(1)
This summit was not the highest peak.
In the mountain range stretching beyond, there were even taller peaks.
But this one was already high enough.
High enough to overlook the rolling mountains below and the village nestled between them.
The pale blue sky seemed within reach, and the clouds hovered above like floating cotton.
This was a tea field.
Or rather, a tea field that no one really cared for.
The tea bushes grew in a disorderly fashion, far from neat or tidy.
Many weeds were competing with them for nutrients.
Zhang Qiqi pushed Chi Qingyan up to the summit — part of the way was carried by everyone working together.
Though there was a small path going up the mountain, it wasn’t exactly easy to walk, especially with such a heavy wheelchair.
In the midst of the mountains lay a green lake, like a jade inset into the earth, pristine and beautiful.
“It’s been so long since I’ve climbed to the top of a mountain.”
Anjing took a deep breath of fresh air and stretched with a big yawn.
“Looking down from here, the slope doesn’t seem that steep.”
“You’ll know if it’s steep once you try rolling down.”
Anjing shot Zhu Ying a sidelong glance.
“Ah, the mountains feel so good. I wish we had a Anywhere Door.”
Yang Lingfei sighed.
“Living in the mountains every day, then opening the Anywhere Door during the day to go to school.”
“You’re an idiot. It’s not as great as you think. This is just early spring, and soon the mountains will be crawling with insects. In summer, there are even more mosquitoes — and the kind that suck blood like crazy.” Zhou Chao kicked a small stone casually. “My home is at the edge of the countryside, and there are tons of bugs. Centipedes and stink bugs are the least of it. Have you ever seen a spider that big?”
“There are snakes in the mountains too, sometimes they even crawl into the house.”
Zhang Qiqi nodded lightly.
“Wow, that’s terrifying! We won’t get bitten by snakes while we sleep at night, right?”
“Don’t worry! That usually doesn’t happen!”
“What do you mean usually!”
“Anjing, if you’re a man, don’t be afraid.”
Fang Qiang placed his palm on Anjing’s shoulder and said earnestly.
“How could anyone not be afraid of things that can kill you…”
“Ha ha, don’t worry, at this time of year snakes don’t come into the house. At most, in summer or autumn, we scatter some realgar powder indoors to drive them away.”
Zhang Qiqi said, pushing Chi Qingyan’s wheelchair forward a bit.
“Qingyan, it’s been a long time since you came up here to see the view, right? Enjoy it today.”
Chi Qingyan looked up at the sky and reached out her hand, a faint smile appearing on her face.
“So close, and yet so far.”
“Qiqi.”
“This mountain’s not high enough yet. If it were high enough, you’d even find the clouds beneath you!”
“Hm?”
“Can you help me stand up?”
“You want to try?”
“Mm.”
“Xiaoru, come help.”
Zhang Qiqi called out, and Wang Xinru hurried over, supporting Qingyan’s arms on both sides as they helped her out of the wheelchair.
The girl’s legs just touched the ground, but they instantly went limp as if they had no bones. Everyone’s gaze involuntarily settled on her, and the atmosphere grew a little heavy in that moment.
“Qingyan, as long as you believe you can stand and walk, you’ll definitely be fine.”
Chi Qingyan had already closed her eyes, as if enduring some kind of painful torment.
Her small face twisted painfully.
“Is she… really okay?” Wang Xinru whispered.
“Qingyan, want to give it a try?”
Chi Qingyan took a deep breath and nodded firmly.
She opened her eyes again and straightened her knees with effort, but as she took a step forward, her legs buckled again.
“D-Don’t let go.”
“Don’t worry, I’m holding you.”
“For now… I can barely stand — I have to hold onto something.”
“Isn’t that slowly getting better? Soon you won’t need to hold anything to stand, and little by little, you’ll be able to walk on your own.”
Zhang Qiqi patted her head like coaxing a child.
“It’ll get better, it’ll get better and better!”
“I want to go see the edge of the mountain, I remember there’s a lake there.”
“Okay, Xiaoru, carry her carefully.”
“Mm.”
Everyone followed Chi Qingyan to the mountain edge.
The slope here was the steepest, but the view was the best.
You could see not only the forest but also the stone forest.
“Is this stone forest natural?”
Anjing asked curiously, taking a blurry photo with his phone.
“No, see how they’re arranged in circles? This is a local villagers’ worship site, where the mountain god is enshrined.”
“I thought it was natural… That’s so awesome.”
“The scenery on the mountain is really nice…”
Chi Qingyan murmured softly, trying to straighten up, but her legs were just too weak.
“So nice… springtime, flowers blooming.”
“Right? So if you have time, come out and play more. Don’t just stay cooped up at home.”
“Is she still in school?”
Yang Lingfei suddenly asked.
“No, she’s recuperating at home, probably doing some self-study. Definitely better than those two slackers, Fang Qiang and Sun Wei.”
“Hey, my Chinese is pretty good, okay!”
Sun Wei protested loudly.
Fang Qiang accepted it calmly.
“You have to admit, some people just aren’t cut out for school.”
“Gurgle—”
Just then, someone’s stomach rumbled loudly like thunder, startling everyone who looked toward the source of the sound.
“That’s Xiaojing’s stomach!”
Zhu Ying stepped back a little, face flushed, pointing at Anjing and shouting.
“Hey, I only ate around nine o’clock. I shouldn’t be hungry now… although climbing and digging wild vegetables did burn some energy.”
“Xiaoying’s stomach protests are really loud.”
“Really not—”
Zhu Ying tried to protest, but her stomach rumbled loudly again.
“Damn it, I don’t know why it’s so loud—”
“Looks like she’s so hungry she could swallow Anjing whole.”
Zhou Chao nodded.
“Hey, why me!”
“Let’s go, time to cook.”
Sun Wei started walking toward the path they came from.
“Want me to show off my skills today?”
“Whoa, you cooking today?” Fang Qiang perked up immediately.
“I’m cooking, I’m cooking. Let me show you what a real chef can do. I cooked a bunch of dishes for New Year’s dinner this year, and everyone said they were delicious.”
“Yeah right, just talk.”
“Damn, I guess I really have to show you then!”
Sun Wei rolled up his sleeves, revealing his lean, jointed arms.
“You really think I only know how to chop vegetables?”
“Fine, then Fang Qiang can make the fire.”
“Zhou Chao, you make the fire.”
“I won’t. You do it.”
“What fire? I’m no match for you. You have to do it.”
“Your mom…”
Zhou Chao laughed and cursed, “You finally got the pun, huh?”
“My cousin’s husband always jokes like that with my cousin at New Year’s.”
“Qingyan, shall I carry you back to your wheelchair? Ready to go?”
“Okay…”
Zhang Qiqi bent down, lifted Chi Qingyan into her arms, walked quickly to the wheelchair, and gently set her down.
She smiled, speaking in a tone meant for children, “When you can walk on your own, we’ll climb even higher mountains, okay?”
“Mm!”
***
(2)
Sun Wei worked in the kitchen far more efficiently than anyone expected.
Over twenty fresh bamboo shoots, he peeled off their outer layers in just a few quick moves, and all the plump shoots were soaked in clear well water.
Today he refused any help and insisted on doing everything himself.
“Where’s your dad? Has he gone home?”
Anjing sat at the wooden table by the window, resting his chin on his hand.
“It’s almost three o’clock. He went home earlier.”
Zhang Qiqi moved Chi Qingyan’s wheelchair next to the table and pulled out a beautifully crafted box from her backpack.
It was printed with various characters from the Three Kingdoms era, and the bold title ‘San Guo Sha’ looked imposing.
“After we eat, we’ll play this. I specially bought it in T City for today!”
“Wow, what’s this?”
Anjing leaned in curiously.
“Like a Monopoly game?”
“No, I don’t really know how to play it either, but there’s a manual inside.”
“San Guo Sha? Isn’t that the game that’s been really popular lately?”
Zhou Chao took the big box from Zhang Qiqi.
“I didn’t expect a physical card version.”
“How come I’ve never played it?”
“It just came out last year. It’s basically a card game. You can download it on the Bianfeng game platform and play online.”
“Can you play it?”
“Of course. I’ll teach you all after dinner. It’s actually pretty fun.”
Zhou Chao flipped the box over and clicked his tongue.
“Dang, a hundred yuan. Zhang Qiqi, you’re really generous.”
“My sister’s always generous to friends, okay!”
“Why don’t we just try playing it now?”
Fang Qiang was itching to play.
“I’ve heard of it but never played.”
“Nope.”
Zhang Qiqi quickly grabbed the box and put it on the windowsill.
“We eat first. You’re a kid, always so impatient.”
“Exactly. If you have so much free time, why don’t you take some photos of me?”
Sun Wei said without looking up while chopping vegetables.
“Why take photos of you?”
“To capture how handsome I look when cooking, for memories. So even if love is unattainable, I can look back and admire myself…”
“Ugh, you’re disgusting.”
Zhou Chao rubbed his arm.
“You’re giving me goosebumps.”
“Seriously, I’d probably have nightmares if I looked at that.”
Fang Qiang tugged at the corner of his mouth.
“Ha ha, don’t you guys think you’re being a little mean to Sun Wei?”
Yang Lingfei chuckled but added fairly,
“Still, taking a photo for memories isn’t a bad idea. Next time Sun Wei says he can’t cook or tries to slack off, just show him the photo.”
Anjing pulled out his phone and snapped a quick shot.
“Click.”
“Stop taking photos!”
Sun Wei paused for a moment, then couldn’t help but ask, “Well? Did you get it?”
“You…”
“Got it.”
“Am I handsome or not?”
Sun Wei’s earnest expression left everyone silent for a few seconds, then someone broke into laughter, and it spread contagiously.
Even Chi Qingyan, who had been serious before, pressed her lips together and lowered her head, her shoulders trembling lightly with suppressed laughter…