My 1995 Small Farm.

In May, Chenwangzhuang slowly awakens in the morning light.

At the primary school construction site at the east end of the village, the resounding chants of workers ramming the earth could already be heard.

At the site of the dam reinforcement project on the reservoir bank, a long line of men carrying soil formed.

In the distant mountains and forests, birdsong rose and fell, blending with the croaking of frogs and chirping of insects in the nearby fields.

Amidst this vibrant and bustling scene, two SUVs bearing the "Provincial Television Station" logo slowly drove into Chenwangzhuang along the bumpy dirt road.

In the passenger seat of the first car sat a young woman who looked to be in her late twenties.

She was wearing a light blue shirt, with a jacket draped over her knees. Her shoulder-length short hair looked neat and tidy, and she wore a pair of gold-rimmed glasses. She was curiously looking at the scenery outside through the car window.

Her name is Su Xiaomei, a reporter in the news department of the provincial television station.

The last time I visited Chenwangzhuang was two years ago, when I was reporting on the reconstruction after the flood. I was deeply impressed by this small mountain village.

"Reporter Su, shall we go directly to find Chen Fugui?" The driver was a young man, Xiao Li, a cameraman from the station.

"Not urgent."

Su Xiaomei pushed up her glasses, her gaze drawn to a scene outside the car window: "Look over there..."

The car was passing through a grove of locust trees at the entrance of the village.

It's May, and the locust flowers are in full bloom. The branches are bent low with clusters of snow-white blossoms, and the air is filled with a sweet fragrance.

What's even more eye-catching is that under several old locust trees, a group of children are busy at work.

A little boy, about ten years old with dark skin, climbed up a thick locust tree in no time, like a nimble monkey, and sat on a branch.

He held a long bamboo pole with an iron hook attached to it, skillfully hooking the branch covered with locust blossoms. With a gentle twist, a whole branch of snow-white locust blossoms fell down with a "whoosh".

Under the tree, several younger children immediately cheered and surrounded it.

A chubby little boy who looked to be three or four years old and a round little fat boy rushed to the front. Together they dragged a large bamboo basket and carefully put the fallen locust branches into it.

There was also a little girl, about twelve or thirteen years old, with pigtails, who was looking up and giving instructions: "Sixth Sister, the one on the left! Yes, that one is in full bloom!"

"Rui Rui, Xiao Ming, you two, don't just grab them, put them down gently. The locust flowers are delicate, they won't taste good if you crush them!" The little girl turned around and reminded the two younger ones.

"Okay, Auntie!" the bright-eyed Rui Rui replied cheerfully, and together with Xiao Ming, they carefully straightened the locust flower branch.

While hooking branches in the tree, Liu Ni'er shouted triumphantly, "Just you wait! We'll pick a lot more today and have Uncle Fugui steam locust flower rice for us, mixed with minced garlic and sesame oil. It'll smell amazing!"

"We also need to make locust flower cakes!" Xizi shouted from under another tree.

"Locust flower buns are delicious too!" Xiaosen licked his lips.

The children chattered away, having a great time.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the locust tree leaves, illuminating their sweaty, rosy faces, creating a vivid and lively scene.

Su Xiaomei was so engrossed in watching that she couldn't help but ask Xiao Li to stop the car.

She pushed open the car door and got out, and the cameraman, Xiao Li, quickly picked up his equipment and followed her.

The sweet fragrance of locust flowers wafts through the air.

Su Xiaomei took a deep breath, smiled, walked up to the children, and asked gently, "Children, what are you doing picking so many locust flowers?"

Wang Zhenzhen, who was busy directing, turned around and saw two strangers and the dark camera. She was stunned for a moment, but quickly calmed down.

She's seen the world; she's been to Hong Kong Island and met Hong Kong and Taiwanese businessmen, city leaders, and even TV drama production teams.

"Eat steamed rice, make pancakes, and wrap steamed buns!"

Wang Zhenzhen answered crisply, but her eyes were fixed curiously on the camera: "Are you from a TV station?"

"Yes, we are reporters from the provincial television station."

Su Xiaomei smiled and nodded, then squatted down to be at eye level with the children. "You're all so skilled at picking locust flowers. Are these locust flowers... delicious?"

"It's so delicious!"

Xiao Ming eagerly chimed in, his face beaming with excitement, "I can eat two big bowls of the locust flower rice that Uncle made!"

Rui Rui nodded vigorously, "Everything Daddy makes is delicious!"

From her perch in the tree, Liu Ni looked down at the two city people, her eyes darting around before she deliberately asked, "Auntie reporter, don't you city people eat locust flowers?"

Su Xiaomei was taken aback by the question, then smiled and said, "In the city... it's rare to eat flowers."

"Then you've suffered a huge loss!"

Liu Nier gave her a "you guys are so pitiful" look: "This stuff is only at its best these few days; it gets old after the season. We pick it every year, steam it, stir-fry it, mix it in salads—there are so many ways to eat it!"

Su Xiaomei was amused by the child's precocious tone: "Then can you teach me how to pick them? Which kind of locust flowers is the best?"

Liu Nier immediately perked up: "You've come to the right person! See? You have to pick these flower buds that are about to open; they're the tenderest and sweetest. Fully opened ones aren't as fragrant."

As he spoke, he demonstrated with a bamboo pole, "The hook should be placed at the base of the branch, and you should twist it gently. You can't pull it hard, otherwise you'll damage the branch and it won't grow well next year."

He spoke with great confidence and expertise, appearing to be a seasoned novice.

Su Xiaomei listened attentively, secretly marveling at the performance.

These rural children have a level of understanding and utilization of nature that is difficult for urban children to match.

"Do you play like this every day?" she asked.

"This isn't playing, this is working!"

Wang Zhenzhen corrected, her little face full of seriousness, "Picking locust flowers is a serious matter. Besides locust flowers, there are also elm seeds, toon leaves, wild celery... There are many good things in the mountains, and we have to pick them all in season."

As she spoke, she pointed to the bustling construction site in the distance: "Look, the adults are building dikes and schools, and we kids can't be idle either. We'll pick some locust flowers and bring some to the construction site at noon so everyone can have a taste."

Su Xiaomei looked in the direction she was pointing.

On the riverbank, hundreds of people were busy digging soil, carrying stones, and building walls. The sounds of chanting, shoveling, and laughter blended together, creating a spectacular and vibrant scene.

Further away, on the open space at the east end of the village, the school wall has been built to a height of more than one person, and the red bricks are particularly eye-catching in the sunlight.

"Is that... a school under renovation?" Su Xiaomei asked.

"Yes! A new school!"

Rui Rui eagerly chimed in, her eyes sparkling, "Dad said that in the fall I can go to study in a new classroom, it'll be bright and airy, and there'll even be a library!"

"Your father is..."

"My dad is Chen Ling, and some people call him Chen Fugui!" Rui Rui puffed out her little chest, looking very proud.

Su Xiaomei was stunned: "You're Rui Rui? How did you grow so big? I remember your mother holding you two years ago, you were so tiny."

Because Rui Rui looks like he's three or four years old, chubby and sturdy.

"Yes, I grow fast. Dad says I'm really strong, even stronger than the other kids in the village..." Rui Rui was immediately filled with pride.

"Auntie reporter, you don't know, do you? Rui Rui is just like my Uncle Fu Gui. He's growing up incredibly fast and is very smart. After our trip to Hong Kong, he speaks much more fluently than before and is almost able to read. He's not even two years old yet."

At this moment, Liu Nier, who was still in the tree, had already hooked down several more locust blossoms and smiled at the reporter.

The children busily filled the baskets, and in no time, the two large bamboo baskets were overflowing, the snow-white locust blossoms piled up like small mountains, filling the air with their sweet fragrance. "That's enough! That's enough!"

Wang Zhenzhen looked at the basket: "We can't carry any more, Liu Ni'er, come down."

Liu Nier responded and nimbly slid down from the tree, her movements as light as a cat's.

"This child has changed so much. It's been two years since I last came here, and he's grown into a big baby."

Su Xiaomei stared blankly at Rui Rui.

Watching the children work together in an orderly manner, I felt a sense of emotion.

She took out her notebook, quickly jotted down a few notes, and then winked at the cameraman, Xiao Li.

Xiao Li understood and turned on the camera to capture footage of the children carrying baskets of locust flowers.

Two boys carried one basket, and two girls carried another. Although they walked unsteadily, they cooperated perfectly.

Rui Rui and Xiao Ming also wanted to help, but Wang Zhenzhen sent them ahead to "clear the way."

"Auntie reporter, are you going to find my brother-in-law?"

Wang Zhenzhen turned to Su Xiaomei and asked, "He's probably at the forest farm in the county right now. Why don't you come with us to the construction site first? My brother-in-law usually goes over to check on things around noon."

Su Xiaomei thought for a moment and nodded: "Okay, then I'll trouble you to lead the way."

Thus, a peculiar procession was formed: in front were children carrying baskets of locust flowers, chattering away, followed by two city reporters and a video camera.

As Su Xiaomei walked along the village road toward the farm, she observed the changes in Chenwangzhuang.

Compared to two years ago, the village is now noticeably cleaner and tidier.

Many families have renovated their houses. Although the village roads are still dirt roads, they have been smoothed out considerably, and poplar and fruit trees have been planted along the roadside.

In the fields, the crops are growing well, and the wheat is beginning to turn yellow.

"Your village has changed so much in the last two years," Su Xiaomei remarked.

"That's not the case!"

Liu Ni'er picked up the conversation, like a little tour guide: "Ever since Uncle Fugui led everyone to make money, every household has been living a better life. Women from outside are all happy to marry into our village. Look over there—"

He pointed to a newly built tile-roofed house: "That's Da Tou's house. Last year, he built a new house by growing watermelons and making chili sauce. And over there, that's my Uncle Li Shan's house. He raises pigs and also works for Uncle Fu Gui at the forest farm. He earns more in a month than the workers in the city!"

Su Xiaomei looked in the direction he pointed and indeed saw many new courtyards.

"Did Chen Fugui lead all of this?" Su Xiaomei asked.

"Of course! My brother-in-law is the best!"

Wang Zhenzhen said earnestly.

As they spoke, the group had already passed the construction site on the riverbank.

The scene was even more breathtaking than it appeared from a distance.

Hundreds of able-bodied men were divided into several groups, some digging earth, some carrying stones, and some building retaining walls.

Sweat soaked their clothes, glistening in the sunlight, but everyone wore a smile and worked with great enthusiasm.

Wang Laishun was directing the operation on site when he saw the children carrying locust blossoms over. He immediately beamed with joy: "Hey, you little rascals, picking locust blossoms again? If you've shot any birds, you'll have to contribute them as food and drinks!"

"Fifth Uncle, the reporter is looking for you!" Wang Zhenzhen called out.

Only then did Wang Laishun notice Su Xiaomei and Xiao Li behind him.

He squinted for a couple of seconds, then suddenly slapped his thigh: "Hey! Isn't this Reporter Su! You came here two years ago! I was wondering who was looking for Fugui when those two cars passed by, turns out it was you guys!"

Su Xiaomei smiled and stepped forward to shake hands: "Secretary Wang, you have such a good memory, it's great to see you again."

"A rare guest indeed!" Wang Laishun warmly shook her hand. "What, didn't you go to Fugui's house?"

"I saw children picking locust flowers on the way, and I thought it was interesting, so I came over to take a look."

As Su Xiaomei looked around the construction site, she said, "This project is quite large."

"That's right, it was Fugui who suggested it to the leaders, and the city also put in a lot of effort, with people coming from all the villages. This is a life-saving project!"

Wang Laishun pointed to the dam that was being reinforced: "The flood two years ago almost washed this section away. This year, we took precautions and reinforced and raised it, so we won't be afraid of any more floods!"

He spoke with great enthusiasm, and Su Xiaomei was also inspired: "The villagers are really enthusiastic."

"How could it not be high?"

A man carrying soil interjected; he was shirtless, his bronze muscles gleaming in the sunlight.

"It's good for me, and I can earn money too. Where else can I find such a good deal? Besides, Fugui said that as the dam is being built, the area will become more and more popular, and those yellow weasels won't dare to get close. It's a win-win-win situation!"

"Over-the-mountain yellow?"

Su Xiaomei caught the key phrase: "It's the legendary one..."

"Yes, that's it!"

Wang Laishun lowered his voice: "A while ago, it showed up in Yangtougou and even injured Fugui's little blue horse. But now it's not afraid anymore. Fugui patrols with tigers and left tiger urine in various villages, so those things don't dare to come down the mountain easily."

He spoke mysteriously, but Su Xiaomei's heart stirred upon hearing it.

This is definitely a good news story.

"I heard Comrade Chen Ling went to the county town's breeding farm, so we'll have to wait a bit..."

"They should be here soon."

Wang Laishun glanced at the sun: "He wanders around around this time every day."

Just then, a deep tiger roar came from afar.

The people on the construction site looked up, not afraid at all, but smiling instead: "Hey, speak of the devil and he appears!"

Two large figures were walking slowly towards them from the other end of the village road.

It was Afu and Ashou. They walked with leisurely steps, their golden fur shimmering like honey in the sunlight, and the "king" character pattern on their foreheads was clear and majestic.

Between the two tigers, a young man rode a magnificent blue horse toward the construction site.

He was dressed in a plain white shirt and work pants, with a tall and straight figure, clear and bright eyes, and a calm and composed demeanor when riding a horse.

"He's really becoming more and more dignified..." Su Xiaomei's eyes lit up.

"Yeah, he's so imposing every day, like a great general in a play!" Wang Laishun laughed.

Chen Ling also saw the crowd at the construction site and the conspicuous camera.

He gently patted the little blue horse's neck, quickened his pace to get closer, and dismounted.

Fifth Uncle.

He greeted Wang Laishun first, then looked at Su Xiaomei and smiled slightly: "You must be from the provincial television station? Welcome to Chenwangzhuang." (End of Chapter)