It turned out to be a persimmon forest.
It was already December, and the leaves of the persimmon tree had already fallen, leaving only the persimmons hanging on the branches like stars.
Some persimmons are golden in color, as if they were carefully painted by the sun, emitting a warm luster; others are bright red, just like burning fireballs, appearing particularly dazzling in this bleak winter day.
They are not big in size, but small and exquisite. Their round and plump appearance looks like delicate little lanterns, hanging in an orderly manner on the branches.
When the breeze blows, the persimmons sway gently, as if nodding to people. Their cute appearance will make anyone who sees them happy.
"Village chief, there are persimmons on the mountain. Let's go pick them!" Tiezhu shouted excitedly, his eyes full of desire and eagerness, as if he had already tasted the sweetness of the persimmons.
Upon hearing this, the village chief slowly raised his head and focused his gaze on the branches of the persimmon forest on the mountainside.
For a moment, he felt saliva forming in his mouth, and the soft, sweet taste of persimmons emerged in his mind.
Yes, I have been so tired from traveling all the way, sleeping in the open air, and I don’t know how long it has been since I last enjoyed the sweetness of fruit.
"Okay!" the village chief responded readily, with a long-lost lightness in his voice.
"Then everyone will rest at the foot of the mountain. Some of us will go pick persimmons, and some of us will look for some wild vegetables and fruits nearby."
After hearing the village chief's arrangements, everyone immediately got busy.
After settling down successfully at the foot of the mountain, the group of young men in the village ran towards the mountain happily like wild horses.
They walked along the mountain paths, their eyes filled with eager anticipation for the persimmons.
Along the way, they looked left and right, carefully searching for the location of the persimmon forest in their memory.
After searching for a long time, just when everyone was getting anxious, the sharp-eyed Da Hu suddenly shouted excitedly, "Found it! Found it! Over there!"
Everyone looked in the direction of his finger and saw the persimmon trees looming in the lush greenery.
Everyone quickened their pace and headed towards the persimmon forest on the mountainside.
This persimmon tree looks like it is wild and there is no sign of human care.
They grow freely and wantonly on the hillside, forming a spectacular fruit forest.
After a rough count, there were seventeen or eighteen of them in this area.
Each persimmon tree grows extremely tall and straight, with thick trunks and lush branches and leaves, as if showing people their tenacious vitality.
The tallest of them, nearly ten meters high, reached the sky, standing out against the surrounding trees. As we approached, we saw a thin layer of frost on the persimmon's skin, like a holy veil quietly left by the winter maiden. It felt cool and slightly moist to the touch.
In this cold season, the persimmons are clustered closely on the branches, you next to me, I next to you, as if they are huddled together for warmth, and as if they are jointly guarding the secrets of this forest.
The sunlight shines through the gaps between the mottled branches, falling on the persimmons like stars, outlining light and dark contours for them, making them more three-dimensional and layered, like a work of art carefully crafted by nature, the outstanding painter.
The plump fruits seemed to be waving to them, exuding irresistible charm.
For a moment, they felt their throats rolling and saliva involuntarily flooding their mouths, their hearts filled with desire and impatience to taste the persimmons.
Su Wenjun looked up at the tree full of tempting agate-like persimmons. A hint of excitement flashed in his eyes, and then the corners of his mouth rose up, revealing a confident smile.
He bent down slightly, gathered strength in his legs, and pushed hard against the tree trunk. He climbed up as nimbly as a nimble gibbon.
He held the branch firmly with both hands, exerting force alternately, and in the blink of an eye, he had climbed up the tree in just a few steps.
He cleverly found a foothold among the dense branches and leaves, stood firmly, then quickly glanced around, and his eyes were instantly attracted by a bright red persimmon.
He slowly stretched out his hand, and his slender fingers accurately pinched the stem of the persimmon. With a little force, the persimmon fell off the branch.
Su Wenjun gently brought it to his mouth, slightly opened his lips, and took a light bite. In an instant, his teeth broke through the skin, and the sweet juice instantly overflowed in his mouth like a rushing stream, flowing happily down his throat. The rich sweetness and the unique fragrance of persimmon blended with each other, jumping repeatedly on his taste buds.
Su Wenjun couldn't help but squint his eyes slightly, his face filled with satisfaction and intoxication, and he immersed himself in this wonderful taste.
The children under the tree looked eagerly at Su Wenjun on the tree. Seeing him already enjoying the delicious persimmons, they drooled and shouted impatiently, "I want to eat some too! Uncle Wenjun, help us pick some!"
The childish voice was full of desire and eagerness.
Several younger children were jumping and skipping under the tree like lively little rabbits, raising their hands high as they jumped, as if this would bring them closer to the persimmons on the tree. A little girl with pigtails stared at the persimmons on the tree with her eyes wide open, her feet unconsciously taking small steps, her neck stretched out, looking like a goose trying to stretch its neck. The older boys were more clever. Some of them were turning around quickly under the tree, trying to find a better position to see Su Wenjun's movements more clearly. Some picked up small branches on the ground and waved them gently towards the tree, shouting, "Uncle, here, there are still many!
Su Wenjun heard the children's anxious cries under the tree, and with a doting smile on his face, he responded, "Okay, kids, don't be anxious!"
Then he became busy on the tree, his eyes moving among the lush branches, quickly picking out ripe persimmons.
I saw his strong and dexterous hands skillfully moving among the branches and leaves. After spotting a big, yellow persimmon, he twisted it gently and the persimmon fell off the branch.
He swung his arm and threw the persimmon down hard, shouting, "Here, catch it!"
The persimmon was like an orange meteor, drawing a graceful arc in the sky.
The children under the tree were already on full alert. They tilted their heads upwards, their eyes fixed on the persimmons falling from the sky, their small bodies filled with tension and excitement.
At the moment the persimmons fell, the children were quick-eyed and quick-handed, reacting quickly like well-trained soldiers.
The child jumped high, stretched out his hands, and accurately picked up the persimmon in his arms in the air.
After catching the persimmons, they couldn't wait to peel off the smooth skin of the persimmon with their little hands without saying a word.
The fingernails gently embedded themselves into the persimmon peel, and with a little force, a large piece was peeled off, revealing the orange-red flesh inside.
Then they put their faces close and took a big bite. The soft and sticky flesh spread in their mouths and the sweet juice splashed all over their mouths.
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