Chapter Eighty-four Mountain Road

  After eating and drinking enough, we started discussing how to go to Xiao Yang's home. "Accommodation is not a problem, boys can squeeze with me, girls can squeeze with my sister, my family elders are very hospitable, they will be especially happy to see you." Xiao Yang actively persuaded, "Rather than choosing a day, let's just go today, everyone just needs to make a phone call home. Fat fish is no problem, because he has already told his family."

  I hesitated for a moment, thinking that it's not easy to meet like this again, and even if I go home, there's nothing much to do. So, I stood up and said: "Bao'er, I'll accompany you to make the phone call, then you can come with me to my family's store and tell my mom about it, how about that?" Bao'er immediately agreed, and Cuihuai directly went to tell Erniang (second aunt), who saw us together and gave her consent after a few words.

  I and Bao'er first went outside to find a phone booth, called her home and told her mom that Lu Qi was going with us. Her mom agreed readily after hearing that we were going to play at a classmate's house. Of course, we wouldn't say directly that we were going to the mountains, as adults would definitely worry about it. We just said we were going to play at a classmate's house for two days and couldn't say anything else. My mom saw Bao'er with me and thought I was going to her house, so she agreed after thinking about it. My mom especially likes Bao'er because she is a regular customer of our store and often introduces customers to make clothes, so when my mom saw that it was her, she smiled and said okay repeatedly, also telling me not to trouble others and so on.

  The adults have settled that matter easily, and we began to prepare for going to Xiao Yang's house. We went to the street to buy some toothbrushes, towels and other daily necessities, then bought some snacks, fruits, and weighed a few kilograms of meat. After all, so many people are going to his house, his family must be busy, so we also need to show our respect.

  Xiao Yang saw us like this, and repeatedly said no need, no need, but of course I wouldn't listen to him. They are kids, I'm not, at least we should understand the basic etiquette, can't casually trouble others. After my persuasion, Xiao Yang had no choice but to follow me. Fortunately, I had 20 yuan on me, Bao'er had 30, and Cui Hui gave her 10 before leaving. Lu Qi also had 20, and Pang Yu had 10. With this money, everyone bought a lot of things. Pang Yu was carrying the most, but he smiled foolishly, walking big strides forward, saying that even with stuff in hand, we might not necessarily walk faster than him. We laughed and followed him.

  Xiao Yang's home is in the mountains, I knew that long ago, but walking in town, I didn't know how to get there. Xiao Yang led the way in front of us, we left An Town and walked on a road, Xiao Yang said it would take two and a half hours to walk to his home, we didn't think much of it because everyone came from far away like that. But Bao Er was startled when he heard it: "Ah, so far? Walking for two and a half hours, Brother-in-law, it seems like it only takes more than an hour to get to your house, every time I go to your house I almost die of exhaustion, this is going to take two and a half hours, won't we be paralyzed from exhaustion?"

  "Don't be nervous, look at me, I'm so fat and I'm not afraid, what are you afraid of? If we can't walk, let your brother carry you!" Fat fish grinned happily, "Think about it, we're going to have fun, why worry about getting tired?" Bao'er thought for a moment: "Yeah, if you don't want to be bored, you have to pay the price. Okay, let's just consider it exercise!" Hehe, these two silly kids are quite optimistic.

  After walking for a while on the horse road, I turned into a small rural road. The winding and curved road was soft to walk on, with the elasticity of mud. On both sides of the road were fields planted with rape, which were not high at this time, but the green leaves looked really pleasing to the eye! Imagine when the rape flowers bloom in the spring next year, what a beautiful and spectacular scene it will be!

  Bao'er usually stays in town and has fewer opportunities to see these farm things, so she's very happy. As soon as she saw the rape plants, she thought they were the scallions we eat at home and exclaimed loudly: "Wow, these scallions are too old! Can you still eat them?" We all burst out laughing. Qiao Hui kindly told her that this is rape, which will be pressed for oil when it's mature, and the oil we use for stir-frying comes from this. Bao'er listened with a blank expression, looking at everyone's smiling faces before suddenly realizing her mistake, shaking her head in regret.

  We chatted and laughed, and before we knew it, we had arrived at the foot of the mountain. Xiao Yang said that once we cross this mountain, we'll be almost there, so we enthusiastically started climbing. The mountain isn't very high, but it's not short either - in our region, it's considered to be extremely tall, with a name to match: Da Wang Shan (Great King Mountain). I reckon probably a long time ago, the Great King lived here or something! I asked Xiao Yang if that was true, and he said that's ancient history, nobody knows for sure, maybe what I said is right.

  The mountain road winds its way up, and on the slope are patches of land that farmers have reclaimed, planted with wheat, millet and other crops. This time Bao'er has learned her lesson and doesn't randomly say what she thinks, instead quietly asking Cui Hui, who carefully teaches her. Seeing her excited face, I smile and ask: "Bao'er, don't you think this is scallion?" Bao'er smiles smugly: "Haha, do you want to tease me? I know it's not scallion, it's wheat." "Wow, so clever! You can actually recognize wheat! I thought you'd say the scallions are too old and can't be eaten!" I mimic her tone. "Hahaha..." Everyone bursts out laughing again.

  Going up again, there is no mountainous land, because it's too high and inconvenient to farm. There are many fallen trees, but they were not planted with planning, so some are messy, with both evergreen pines and other trees with yellow leaves fluttering, but because of this messiness, the forest seems to be quite lively. Occasionally, a few birds that stayed behind fly by, chirping, making me feel how quiet the mountains are.

  "Hmm, Yun'er, I think it's time for you to sing a song. Look, everyone is climbing the mountain, why don't you sing a mountain song?" Xue Hui turned her head and asked me. I thought for a moment: "I do have one, but the tune is quite high, I'm afraid I won't be able to hit the notes!" Lu Qi said from the side: "Didn't Teacher Mei say that your voice just needs to be let loose? Now's the perfect opportunity, shout it out loud and we'll accompany you." "Okay, okay, I want to sing too, sing loudly!" Bao'er replied enthusiastically. "Singing in the mountains is quite fun, there will be echoes! Try it and you'll see." Xiao Yang also smiled and said.

  "Okay, I'll give it a try!" I thought of a song that everyone should know: "Let's all come together!" As I said this, I started singing loudly: "Singing mountain songs, one side sings and the other harmonizes..."

  The mountain song is like the spring river water

  Not afraid of twists and turns, many bends and many turns

  Singing mountain songs, this side sings and that side harmonizes, that side harmonizes

  The mountain song is like the spring river water

  Not afraid of twists and turns, many bends, many more bends...

  Everyone really sang along, following my tune and harmonizing. For a time, the singing was loud and clear, and everyone's emotions were stirred up!