their leaves brushed against each other. He noticed her roots were scarred; she saw his leaves, damaged from protecting her, oozing painful sap. He wrapped his roots around her, supplying her with water. She gathered warmth to soothe his wounds.
Seasons changed, and they grew lush and strong. Though she was a head shorter, she no longer looked sickly. Instead, she appeared tender and graceful beside his towering presence. Seeing his strength, she longed for his embrace; feeling her tenderness, he dreamt of kissing her leaves. Understanding each other’s desires, they grew closer.
Finally, they embraced, merging into one magnificent tree. They grew joyfully together, transforming from an unnoticed sapling into a majestic tree that stood out in the valley. She no longer feared the scorching rock, and he no longer worried about the freezing rain. Together, they listened to the whispers of the wind and watched meteor showers, blossoming every Mid-Autumn, filling the season with their fragrance.
Their beauty and value were soon discovered by people. On a cold spring day, they were uprooted and transported to an unknown place. As they were pulled from the ground, people were surprised to find that what appeared to be one tree was actually two, making them more valuable. To maximize profit, they had to be sold as separate trees. But their roots were entwined too tightly to separate easily. Despite the value-driven determination, the whirring chainsaws mercilessly split them apart.
They were placed in different parts of a city park, facing each other from afar. People named them "The Weaver Girl and the Cowherd," a symbol of enduring love.
Determined to reunite with her, he pushed his scarred roots towards her direction. But the concrete was far harder than any soil, making his efforts futile and only adding to his injuries. With all his roots wounded, he eventually withered, his leaves covering the ground.
When people noticed his death, they sighed with regret and pushed him down.
Oddly enough, a few days after he fell, she too lost all her leaves and collapsed. Her fallen form faced his direction, as if even in death, they sought to be close once more.