Chapter 08: Encountering a Beauty, Who Could It Be?
By the water's edge, I did not see any food as I headed south, but I noticed a pile of clothes thrown on the shore. Just as I was lost in thought, a voice suddenly came from within the clothes
It seemed that Dan Yong was a bit angry for not having inquired about the girl's background, deliberately provoking the old man. This remark left Zuo Nan both amused and exasperated. Dan Yong pointed at the old man's embarrassing state and laughed heartily, teasing him for a while. However, when he turned to leave, he was startled to see that the girl in red had approached without him noticing. Her gaze was icy, as if she intended to strip Dan Yong bare once again. Faced with such a frosty yet alluring girl, Dan Yong immediately fell silent, no longer daring to speak recklessly.
The daughter could not understand how this matter could arouse such great interest in her father, thinking it was just a sign of aging, that he was becoming more like a mischievous child as he grew older. She did not follow him but instead squatted by the edge of the grass, watching with great interest the half bucket of silly little turtles.
Come here, Xiaoying
"I can't believe you're still alive. Hurry and get out of here; the warehouse manager has gone up the mountain. Don't let him catch you." Lei Dapeng relayed the message.
Still living in memories, Zuo Xiying felt helpless and could only follow her father's temperament. As the father and daughter walked and chatted, they were suddenly drawn to a sharp whistle. Turning around, they saw a figure standing on the opposite mountain peak; it was undoubtedly Shan Yong, who had already started his ascent. The whistle was long and piercing, with a single note lasting for over ten seconds. Zuo Xiying was speechless; after walking such a distance, this guy still couldn't resist teasing her. When she tried to pull her father along, she was surprised to see a smile on his face as he inexplicably said, "He is showing you goodwill."
A time and space that exists in memory, never to be erased. As I unconsciously approached the foot of the mountain, I suddenly stopped. Childhood memories seemed to be awakened by every detail I saw. When my childlike heart surged, I even plucked a slender twig from the dense thicket, twisting and pulling it just like I did as a child. I could peel the bark off, scrape it with my nails, and blow into it, producing a melody without lyrics, a simple rural tune. After playing a few notes, my childlike heart surged again, and I reached out to catch the resting butterflies among the flowers. Just like in my childhood, I could peel the bark off, scrape it with my nails, and blow into it, producing a melody without lyrics, a simple rural tune. After playing a few notes, my childlike heart surged again, and I reached out to catch the resting butterflies among the flowers.
Zuo Nanxia was choked heavily, as a completely naked young man was pulling out a net, speaking with a defiant expression, truly seeming to consider himself a thief
He packed up his walkie-talkie and efficiently tidied up his belongings. Just as he was ready to leave, he suddenly turned around to see the old man still staring at him in a daze. Upon closer inspection, the old man was dressed in an old-fashioned suit resembling a Zhongshan suit, with a head full of silver hair that shone as bright as fish scales. His instinctive posture was to stand with his hands behind his back, leaning slightly forward to observe others. That demeanor was somewhat aloof. He glanced at the old man, then at the woman in red who dared not approach from a distance, and pondered over the information reported by Lei Dapeng. With a hint of suspicion, he asked, "Sir, which level of high-ranking official are you?"
What do you think? The old man appeared somewhat pleased, wearing a playful expression towards the mischievous child. Moreover, with such a dignified demeanor, it was as if he had provided a ready answer to Shan Yong. However, he misjudged the situation; Shan Yong rolled his eyes and retorted, "What are you so proud of? Just because you are a high-ranking official, you are no longer in power. If you were still in office, you wouldn't have the leisure to wander around here. Hmph, bringing a girl along is nothing impressive, is it?"
"How old are you, and why do you have such filthy thoughts?" Zuo Nanxia was truly infuriated this time, pointing at Shan Yongqi, ready to confront this yellow-haired brat with a few words of reason. Just as he was about to step forward, the phone rang unexpectedly, and the same broken voice came through: "Potato, potato, I am sweet potato, respond."
As the whistling gradually faded, Zuo Nan hummed fragments from the local opera of his hometown. His daughter, Zuo Xiying, recognized it as well, for her father's influence had given her some knowledge of the local bangzi opera. She listened intently to the melody in the whistle... Indeed, it was melodious and rhythmic, almost perfectly matching her father's joyful humming of the opera lyrics and accompaniment. He sang with such delight that even she forgot her earlier displeasure, watching her father, filled with childlike joy, unable to contain his laughter.
Puh... The left side of Nan's mouth curled down, looking quite displeased. Dan Yong immediately changed his words: "Oh, not the wife, but the mistress?"
Zuo Xiying watched her father from a distance, so happy, and quietly took a few photos without disturbing him. The feelings for her homeland were beyond her understanding, but it was evident that her father was very nostalgic, deeply immersed in the beautiful memories of his hometown.
Oh? Grass rope
The old man was first stunned and then startled, taken aback. It was only after hearing the voice repeated twice that he realized there was a walkie-talkie thrown under his clothes. When he picked it up and looked around, he found no one who could be the source of the sound. Taking out his mobile phone, he quickly understood that the signal was intermittent; this place could only use such a communication tool. At this moment, he also realized that the one catching the soft-shelled turtle had already dived into the water, and the net was certainly submerged, hidden in deeper waters. This was a technique that only an expert or a skilled practitioner could accomplish.
Crouching down and looking around, he indeed confirmed his suspicion: a thin plastic string was hanging from the roots of the grass, extending straight into the water's surface, with the other end surely connected to a net. Before he could think much, he immediately confirmed it. Suddenly, with a splash, a wet head emerged from the water, followed by a person walking in the shallow water, pulling a net. Wiping his face, he saw an old man squatting on the shore, staring at him. The man was taken aback, surprised, and exclaimed, "Oh my, where did this silly old man come from? Don't steal my clothes!"
Not long after, on the way back, when he turned to look at the young man heading in the opposite direction again, his daughter expressed her displeasure and softly said, "Dad, you are a professor after all. Why are you talking to just anyone? That could be some wild kid over there!"
The beauty, with surprise etched on her face, possessed a charm of her own. Dressed in fiery red, her skin was whiter than snow, and her hair was as black as ink. Her astonished large eyes sparkled as if they had seen something terrifying. Shan Yong glanced several times before suddenly realizing something was amiss; the terrifying thing was growing on himself. Instinctively, he hurried to cover his exposed spring light, but unexpectedly, as he covered it with both hands, the net fell apart. He quickly bent down to lift the net back into his hands, but as he did, it exposed him again. The terrifying thing between his legs was not behaving; it was rising and swaying, stimulated and eager to stand tall.
Understood, I will pack up and get ready to leave. I will go down from the back mountain, " said Dan Yong.
In the distance, with great interest, Luo Xiying was fiddling with a small turtle when she turned her head, followed by a sharp scream, "Ah!" The sound was rather unclear
"Sir." After putting on his clothes, Shan Yong inexplicably became polite, having just referred to the old man as a fool. This courteous address surprised Zuo Nan for a moment, and he looked at Shan Yong with great interest without saying a word. Shan Yong, holding the net, gestured with his eyes towards the girl in the red dress who was quite far away, and quietly asked, "Who is that girl?"
Along several barely visible paths, this low hill faces the water, while behind it is a gentle slope, accessible from all sides. However, it is vastly different from the images in my memory. The once cultivated fields have transformed into a vast expanse of shimmering green water, and the wild pear and peach trees in the valley across have long since disappeared, replaced by lush pine and cypress forests. Looking down, I can see industrious ants busily working among the grass and stones, and occasionally, a green grasshopper, resembling a blade of grass, leaps away suddenly. The once cultivated fields have transformed into a vast expanse of shimmering green water, and the wild pear and peach trees in the valley across have long since disappeared, replaced by lush pine and cypress forests. Looking down, I can see industrious ants busily working among the grass and stones, and occasionally, a green grasshopper, resembling a blade of grass, leaps away suddenly. When I look up, the sky is a clear azure, dotted with fluffy white clouds, seemingly within reach at the mountain's peak; as I glance around, the colors of the water and mountains blend seamlessly, and a gentle breeze carries the scent of the lake, warmly refreshing.
A fleeting glimpse, yet that graceful figure and that face left a profound impression in Shan Yong's eyes. As for Old Left, he instantly understood the reason behind the young man's newfound politeness, chuckling slyly as he said, "Guess."
Unexpectedly, Dan Yong had a moment of inspiration, and with a shift in conversation, he approached and guessed: "Your wife!?"
In the southern view, he had already lost sight of Dan Yong. Turning back, he smiled at his daughter and said, "Hehe, having been in Luzhou for a few days, how do you feel?"
Gradually, Zuo Nan's emotions transitioned from sadness to tranquility, and within this tranquility, it seemed as though he slowly stepped into another dimension of time and space
Unintentionally, I saw the net that this young man had pulled up. Zuo Nan couldn't help but let out a sigh. This net had indeed caught quite a lot, with two large and five small turtles struggling inside. Zuo Laotou stared in astonishment; the larger ones weighed at least seven or eight jin, and even the smaller ones weighed about a jin. He had never caught such a large one in his youth, let alone one that had been dragged up from underwater.
Supporting the elderly, one could tell from the demeanor that she was definitely not a mistress or anything of that sort. Just a glance at Dan Yong made him feel inexplicably guilty, as if pierced by the anger reflected in those beautiful eyes—contemptuous, mocking, and dismissive. Then, she assisted the old man and slowly walked towards the abandoned village on the low hill, leaving Dan Yong feeling quite dejected, even preferring to be scolded outright. He stared blankly for a long time, until Lei Dapeng urged him to head in another direction up the mountain with his harvest.
While enjoying himself, Zuo Nan inadvertently spotted a hand-twisted grass rope, seemingly freshly made and still bearing traces of mud. As he pulled on the rope, he was surprised to find a bucket tied to it. Leaning closer to lift the lid, his eyes brightened, and he was immediately filled with unexpected joy, for inside were several turtles still stretching their legs and crawling about.
"Go on, it's not what you think... it's my daughter," Zuo Nanxia emphasized, fearing that Dan Yong might make an awkward guess. However, to his surprise, Dan Yong waved his hand dismissively, walking away while casually saying, "It's a goddaughter, that's the implication, everyone understands... there's nothing to be embarrassed about."
He was originally going to leave, but for some inexplicable reason, he felt a strong curiosity towards this wild-looking young man. It seemed as if there was some connection or commonality with his own past experiences. Observing his physique and build, he was well-proportioned and athletic, with muscles that flexed and bulged with the movement of his clothing, radiating an enviable vitality. Looking at his appearance, he had thick eyebrows and big eyes, a prominent nose and wide mouth, and a dignified countenance. Although he had a somewhat wild demeanor, his eyes were bright and clear, not resembling those of a bad person.
Dan Yong was a bit frustrated, throwing all the big turtles from the net onto the shore, entangled with the net's mouth. He didn't have time to wipe the water off his body and hurriedly put on his clothes in a haphazard manner. Zuo Nan, who was watching from the side, did not expect such a situation to occur. He was momentarily at a loss, but then he couldn't help but chuckle. This country boy was indeed quite reckless.
Old Left did not expect to guess this result. He glared with wide eyes, unable to utter the words stuck in his throat. Dan Yong, while pulling up his pants, laughed and said: "You guessed it, right? Our tourist reservoir area often sees men sneaking out with their young mistresses while hiding it from their wives... You really know how to enjoy life. If I were to live like you, I would definitely bring along such a young and beautiful girl, that would be impressive"
Potato, potato, I am sweet potato... where have you died, respond.
Upon closer inspection, she is different: with a delicate nose and phoenix-like eyes, her skin is so fair it rivals frost and snow, and her gaze shines like stars and the moon. She is a beauty of pure elegance, one that evokes an inexplicable sense of reverence, making one hesitant to harbor any improper thoughts. The usually bold Shan Yong finds himself inexplicably shy, experiencing for the first time a feeling of timidity that he cannot confront. Fortunately, there is no awkwardness. The young woman steps forward a few paces, supporting the silly old man in Shan Yong's eyes, and softly says, "Let's go, Dad."
"Indeed, this is quite a fun thing, wild. When my father was a child, he could catch several with just a piece of grass rope," said Zuo Nan with delight. However, he soon became puzzled and looked around the strange environment, asking, "This must have been caught by someone. If someone caught it, then where is the net? Is it nesting in the water or on the shore?"
The old man, feeling amused, explained to his daughter the rural methods of fishing. One method involved creating a nest in the water, with a large opening and a small mouth, placing bait inside, and waiting for the turtle to swim in and eat, thus capturing it in one net. The other method involved making a false nest on the shore, pulling the bait from the water's edge directly to the false nest, tricking the turtle into coming out of the water to forage, and then netting it. He gestured animatedly while demonstrating, emphasizing that regardless of the method, bait was essential, and such bait was not something an ordinary person could easily make. The mere thought of bait made him completely forget why he was there, as he searched around, catching a faint odor. Following the smell, he arrived at the water's edge, staring blankly at the deep green surface.
Dan Yong suddenly saw that beautiful yet terrified face on https://www.hetushucom.com, while Zuo Xiying also saw Dan Yong, who was standing in water that was less than waist-deep, completely unclothed. She was so surprised to see such a bare man that she let out a shout, but then didn't know what to do next, standing there speechless, as if she had been struck dumb.
Zuo Nanxia was delighted, squatting down and waving his hand. His daughter quickly stepped forward, exclaimed in surprise, and curiously asked while looking at the half-full bucket of silly little turtles, "Dad, is this a soft-shelled turtle?"
This statement, tinged with a sense of pride and self-satisfaction, reflects a lifetime dedicated to scholarship and a career as a professor. Yet, the work he is most proud of is the one pointed out by Shan Yong. After speaking, he smiled at Shan Yong, who also smiled back, as if they shared a mutual understanding.
"Received, I am Potato, what is it?" Dan Yong replied, not bothering to pay attention to the old man.
"Hmm, quite good." Zuo Xiying gave a vague answer. Her father shook his head and said as he walked, "Quite good? I don't think so. Surrounded by flattery, compliments, small talk, and lies, how can there be anything good? We only receive this kind of hospitality because of your sister's influence... I feel that this wild kid lives very authentically, very naturally. His emotions are written all over his face; when he's happy, he chats with you, and when he's not, he scolds you. Haha, this reminds me of my carefree life here when I was a child"
Zuo Xiying felt her face flush with embarrassment, and it took her a while to regain her composure. She spat, turned her back, and ran far away to hide. She hid behind a tree, not daring to look back at all.
This is not just a matter of bravery. The net got caught in the aquatic plants, and I had no choice but to dive down to untangle it. Just as I caught sight of the old man, I noticed someone not far from where I had hidden my soft-shelled turtle. I immediately pointed and shouted, "Hey, don’t steal my turtle"
What is making a nest? Building a nest? My daughter does not understand
"Ah? Dad, what's wrong with you today?" Zuo Xiying was both amused and exasperated; her usually serious father was indeed acting out of character today, as if he felt a connection with this young man who was fiddling with a turtle. Unexpectedly, Zuo Nan began to hum along with the continuous sound of a whistle, strutting confidently as he walked, performing a stylish theatrical step while humming and saying: "Listen closely, this is a piece from the Shangdang Bangzi opera titled 'Cheng Yaojin Proposes.' It tells the story of Cheng Yaojin helping Pei Cuiyun with her horse and stirrups. You can tell from this whistle that he has at least two years of practice. Just that part... Back in the day, I sold rakes and was a shopkeeper, leading a donkey to the mountain fair, enduring hardships and toil. Now, being a horseman is not a loss for my strength." He continued to hum and say: "Listen closely, this is a piece from the Shangdang Bangzi opera titled 'Cheng Yaojin Proposes.' It tells the story of Cheng Yaojin helping Pei Cuiyun with her horse and stirrups. You can tell from this whistle that he has at least two years of practice. Just that part... Back in the day, I sold rakes and was a shopkeeper, leading a donkey to the mountain fair, enduring hardships and toil. Now, being a horseman is not a loss for my strength..."