From a distance, one can see the towering and steep mountain peak, surrounded by lush grass and trees. The mudslide marks a magnificent scene on the painting, evoking memories of the perilous mountain village that morning.

The winding path on the mountainside looks very dangerous, but it's just a visual error. Just walk on it.

A big yellow dog came running happily.

Dahuang

Wuwu

Dahuang whispered affectionately, then turned around and took a few steps before turning his head to look at them.

Zhou Li followed suit.

Arriving at Zheng Zhilan's small courtyard, as dusk had just arrived, Zhou Li discovered an additional stove in the center of the dam, with firewood piled up beside it.

The stove is made of clay, brick, and cement.

There are many raw meat dishes on the stove, as well as a few cooked ones, such as crispy meat and braised dishes.

Are you going to eat hotpot

That's right, "Zheng Zhilan stood by the door to greet him." We only need your ingredients. Qinghe and I were planning to have hotpot ourselves, otherwise it would be a different feeling to eat it in autumn and winter. It happened that you were coming, so we used it to welcome you

This stove

He moved from a family's house over there, and his stove is the most suitable. The others are too big

How did you move here? Is it heavy

Jinsi is very flexible to use. After I finish eating, I have to move it back. It takes up too much space for me

Oh

Zhou Li glanced at Huai Xu.

Huaixu was bending down to look at each dish one by one, and as he looked at him, he said, "Hot pot is great. I think everyone likes to eat it, but unfortunately, this thing can't be eaten without permission

After speaking, he turned his head to look at Zheng Zhilan and said, "Are all these dishes bought from the bottom of the mountain

Some are, some are not

Beef, right

That's right

Zheng Zhilan raised cattle, but they were plowing cattle. They relied on their skills to make a living and sold their skills rather than meat.

Last week, Li took off his backpack, took out the hot pot seasoning from inside, and walked to the stove hole.

I'll start a fire

Smoke big, I'll do it

Don't! "Huai Xu stopped Zheng Zhilan." Let him burn it. He's probably already been thinking about it all the way

Is that so? "Zheng Zhilan was curious.

That's right

Huai Xu briefly told her about Zhou Li squatting at Zhihong Temple before, watching others burn without blinking. Zheng Zhilan smiled and nodded, while Zhou Li felt a bit embarrassed.

Something even more embarrassing has come.

He can't light the fire.

Zheng Zhilan also has pine cones here, but most of them are made of firewood, and there are also a few corn stalks.

I know how to make a fire with corn stalks, but for some reason, it doesn't listen to Zhou Li.

Angry people.

Zheng Zhilan is understanding: "A few days ago, it cooled down and rained, and the roof of the firewood room leaked a bit. There was also fog on the mountain, and I was affected by the tide

Zhou Li is much more comfortable.

Huai Xu grinned.

Then it was replaced by Qinghe, who quickly gave birth. Qinghe didn't like to talk but was also very considerate. He picked a few thin sticks of firewood and set up a frame on the burning corn stalks, so that the flames could fully wrap around the firewood. After confirming that it wouldn't stall, he gave the position to Zhou Li.

Zhou Li sat down, rubbed his face, and looked into the stove's eyes.

This shelf looks pretty good!

The flames were burning fiercely, and the wood was burning red. Flames were hissing out from the cracks, and the temperature rose.

Zhou Li threw a pine cone inside.

Huaixu had already eaten half a plate of crispy meat until he started gnawing on chicken feet and his eating speed slowed down.

The fire was intense and the water quickly boiled.

Zheng Zhilan said to Zhou Li, "Aren't you going to dip the dish? Or should I help you adjust it

Then I'll trouble you, "Zhou Li became obsessed with burning fire.

Do you like spicy food

Love

Is so much spicy rice enough

Okay

Do you love to be jealous

Love

Then I'll give you more

Hmm

Can I eat garlic and cilantro

Can

Are you a fool? "A different voice harmoniously interjected.

「……」

Zhou Li looked up at Huai Xu.

Huai Xu blinked her eyes twice and said to Zheng Zhilan, "Miss Zheng, give me a whole one too, just like him. Ah, forget it, I still want to be like you. He's particularly stupid today, I won't learn from him

Zheng Zhilan chuckled lightly.

She makes a complete set of seasonings, all packaged in beautiful small bowls, no less than hot pot restaurants.

Huai Xu said to Zhou Li, "My food is definitely better than yours

Zhou Li ignored him.

Qinghe quietly ordered a few dishes, including luncheon meat, quail eggs, and some meatballs, waiting for them to slowly cook.

The firewood in the stove was already very mature and could burn on its own. Zhou Li stood up straight, feeling a little hot, but now the mountain wind blowing over felt cold and icy.

Zheng Zhilan asked him to sit in a different direction.

Zhou Li sat next to Huai Xu and looked up. The sunset in the distance was the most beautiful moment, with a red glow on the horizon.

It's so beautiful

The weather is good today, "Zheng Zhilan said.

Yes, it's not too hot either

But there seems to be thunderstorms at night, and now it's blowing. I don't know if I can see the moon

How do you know

I have a radio

Oh

Zhou Li saw Huai Xu taking a piece of luncheon meat and snoring in his mouth, so he asked him, "Is it delicious

Huaixu narrowed his eyes and savored it carefully before swallowing it for a long time before replying, "It's so delicious! Why is this thing so delicious! No wonder there are so many hotpot restaurants in your city. No, you still have to take me to eat when you go back

Zhou Li smiled and also picked up a piece.

These meatballs and luncheon meat are like this. People who have never eaten them before are likely to

Mmm!

Isn't this really delicious?

In one bite, it is filled with meat fibers and retains the aroma and softness of luncheon meat.

Zheng Zhilan turned her head and asked him, "I made it myself and learned it after many experiments. How about it? This time, there was a lot of meat, and Qinghe didn't really like it. He likes to eat vegetarian

Zhou Li slowly gave a thumbs up.

Zheng Zhilan felt a great sense of achievement and continued, "I also raised quail eggs myself. At first, I hatched them myself, but for some reason, we couldn't hatch them. Later, Qinghe and I searched for a long time in Puzhou before finding a breeding farm. The boss was very kind and directly gave us a few quails without charging us

Maybe it's because there was no fertilization

It seems like the boss said the same thing, I don't understand

Where do you keep it

Over there, at the neighbor's house before

Oh

Now there is only Zheng Zhilan in half of the small mountain village, which is remote. It can be said that the mountains and rivers within a few miles are all hers. The houses that were not washed away by the mudslide and the things that the neighbors did not take away also belong to her.

Last time I left, Huai Xu told Zhou Li that she was very wealthy.

After finishing a meal, Huaixu began to pour meat into the pot impatiently. He didn't care about how long it would take to heat it.

I estimate it's almost done, so I'll scoop it up. Whether it's undercooked or overcooked, it all depends on fate.

Zheng Zhilan presented her collection, which was a large bamboo mushroom with water droplets after washing. The largest one was about the size of an English teacher's face: "A few days ago, after the rain, Qinghe and I went out for a whole day and picked up a lot. It's rare. I don't know if the fresh flavor of hot pot will be covered up when we use it to stew chicken tomorrow. Which chicken would you like to eat

Zhou Li remembered the mountain mushrooms he had eaten when he was a child. Although he only boiled an egg soup, it was still very delicious.

That's what Grandpa went up the mountain to watch the wheat pick up.

He has some nostalgia.

Turning his head, he saw a pile of chicken coops in the cage, staring at them with round eyes.

It seems very innocent.

Which one is Zhou Li looking for the most innocent.

The sunset sets quickly, but the colorful clouds dissipate late.

After dinner, the sky gradually darkened, presenting a beautiful gradient color that was as vibrant as a color palette. The clouds were colored, and unknown birds were chasing and playing, chirping. Swallows flew back to their nests under the eaves, evoking memories of Zhou Li's childhood summers.

He was holding a pot of clear tea.

The tea is also homemade by Zheng Zhilan, not a good tea, with a strong bitter taste, but at this time, the mouth is greasy, and drinking it is just right.

Zhou Li lowered his head and took a sip of tea, whispering to Zheng Zhilan, "I will start school next month. I have enrolled in Caiyun University, and the next time I come back will probably be during the Chinese New Year or to watch the New Year's Day

Where is Caiyun? "Zheng Zhilan asked.

Another province, adjacent to Yizhou, but it's also over a thousand kilometers away and not too close

Can we take a plane, right

Well, now we have high-speed trains, which are very fast trains that can reach Chunming in half a day, which is the capital city of Caiyun

High speed rail

Zheng Zhilan murmured.

She had heard of this word before. On the bus, she asked Qinghe what high-speed rail was, but Qinghe didn't know either.

After a long silence, she said, "A person from Jinguan called me this morning and told me about something. Can I go take the high-speed train from Yancheng to Jinguan

Yes, to take a seat in Yancheng, it only takes about twenty minutes from Yancheng North Station to Jinguan

So fast

It's just fast. You can call me in advance when you go, and I'll pick you up at the station and take you to Jinguan

Okay... "Zheng Zhilan nodded and thought for a moment," I'll go back in a few days

Isn't it urgent

Don't be in a hurry

Okay too

Zhou Li took another sip of tea.

The light on the horizon grew darker and darker, but it never faded away. The full moon above his head was already very bright, and the clear glow enveloped the entire mountain and village. Zhou Li had never seen such a scenery again since he grew up.

Zheng Zhilan looked up high and said, "There are dark clouds drifting by, and it's likely to rain tonight

Zhou Li also looked up, indeed.

Zheng Zhilan smiled and said, "It rained last time you came here, and it also rained this time. Let's see if it will rain again next time you come

I have a classmate who is extremely lucky

I like the rain

Hmm

I like the rain, "Zheng Zhilan said again." There are many sounds of rain, chaotic yet orderly. The sounds of beating leaves, banana leaves, roofs, and dripping from the eaves are all different. I also like summer. There are many sounds in summer, such as the chirping of insects, frogs, and birds. In winter, it becomes lifeless and the mountains are eerily quiet

No wonder you have so many dogs

That's right

Zheng Zhilan nodded and stood up, holding up a chair. "How about staying here for a few more days? Your room is still very clean

Okay, I'll move the chair

Then you can move

Zhou Li took the chair from Zheng Zhilan's hand, picked up one with each hand, and walked into the room.

Zheng Zhilan followed behind him.