Going home for the New Year during the winter break, I encountered a cool school girl on the high-sp

The three sat around the dining table, leisurely eating breakfast and chatting casually.

A warm atmosphere filled the house, and laughter could be heard from time to time.

After breakfast, Chen Chen and Lin Muxi went together to the place where the snails were kept.

Lin Muxi leaned closer for a look and couldn't help but exclaim softly, "Oh dear, senior, this water is so dirty."

She frowned slightly, a hint of surprise in her eyes.

Chen Chen smiled gently and patiently explained:
"We keep them in clean water so that the snails can expel the sand from their bodies."

The water is dirty because they're spitting out sand; I'll change the water for them now.

Lin Muxi nodded, then suddenly realized:
"Oh, I see. I thought it was a water quality issue. Senior, how long do snails usually need to purge sand to be completely clean?"

As Chen Chen skillfully scooped the snails into a clean basin of water, he said:
"It takes about a day. If they're kept too long, some will die, which will affect the taste. But the exact time also depends on the size and freshness of the snails."

"These we caught last night, we'll probably only need to change the water two or three more times today."

"Do you want to eat snails tonight?" Lin Muxi's eyes lit up instantly, and she asked expectantly.

"Yes, let's have Mom make us stir-fried snails with perilla leaves tonight. It'll smell amazing, you'll definitely love it."

Chen Chen said with a smile, his eyes filled with doting affection as he looked at Lin Muxi.

"That sounds amazing! I've never eaten snails that I caught myself before."

Lin Muxi rubbed her hands excitedly, already imagining the delicious appearance of the snails when they were cooked.

Just then, Liu Xiuying came out of the house, carrying several bags in her hands, and said:
"You two stop fiddling with the snails. Your dad's not home today, so go to the market later and buy some more vegetables to cook for lunch."

Chen Chen quickly replied, "Okay, Mom."

Then, he turned to look at Lin Muxi, his eyes full of anticipation, and suggested:

"Come on, let's go to the market together. You can also see the local customs and culture; it's quite interesting."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Liu Xiuying's concerned voice came from behind him:
"It's raining outside, take an umbrella, walk slowly, and be careful not to fall."

Lin Muxi and Chen Chen exchanged a smile and readily agreed.

Then, they quickly cleaned up the snails, grabbed their umbrellas, and walked side by side toward the market.

As Chen Chen and Lin Muxi stepped out of their house, the sky that greeted them was still somewhat gloomy, like a heavy lead plate pressing down on their heads.

However, this did not affect their good mood at all; on the contrary, it added a unique touch of romance to their trip.

The village is filled with the unique scent of earth and grass, a fragrance generously bestowed by nature.

Wildflowers bloom freely on both sides of the road, red, yellow, and purple, a riot of colors, like a colorful ribbon winding along the country lane.

The crops in the fields swayed gently in the breeze, making a rustling sound, as if whispering the joy of growing.

Looking back to that time of the Lunar New Year, the roads on both sides were still desolate, overgrown with weeds, and devoid of any vitality.

But in just a few months, everything has changed dramatically.

The once rugged and muddy path has now been transformed into a flat and wide cement road, allowing vehicles to travel smoothly on it.

The once dry and clogged irrigation ditches have been dredged, and clear water flows merrily, nourishing the land and nurturing boundless hope. They strolled along the path, Lin Muxi curiously looking around, sometimes peering closer at the unnamed wildflowers, sometimes crouching down to observe the small insects by the roadside.

Chen Chen patiently explained various crops and interesting stories about the countryside to her.

He slightly raised his hand, pointed to a lush green field not far away, and said:
“Look, the early rice here is usually sown around Qingming Festival. At this time, the villagers all go to the fields to work, and the scene is very lively.”

As he spoke, he turned his gaze to another spot and continued:

"Plants like peanuts and soybeans were planted earlier, before the Qingming Festival, and they have already sprouted."

Lin Muxi listened intently, her eyes sparkling with curiosity and excitement. Following the direction Chen Chen was pointing, she looked and exclaimed sincerely:
"I never imagined there was so much to learn about this. It feels like every crop is a treasure that the villagers have carefully nurtured."

Chen Chen smiled and nodded, then pointed to a lush clump of plants growing by the roadside and said:
"These are sweet potato sprouts. Sweet potatoes are a wonderful thing; they can be boiled and eaten, which is sweet and soft. They can also be made into dried sweet potatoes, which can be stored for a longer time."

"Once summer vacation arrives, we'll transplant these sweet potato seedlings into the ground. In about one or two months, they'll grow into big, sweet sweet potatoes."

Lin Muxi squatted down, gently stroking the leaves of the sweet potato seedlings, feeling their delicate texture, and asked:

Are there any special considerations when transplanting sweet potato seedlings?

Chen Chen also squatted down and patiently explained:
"Of course there are rules. First, you have to choose a good location; the soil must be fertile and loose."

When transplanting, pay attention to the spacing between plants and rows; they should not be too dense or too sparse to ensure that each sweet potato plant has enough space to grow.

Moreover, after planting, they need to be watered promptly so that they can take root as soon as possible.

If you're interested, I'll bring you back to see it when I have time during summer vacation. When we get home later, I'll give you some dried sweet potatoes to try first.

Lin Muxi said happily, "Okay, okay."

I can't wait for summer vacation to come.

The two walked to the edge of a pond, where Lin Muxi was pleasantly surprised to see a flock of ducks playing in the water, and couldn't help but cheer:

"Look, these little ducks are so cute."

Looking at her vibrant appearance, Chen Chen couldn't help but smile. At this moment, she was completely different from the aloof school beauty she used to be, full of innocence and liveliness.

Chen Chen was about to say that she was even cuter when she was eating.

Suddenly, a light drizzle began to fall from the sky, the fine raindrops scattering silently.

Upon noticing this, Chen Chen quickly reached out and pulled Lin Muxi closer, his voice full of concern:
"Xiaoxi, come quickly and hold the umbrella over us, so you don't get wet."

The two quickly opened their umbrellas.

The raindrops gradually became denser, pattering against the ground and splashing up tiny water droplets, as if the earth were playing a joyful symphony.

Nearby, tender green rice seedlings sway gently in the breeze, as if joyfully welcoming the nourishment of the rain, each leaf shimmering with the luster of life.

In the distance, the rolling mountains seemed to be shrouded in a thin veil, like a dream, exuding a hazy beauty.

Lin Muxi was instantly captivated by the picturesque scenery before her and couldn't help but excitedly take out her phone.

He snapped a few photos, his eyes sparkling with surprise, and said:

"Everything here is so beautiful, I have to take pictures to remember it." (End of Chapter)