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Mi had been stubborn since the day he could walk. Tell him to go east, and he would head west just to spite you. \n\nHis aunt always grumbled that it was because he was born during Grain in Ear. She said he was born full of prickles, just like the wild crops that sprout this time of year. \nMi would shoot right back at her. "Then blame my parents for naming me Mi! Mi means grain, and grain is supposed to have prickles!"\n\nThe moment he brought up his parents, his aunt would fall silent. She would only mutter under her breath that she could not argue with him, and that once he was a little older, she would send him to Jadestream Valley. She hoped Grandmaster Raven over there could knock some sense into him. \n\nMi did not understand why his parents were a forbidden topic. He had never met them and did not see what use they were anyway. He only knew his aunt wanted to get rid of him and ship him off. \n\n"I am not going! Master Raven? Sounds like some old crow. With a bird name like that, I am not learning a thing from him!"\n"Ha. Well said."\n"Who are you? I have never seen you before. Do not come any closer! My rattle-drum is no joke!"\n\nA man stood beneath the old locust tree by the gate. He was long, lean, and tall as a beanpole. \nMi clutched his drum and edged back a few steps. \n\n"Steady now," the man said. "Your aunt mentioned the mechanical ox had stalled again, so I came to take a look. I assume you are the one who took it apart?"\n"It was not me! And I put it all back together anyway." Mi breathed a sigh of relief. \n"You did a clean job of it." Seeing the boy's guard drop, the man stepped inside. He crouched down to meet Mi's eyes. "Except for a few gears you installed backward."\n"They are not backward! Who do you think you are, some Mohist Grandmaster?"\n\nThe man laughed out loud before replying. "It does not matter if I am a Grandmaster. But those ratchets you fumbled with have 'Forward' and 'Reverse' carved right into the metal. If you had learned to read, you would not have botched the job."\n\nMi rolled his eyes, knowing he was not stupid. "Then I will just learn those two words! What is the point of books? I would rather spend my days riding that ox across the hills."\n"A fair point. But what if you could ride that ox while you learn? Would you come to Jadestream Valley then?"\n"You... You are Master Raven? Then this rattle-drum... You made it?"\n"I did. And not just drums. Mechanical oxen, wooden eagles, clockwork ponies... I build them all."\n"Then... I want to learn from you!"\n\n...\n\nSeasons drifted by, and Grain in Ear returned once more. \n\nMi clutched his rattle-drum and mounted the mechanical ox. He had heard the news. The seeds were at Jadestream Valley. He had to go back. He had to protect his master's seeds. \n\nIf Grain in Ear passed, the time for planting would be lost for good.