I had a long dream.

In the dream, I arrived at an ancient village.

I saw three big characters carved on the stone monument at the village entrance - "Xijiao Village".

I lowered my head and saw myself wearing the villagers' worn and tattered clothes.

Angry and narrow-minded crowds gathered around me.

They shouted, "Burn her! Burn her! She brought misfortune to the village!"

I followed the villagers to a household.

The wife was kneeling on the ground, being whipped by a man.

She was covered in blood and had already lost consciousness.

The mother-in-law pointed at her head and cursed, "If you couldn't give birth to a son, it would have been fine! But you gave birth to a deformed girl! Our family has been cursed for eight generations. You stinky woman!"

The villagers stood outside the door, shouting, "The village is in drought, no rain is falling, it's all because of your deformed child! Burn her! The curse on the village will be broken!"

I wanted to stop them.

But it felt like there was a knife stuck in my throat, causing a sharp pain and preventing me from making a sound.

The man set up a brazier in the yard.

The mother-in-law carried a bamboo basket.

In the basket sat a frail little girl.

Her eyes rolled, she gestured with her small hands, imitating speech, curiously observing this decaying world.

"Burn her! Burn the monster! Burn the deformity!"

The villagers shouted in unison.

It was only then that I noticed that the little girl had two eyeballs rolling in her white eyes. She had double pupils.

The little girl seemed to sense the malevolence around her.

She cried out loudly.

Three girls ran out of the house, blocking the brazier.

"Grandmother! Don't kill our sister!"

"Our sister is not a monster, she is a beautiful little girl!"

"We'll take our sister and leave! We'll support her outside Xijiao Village!"

The three sisters stepped forward, protecting the poor little girl.

They were young, their frail bodies trembling in the cold wind.

One of the villagers shouted, "These three girls must have been deceived by the deformity!"

Others immediately echoed, "Yes! They've been possessed, they're no longer human!"

"Burn them!"

"Anyway, they're just girls!"

The mother-in-law made a ruthless move and threw the bamboo basket into the brazier.

The man held a torch and ignited the firewood.

The three sisters tried everything to extinguish the fire, using water, soil, and clothes.

Unfortunately, their strength was too weak.

The villagers, fearing that the double-pupiled girl would be saved, went crazy and rushed into the yard, setting fire and killing people, creating a scene of unimaginable chaos.

I wanted to save them.

But my legs were stiff, unable to move.

I watched helplessly as the raging flames burned fiercely, spreading like fire snakes.

The villagers were burned by the flames and fled in panic.

The mother-in-law and the man, seeing that the fire was out of control and thick black smoke billowing, were also frightened and ran away.

They talked and cheered:

"Now it's good! The deformity is dead! Xijiao Village will have a bountiful harvest next year!"

"Since they're all dead, let's find another wife and have a son!"

"Heaven has eyes! We've eliminated the harm for the people! Burn the monsters! It will definitely bring us rain and abundant blessings!"

I looked up at the sky. The gray sky was covered with dark clouds, as if doomsday had arrived.

It started to rain.

Pouring rain extinguished the raging fire.

There were four small bodies lying on the ground.

They were cruelly burned, their skin peeled off, leaving only charred shells.

The wife, who had been knocked unconscious inside the house, finally woke up.

She crawled out using both her hands and feet.

The scene before her eyeswas a devastating sight of destruction and loss. She let out a heart-wrenching cry, a mournful wail that echoed through the desolate village. Tears streamed down her face as she reached out to touch the lifeless bodies of her three brave daughters and the innocent little girl with double pupils. The rain continued to fall, mixing with her tears, as if the heavens themselves were weeping for the tragedy that had unfolded.

As the rain poured down, washing away the ashes and blood, a sense of profound sadness enveloped the village. The villagers, who had been consumed by their fear and ignorance, now faced the consequences of their actions. The price they paid was not only the loss of innocent lives but also the realization of the darkness that resided within their own hearts.

The wife, now a mother bereft of her children, mustered the strength to stand up amidst the ruins. Her gaze hardened with determination and a newfound resolve. She vowed to carry the memories of her daughters and the little girl with double pupils in her heart, to honor their lives by fighting against the prejudice and cruelty that had torn them apart.

Word of the tragedy spread beyond the village, reaching the ears of compassionate souls who recognized the injustice that had taken place. They rallied together, forming a movement to raise awareness about the importance of acceptance and inclusivity. Through their efforts, the story of Xijiao Village became a symbol of the consequences of prejudice and the need for compassion.

Years passed, and the village gradually transformed. The scars of the past remained, but the people embarked on a journey of healing and redemption. Schools were built, and education became a pillar of change. The villagers learned to embrace diversity and celebrate the unique qualities of every individual.

The wife, now a respected elder, dedicated her life to advocating for the rights of marginalized communities. She established programs to support children with disabilities, ensuring they received the care, education, and love they deserved. Her efforts extended beyond Xijiao Village, inspiring change in neighboring communities and even reaching the national level.

Xijiao Village became a beacon of hope, a place where the legacy of the four brave souls lived on. The stone monument at the village entrance, once a symbol of fear and closed-mindedness, was replaced with a new inscription - "Xijiao Village: A Sanctuary of Love and Acceptance."

And so, the dream ended, leaving behind a profound message of the power of compassion and the need to confront our own biases. It served as a reminder that the choices we make and the actions we take can shape the world we live in. May we learn from the tragic tale of Xijiao Village and strive to create a more inclusive and compassionate society.