Drive to the Tang Dynasty, where supplies are refreshed daily!

Xiao Ran pondered for a moment, "Should we pick the chestnuts now? Let's take Sizi and the others to the mountains. Sizi's second sister probably hasn't been there before."

“It’s ready now; people in the village have started picking chestnuts,” Zhang Jinhe said from the side.

“I’ve never experienced this before, but it’s worth a try.” Li Lizhi also wanted to give it a try; it sounded interesting.

Now that I don't have to go to school, I can watch the cartoon in a bit.

"Should we go now, or wait until tomorrow?" Zhang Erya asked.

Xiao Ran glanced towards the living room. "Let's go after we finish watching this episode!"

This kind of activity can eliminate previous barriers, so it's better to go as early as possible.

After the episode ended, Xiao Ran pressed pause.

The children all instinctively looked at Xiao Ran.

The little princess tugged at Xiao Ran's sleeve, "Little Nangjun~ I want to see more sheep~"

The other children didn't say it, but they conveyed the same meaning.

"Sizi, let's not look at them for now. The chestnuts on the mountain are ripe now. Let's go take a look, pick some chestnuts, and make some sugar-roasted chestnuts, okay?"

Hearing about food, the little princess beamed with delight, "Mmm-mmm~"

Princess Chengyang, who had been sitting next to Li Lizhi with her fingers gently fiddling with the hem of her clothes, suddenly straightened up from Li Lizhi's side when she heard "picking chestnuts to make sugar-roasted chestnuts," and her eyes lit up instantly.

Her earlier gloom seemed to have been blown away by the wind. She stared in Xiao Ran's direction, tiptoed slightly, and reached out to tug at Li Lizhi's sleeve, swaying it gently. Her eyes were full of anticipation, as if she wanted to go too, and even her previous restraint had largely dissipated.

The children, who had initially been somewhat aloof, relaxed completely, enticed by the sights of "picking chestnuts" and "roasted chestnuts."

Some people's eyes lit up, some people moved, and even the restraint in the air dissipated, leaving only the anticipation of the fun in the mountains and fields in autumn, like chestnuts on the branches, exuding a sweet expectation.

The process of finding tools had long since lost its previous awkwardness and instead resembled a lively little division of labor.

Zhang Erya dragged out a few bamboo baskets from the corner of the kitchen. Yan Yao immediately ran over and picked up the smallest one, lining it with a piece of coarse cloth that had been washed until it was faded.

Di Renjie didn't try to snatch the bamboo basket. Instead, he dragged Xiao Yu towards the woodshed. Before long, he came out carrying two small sickles tied together with hemp twine. He also found a thin bamboo pole with a sharpened tip and handed it to Xiao Ran like a treasure: "Young master, use this to knock down the chestnuts that haven't fallen from the tree! They'll fall with just one poke!"

Xiao Ran took the bamboo pole. "Okay, we need to take this with us."

The little princess, carrying a small bamboo basket, couldn't wait any longer. "Little bag, let's go!"

"Sizi, wait a moment, see if the others are ready." Xiao Ran looked to the other side, where Li Lizhi, Princess Yuzhang, and the others were still looking for something.

Once everyone was ready, they went into the courtyard.

"Young master, let's go!" Li Lizhi said with a smile.

"okay!"

The sky outside the courtyard gate was washed clear, like a freshly polished sapphire. Even the few clouds that drifted by were light and fluffy, torn into thin cotton wool by the autumn wind.

The sunlight felt gentle and mild on my skin, carrying the fragrance of osmanthus blossoms.

The old osmanthus tree at the village entrance has blossomed. When the wind blows, its sweet fragrance follows people, and even the air is filled with the pleasant feeling of a clear autumn day.

"Let's go pick chestnuts!"

The little princess held Princess Chengyang's hand and hopped up the mountain, her little bamboo basket swaying as if it were about to jump up too.

Chengyang, being pulled along by her, smiled and said, "Sizi, jump slower!"

Yan Yao followed behind, carrying her small bamboo basket. Seeing that Third Sister was walking slowly, she took the initiative to go over and take her arm: "Third Sister, look at that chestnut tree ahead. The leaves are all yellow. It must be full of chestnuts!"

Third Sister was quite surprised, "Yao Niang, how did you know? We don't think we went there before?"

“It was Jinniang who said it,” Yan Yao smiled.

Sunlight filtered through the branches and leaves of the chestnut tree, casting dappled golden spots that fell on the children, like a warm, cozy veil.

Yan Yao took San Niang's hand, squatted down by the roadside, picked up a whole maple leaf, and presented it to San Niang like a treasure, her eyes shining.

Third Sister took the maple leaf, gently tracing its veins with her fingertips, and then handed it back to Yan Yao, helping her to tuck the maple leaf into the seam of the bamboo basket.

Afraid the wind would blow the leaves away, Yan Yao smiled, her eyes crinkling, and picked up another ginkgo leaf, running towards Chengyang and the little princess to share it with them.

The group chatted and laughed as they quickly entered the mountains.

A mountain breeze carrying the crisp scent of grass and trees blows by, and the leaves on the mountainside have long been tinged with the colors of autumn.

The maple leaves are red like burning little flames, and the ginkgo leaves are bright yellow, falling to the ground to spread a soft "golden carpet." Only the chestnut tree is still half-covered in deep green, but hidden in the gaps between the leaves are a whole tree full of "surprises."

The chestnut buds on the branches had long since burst open, like grinning mouths, revealing two or three chestnuts inside, each wrapped in a thin brown skin.

A gentle breeze swayed the branches, and a few ripe chestnuts fell to the ground with a "tap," rolling into the grass covered with fallen leaves, like a pile of little gold ingots.

The ground was even more lively, with many burst chestnut buds scattered around, their brownish-red spiky shells half-open, some still containing one or two chestnuts that hadn't fallen out.

It's been a long time since she's been out, and the little princess misses it.

The little princess ran ahead, with the other children following closely behind.

Forgetting her identity, it felt like going back to the past.

"Sizi, slow down, there are thorns on the ground, don't fall," Zhang Jinhe shouted.

"Mmm-hmm~" the little princess responded.

They ran to the chestnut tree and began searching.

Third Sister picked up a chestnut from the ground with delight, "Sizi, look how big this is!"

"Wow~" the little princess exclaimed in surprise, "Third Aunt is so amazing~"

"There are some here too, there are many here!" Princess Chengyang also saw them.

The little princess squatted on the ground, her skirt stained with a few golden leaves by the fallen leaves, but she was completely unaware.

She simply held her little hands to her mouth and breathed on them, then quickly peeled away a layer of ginkgo leaves.

The moment my fingertips touched the round chestnut, my eyes lit up like stars.

Carefully picking up the chestnuts and placing them in the bamboo basket, she muttered to herself, "Wow, they're so big!"

Princess Chengyang squatted down next to her, her movements slower but more delicate.

"Sizi, this big one is for you."

Yan Yao followed their example, but instead of directly using her hands to peel away the leaves, she picked up a thin twig and carefully pried the fallen leaves apart.

It's easy to get pricked by thorns if you use your hands.

I really like this feeling, and I'm looking forward to making roasted chestnuts when I get back.

This was the first time the princesses had done something like this, so they searched very carefully.

My favorite group consists of several children. Apart from Third Aunt, it's the first time the others have ever picked chestnuts.

Children love picking chestnuts because the sense of "satisfaction" is so easily satisfied.

No need to wait or endure the heat; you can simply bend down and part the fallen leaves to find plump chestnuts.

The joy of "being able to get it immediately and see it immediately" perfectly touches a child's purest nature. Coupled with the "treasure hunt-like sense of exploration" and "small interactions with peers," it naturally makes people happier and happier. For children, things that "wait a long time for a result" are too tedious, but picking chestnuts is different.

As soon as I squatted down and parted two fallen leaves, my fingertips could touch the hard chestnuts.

When you put chestnuts into the bamboo basket, you can hear a soft "tap" sound, and watch as the chestnuts in the basket slowly pile up, one or two at a time.

These tangible results are more meaningful than any reward.

For children, piles of fallen leaves are a "little world" full of secrets.

I don't know which leaf hides a chestnut, nor do I know whether the next chestnut will be big or small.

This kind of "unknown surprise" is particularly attractive to them.

Yan Yao didn't dare to use her hands to peel the leaves, so she used a twig to pick them off one by one, as if she were carefully searching for "treasure".

Di Renjie found a spot with a thick layer of fallen leaves and immediately called everyone over, as if he had discovered a "secret base".

Previously, due to the barriers of their identities, the children couldn't even play freely together, but it was different when they were picking chestnuts.

Everyone gathered around the same pile of fallen leaves, picking one up and passing one to each other. Princess Chengyang would share her big chestnuts with the princess, Yan Yao would show off the chestnuts she found to Third Sister like a treasure, and Di Renjie would help everyone clear the weeds.

This kind of interaction of "working together towards the same small goal" makes children feel that "I'm not playing alone," but rather "we're doing something interesting together."

Especially when everyone's baskets gradually fill up, the sense of belonging of "we harvested together" is more joyful than picking chestnuts alone.

Picking chestnuts wasn't just for "playing," but to prepare for making roasted chestnuts that evening.

The children know that the chestnuts they collect will become delicious treats, which they will share with their families.

This feeling of "what I do can help others" gives children a great sense of accomplishment.

With Xiao Ran and the others getting involved, the chestnuts under the tree were quickly gone.

The little princess and the others also subconsciously looked up at the tree.

There are none left on the ground, but there are many on the trees.

"Little Nangjun~" The little princess walked up to Xiao Ran, "Meow~"

The little princess pointed to the tree, "When will it fall into my heart?"

"We'll take it down in a bit." Xiao Ran rubbed the little princess's head.

The children were happy, and Xiao Ran, Li Lizhi, and the others were happy too.

"Back up first, let me shake it and see if it falls down," Xiao Ran shouted.

"Sizi, Third Sister, step back a bit, it hurts a lot if you get stabbed," Xiao Ran called out again.

Seeing that Yan Yao still wanted to search, Princess Yuzhang pulled her aside.

The others did the same, all retreating to a safe distance.

"Young master, be careful, this hits really hard," Zhang Jinhe warned.

Xiao Ran was actually very experienced; he had done this kind of thing quite a lot back in his hometown.

“It’s alright, I have a lot of experience with this,” Xiao Ran immediately replied.

Xiao Ran took two steps back, steadied himself, and then raised his right leg to kick the chestnut tree trunk with all his might.

The tree trunk swayed, the branches and leaves rustled, and then, the chestnut buds on the branches, like little lanterns that had been awakened, fell down with a "pitter-patter".

Some of them, covered in brownish-red spiky shells, slammed onto the fallen leaves with a "thud".

Some had already cracked open, and the chestnuts, still wrapped in thin skins, rolled out, bounced a couple of times on the ground, and then disappeared into the pile of fallen leaves, just like a lively "chestnut rain".

"Wow~ It fell down~"

"Little Nangjun is so amazing~" The little princess's eyes widened, and she let out a clear cheer, carrying the bamboo basket and rushing forward.

It looked as if it was about to pounce into the chestnuts scattered on the ground at any moment.

Princess Chengyang also moved forward, still clutching the small chestnuts she had picked up earlier in her hand, while reaching out with her other hand to grab the large chestnuts that had just fallen.

Di Renjie was even more anxious. He picked up the bamboo pole and tried to run away, muttering, "I'll go pick the biggest one!"

"Slow down, Sizi!"

Li Lizhi reacted quickly, grabbing the little princess's arm and gently pressing her fingertips against her bamboo basket. She said softly but firmly, "The thorns haven't all fallen yet. If you go over now, you'll get hit. Let's wait until they've all settled before picking them up, okay?"

The children were too excited, but Princess Yuzhang and her companions were not confused and stopped them from going.

If you go there now, it will basically be smashed.

Getting hit by a thorn falling from a tree is definitely not pleasant.

“There are still a lot up there. Let me use a bamboo pole to knock them down!” Xiao Ran said.

"Whose is this? Isn't it inappropriate to hit it like this?" Princess Yuzhang asked.

"It's alright, these are from Kaolao Village, no one will say anything," Zhang Jinhe quickly said.

If we were to talk about Xiao Ran now because of the chestnut incident, we'd definitely be gossiped about behind our backs.

Xiao Ran climbed up the chestnut tree and looked down at the people below. "Fifth Sister, give me the bamboo pole."

"Okay! Young man, be careful!" Li Lizhi was a little worried about him climbing a tree on his day off.

"it is good!"

Di Renjie gave the bamboo pole to Li Lizhi, who was a little taller.

Xiao Ran took the bamboo pole. "When you hit it later, the spiked bag might fly far. Step back a little so you don't get hit."

“Okay!” Li Lizhi led the others back a little further.

Xiao Ran stood on the thick branches of the chestnut tree, leaning slightly forward, holding onto the trunk with one hand to maintain his balance, and gripping the bamboo pole tightly with the other.

With a gentle flick of his wrist, the bamboo pole swept through the wind towards the branches laden with chestnut buds. With a "whoosh," the branches swayed violently, instantly awakening the "treasure" hidden among the leaves.

The brownish-brown thorny burrs fell with a soft thud, the sound of "thump" mixed with the crisp crackling of "crackling." Some thorny burrs bounced twice on the fallen leaves before their shells cracked open, revealing the round chestnuts inside.

Some unexploded thorny buds rolled to a spot not far from the children's feet, huddled in the pile of leaves like little hedgehogs.

The most delightful thing is the ripe chestnuts, wrapped in a thin brown skin, rolling out of their spiky shells, bouncing a couple of times on the ground, and then disappearing into the pile of fallen leaves, leaving only a small tip sticking out, as if playing hide-and-seek with people.

"Wow~ so many~" The little princess stood on tiptoe, her round eyes wide open, staring at the falling chestnuts, her breathing quickened.

"Go, Little Nang! Keep hitting! Keep hitting over there!"

The adults under the tree were also amused by the lively atmosphere. Li Lizhi stood a little further away, still concerned about Xiao Ran's safety, but couldn't help but smile.

After Xiao Ran stopped and threw the bamboo pole down from the tree, he said, "You can pick it up now, but be careful not to get pricked by the thorns."

With Xiao Ran's permission, the group returned to the tree and began searching for chestnuts.

"Hehe~" The little princess laughed happily when she saw many chestnuts.

For thorny sacs without any cracks, you either rub them with your feet or with a sickle. (End of Chapter)