Summer in Jiangnan is a poetic painting, and every moment is worth savoring.
Wang Xiuxiu knew the preciousness of this beautiful scenery and was unwilling to waste a single second of it.
Sometimes she would stroll along the bluestone path, gazing blankly at the dappled light and shadow;
Sometimes, we would charter a small boat and drift leisurely with the current, letting the oars break the tranquility of the water.
Sometimes they would venture into the bustling city streets, sample all sorts of delicacies, and then enjoy a bowl of refreshing mung bean soup.
It was a long and scorching summer afternoon. Wang Xiuxiu held a green bamboo umbrella, ready to brave the blazing sun and head to the outskirts.
There are ten miles of lotus flowers in the suburbs, covered in green, which is very cool and pleasant.
In Yongzhou city, every family with children is inevitably harassed by their kids to go on outings to the countryside during this time of year.
Wang Xiuxiu glanced at Songsong, who was snoring softly in the basket.
Well, I can be considered a parent myself, so I can go and have fun!
They hired a horse-drawn carriage and arrived at their destination in less than half an hour.
As soon as I got off the carriage, I saw a group of children playing and frolicking.
Their laughter was crisp and melodious; just looking at their carefree figures made one's lips curl into a smile.
Wang Xiuxiu closed her eyes and took a deep breath of the surrounding air, which had a unique scent of the Jiangnan suburbs—a fragrance that blended earth, grass, and river water.
At that moment, a gentle breeze swept by, carrying the sweet fragrance of lotus blossoms from afar.
Following the fragrance, Wang Xiuxiu looked up and saw a lush green lotus pond.
The pond water is clear, lotus leaves are lush, lotus flowers are in full bloom, and several dragonflies flit among the lotus flowers, sometimes lightly touching the water's surface, sometimes alighting on the petals, adding a touch of vitality to the lotus pond.
Wang Xiuxiu found a good spot, shady and close to the pond, and sat quietly by the river, enjoying this rare tranquility and beauty.
Songsong's attention was drawn away by a little butterfly, and she had long since run off to play somewhere else.
Occasionally, a few passenger boats can be seen carrying tourists through the lotus pond.
You can take a boat to the depths of the lotus pond to pick lotus flowers and seeds.
As a northern squirrel, Songsong probably hasn't eaten lotus seeds before.
Thinking this way, Wang Xiuxiu was somewhat tempted, but after glancing at the bright sun beyond the shade, she timidly withdrew her idea.
Lotus seeds aren't expensive; you can just buy some if you want to eat them.
Sure enough, wherever there is demand, there will be vendors.
Some savvy businessmen picked lotus flowers and seeds from the pond for free and sold them to tourists on the shore.
Working under the blazing sun is hard work.
Wang Xiuxiu called over a vendor and bought a bunch of lotus flowers and a handful of lotus seeds.
The lotus flowers were placed in bamboo tubes filled with water, their delicate pink petals slightly open, looking absolutely adorable.
The simplicity of the bamboo tube contrasts sharply with the delicate beauty of the lotus flower, creating a refreshing and ethereal aesthetic.
This vendor certainly knows how to do business!
Wang Xiuxiu casually peeled a lotus seed and put it in her mouth. It was extremely bitter, so she decided to leave it for Songsong to enjoy.
Just as they were enjoying themselves, a sharp cry suddenly came from the woods.
Wang Xiuxiu immediately followed the sound and saw a man standing not far away, holding Songsong by the back of the neck.
Songsong kept twisting and turning, trying to break free of her restraints, but to no avail. She could only let out fierce cries in an attempt to scare away the audacious man behind her.
When it saw Wang Xiuxiu arrive, it stopped struggling, its eyes filled with tears, and it put on a pitiful look.
This sight evokes pity.
Qi Ming was curious. Just a moment ago, he had been acting fiercely and unwilling to admit defeat. How did he suddenly change his demeanor?
"Hello, this squirrel is mine, could you please let it go?"
Wang Xiuxiu stepped forward, her tone gentle yet carrying an undeniable firmness.
Qi Ming looked up and saw a beautiful woman who had appeared in front of him at some point.
Caught red-handed bullying someone else's pet, Qi Ming felt a little embarrassed and quickly handed the squirrel to Wang Xiuxiu.
As soon as Songsong was in Wang Xiuxiu's arms, she immediately started whimpering and acting all cute, looking like a pitiful little girl who had been wronged.
Qi Ming was stunned. Oh! It's a green tea squirrel!
"Girl, it's not what you see. It's...it bit my friend, that's why I grabbed it!" Qi Ming quickly explained.
Wang Xiuxiu pulled Songsong out of her arms, who was trying to hide. Seeing its guilty look, she knew that the naughty guy must have done something wrong.
"I'm so sorry, is your friend seriously injured? Should we take him to a clinic?"
"He should be fine. He went to the lake to wash his hands. The injury doesn't seem too serious. He probably doesn't need to go to the clinic, right?"
Qi Ming scratched his head, somewhat uncertain.
Wang Xiuxiu didn't leave; she just stood there waiting.
Whether or not I need to go to the clinic, I'm prepared to wait here and apologize to them.
Just then, Qi Ming shouted towards the lakeside, "Qi You! Qi You! It's over here!"
A tall, slender man walked over from the lakeside, holding a wet handkerchief in his hand.
"How did you end up here?"
Qi Ming scratched the back of his head, somewhat embarrassed, and said, "I was trying to catch this little guy earlier. Oh, you didn't expect that squirrel has an owner. It wanted to apologize to you!"
Wang Xiuxiu turned around and saw that the person was a familiar face—Luo Da Niang's son, Luo Qiyou.
What do you call him, Aunt Luo's son?
It seems very impolite.
She was slightly taken aback, then smiled and curtsied: "Brother Luo, I'm so sorry, my squirrel bit you. Is it serious?"
Luo Qiyou also recognized Wang Xiuxiu and waved his hand, saying, "It's nothing, it's nothing. It's all because this kid wasn't watching where he was going and stepped on this little guy's butterfly friend. It got angry and tried to bite him."
"Ah? Ah! So that's how it is! No wonder this little guy bit me without saying a word!" Qi Ming suddenly realized.
"How dare you say that!" Luo Qiyou said with disdain.
"Hey, we're brothers, you're just taking the blame for your brother!" Qi Ming chuckled. "Forgot, you're actually taking the blame for me!"
"But you two know each other?" Qi Ming asked curiously.
“Yes, I know him. My surname is Wang, and I’m Brother Luo’s neighbor,” Wang Xiuxiu replied.
"Look, this is truly a case of the flood washing away the Dragon King's temple! But, Miss Wang, your squirrel is quite clever! After biting Brother You, it disappeared in a flash. I fell several times trying to catch it!" Qi Ming said, gesturing exaggeratedly.
Wang Xiuxiu couldn't help but laugh out loud.
The three of them returned to the city together that day.
To apologize, Wang Xiuxiu invited the two to a nearby restaurant for dinner.
Luo Qiyou actually told Wang Xiuxiu not to be polite, but unexpectedly, Qi Ming, that good-for-nothing, agreed immediately while she was being polite, and shamelessly dragged Luo Qiyou along.
Along the way, Qi Ming also provided Wang Xiuxiu with several good restaurants to choose from.
Wang Xiuxiu smiled and picked out one she liked.
She had wanted to come to this restaurant for a long time, but it doesn't accept single customers; at least two people are required.
Since there are three of us, we can order a few more dishes to try.
At the dinner table, Qi Ming talked non-stop about his interesting experiences in Jiangnan, making Wang Xiuxiu laugh frequently.
Luo Qiyou listened quietly from the side, occasionally interjecting a few words, creating a harmonious and warm atmosphere.
Songsong lay on Wang Xiuxiu's lap, occasionally stealing glances at the food on the table, as if plotting how to sneak a bite when no one was looking.
Summer in Jiangnan passed quietly amidst laughter and joy, leaving behind a beautiful memory.
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