Gu Mingyue thought for a moment, "Why don't we plant a few loofah seedlings under the grape trellis? Let the loofah vines climb up the trellis."
Lu Lin's eyes lit up: "That's a great idea! Loofahs grow quickly and will soon cover the trellis, providing shade for the yard."
The two got right to work, finding the loofah seeds their neighbor had given them a few days earlier and digging several small holes on either side of the grape trellis.
Gu Mingyue carefully buried the seeds in the soil, gently pressed them down, and then watered them with an appropriate amount of water.
Lu Lin then inserted several thin bamboo poles at the bottom of the trellis to make it easier for the loofah vines to climb.
"Once the vines grow, we'll build some ropes to help it climb up the trellis," Lu Lin said, gesturing as he spoke.
Gu Mingyue nodded, imagining that soon the entire grape trellis would be covered with emerald green loofah leaves, and the vines would be laden with tender loofahs, her heart filled with anticipation.
"Maybe we can harvest another batch of loofahs before winter comes!"
Before her afternoon nap, Gu Mingyue cooked a pot of mung bean porridge, which was sweet and refreshing. The two of them each drank a bowl and then began to learn to ride bicycles.
They bought a 26-inch Phoenix brand women's bicycle with smooth lines and a curved beam design that makes it easy to get on and off, making it especially suitable for women to ride.
Compared to the 28-inch model, the 26-inch wheels are smaller, making steering more agile and handling easier. They are effortless to ride and are very practical for grocery shopping or visiting relatives.
It's also convenient for Gu Mingyue to ride it to other places.
Lu Lin pushed the bicycle to the open space outside the yard, adjusted the seat height, and said to Gu Mingyue with a smile, "Come on, I'll teach you how to ride a bike."
There aren't many people living nearby, and there are few pedestrians on the road in front of the house, making it a perfect place to learn to ride a bike.
Gu Mingyue hesitated, "I've never ridden one before, won't I fall?"
"With me here, I won't let you fall."
Lu Lin steadied the back seat and patiently instructed, "Look straight ahead, don't look at your feet, apply even pressure with your feet, and relax your body."
Gu Mingyue gripped the handlebars tightly, stepped onto the pedals, and the bike slowly moved forward.
At first she was a little nervous, and the car swayed from side to side. Lu Lin held the back seat steadily, giving her confidence: "Very good, keep your balance, that's it!"
After a few laps, Gu Mingyue gradually found her rhythm, and her laughter echoed in the air.
When Lu Lin quietly let go of her hand, she actually rode a distance on her own.
"I can ride now!" Gu Mingyue exclaimed in surprise, turning back to smile at Lu Lin like a child.
"Let's ride our bikes along this road."
Gu Mingyue wanted to see more of the other places.
So the two of them rode the brand-new Phoenix bicycle slowly along the country road toward the sea.
Gu Mingyue sat in the back seat, gripping the car tightly with both hands, her cheeks slightly flushed from the sea breeze.
Lu Lin gripped the handlebars steadily, pedaling evenly with both feet, chatting with her as he rode.
Gu Mingyue couldn't help but open her arms wide, savoring the freedom and comfort: "This feels so good!"
Lu Lin smiled and sped up.
As the sun gradually sank below the horizon, the sky was dyed golden red.
Lu Lin and Gu Mingyue walked barefoot on the soft sand, the seawater washing over their feet time and time again, bringing a cool sensation.
"Look, how beautiful this seashell is!" Gu Mingyue bent down and picked up a small white seashell.
The shell has intricate patterns that shimmer in the afterglow.
Lu Lin looked at it from left to right, then scooped up a strangely shaped conch shell from the seawater and handed it to her: "This can be blown to make a sound, like a horn."
Gu Mingyue took the conch shell, put it to her lips and blew on it gently, and sure enough, it produced a deep and long sound.
She opened her eyes wide in surprise, "It's true!"
When the waves recede, many beautiful seashells and conches are left on the beach.
Gu Mingyue carefully collected them in a small bamboo basket, intending to take them home to decorate.
Lu Lin helped her pick out the items, occasionally telling her interesting stories, which made Gu Mingyue laugh like a child.
As dusk settled, they reluctantly left the beach and rode their bicycles home under a sky full of stars.
As night fell, the courtyard gradually cooled down.
After arriving home, Lu Lin first tied the mugwort he had picked from the mountain during the day into several small bundles and evenly placed them around the yard.
He lit a bunch of mugwort, and the orange-red flames danced, quickly turning into wisps of smoke that carried a faint fragrance into the air.
He gently crushed the mint leaves and placed them on the windowsill, their cool aroma wafting in the breeze.
Gu Mingyue was heating up food in the kitchen when she watched Lu Lin's busy figure and couldn't help but say, "I didn't expect these wild herbs to actually be useful."
Lu Lin walked over and sat down next to her: "These methods passed down from the older generation are very effective. With them, we can get a good night's sleep tonight."
The next day, when the bugle sounded, Gu Mingyue vaguely felt the person next to her get up.
She turned over, wanting to go back to sleep.
Lu Lin dressed quietly, careful not to wake her, even putting on his shoes very gently.
When Gu Mingyue woke up, the room was empty except for breakfast on the table.
Gu Mingyue smiled, picked up the bowl, drank the sweet corn porridge, and ate the fried egg that Lu Lin had specially made for her.
After breakfast, she suddenly remembered the mint and mugwort seedlings she had dug up from the mountain yesterday.
Thinking of the spiritual spring water in her space, she immediately went to carefully water the seedlings with it.
Clear water droplets slid down the leaves and were quickly absorbed by the soil.
Gu Mingyue squatted on the ground, carefully observing the seedlings, as if she could already see them growing into a lush and green landscape in the near future.
She gently patted the dirt off her hands, a satisfied smile on her lips.
Around noon, Lu Lin returned home and was immediately drawn to the scene before him as soon as he stepped into the yard.
The mint and mugwort seedlings that were planted yesterday are much taller and more upright than they were this morning, with greener and shinier leaves.
A gentle breeze carries the unique fragrance of mint and the distinctive aroma of mugwort, creating a refreshing and delightful experience.
"How can it grow so well in just one day?" Lu Lin exclaimed in surprise as he squatted down to examine it closely.
Gu Mingyue walked over with a bowl of freshly washed tomatoes, a mysterious smile on her lips: "Maybe they like the soil and water here."
Lu Lin looked up at her, sensing that there was something more to her words, but seeing that she was unwilling to elaborate, he smiled and nodded: "Whatever the reason, as long as these seedlings are growing well, that's fine."
Gu Mingyue popped a tomato into his mouth and said with a smile, "There aren't many fruits available now, so we can only satisfy our cravings with the vegetables we grow in the yard."
Lu Lin took a bite, and the sweet and sour juice exploded in his mouth, refreshing and appetizing.
He looked at the courtyard and said, "Once our loofahs, tomatoes, and cucumbers are all ripe, we can eat them in different ways every day."
Gu Mingyue nodded, her eyes shining with anticipation: "And there's mint and mugwort. Once they've grown, they can not only repel mosquitoes, but also be used to make tea and add to dishes—a win-win situation."
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