Chapter 841 The countryside time passed quickly, and a delicious aroma filled the valley.
The fish soup was simmered to a milky white color, the fish meat was incredibly tender, and the wild mushrooms were plump and delicious. Surrounded by the beautiful scenery, the people shared this lunchbox of mountain and water fish soup.
After a satisfying meal, the group lay on the rocks shaded by trees, listening to the roar of the waterfall and the babbling of the water, feeling the gentle breeze in the valley, so comfortable that they almost fell asleep.
As the setting sun painted the borders of the city orange-red, the people, carrying the scent of water and the mountains, slowly strolled back to the Zhou family courtyard.
As I approached, I saw Zhou Zhe's mother standing at the courtyard gate, her hand on her forehead, anxiously looking towards the path.
Upon seeing them, she quickly approached, her tone reproachful: "Oh dear, where have you kids been? It's almost dark and you still haven't come back. I thought you'd gotten lost in the mountains or run into some wild creature. I was so worried!"
Zhou Gang chuckled and patted his still slightly bulging belly: "Mom, don't worry, we're doing great. Look, our bellies are all round and full. We made fish soup in the mountains, it was so delicious!"
Zhou Zhe quickly explained, "I took Qingyang to play in the canyon. The water was cool, and we forgot the time without realizing it."
Seeing that everyone had indeed returned unharmed, Zhou Zhe's mother was relieved, and her face regained its usual kind smile.
"It's good that you're back. I've left the food warm in the pot for you."
Lu Qingyang quickly said apologetically, "Auntie, I'm sorry to have troubled you. We've really eaten our fill in the mountains, and we can't eat anything now."
Zhou Zheniang looked them over and, seeing that they didn't seem hungry, stopped pressuring them. She turned around and brought out a large watermelon from the kitchen, still damp with moisture. The watermelon's rind was dark green, clearly indicating it was a good, sandy-fleshed watermelon.
"This is the last batch of watermelons. I soaked them in the well water for a bit, and they're so refreshing. I can't eat anything, so I'll have a watermelon to quench my thirst and calm my nerves!"
As he spoke, he raised his hand and with a "crack," the emerald green melon rind split open, revealing the bright red, sandy flesh inside, from which sweet juice instantly flowed out.
She deftly cut the melon into large, even pieces and handed one large piece to each of them.
Lu Qingyang took the watermelon, its slices icy cold.
Take a big bite, and the sweet juice bursts in your mouth, carrying the coolness of well water, instantly washing away the last trace of stickiness and fatigue of the summer evening.
That pure sweetness, combined with the cool evening breeze, brought a sense of comfort to the inside and out.
Sitting on a small bamboo chair in the courtyard, she watched Zhou Zhe and Zhou Gang devour watermelon without any regard for their image, juice dripping down their chins.
Watching Zhou Zheniang scold the girls for their poor table manners while simultaneously smiling and handing them towels.
Hearing the distant barking of dogs and the chirping of birds returning to their nests... a strange, complete sense of relaxation enveloped me.
Here, you'll find only mountains, streams, simple rural life, and the most basic daily meals.
Suddenly, I realized that this "slowness," this most direct connection with the land and people, might be the harbor I need to occasionally stop in my busy life.
The watermelon in my hand was exceptionally sweet, and this leisurely state of mind was even more precious.
After relaxing in the mountains for a while, Lu Qingyang did some quick calculations and realized it was time to prepare to return to the capital.
I've been away for quite some time now, and although I've made arrangements for everything, the longer I'm away, the more things pile up.
More importantly, she began to miss Shen Mo and the two children.
Lying on a cool mat at night, listening to the chirping of insects outside the window, I always see the adorable images of little stones pestering the worms to tell stories and little fish babbling.
Money can never be fully earned, and business empires can be expanded gradually, but the time spent with family as they grow up can never be made up for once it's missed.
Once the thought arose, the urgency to go home grew even stronger.
The remaining two wandered through the fields, carefully examining the plants that had grown after being improved from the seeds and seedlings brought by them.
Pick a cucumber with its blossoms and thorns from the vine, bite into it, and your mouth will be filled with a crispness and the taste of sunshine; break off a ripe tomato, and you'll find it juicy and full of juice, with a perfect balance of sweet and sour, far more flavorful than any you can buy in the city.
On the eve of their departure, the Zhou family prepared a more lavish dinner than usual, with a subtle sense of melancholy in the atmosphere.
As Zhou Zheniang served food to Dong, she kept telling Dong to come often in the future.
Zhou Xiu secretly slipped a small cloth bag to her, which contained various wild vegetables and mushrooms that she had carefully selected and dried.
Zhou Gang repeatedly said that once the pigs in the village were fattened up and the cured meat was made, he would definitely send it to the village.
Night falls and the Milky Way begins to appear.
Lu Qingyang stood in the courtyard, taking one last look at the village and distant mountains gently shrouded in the night, his heart filled with utter tranquility.
The morning of parting finally arrived.
Zhou Zhe will also return to the capital.
The reporting date for my assigned job after graduation is approaching, and I can't delay any longer.
In the courtyard, the sorrow of parting was even more intense than in the past few days.
Zhou Zhe's parents surrounded their son, who was about to embark on a long journey, and kept giving him endless advice and instructions.
"Once you get to work, listen to your superiors, get along well with your colleagues, and don't act out..."
Zhou Zhe's father smoked his pipe, his tone remaining calm, but the reluctance in his eyes was clearly visible.
Zhou Zhe's mother, while helping her son pack his already packed luggage bag, murmured with reddened eyes, "Don't skimp on food while you're away, remember to wear more clothes if you get cold... Write back often, don't let the family worry..."
Her hands rubbed and rubbed the straps of her duffel bag, as if trying to stuff all her worries into it.
Finally, the elderly couple turned their attention to Lu Qingyang. Zhou Zhe's father earnestly said, "Qingyang, this boy Zhe... will be unfamiliar with the capital city from now on. I'll have to trouble you to take care of him and keep an eye on him."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhe, who had been holding back his emotions, couldn't hold back his tears any longer. He quickly turned his face away, wiped his face haphazardly with his sleeve, and his voice was clearly choked with sobs:
“Dad, Mom, what are you saying? Qingyang has already taken good care of me. If it weren’t for him, I… I wouldn’t have been able to find such a good job.”
These words are sincere.
Without Lu Qingyang's guidance and connections over the past few years, it would have been extremely difficult for a rural boy with no background to stay in Beijing and get a promising job, even after graduating from university.
Seeing this, Lu Qingyang quickly stepped forward and solemnly assured Zhou Zhe's parents, "Uncle, Aunt, you can rest assured. Zhe is my brother. As long as I have food to eat in the capital, I will never go hungry. We will take care of each other, and everything will go smoothly!"
I ended up carrying my luggage in my hands.
Zhou Zhe's mother quickly stuffed two cloth bags over, one containing boiled eggs and the other containing freshly made pancakes, "Eat them on the road, eat them on the road..."
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