camping
The buses were parked at the main school gate, five of them marked with signs A, B, C, D, and E respectively. Lu Er found the bus for Class B and got on. Everyone else in the group chat had arrived except for Lu Er. Yan Songqi tagged Lu Er, saying they were sitting by the window near the back door. Lu Er walked over and sat down next to Ruan Xiyan.
"Xu Ting, we're camping, not on a summer outing," Yan Songqi said helplessly, adjusting her glasses. Xu Ting had two large bags, one on each side, cramming the seat full. A seam bulged out of his backpack, through which yellow potato chips were faintly visible.
Xu Ting didn't care: "What's the difference? What's wrong with bringing some snacks? We won't be able to eat them when we set up camp deep in the mountains." She then patted her chest and said, "Don't worry, you'll get your share of the snacks too. I won't eat them all by myself."
"..." Everyone fell silent. Was it a matter of whether there were snacks or not, or were they looking for free labor to help carry all this stuff?
After confirming that all members of Class B had arrived, Teacher Mina explained the camping arrangements. The gist was that they would travel for several hours to reach Qingmeng Mountain, have lunch in the hotel lobby and rest briefly, then set up camp by a stream in the afternoon, spend the night there, and return the next day.
Before the students could even cheer, Ms. Mina announced with a smile, "Don't get too excited yet. As I mentioned yesterday, you have a task to do. The task is to film a mini English documentary."
"The theme is 'All About Humanity,' and you're free to develop your own content. You'll need to conduct random interviews with three people in the town, and translate in English. If you're unsure, watch some foreign documentaries online to see how they're filmed."
Filming must be completed before we return tomorrow, and the videos must be submitted by noon the day after tomorrow. Outstanding groups will be showcased.
Lu Er heard the laughter of some classmates behind him being swallowed back, replaced by sighs and groans.
"One more thing, after you set up camp this afternoon, you'll have to cook dinner yourselves. The school will provide suitable kitchen utensils and funds for you to buy ingredients, so don't worry about that."
Someone raised their hand, full of doubt: "Teacher, is it really necessary to cook? Nobody in our group knows how to cook. Can't we just order takeout?"
“That’s fine too. You can find a restaurant to eat at your own expense. As for ordering takeout,” Ms. Mina’s smile deepened slightly, “it depends on whether you can get it.”
During the bus ride, Yan Songqi, her expression grave, raised her glasses even higher: "Camping requires us to cook for ourselves. Does anyone here know how to cook or anything like that?"
Ruan Xiyan slumped in her chair and waved her hand, while Sun Yuanyuan and Sun Yuanyuan shook their heads frantically with their mouths shut. Xu Ting stared straight at Yan Songqi: "Team leader, didn't you just come back from Australia this year? You're not used to white food, are you? Why don't you learn to cook for yourself and support yourself?"
“…Not all international students can cook.” Yan Songqi almost laughed in exasperation. Lu Er, who had been quietly spelling words with her head down in the back seat, finally joined in the conversation, “I should be able to cook.”
Upon hearing this, the other four people's expressions instantly lit up. Yan Songqi looked at Lu Er as if she were looking at a savior, almost as if she wanted to hold her hand and be moved to tears: "Okay, then Lu Er will be the head chef, and we'll assist you. Our group finally doesn't have to worry about where to go to fill our stomachs anymore."
Xu Ting grumbled, "If all else fails, just eat my snacks. One pack of instant noodles each, plus some cookies, that should be enough to fill you up."
"...You'd better shut up."
_
Qingmeng Mountain is a famous scenic area on the outskirts of Qingshi City. It is a place of deep mountains and green forests, where herds of cattle and sheep graze and several ancient trees that are hundreds of years old. The springs of Qingmeng Mountain are so pure and natural that they have attracted a large number of drinking water companies to build plants and extract water from them.
Most locals live in Qingmeng Town, which has recently developed into a distinctive town specifically for tourists due to the booming tourism industry.
The group arrived at the local hotel at noon. The teacher led everyone to rest in the lobby, and after two or three minutes, sent the group leaders to collect lunch.
"Lunch was quite nice." Yan Songqi returned from the restaurant, carrying several plates. "One cake, rice ball, sandwich and lemon tea for each person."
Ruan Xiyan took the plate but didn't touch it, her gaze lingering on the peach mousse cake: "Is this the only flavor?"
"Oh, there are others too. I saw that peach flavor was the most, and there were only two or three of the others left, so I just took this flavor. Do you want to eat something else? I don't know if there are any left, maybe they're all gone. Some people who want to eat more can take more." Yan Songqi looked back.
“She can’t eat peaches, she’s allergic,” Ruan Xiyan said briefly, handing her portion to Lu Er before jumping down and heading towards the restaurant. Lu Er remained seated, holding the delicate pink peach mousse cake, slightly dazed.
Xu Ting stood behind the sofa, licking the cream off his fork, and whispered in her ear, "What's your relationship? How does he know what you're allergic to?"
“…Classmate. He probably has a better memory,” Lu Er replied vaguely.
When Ruan Xiyan returned, he brought a matcha flavored one. He handed it to Lu Er and smiled, "There are no other flavors. I told Auntie, and she gave me another one."
Lu Er took it: "Thank you." She scooped out a large spoonful of matcha, sweet and fragrant, melting in her mouth. Lu Er slowly savored it, suddenly remembering the birthday cake Ruan Xiyan had bought for her a few days ago. It was the same flavor, but decorated with cherries and green grapes. She spent two and a half days finishing that cake.
After the age of nine, Lu Er's memory of cakes seemed no different from plain water—bland and tasteless.
Eight summers were blank in her life. At the age of seventeen, someone rekindled the fireworks of blessings for her.
After lunch, about two hundred people prepared to set off to camp in the upper and middle reaches of Qingmeng Mountain.
Yan Songqi called to the group members to grab their bags and follow, looking around with a puzzled expression: "Where did Ruan Xiyan go? Has anyone seen him?"
“I’ll go look for him,” Lu Er said. “I remember he went in that direction.”
She walked out of the hotel corridor and, sure enough, found Ruan Xiyan under the loquat tree in the distance.
The boy leaned against the tree, the swaying green shadow seeping into his shoulders and collar, making his body seem to glow with a soft light.
"Ruan Xiyan, it's time to go." Lu Er called out a few times, and only when she got closer did she see Ruan Xiyan on the phone. He had his back to Lu Er and didn't notice her approach. "Mom, just water it more, it'll survive. I'll transplant it when I get back..."
Lu Er didn't hear what he said, so he called his name again. Ruan Xiyan shuddered, quite frightened. Seeing it was Lu Er, he quickly put his phone in his pocket and greeted him guiltily, "Ha, hello?"
"...It's time to go. The team leader asked me to come find you."
Ruan Xiyan scratched her hair: "...Okay."
The school has prepared tents, sleeping bags, folding chairs, and other equipment for everyone.
With the teacher's guidance, dozens of colorful tents were set up one after another. During this time, the students who had set up their tents were free to move around, resting in the tents or looking for interviewees in the town.
The large tents can hold four people, and the small ones can hold two people. Ruan Xiyan's group received two tents, one large and one small, which was just right.
There was a guesthouse near the tents, where the owners had a brown and white Border Collie. The Border Collie was lively and hospitable; while the students were setting up their tents, it ran around and jumped around in the crowd.
When they got to Lu'er's side, Ruan Xiyan played with it for a while, and it was so charmed by Ruan Xiyan that it couldn't move and happily jumped on him to play. No matter how the other students called it, it wouldn't come.
Xu Ting's face was practically overflowing with envy, but all he could do was stare longingly: "Why is he so popular with the puppies?"
"..." Lu Er looked in that direction. Ruan Xiyan was playing with pebbles with Bian Mu. He deliberately didn't throw them. Bian Mu wasn't stupid either. If he still didn't throw them the second time, Bian Mu would frantically grab him and lick his hands and legs.
Ruan Xiyan seemed to be tickled from being licked, her laughter coming in fits and starts. Her eyes were half-closed, and her childlike under-eye bags dangled from the corners of her eyes.
Perhaps it's because Ruan Xiyan is also a puppy, Lu Er thought to herself.
The pebble was thrown out and landed on Lu Er's side. Border Collie and Ruan Xiyan ran towards her.
Lu Er squatted down and stroked the Border Collie's head. The Border Collie nuzzled against her warmly, and after a few moments it turned around and climbed high between Ruan Xiyan's legs.
Ruan Xiyan cupped the Border Collie's face in her hands, a dimple appearing on her cheek as she smiled: "You like me that much?" The Border Collie barked loudly, its tail wagging like a fan on its highest setting.
"..." Lu Er's lips curved slightly, and she couldn't help but say what was on her mind, "Ruan Xiyan, do you know, you're like a little puppy right now."
Ruan Xiyan looked at her, her eyes still bright with a clear smile: "Teacher Xiaolu, take this as a compliment."
Before dusk, the teacher organized a visit to a nearby research museum. Displayed in glass cases on the first floor were newly developed crops, including soft, glutinous rice, hybrid corn, and agricultural machinery.
The second floor is the astronomical hall. Qingmeng Mountain has a superior geographical location with low air pollution and high visibility, making it particularly suitable for stargazing.
Upon arriving at the astronomical hall, the staff explained the basics of celestial phenomena: "Astrology mainly divides the sky into twelve constellations because in the fifth century BC, the ancient Babylonians divided the ecliptic into twelve equal segments and named them after the twelve constellations that passed through the ecliptic. However, to ensure balance, Ophiuchus, which also passes through the ecliptic, was removed... In the twentieth century, the IAU passed a resolution to divide the entire sky into eighty-eight constellations."
"This summer, you'll see not only Scorpio, but also Cygnus, Aquila..."
As the astronomers taught the students how to use a telescope, Ms. Mina smiled and said, "The Milky Way has been beautiful these past few nights. If you can't sleep in the middle of the night while sleeping in your tents, you can get up and look at the stars."
"Qingmeng Mountain is a great place for stargazing, so don't miss this opportunity."
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