Chapter 2: At the end of the peach blossoms is my home

"So delicious." Li Feng devoured two steamed buns and drank a large bowl of thin porridge, wiping his mouth afterward. This was truly the most delicious leisurely breakfast he had enjoyed in years. Li Feng ate and drank heartily; having done some work in the morning, he was already hungry. Looking at the dishes he loved, he did not stop using his chopsticks. The crisp pickled cucumber strips, the fragrant tender cilantro, dipped in a sauce made of garlic, aged vinegar, and chili, were simply irresistible. The steamed buns made with sweet potato flour were warm and fragrant, and the tender fern shoots looked glistening with oil. Once in his mouth, they were soft and delicious. The small amount of fern shoots in the clay pot was soon finished.

"Hehe, eat more, eat more." Li Shan looked at his son, whose face was increasingly resolute, feeling happy in his heart. However, he thought about how his son was already in his twenties and it was not good that he did not have a wife. He glanced at his wife and sighed. ... This matter can be discussed later; the child has just returned, and it is uncertain whether he will stay or leave.

For breakfast, Li Feng was home alone, delving into the peculiar space around his ears. After a few days of fear, Li Feng had ventured in several times again. Unlike the first time, which felt like a soul wandering at night, he was astonished to find that this time he had fully entered the space. Fortunately, he had not attempted it again at the hospital, as that would have led to greater issues.

"Forget it, I won't argue with you," Li Feng said helplessly, shaking his head. Who would have thought that after walking just a few steps, he would feel a chill on his face and wipe it away. It was grayish-white bird droppings, still warm to the touch. Looking up at the jujube tree, a swallow gracefully flew to its nest under the eaves. What is going on here? This isn't bullying, is it? Initially, he thought of teaching the swallow a lesson later, but seeing the few yellow beaks chirping and waiting for food changed his mind.

Li Feng sighed and said, I will spare you for a while, but not for your sake, rather for these little cuties. Li Feng glared, looking at the old swallow under the eaves. He turned to the little swallows and showed a kind smile and a book, Next year, these little fellows will branch out, so it's best to leave a good impression

Having completed these tasks, Li Feng clapped his hands and looked at the deep blue melon leaves adorned with droplets of water. There was still a slight chill in the air, but fortunately, his family's melon field was not large, less than one mu. Li Feng and his father, Li Shan, had finished their work in less than an hour. Mama Zhang had prepared the meal early, which included red bean rice porridge, sweet potato steamed buns, cucumber strips tossed with cilantro, scrambled eggs with wild garlic, and oil-braised bracken.

The grass is a vibrant green, while the willows are a soft yellow. The peach blossoms are in disarray, and the fragrance of the plum blossoms fills the air. Many peach petals have fallen, revealing small, fuzzy green peaches that appear quite adorable. Unfortunately, this peach tree is somewhat old; even after pruning its branches, it still bears few peaches. Li Feng took a stroll around, observing that most of the peach trees are infested with pests, which is quite distressing. Li's father mentioned this morning that in a few years, they should cut down the peach trees and plant crops instead.

As for the cilantro, there is plenty in the shed, fresh and tender. Zhang Lan prepared a large bowl of it and placed it aside, knowing that her son loves to eat it, so she made a bit more.

Li Feng lay on the cot, at night, the croaking of frogs gradually began, and occasionally there were the roars of beasts from the mountains, or the chirping of startled birds. The night in the mountains was not quiet; various animals chattered as if avoiding people and living their small lives. Moonlight filtered through the windows, casting shadows on the wooden table that had once been piled high with textbooks. Li Feng could no longer sleep; today had been filled with anxiety, the joy of reunion, the expectations in his parents' eyes, and the peculiar gazes of the villagers. Li Feng gently touched the flesh at the back of his ear. He was the first to leave this hillside, to head towards the city, the first college student, the first to have been to Beijing, countless firsts that once overwhelmed him. Now, having experienced life and death, did it all matter anymore? Spending time with his parents and living a happy little life was also good. With a bit of money in hand, he thought about building a small villa, but even a few tens of thousands couldn't buy a decent place in the city.

After washing his face by the well, he felt that being alone at home was rather dull, so he stepped towards his own peach orchard. The peach blossoms gently followed the falling willow catkins, while yellow birds occasionally mingled with white ones. At this moment, the peach blossoms were drifting down, carried by the flowing water, and the willow leaves were fluttering. Li Feng's peach orchard was not large, covering about one mu of land, with around thirty peach trees, a few plum trees, and several bitter peach trees outside.

Fiddlehead ferns were picked yesterday, and there are not many left in the mountains at this time. A few years ago, they were everywhere, but in recent years, the price of wild vegetables has risen, especially since fiddlehead ferns are known as the king of mountain delicacies. Occasionally, people from outside come to collect them. During the farming off-season, both adults and children go up the mountain to gather them, and in nearby areas, fiddlehead ferns have become quite rare.

"Hehe, take it slow, take it slow, no one is competing with you. Tomorrow, let your father go into the mountains to gather more." Zhang Lan watched her son eat and drink heartily, her eyes filled with affection. She and her husband had only this one child, and all their love was concentrated on him. Over the years, when the child was not by her side, Zhang Lan had shed many tears. Now, seeing her child eat the meals she had prepared, a sense of happiness welled up in her heart, making her want to cry. She secretly turned her back to Li Feng, afraid her son would see, and wiped her eyes. She shot a glare at her husband, Li Shan.

Li Feng roughly measured the space, including the thatched cottage, the yard, the spring, and the fields, totaling about three acres. The surrounding area was a grayish expanse with an elastic layer. Li Feng tried several times, even using a knife to make a slight incision, but within a few seconds, it returned to its original state, leaving no trace at all. After several attempts, Li Feng finally gave up. However, this was for the best; otherwise, if this thing were to break, who knew what lay on the other side? Most importantly, Li Feng felt that safety was paramount. He would not excessively probe into the unknown; he was no longer a child. The age of asking questions out of ignorance had passed. At this moment, Li Feng's mindset was completely devoid of the youthful competitive spirit, becoming increasingly calm and composed.

In the morning, I went to the watermelon field with my father. The watermelon seedlings have already grown to about 1 meter long, and it is time to pinch the tops and remove the side shoots. The field is located on the sandy riverbank, which is suitable only for peanuts and watermelons, benefiting from ample sunlight and easy irrigation due to its proximity to the river. Li Feng heard his father, Li Shan, say that last year, the river flooded significantly, submerging much of the riverbank, and this year only a few families planted watermelons. Li Feng's family grows an early-maturing variety of watermelon, which from a distance appears to be a lush green expanse. As Li Feng approached, he observed the watermelons, each about the size of an egg, with patterns resembling blue-and-white porcelain, neatly arranged. While skillfully using a clump of mud to pinch the main stem and remove the excess side shoots, he noted that the seedlings were growing vigorously. The riverbank soil is rich, and while other crops may grow well, they often do not yield much fruit. Only watermelons thrive on this fertile soil, making it ideal for them. Moreover, the watermelons grown in sandy soil have a red, sandy flesh that is much sweeter than those grown in regular soil, making them easier to sell.

Li Feng felt it was a pity. After so many years, the peach trees held a special place in his heart. Much of his tuition during childhood came from here, and now they were gone; how regrettable it was. After taking a stroll, he noticed a small thatched hut built on a flat piece of land deep within the peach grove. Li Feng's eyes lit up as he contemplated something and ran down the hillside.

I can't believe it. It's a pity I don't know if it's because Li Feng seems so untrustworthy. You say you toy with someone's little chicken, and that's fine, but in the end, you don't even let them eat. Nearby, Li Feng's old hen had already noticed and was quite disrespectful, pecking at the back of Li Feng's hand, leaving a bruise. Li Feng looked at the earthworms on the ground being fought over by several little chickens, feeling frustrated as he glanced at the hen beside him, which was proudly raising its head and puffing out its chest, looking quite pleased with itself.

The phrase "the flowering of twenty-one melons into the belly" refers precisely to the ripening of watermelons, indicating that they are ready to fall from the vine. In reality, it is not as mysterious as it seems; after about twenty days, watermelons are indeed ready to eat. Thinking of the deliciousness of watermelons, Li Feng began to pay attention to the few watermelons the size of a bowl, which could be ready to eat in just ten days or so. The watermelons at the top of the vine often do not grow large, and many families do not want these smaller melons, choosing instead to leave them to maintain the vigor for the larger ones. These few should have been intentionally left by Li Shan for a fresh taste. This was a good fortune for Li Feng, who found some tree sticks to mark the few bowl-sized watermelons so they would not be confused. Some people believe that the sound of a ripe watermelon differs from that of an unripe one, but this is mostly a misconception. The sound of a fully ripe watermelon is indeed different from that of an unripe one, yet no family waits for the watermelon to be fully ripe. Not only is a ripe watermelon difficult to transport, but it is also lighter in weight. The simplicity of farmers does not equate to foolishness. Watermelons that are seventy to eighty percent ripe are at the perfect time for harvest. At this moment, one should not rely solely on sound; it is more important to observe the root hairs near the stem. If the root hairs have shriveled slightly, then the watermelon can be picked.

The cucumbers were brought out from the watermelon greenhouse at home. Watermelon breeding mostly takes place in the first month of the lunar calendar when the weather is cool. A large plastic greenhouse of over ten square meters was added, which conveniently produced a considerable amount of chili seedlings, tomato seedlings, and sweet potato seedlings, allowing for an earlier harvest than others. While waiting for the melon seedlings and other seedlings to be removed, bamboo poles were directly added inside to plant the cucumbers, ensuring that the greenhouse was not idle.

Near the clear spring, on the gray-black soil, Li Ming dug a piece of mud to test it. Although it was somewhat dry, it already had a hint of earthy aroma. Glancing at the spring water, it seemed to be nourishing, while the areas far from the spring were mostly covered in dust, indicating that crops could not be planted in the short term. However, these areas did not appear to be soil at all; they were light gray, resembling cement. Li Feng quietly took note of the spring water, and a plan began to form in his mind. He gently pinched his earlobe and exited the space. However, these areas did not appear to be soil at all; they were light gray, resembling cement. Li Feng quietly took note of the spring water, and a plan began to form in his mind. He gently pinched his earlobe and exited the space.

Stepping out of the room, Li Feng found that his parents had already left. In the yard, several chicks were scratching for food near the well. That area was damp, teeming with insects and earthworms. The fluffy yellow chicks, having just left the nest a few days ago, were already beginning to fend for themselves. Li Feng watched them, occasionally teasing them, using a wooden stick to dig into the soil, and playfully waving a small earthworm in front of the chicks, which jumped and spun around excitedly.

Looking at the grayish, gelatinous substance surrounding him, Li Feng began to survey his surroundings. The space here was not large, with a ceiling that resembled a starry sky, high and expansive, devoid of sunlight yet not dim. The air was fresh, carrying a faint scent of earth. The entire space was rectangular, with a gray-yellow thatched cottage constructed from an unknown type of wood, exuding an ancient and grand atmosphere, situated at the innermost part of the space. Inside the cottage were some wooden furniture; upon examining their style, Li Feng found that they did not belong to any particular era and appeared to be crafted rather casually. However, the quality seemed quite good; after dusting them off, they still looked as good as new, and they were more comfortable than any other chairs, fitting the body's structure well. Li Feng brought in bedding from his place in Beijing, which added a homely touch. In front of the door stood several peach trees, now reduced to bare branches, which crumbled to ashes with a slight touch, resembling corn stalks in a field. Looking at the barren yard, Li Feng paused, contemplating whether he could plant some seeds. Observing the dust on the ground, he thought about planting a few peach trees; he had found them quite beautiful the first time he entered, indicating that the previous owner had a good taste. Didn't he have a small peach orchard at home? He could transplant a few and see how they fared.

There is a small ditch beside the yard that connects to a clear spring outside the yard, but it has now dried up. The lotus leaves in the ditch have long turned to ashes, leaving only the straw behind. Outside the yard, the small spring by the field is now continuously bubbling with clear water. It may be too short a time, only about ten square meters, compared to the previous several hundred square meters of pond marks, which is a mere fraction. Li Feng thought that perhaps in the future, the small ditch outside the yard could be filled with water, planted with lotus flowers, and stocked with a few carp. It would be quite enjoyable to play with them, adding a unique charm. As for the large pond outside, raising some edible fish and shrimp, and planting some water chestnuts and lotus roots would also be nice. While Li Feng was planning, he walked to the two acres of land at the front of the space.