Alexey and Varvara lived in a village. Green Valley was spread out among the fields. Their house was near the forest.

Seven years of marriage flew by quickly. They quarreled over trifles. They made up without holding a grudge.

There were no major disagreements. They lived as if in a village. They had not yet had children.

They were in no hurry. They got married very young. Both were eighteen.

They decided to live for themselves. Varya thought about children. She was afraid to go to the doctors.

It was a long way to the town. The bus ran rarely. They lived among the fields and forests.

Alexey worked on the farm. He repaired tractors and equipment. He was respected in the village.

Varya ran the household. She looked after the garden. She cooked dinners for Alexey.

Sometimes she earned extra money by sewing. The neighbors brought fabric. Varya loved gossip.

She dreamed of a pet. She asked for a cat or a dog. Alexey didn’t like cats.

He hadn’t liked them since childhood. Allergies had nothing to do with it. He just grumbled.

He treated dogs better. But he found excuses. Varya only sighed.

That’s how they lived. Maybe they were just nearby. Vera came with her children.

Vera lived nearby. She got there in an old Niva. She had two.

Son Bogdan, eleven years old. Daughter Sofia, nine. The kids loved Uncle Lyosha.

He made whistles. Varya noticed the joy. Alexey became more cheerful.

She liked it. But she didn’t have enough attention. Alexey went on a hike…

With friend Peter. Into the woods beyond the river. To the old mill.

Varya stayed home. She caught a cold. The hike dragged on for a week.

Alexey returned thoughtful. Varya tried to ask him. He waved her off.

A month later, everything changed. Alexey began to leave. He disappeared every Sunday.

He said, “On business.” Varya thought, to Vera. To help with the housework.

Vera called one day. Asked her to take the children. Varya was confused.

Is Lyosha at your place? Vera was surprised. I wouldn’t have called.

What’s going on? Is he cheating on me? Varya laughed it off.

He went away on business. Vera didn’t calm down. What business on Sunday?

Varya cut him off sharply. We’ll sort it out, Vera. She didn’t like interference.

Vera was worried about her. She was ten years older. She loved Varya like a sister.

Varya thought about it after the conversation. The men were sitting at home. Mending fences or drinking.

Alexey disappeared by the hour. She began to look closely. Her friends were talking about cheating.

The man began to preen himself. Alexey was the same. His beard was unkempt.

An old shirt. He didn’t use cologne. He dressed as if he were going to the forest…

Only he didn’t take the axe. Varya racked her brains. She was afraid to ask.

She was afraid of change. Life could change. She decided to follow.

She prepared herself that Sunday. She put on an old headscarf. She took a basket.

As if for mushrooms. Alexey shouted: “On business!” Varya answered: “Okay!”

She followed. She kept her distance. Her heart was pounding.

What would she say if she turned around? Would she see her with another woman? Varya couldn’t imagine.

She followed her husband. She didn’t lose sight of him. Alexey passed the village.

He passed a field with cows. He went deeper into the forest. Varya stopped.

Curiosity fought with fear. She turned back. She remembered the path.

At home she behaved normally. Alexey noticed the tension. Why are you so thoughtful?

He asked at dinner. Varya laughed it off. She didn’t sleep that night.

Thoughts were spinning. What is he doing in the forest? Why every Sunday?

The worst scenario. Maybe something creepy. Varya pushed away her fear.

Seven years together. In the morning she called Vera. Told her about the trips.

About her fears. Vera listened. Get ready, we’re going there.

Do you remember the path? Varya nodded. Vera arrived in a Niva.

They went to the forest. Varya showed me the path. I was afraid to go further…

Vera stepped forward. He was gone now. Varya followed.

The path wound through the forest. Past old oak trees. They walked for a long time.

They crossed a stream. On shaky logs. They came out into a clearing.

There was a fallen tree. An old fire pit nearby. Varya and Vera exchanged glances.

He comes here? Why? Vera asked.

Nothing unusual. Grass, trees, silence. A rustling sound was heard.

Vera jumped up. A cat crawled out of a hollow. It was a lynx!

Varya froze. How beautiful! The lynx looked at them.

She held her head out to Varya. As if asking for affection. She was tame.

Varya took out sandwiches. With lard from the basket. She held one out to the lynx.

She sniffed it. She took it carefully. She hid in the hollow.

She came back soon. Varya gave the second one. They looked into the hollow.

They saw two kittens. They were gobbling up the treat. With a growl.

So that’s where she goes. She feeds them. Vera said…

Varya nodded. Why did you hide it? The question was spinning around.

Came home. Prepared for the conversation. Admit that she had been following.

Together with Vera. Couldn’t keep quiet. Alexey came back from the farm.

I know where you go. Varya began. Alexey froze.

So you were following? He sighed. Then he smiled.

Found the lynx on a hike. Tangled in a rope. Poachers left it.

Friends wanted to leave. Alexey stayed. Freed it and nursed it.

The lynx was pregnant. Started feeding it. Went into the forest.

Hid it from Varya. Afraid of ridicule. Didn’t like cats.

The conversation ended in reconciliation. Alexey fell in love with the lynx. Varya was afraid of losing it.

They decided to take the lynx home with the kittens. Varya learned the news.

She was pregnant. It became a new beginning. The lynx was named Lada.

The kittens were Sunny and Zorka. They settled into the house. Alexey built a shed.

Lada was resting there. The kittens were playing with the straw. Varya was bringing milk.

From the neighbor’s cow. She gave her the remains of the meat. Lada was calm.

But she had a character. She snorted if anything happened. She went to the shed.

Varya’s pregnancy changed her life. They were preparing for the baby. Alexey was making a cradle.

Varya was sewing diapers. The neighbors found out. They started giving advice often.

Aunt Marusya was teaching. How to pickle cucumbers correctly. The baby will be healthy.

Varya was smiling. She did it her own way. The summer was hot…

The fields were full of sunflowers. The forest beckoned with coolness. They had a celebration.

Harvest day, like before. They invited the neighbors. Vera with the children.

Grandfather Grisha too. Varya was making dumplings. With cherries and potatoes.

Alexey was grilling shashlik. Vera brought kvass. The celebration was a success.

The children were running around the yard. They were playing with the kittens. The adults were singing songs.

Varya was watching to the accordion of Grandfather Grisha. She was lucky here.

After dinner they gathered. Around the fire. Grandfather Grisha told.

About the forest spirit in the forest. Maybe it was Lada. Everyone laughed.

Varya got tired in the fall. She did not lose her cheerfulness. She walked through the forest.

She picked mushrooms, herbs. Vera joined in. They talked about the future.

About children, the village. Vera dreamed. Bogdan, Sofia will leave.

Varya thought differently. Village life is better. The air is clean.

Alexey was making a sleigh. For the winter. Varya will go to give birth.

I won’t take her on a tractor. He was joking. But he was worried.

His syrniki were famous. The neighbors asked for the recipe. The secret is in love.

Winter came early. Snow covered the village. The house became cozier.

They stoked the stove. They drank tea. With raspberry jam.

Lada slept by the fire. With kittens. Varya sewed a jumpsuit.

For the future child. Alexey carved a rattle. In the shape of a horse.

They were waiting for the New Year. Vera and the children arrived. The neighbors too.

The table was groaning. Borscht, cabbage rolls. Cabbage pies.

They went out after midnight. They launched lanterns. Alexey made them.

The sky was shining. Varya felt it. The year had become special.

They were preparing for spring. Varya would go to town. To the hospital.

Lada lay down next to her. As if she felt it. She purred quietly.

Oksana was born in April. The birth went well. The village was buzzing.

The neighbors brought milk. Honey and diapers. Varya returned home…

Life changed. They were happy. Lada became a nanny.

Guarded Oksana’s cradle. Varya remembered. It all started with a path.

Thanked fate. Summer returned. The fields bloomed again.

Varya walked with Oksana. In Alexey’s stroller. Lada walked next to her.

The kittens jumped. The neighbors praised the baby. She looked like Varya.

Alexey made a swing. For the yard. Oksana would grow up.

Varya sewed a dress. From linen. For her daughter.

Vera came more often. Brought jam. From currants.

Told the news. A new bridge was built. In the neighboring village.

Life flowed calmly. But brightly. The village united.

They gathered every Sunday. At Grandfather Grisha’s. Sang songs.

Alexey brought an accordion. He learned to play. He did well.

Varya was proud of him. He tried. For the family.

They organized a fair. In the center of the village. They sold honey.

Homemade wine. Varya sewed scarves. They sold out quickly.

Lada became a legend. Children adored her. They called her the queen of the forest.

Alexey laughed. But he was proud. His lynx was special.

Oksana walked in the fall. Varya cried. Alexey filmed.

On an old phone. He wanted to save. Every moment.

The village was preparing for winter. They were preparing firewood. Salting cabbage.

Varya learned from Marusya. To make sauerkraut. It turned out delicious.

Alexey was repairing the roof. Before the snowfalls. He worked until dark.

Varya brought tea. In a thermos. They sat together.

We looked at the stars. We dreamed about the future. Oksana will grow up.

Maybe she will become a teacher. Or a doctor. Varya smiled.

As long as she is happy. Alexey agreed. The main thing is health.

Winter came again. The village is in the snow. The children were riding.

On Alexey’s sled. He made them. For all the kids.

Lada loved the snow. She jumped into the snowdrifts. The kittens after her…

Varya made pies. With apples. The neighbors came by.

They drank tea. They told stories. About old times.

Grandfather Grisha reminisced. How young he was. He rode a motorcycle.

Varya listened. Laughed. Life in the village is alive.

Alexey dreamed of a tractor. A new, powerful one. So that the farm would prosper.

Varya supported him. They saved up little by little. For a dream.

Oksana grew quickly. She was already babbling. She called for Lada.

The lynx purred. As if she understood. Part of the family.

In the spring, the fields turned green. Varya planted flowers. Near the house.

Alexey built a gazebo. For summer evenings. With his family.

Life flowed. Full of love. Simple joys.

The village was preparing for Kupala. They wove wreaths. They collected herbs.

Varya taught Oksana. Showed her daisies. The girl laughed.

Alexey made a fire. By the river. The holiday promised to be bright.

Vera brought the children. Bogdan helped Alexey. Sofia wove wreaths.

Kupala night came. Everyone gathered by the water. They blew wreaths.

The lights burned brightly. Varya held Oksana. Admired the reflection.

Alexey hugged them. Life was full. Love warmed them.

Autumn brought the harvest. They collected pumpkins, potatoes. Varya worked with the neighbors.

Alexey repaired carts. Helped the farm. He was praised.

Varya dreamed of the future. Oksana will go to school. She will be smart…

Vera laughed. Children grow up fast. You can’t keep up.

They were sitting in the evening. Drinking tea. Talking about life.

Varya remembered the forest. The path to the lynx. Everything had changed.

Alexey was teaching Bogdan. He was making a wooden horse. The boy was trying.

Lada was watching. She was lying by the porch. The kittens were sleeping nearby.

Winter had returned again. The snow was sparkling. The village came to life.

The children were making snowmen. Alexey was helping. Oksana was clapping her hands.

Varya was making kutia. For Christmas. The neighbors were singing carols.

Life was warm. Despite the frost. Love saved them.

Lada had grown older. But she guarded everything. Oksana’s cradle.

Varya was thanking. For her husband, her daughter. For the lynx from the forest.

Spring was awakening the fields. Cherry trees were blooming. The village smelled of flowers.

Alexey was building a fence. For a chicken coop. Varya was laughing.

Oksana was running barefoot. Catching butterflies. Lada was watching.

Life went on. Full of happiness. The Green Valley lived.