Chapter 7: Entering the Mountains to Dig for Trees

Accompanied by the dazed chubby boy, Li Feng descended the steps, gazing up at the reservoir. Ultimately, even the tall elder cannot escape the day of his fall; the meaning of life equally applies to such magnificent structures

The children in the village no longer come here to play, the mountains gradually seal off their paths, and Li Feng does not know whether the adults have told their children the stories of this place that once was.

The little snake coiled into a circle, spitting out a pink tender shoot. The little squirrel lay there, looking quite injured. Li Feng glanced over, feeling helpless; he was not a doctor. Fortunately, after a little while, the squirrel began to recover. It seemed to have been holding its breath. After drinking some spring water, the little creature finally perked up a bit. Meanwhile, the chubby one watched Li Feng feed the little squirrel spring water, becoming agitated. It bared its teeth and growled, demanding that Li Feng give it a good knock on the head (with a curled index finger). The aggrieved little chubby one tucked its tail and looked at Li Feng with watery eyes. It seemed to have been holding its breath. After drinking some spring water, the little creature finally perked up a bit. Meanwhile, the chubby one watched Li Feng feed the little squirrel spring water, becoming agitated. It bared its teeth and growled, demanding that Li Feng give it a good knock on the head (with a curled index finger). The aggrieved little chubby one tucked its tail and looked at Li Feng with watery eyes. This little guy certainly knew how to seek affection. With no other choice, Li Feng rubbed its forehead, watching it wag its tail and nuzzle his palm (that thing, which cannot be displayed, you know). He secretly cursed, wondering if this little creature was a reincarnation of He Shen, so adept at flattering. In comparison, the little snake and the little squirrel he saved were all on guard. Forget it, I won't hold it against you.

As he continued forward, he startled quite a few wild animals along the way. Of course, in Li Feng's eyes, birds, wild rabbits, wild chickens, and swans were all delicious food. The tender wild vegetables by the roadside, such as amaranth, wild celery, wild garlic, and ferns, certainly counted as well. Unfortunately, Li Feng had no time at the moment; otherwise, he would have at least dug some to take back. As for the turtle dove and owl, he thought he should shoot a few to see if the taste had changed. It had been over ten years since he last ate swan meat, and he truly missed it. Unfortunately, he had heard that they were now protected animals, which was a pity. Ferns certainly counted, but again, Li Feng had no time; otherwise, he would have at least dug some to take back. As for the turtle dove and owl, he thought he should shoot a few to see if the taste had changed. It had been over ten years since he last ate swan meat, and he truly missed it. When he was a child, the taste of the red-crowned crane and wild geese seemed quite good; he wondered if they still existed. As for wild ducks, regardless of whether it was the *illustrated* book's rare tail, the big flower face, the green wings, or the red-headed duck, Li Feng had not only eaten them all but had also seen all kinds of wild ducks. He had tasted chickens, water hyacinths, and even kingfishers when he was young, but unfortunately, it had been too long, and he couldn't remember clearly.

"Mom and Dad, didn’t we tell Uncle San? To have them come over and help move the peach tree?" Li Feng asked softly, feeling a pang of heartache as he looked at his father, who was still sweating profusely, and at his mother, who was also drenched in sweat, yet his heart ached even more.

Li Feng was teasing, no, it should be that the chubby boy was bothering Li Feng. It took more than ten minutes for this pomegranate tree to truly settle here. After brushing off the dirt from his hands, filling half a bucket with spring water, and watering it well, Li Feng let out a sigh of relief; the space finally had a touch of vitality.

On the way back, Li Feng, in a relaxed mood, played with Fatty while searching for traces of wild animals. When winter arrives and the snow falls, he will venture into the mountains, where he might find wild chickens burying their tails in the snow, panicked hares running in all directions, or the leaping deer, roe deer, and the charming chattering squirrels.

I can't believe it. Looking at the innocent eyes of the chubby boy, Li Feng, feeling frustrated, wiped his face and put the little chubby boy down. He finally realized that this guy could only consume liquid food at the moment. He hadn't seen him drink a belly full of spring water. Really, he went into the thatched cottage and took a towel to wipe his face. Thinking that he needed to hurry and bury the pomegranate tree, time was running out, and he hadn't even searched halfway yet

The fish swim back and forth in the spring water. In a few days, the lotus leaves will emerge, adding to the beauty. The pomegranate tree, along with the flower seeds planted yesterday, will soon transform this empty space. Watching the chubby boy chase the rock partridge is delightful, and a gentle sense of satisfaction flows through my heart like a clear spring.

Li Feng lacks the ability and the ideas to save this declining reservoir. The essence of things lies in their existence and extinction. Although it is inevitably bittersweet emotionally, the reality should indeed align with the *illustrations*.

"Dad, I am here to help you." Li Feng said nothing; what was there to say? We are family. Under the warm glow of the setting sun, the peach blossoms looked even more beautiful.

In the distance, the shimmering waves of the reservoir stretch across the broad water surface, where white and colorful waterfowl circle gracefully. The distant green mountains are adorned with the upstream river of the reservoir, winding like a giant dragon hidden among the hills, breathing in the fresh air. The golden sunlight scatters, creating faint ripples, while a gentle breeze stirs the surface. The little chubby one seems to be awed by the golden scene before it, crouching quietly beside Li Feng.

Hehe, the reservoir, although its former function has faded, still evokes nostalgia for its past glory. The green mountains complement the clear waters, just as a fine horse is matched with a good saddle. With water and a stone dam, it can be deemed perfect

Peach trees love water, while pear trees love the mountains. To seek out peach trees, one can simply follow the small stream. However, in the search for pear trees, one may need to continue along the mountain path. The mountain trails are difficult to traverse, especially after many years of neglect, where one takes a step and then stops. There is no other way; in the mountains, saplings can grow to about one meter high in just a couple of years, particularly jujube trees. There are many saplings, and the small thorns on them can be quite bothersome. Initially, Li Feng even dug up a jujube tree to place in his space, but after walking just a few steps, the jujube trees by the roadside beckoned, tugging at his pants, truly enthusiastic. While dodging these branches, Li Feng continued to search for the tree species he desired. Remarkably, within ten minutes, a pomegranate tree, two to three meters tall, with dense branches and delicate flower buds, appeared before Li Feng's eyes

The pomegranate tree bears uniquely shaped fruits, with numerous seeds housed within a single skin. The seeds are crystal clear, sweet and sour, and rich in nutrition. Most importantly, in the countryside, pomegranates are considered to symbolize abundance and good fortune, which is why every household in Lijiagang plants a few trees in their yards. In summer, the pomegranate trees in each yard burst into bloom, radiant like clouds at sunset, with flowers as red as fire, exceptionally vibrant, making them both edible and ornamental. In our childhood, Li Feng, Li Ming, and others often stole these fruits. Our families were not well-known, and the adults were unaware. Fortunately, the pomegranate trees grew at the edge of the yard, hidden outside the courtyard wall, allowing us to easily take a few. Whenever others saw us, they would shout and chase after us like a bunch of mischievous monkeys, causing a commotion and making the whole village burst into laughter.

This is? '' Li Feng was just about to wave his hand to send the little fellow away when he unexpectedly noticed the puppy's round belly. He was momentarily taken aback, looking around. Could it be that it had eaten fish and shrimp from the spring water? No, he distinctly remembered that the crucian carp he had thrown on the ground had not been eaten. He picked up the chubby little one and patted its plump belly, only to have a mouthful of saliva spray onto his face.

Hehe, what trouble is there to make? You should know that a day's work earns a day's pay; if we can save, let's save a bit. Your mother and I are not so old that we can't move. These tasks, we can handle them. Li Shan rarely showed a smile, and in Li Feng's memory, his father was a stern man who rarely smiled. However, upon returning this time, he discovered that his father's feelings were actually more delicate than his mother's, quietly unspoken.

Standing on the dam and gazing into the distance, even the timid would feel their calves tremble. Li Feng, at the beginning, felt his heart racing as he looked at the nearly one thousand acres of reservoir. One can only imagine how magnificent the construction was at that time, considering there were no machines, and the blue stone materials were sourced on-site. The steel bars, cement, and sand were all carried up the mountain bit by bit. Li Shan once recalled the scene from that time, with countless men, bare-chested, carrying bamboo baskets or bags of cement or sand. It is important to note that there were no machines, and the blue stone materials were sourced on-site. The steel bars were transported using ox carts and horse-drawn carts. It is said that on the day of completion, over a hundred oxen and horses perished from exhaustion. At the end of the steps, a stone tablet records that passionate era, embodying the belief that man can conquer nature.

Noticing that it was still early, Li Feng contemplated finding a few fruit trees to plant in his space. There was quite a bit of open land around the thatched cottage. He planned to reserve the yard for peach trees; these were not urgent. He needed to build a house and consult some books, and he would have to remove at least ten peach trees from his own peach orchard. It would be just right to secretly move three or so into the space, and no one should notice. Speaking of which, peaches are preferred over plums. Li Feng's family did not have many plum trees, only a few on the outskirts of the peach orchard. This time, as he was digging, these plum trees did not take up much space and could not be moved into the space. The plum trees in the space would have to be sought after by himself. Fortunately, the mountains and forests were vast, with all kinds of fruit trees available. This time, Li Feng was thinking about searching for plum trees, mountain walnut trees, pomegranate trees, and finally, he wanted to find a Chinese toon tree. Then he could enjoy Chinese toon leaves every year, tender and fragrant leaves, mixed with garlic paste, aged vinegar, red chili oil, and a drizzle of his own cold-pressed sesame oil, delicious.

Once again, Li Feng was caught by someone, and he blankly claimed that he had not stolen anything. Unfortunately, the person pulled Li Feng's small hand, which was hidden behind his back, revealing it to be dark and dirty. This was precisely what a group of children disliked the most about stealing pomegranates. It was not easy to dispose of the stolen goods; a quick glance would make it clear that the child had eaten a pomegranate. One could tell by looking at the mouth and tongue for mulberries, and the hands for pomegranates, which would unmistakably confirm the act.

Unfortunately, the great river has flowed into the Yangtze, and this place no longer holds the significance it once did. Although the city and province have implemented some protective measures to prohibit fishing and fish farming, the erosion of time has still left its marks. The concrete has begun to crack, which may not pose any significant threat to the dam. Watching the dark gray flakes gradually peel away is akin to fragments of memory being stripped away. In the future, who will still remember this place

Li Feng returned to the peach grove, looking at Li Shan, while Zhang Lan was transplanting peach trees, feeling somewhat puzzled

Ah... don't mention it, having walked more than half the way, and seeing that it was already past five o'clock, Li Feng couldn't help but quicken his pace. His mind was no longer focused on searching for small animals; at this moment, his stomach was already growling. He wasn't a glutton, drinking spring water to his heart's content. Unexpectedly, he found something without even looking for it; truly, when the iron shoes are not sought, the gain comes effortlessly. In front of him on the road, a small green snake was tightly coiling around a half-buried young squirrel. Although the little creature was not big, it was quite fierce, biting tightly into the snake's belly. The two seemed intent on mutual destruction. Li Feng found it curious and reached out to intervene, creating a space. Perhaps the two little creatures were startled by the sudden change in space and simultaneously released their grip.

Brushing off the dirt from his sleeves, Li Feng tossed the shovel into the space and pulled out the reluctant little fatty who was clinging on. Quickening his pace, not far ahead, there hung a mirror-like surface above his head. The Li Family Ridge Reservoir, this reservoir has quite a history. In the 1960s, Fengshan County responded to the national call and constructed it. At that time, the number of laborers was astonishing by today's standards, nearly ten thousand, all eating and living together. It took three years to complete, standing nearly twenty meters high and over ten meters wide, built with stacked bluestone and coated with cement. The dam stretches nearly fifty meters long, like a giant standing here, weathered by time, the cement appearing somewhat grayish. The mountain rocks have already revealed a corner, and the distant viewing platform has been marked as a dangerous building. Hundreds of bluestone slabs form the steps, still standing firm against the wind and rain.

It is indeed rare to see a pomegranate tree that has already blossomed and borne fruit. A pomegranate tree takes at least three years to flower and bear fruit. Moreover, it is truly the right time for transplantation now. Li Feng would not be polite; he carefully and gradually exposed the roots of the tree, treating it as if he were caring for a newborn baby. After about twenty minutes, Li Feng finally managed to dig out the pomegranate tree. After some thought, he turned around and entered the space. He did not dare to be as casual as before, for there was a little rascal inside, a master at causing trouble. Upon entering the space, he saw the little chubby one wagging its tail and running over to greet him. Li Feng felt a sense of pride; raising a puppy was not bad at all, at least he had a companion when he came and went.

As he reminisced while walking deeper into the mountains, time gradually passed. Li Feng dug up a pomegranate tree, a pear tree, and a plum tree, but he could not find any hickory.