Chuxi's family initially thought they would soon see new baby swallows in the new nest Jiang Lin had built.
However, by the time Jiang Lin migrated away with the larger flock, they still hadn't seen any young swallows appear.
No other female swallows moved in either.
From beginning to end, there was only the initial adult swallow.
Chuxi even considered helping Jiang Lin find a mate and thought about decorating the new nest with a few flowers to make it more attractive.
But her father eventually stopped her, saying that if it got contaminated with human scent, it would be even less likely for swallows to move in.
He added that it might even cause the original swallow to leave.
Father Chu guessed, "Perhaps this swallow doesn't want other swallows to move in."
"Why?" Chuxi asked, confused.
"Territorial possessiveness? Or perhaps it hasn't found one worthy of it?"
Father Chu thought for a moment and then continued, "Animals must have their own requirements when looking for a mate."
He once encountered a pair of wild geese, but one of them had already died.
The other goose simply guarded its companion silently, not foraging for food, nor leaving.
It stayed until it died.
Finally, for reasons he couldn't quite fathom, he dug a hole in the ground and buried both geese.
Now, he realized, animals must have their own standards for their mates, and these standards vary.
Loyalty? Unwavering devotion? Appearance? Or strength?
"What kind of swallow would this adult swallow like?" Chuxi murmured to herself.
After that, Chuxi would bring a stool and squat under the eaves in the backyard whenever she had nothing else to do, watching the nest above.
A week later, she ran into the house with surprise.
"Dad, I know! That swallow is too strong! Other swallows that went there were all beaten back!"
"Nian Nian is so amazing!"
Father Chu patted her head and smiled, "Perhaps that adult swallow is looking for a mate stronger than itself."
"..."
Under the eaves of the backyard.
After once again swatting away a female swallow that was eyeing his meticulously built nest, Jiang Lin tilted his head as he listened to the conversation inside the house.
Then, he spread his wings and flew out to forage for food.
Humans are such strange creatures.
—Jiang Lin, the ghost official who was watching these scenes, suddenly felt that the bird Jiang Lin thought this way.
...
Spring turned to autumn.
When Jiang Lin returned for the third spring migration, he suddenly discovered that other birds had occupied the nest he had previously built.
He hovered in mid-air, hesitating whether to build another one, when he saw the little girl, who had grown a bit taller, run out of the house.
She was holding a long, slender bamboo pole.
Having grown another year older, Chuxi's strength had increased considerably.
She used the long pole to tap near the nest and said, "Go! Go! This is the adult swallow's nest, move away!"
Under Chuxi's fierce and determined drive to expel them, the birds occupying the nest finally flew away.
"Hmph, why are they always trying to occupy other birds' nests!"
Chuxi said indignantly.
"You know, it's still uncertain whether that swallow will return," Chu Niang said with a smile from the kitchen.
Smoke rose from the house, along with the aroma of food.
"It's so powerful, it will definitely come back. This is its territory!"
Chuxi put down the long pole and said, hands on her hips.
But after saying it, she felt a little less confident, "It should come back, right?"
Chuxi looked out at the forest. It was about time for the swallows to return, wasn't it?
Chirp—!
Just as Chuxi was about to go back inside, she suddenly heard a clear bird call from outside.
She instinctively turned her head to look.
She saw an adult swallow flying from a distance, landing directly into the sturdy bird's nest.
Its feathers were black and shiny, and its tail was like scissors.
"Is that you, back again?!"
Chuxi was overjoyed, almost jumping with happiness, "Mom, Mom! It's back! It really is back!"
"Do you think it will find a suitable mate this year?"
Inside the house, Chu Niang asked, "And you? Have you found someone you like yet?"
"What do you think about the matchmaker from the Xu family who came today?"
As she spoke, Chu Niang walked out of the house and poured dirty water outside.
Holding a basin in one hand, she tapped Chuxi's forehead with the other, "You're thinking about swallows all day. What will you do when you get married~"
"Mom, I'm still little!"
"You're twelve by lunar age, and you'll be married at fifteen. You're not little anymore."
"That's not true, I'm still little~"
...
The fourth year, the fifth year...
Jiang Lin's bird nest, repaired and maintained, remained under the eaves.
No other birds dared to inhabit it, as they would surely be driven out by Chuxi.
In the sixth year, Jiang Lin once again returned to this small village with the larger flock.
The once lively and bouncing little girl had grown into a graceful young lady.
Although still as cheerful, she now possessed a certain maidenly shyness and was not as boisterous as before.
The young lady had a fair complexion, and her round face looked very cheerful.
Many matchmakers had come to their door.
There were even some from other villages.
But when the matchmaker from the other village arrived, she also brought some other news.
"You've all heard, haven't you? There are bandits appearing on the mountains near Qiaojia Village. We need to be careful too."
"However, if your daughter marries into the Li family, she will surely enjoy a life of comfort. The Li family has specifically hired a guard team."
"The Li family said they want a girl like your daughter, who looks lovable. She will surely be cherished like their own daughter..."
The matchmaker was dressed in gaudy colors, and her face was full of prosperity.
Her rouged lips opened and closed, capable of making any words bloom.
...
In the forest, the chirping of birds sounded like music.
This year, the bird migration had started earlier.
If humans didn't pay close attention, it would be difficult to notice.
After all, in the eyes of most villagers, birds flying around and chirping were just...
That's how it is.
Just listen to them.
What, should they be called back after they fly away?
Don't they migrate back and forth like this every year?
Besides, birds are different from chickens, ducks, fish, and pigs. Generally, only wealthy people have the leisure to raise them for fun.
Even if used for food, they wouldn't fill one's stomach.
However, this time, Jiang Lin did not leave with the larger flock.
It wasn't that he was left behind, or that he didn't want to leave early.
That kind of intuition, the instinct of birds... he had what other birds had.
He quietly stayed in the nest, occasionally looking down.
When he saw Father Chu come out, he would fly out and circle a few times, chirping.
"Chirp chirp!"
…………