20demayo Chapter 168 Spring Outing
Chapter 168 Spring Outing
In February, with its lush grass, warbling birds, and gentle spring breezes, the earth gradually awakens from its slumber, presenting a vibrant scene of life everywhere. The verdant grass, like a carpet, covers the fields and hillsides; orioles sing merrily in the branches, as if praising this beautiful season. A gentle breeze caresses the willows along the riverbank, their slender branches swaying gracefully, like elegant maidens dancing, captivating all who behold them. And the misty, hazy spring scenery is even more enchanting, like a delicate ink painting, adorning the entire world with a dreamlike beauty.
In such a vibrant and hopeful season, it's the perfect time for an outing. The lively and cheerful Su Yuning, unable to contain her excitement, eagerly invited her best friends, Princess Wan'er and Xuanyuan Rong'er, to join her in visiting the green mountains outside the capital to experience the charm of nature.
Since they were all mothers, their children were thrilled to hear about the spring outing and clamored to go too. However, Su Yuning, considering the children's young age and the possibility of them being mischievous and spoiling everyone's fun, decisively refused their requests. In contrast, Princess Wan'er was more carefree, entrusting her children to her wet nurse without hesitation. Although Xuan Yuan Rong'er was somewhat reluctant, she ultimately decided to leave her child temporarily at the princess's residence, given the rare opportunity for a spring outing.
And so, the three women, lightly dressed, set off with graceful steps towards the green hills on the outskirts of the capital. Along the way, peach trees on both sides of the road were in full bloom, pink petals fluttering down like a magnificent rain of flowers. Surrounded by this sea of flowers, Su Yuning, like a happy little bird, frolicked and played, occasionally bending down to pick colorful wildflowers to weave into beautiful wreaths. Princess Wan'er, on the other hand, moved with elegant poise and grace, pausing occasionally to admire the scenery and smiling as she explained to her companions the differences and unique features of the suburban landscape compared to the imperial gardens. Xuan Yuan Rong'er, however, seemed somewhat preoccupied; after all, her child had just left her side, leaving her somewhat worried. But with the company of her friends and the beauty of the surroundings, she gradually relaxed and began to enjoy this precious spring day.
Reaching a flat meadow halfway up the mountain, the three sat down. Princess Wan'er instructed her maids to bring out the prepared delicacies; the exquisite pastries emitted an enticing aroma. Just then, a melodious flute tune drifted over. Looking in the direction of the sound, they saw a young man in white standing under a peach tree not far away, playing the flute. The young man was handsome and possessed an extraordinary air. Su Yuning curiously took a few steps closer to examine him, while Princess Wan'er, pulling Xuan Yuan Rong'er along, slowly followed. After finishing his piece, the young man in white bowed slightly. The group exchanged smiles and invited the young man to sit down and share the food. In this beautiful spring setting, they discussed poetry and painting, their laughter echoing through the mountains and forests.
In Xinghua Village, the spring sun shines warmly, and a gentle breeze blows. Under the methodical guidance of the experienced Old Su, the hardworking villagers throw themselves into the busy spring plowing. The strong farmers skillfully drive their oxen, which steadily pull the heavy plowshares, moving slowly but surely forward through the fertile earth. Accompanied by the deep mooing of the oxen and the rustling of the plowshares, the once barren and hardened fields are gradually transformed, the soft soil exuding a fresh scent. Before long, large tracts of land have been mostly cultivated, presenting a scene full of hope.
Just then, a handsome young man dressed in white appeared from the crowd. His refined demeanor and witty remarks drew attention. After a brief conversation, everyone was astonished to discover that this young man in white was none other than the renowned scholar of Jiangnan—Liu Rufeng! The atmosphere instantly became lively, with everyone chatting and laughing around Young Master Liu, creating a vibrant and bustling scene.
Just as everyone was chatting happily, a light drizzle suddenly began to fall from the sky without warning. The drizzle, like a soft veil, slowly descended from the heavens. Princess Wan'er, seeing this, quickly rose and urged everyone to take shelter in the nearby pavilion. The rain grew denser, like strands of silver threads sprinkling onto the surrounding flowers, grass, and trees, soaking them completely. Crystal-clear water droplets slid down the leaves, dripping into the earth with a crisp, melodious sound. While this drizzle caused some inconvenience, it also added a touch of dreamlike, hazy beauty to the scene.
Standing in the pavilion, Xuan Yuan Rong'er gazed silently at the rain-soaked fields, a sense of worry rising in her heart. She had a child being fostered at the princess's residence, and she couldn't help but worry whether the little one would be frightened by the thunder. Beside her, Su Yuning seemed to sense her thoughts and smiled gently, reassuring her, "Don't worry, the people at the princess's residence will definitely take good care of the little one." Hearing her friend's comfort, Xuan Yuan Rong'er felt slightly relieved.
Just then, Liu Rufeng gently took out an exquisite collection of poems from his bosom. The cover was beautifully bound, clearly a carefully treasured possession. As he opened the pages, one beautiful and moving poem after another appeared before everyone. These poems, some delicate and refined, others bold and unrestrained, all showcased Liu Rufeng's exceptional talent. Everyone passed the precious collection around, admiring it and praising it with admiration, deeply impressed by Liu Rufeng's brilliance.
Meanwhile, in the tranquil and beautiful Xinghua Village, a light drizzle suddenly began to fall. Old Su was standing in his yard, looking up at the gradually darkening sky, his brow furrowed. He knew this rain was bad news for the farm tools that hadn't been put away yet, so he quickly shouted to the surrounding villagers, "Everyone, hurry up and bring all the farm tools inside!" Hearing Old Su's shout, the villagers put down their work and hurriedly got to work.
Just then, several strong young men, unlike the others, ran over to a simple thatched hut by the field, laughing and joking. They sat together and enthusiastically played a drinking game. Old Su heard the noise and shook his head, but when he turned to look at these energetic young men, a smile of satisfaction appeared on his face. He thought to himself, "These kids are full of energy. I hope we can have a good harvest this year, so all our hard work won't be in vain."
Before long, the rain subsided, and the drizzling raindrops finally stopped. The dark clouds in the sky began to slowly disperse, and a magnificent rainbow stretched across the sky like a bridge. This beautiful sight attracted the attention of many people, including Su Yuning and others who were taking shelter from the rain in the pavilion.
Su Yuning gently pushed open the pavilion door, took a deep breath of the fresh, pleasant air after the rain, and felt refreshed. She turned to her companions and said, "The air after the rain is so fresh! Why don't we walk up the mountain a bit more and see what the view is like from the top?" Everyone nodded in agreement, even the elegant young man in white, Liu Rufeng, smiled and said he was willing to go along. And so, the group happily set off on the path leading to the summit.
They slowly ascended the winding mountain path, the trees along the way appearing even more verdant after the rain. Along the way, the birds seemed to sense the joy of the clearing sky, flying out from their hiding places and singing merrily in the branches, their chirping creating a symphony that seemed to be playing a beautiful symphony for the mountaineering team.
After a strenuous climb, the group finally reached the summit. The view before them left everyone in awe—as far as the eye could see, the rolling mountains stretched into the distance like a giant dragon, majestic and awe-inspiring; while vast expanses of lush green forests seemed to have draped the expansive land in a brand-new green garment, brimming with vitality. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, bringing a refreshing coolness.
Su Yuning was overjoyed. She couldn't help but open her arms, enjoying the gentle caress of the cool breeze on her cheeks. Xuan Yuan Rong'er, who had been worried about her young son at home, was also captivated by the magnificent scenery before her. Her mood gradually relaxed, and she temporarily forgot her deep worries.
Liu Rufeng gazed at the distant valley shrouded in mist, pointing in that direction as he spoke softly, "Look, everyone. I've heard that in that mysterious and remote valley grow many rare and exotic flowers and herbs. However, due to its remote location, rugged and difficult roads, and complex and ever-changing surroundings, few have been able to venture there to explore its wonders." His words seemed to possess a magical power, drawing everyone's gaze towards the valley, their eyes filled with deep longing and curiosity.
Despite their burning desire for the treasures hidden in the valley, after careful consideration, they had to face reality—the journey had already been quite long, and darkness was falling. Rushing into the unknown valley risked not only various dangers and difficulties but also the possibility of getting lost and unable to return on time. Therefore, they ultimately had to reluctantly abandon this tempting idea.
At the same moment, a completely different scene unfolded on the other side of the mountain. Zhou Xi and her family of three were traversing the forest, enthusiastically chasing their fleeing prey. The child was excitedly waving her arms and legs, shouting joyfully; while the husband appeared much more composed and experienced. He skillfully drew his bow, nocked an arrow, and aimed intently. Suddenly, a plump hare darted out of the grass. In a flash, the husband released the arrow, which flew like lightning and struck its target accurately. Seeing this, the child clapped her hands with delight, jumping for joy, her face beaming with immense happiness. The whole family was immersed in a joyful and peaceful atmosphere, radiating warmth and happiness.
Meanwhile, Su Yuning and her group had already begun their journey down the mountain. Along the way, everyone was still savoring the many interesting things they had experienced that day, their laughter echoing through the mountain paths. Princess Wan'er, in particular, expressed her delight, saying she definitely wanted to come back again to fully enjoy the place and experience the charm of nature.
When they finally returned home, Xuan Yuan Rong'er rushed to her child, embracing him tightly as if afraid of losing him. The child, enveloped in his mother's warm embrace, giggled happily, his laughter as clear and melodious as silver bells. Meanwhile, Su Yuning, looking slightly weary, went to her room. She gently lay down on the bed, slowly closed her eyes, and quickly drifted off to sleep. In her dreams, the beautiful, picturesque scenery she had witnessed that day kept appearing before her eyes, captivating her. At the same time, she secretly looked forward to her next journey, to explore more unknown and wonderful worlds.
Spring is a season full of hope. The next day arrived in the blink of an eye. On a bright and sunny day, the woman, as in previous years, was full of energy as she prepared to go up the mountain to gather herbs. This year was different; her eldest daughter-in-law had also enthusiastically joined her. This eldest daughter-in-law had only recently arrived in Xinghua Village and wasn't very familiar with the villagers. So, she naturally became close to her mother-in-law, and gradually the two became inseparable best friends. Whether shopping in their spare time or doing household chores, they were always together, inseparable.
That day, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law walked along the mountain path, chatting and laughing. Looking at the wild vegetables and mushrooms covering the hillside, the young woman asked with a curious smile, "Mother-in-law, are we mainly picking mushrooms today, or gathering some toon sprouts?" The woman looked at her daughter-in-law affectionately and replied with a smile, "My dear daughter-in-law, you're tall enough to reach the toon sprouts high up, so I'll trouble you to gather them! I'll just dig up some shepherd's purse, dandelion, and purslane to take home and cook for you!" After saying this, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law smiled at each other and then went about their tasks.