——氣味最先抵達的一條街 ——The Street Where Scents Arrive First 中文
說到芭樂村裡最安靜、最慢、最有氣味的地方—— 一定是 本草街。 這裡不像醫療街那樣專業、 也不像美食街那樣熱鬧， 更不像商品街與服飾街那樣充滿叫賣聲。 本草街有自己的節奏： 像煮開的草藥湯一樣，慢慢散開。 一走進來，你會先聞到味道。 不是單一的味道，而是混合的—— 薄荷的涼、艾草的暖、薑的辛、枸杞的甜。 空氣像是被一層淡淡的草煙籠罩著。 本草街的店家不像一般商店， 每一家門口都掛著一束乾燥植物， 像是在提醒大家： 「這裡賣的不是商品，而是生活方式。」 街的中央有一棵大樹， 有人說那是一棵百年老樟樹， 也有人說是第一代村民從山上搬下來的「守護神木」。 不論哪一種說法， 樹下永遠有風吹來的草香。 白天，本草街是安靜的。 就算有人走過，也會不自覺放慢腳步。 這裡沒有人會大聲講話—— 彷彿怕驚動正在煮藥的氣味。 晚上，本草街則變得有點神祕。 草香變得更濃， 連風都像是帶著什麼故事。 Koala 第一次來到本草街時， 就被這樣的氣味吸引住。 她說： 「這條街……不是給眼睛看的，是給鼻子聽的。」 而 Boss 醫生偶爾也會經過本草街， 通常是在忙碌手術後， 他想要讓大腦安靜一點。 他不說話，但行走步伐變得很慢—— 像是被街上的草藥煙溫柔地牽著走。 本草街的居民與店家，我們之後再慢慢介紹。 但今天，只要記住一件事： 這是Koala 小鎮裡，最會安撫人心的一條街。 -
-- English
When people talk about the quietest, slowest, and most aromatic corner of Guava Village, they always mean Herb Street. It isn’t as clinical as Medical Street, nor as lively as Food Street, and not as noisy as the Merchandise or Fashion Streets. Herb Street has its own rhythm— like a pot of herbal soup slowly releasing its scent. The first thing that greets you isn’t a person, but a smell. Not a single smell, but layers of them— cool mint, warm mugwort, spicy ginger, and sweet goji berries. Every shop hangs a bundle of dried herbs at the door, as if saying: “We don’t just sell items. We sell a way of living.” In the center of the street stands an old tree. Some say it’s a century-old camphor tree. Others say it was the sacred guardian tree the first villagers carried down from the mountain. Whatever the truth, there is always a herbal breeze beneath it. During the day, Herb Street is calm. People naturally walk slower here. No one raises their voice— as if afraid to disturb the scent brewing in the air. At night, the street becomes a little mysterious. The herbal fragrance grows deeper, and even the wind feels like it’s carrying a story. Koala’s first visit to Herb Street ended with this line: “This street… isn’t for the eyes. It’s for the nose to listen.” Sometimes Dr. Boss also walks through Herb Street after a long day of surgeries. He never says much, but his steps soften— as if guided by the drifting herbal smoke. We will introduce the residents and shops of Herb Street later. For now, just remember one thing: This is the street that heals the mind of the entire village.
大多數人走進本草街時，
只會注意到草香、慢步調、和那棵大樹下的微風。
但只有少數人知道——
本草街其實藏著一個秘密。
這條街的店家看起來普通、安靜、溫和，
但在夜裡的某個時間之後， 整條街會悄悄地「變得不一樣」。
草香會變濃，濃到像是在對你說話。
一些平常看不見的符號， 會在葉片的光影中浮出形狀。 樹下的風，會吹出像呼吸的節奏—— 彷彿整條街在活著。
村裡的老人說：
「本草街的草，不只是草。它們記得一些事情。」
有人說它記得古老的療法。
有人說它記得某個失傳的醫術。 也有人說，它記得的，是某些人曾經的痛苦與願望。
至於 Koala 呢？
她雖然還不知道本草街真正的秘密， 但每次走進這裡，她都會感覺到：
好像有人在守護她。
至於那個秘密到底是什麼……
我們之後會慢慢地說。
English
Most people walk into Herb Street
and only notice the fragrance, the quiet pace, and the breeze under the old tree.
But only a few know—
Herb Street hides a secret.
The shops look ordinary and gentle during the day,
but past a certain hour at night, the entire street begins to “shift.”
The herbal scent grows heavier, almost speaking.
Symbols invisible by day start appearing in the shadows of the leaves. And the wind under the tree breathes in a slow, steady rhythm— as if the whole street is alive.
The elders of the village say:
“The herbs here are not just plants. They remember things.”
Some say they remember ancient healing.
Some say they hold the memory of a long-lost medical art. Others whisper that the herbs remember people’s pain… and their wishes.
As for Koala—
she doesn’t know the true secret yet, but every time she steps onto the street, she feels:
Someone is looking after her.
What the secret really is…
We’ll reveal it piece by piece.
