"Picnic?"
I was stunned.
Isn’t that just cooking and eating in the wild? What's so fun about this?
I don't understand what makes him excited...
But not only Wang Dachun, the rest of his younger brothers were also happily discussing what ingredients and kitchen utensils to bring.
After listening to it, I roughly understood.
At the end of September every year, Lianghe District High School organizes freshmen to have a picnic on the open riverbank beside the Sichuan River.
This is not only to experience nature, strengthen hands-on ability, but also to cultivate unity and cooperation among students.
At that time, children in relatively prosperous big towns and counties no longer had much idea about the countryside. Basically, it is difficult to come into contact with some field knowledge on a daily basis.
For example, Wang Dachun, this guy can't even tell the difference between wheat and rice!
Therefore, the school's organization of collective picnics could be regarded as one of the "quality education" methods at that time.
Many well-to-do families in towns are quite supportive.
Of course, children like me who grew up in rural areas far away from cities and towns have been running around in the mountains and fields all day long. It is common to get something to eat in the wild with other friends.
First, everyone digs an earthen stove together and makes a fire with dead branches.
Then pick some tender vegetables from the vegetable field, pick up some eels and loaches from the paddy field, pick up some fish and shrimp from the river... and cook them directly in clay pots, or fry them on thin stone slabs.
Sprinkle some salt stolen from home or apply some sesame oil on it.
The taste is still very good!
However, because I have played a lot since I was a child, I don’t take this “picnic” too seriously as a huge pleasure.
Unexpectedly, for the teenagers in the town, this was something that could be discussed excitedly a day in advance.
And not only Wang Dachun's group, but the surrounding students who were going to school together also gathered together in twos and threes, and they were all talking about the picnic.
"Well, city people really know how to play."
I shrugged, thinking helplessly.
For me at that time, Two Rivers Town was already considered a city!
As for the county seat and the real city?
I haven’t been there yet!
Because of this, it was obvious that most of the students in the class were absent-minded.
Even Yao Nan, who has always been serious, I found that she was absent from class and writing down some things to prepare for tomorrow's picnic in her homework book...
It’s just me, I still listen to the lectures seriously and take notes.
It’s not that I really love learning, it’s just that I was forced to have no choice – who gave me a master who valued this so much?
…
The next day, Friday, there is no class.
A total of five classes in the first grade of junior high school directly brought various ingredients, kitchen utensils, seasonings and other things, gathered on the large playground and formed a team.
Then, under the envious gazes of the second and third grade students, they were led by the head teachers and other teachers of each class and walked out of the school in an orderly manner, heading all the way to the suburbs in the north of the town.
Two Rivers Town got its name because there are two rivers meandering through the town.
One of them flows through the north of the town, and the other flows through the west of the town, and they meet at the bridge between the two rivers.
Hundreds of years ago, the earliest residents of Lianghe Town lived along these two rivers. Gradually, it became an important town that controlled transportation between Sichuan and Chongqing.
The source of these two rivers is the Sichuan River about two kilometers north of the town!
The location for our picnic was on the large pebble beach behind the abandoned Chuanjiang Pier.
Along the way, others laughed and laughed, but I fell into memories.
I remembered that night a few years ago when I was in elementary school.
The full moon like a jade plate, the master with long hair covering his face, the dilapidated red boat, the rushing river, the wandering river spirits, the strange floating corpse, the hundred-bone tower standing on the mountainside...
Those scenes cannot be forgotten even after several years. On the contrary, it becomes clearer in my memory.
Back then, I only knew how to be afraid and do what my master told me to do. But they don't know the real danger.
Now I can be regarded as someone who has stepped into the world of Xuanmen. Not only have I mastered "Qi", but I have also learned some Feng Shui, Kanyu and spells!
Therefore, when I think about it carefully, I realize how many dangers I experienced that night - I am afraid that the many evil spirits I encountered at that time were far more powerful than Miss Duan who turned into a vicious corpse.
Especially the Corpse King in the Hundred Bone Tower!
Even Master is unwilling to conflict with it, and can only discuss it through words. Fortunately, that guy is a kind person.
Of course, the peak where the Hundred Bone Pagoda is located is called "Wangtian Peak" - it is the highest mountain in the Chuanjiang River Basin near Lianghe Town.
Although we can see it from a distance from where we have a picnic later, we still have to walk more than ten miles upstream of the Sichuan River.
"Hey! What are you thinking about? You are just here in a daze."
A crisp voice from the side interrupted my memories.
When she turned around, she saw Yao Nan's big, sparkling eyes.
She was wearing a small floral dress today, and her half-long hair was shawl-black and smooth. He was tilting his head and looking at me with a smile.
Originally, the marching team organized by the school was arranged according to the original seating arrangement. Yao Nan was my deskmate, so of course he walked next to me.
I have to say, she is indeed pretty.
In addition to being our "class beauty", people in other classes and even in the second and third grade of junior high school have heard about it.
So much so that when Wang Dachun said that many people envied me.
Especially for this picnic, they will definitely be assigned to work together and have a whole day of getting along.
But what probably surprised many people, including Yao Nan herself, was that after walking away from school for so long, I actually didn't say a word, as if I had no interest in talking to her at all.
"I guess she's unhappy because I've been ignoring this little girl? Well, since people have taken the initiative to strike up a conversation, I can't refuse them thousands of miles away."
I thought about it in my mind and responded to her.
"Oh, I didn't think about anything. It's just..."
Just what?
For a while, I couldn't find a good excuse.
"Hmph! Perfunctory."
Yao Nan pursed his lips and moved his delicate nose.
After a pause, he asked me again: "Wu Zhong, can you cook? I heard that picnics are organized into groups of five tables. Ten people set up a stove together and light a fire to cook together. Everyone has to contribute. Of my own strength.”
I'm a little speechless.
I wonder if this little girl has nothing to say to me?
Under normal circumstances, which rural child can’t cook? That’s okay! How much do these parents pamper their children?
but……
I have to admit that she was right this time.
I was that rural kid who was pampered by my parents, so I answered honestly: "I just like to eat delicious food, and I'm really not good at cooking. But I can chop vegetables, and I'm pretty good at this skill."
joke!
I have been learning boxing and kicking skills for so long, especially the assassination one. When it comes to using a knife, can these junior high school kids compare to it?
But, once the conversation started, there was a lot more to talk about.
Wang Dachun and Zeng Jin from behind also joined in, and the two classmates in front also turned back to chat from time to time, talking and laughing along the way.
Soon, we arrived at the edge of the Sichuan River.
The broad and rapid river flows through the mountainous plains, and there are wide floodplains on both sides of the river bank. In the hilly southwest area, such terrain is rare.
"Oh yeah! It's so refreshing to have a picnic by the river."
Wang Dachun put an iron pot on his head and cheered loudly.
I looked back at him with disgust: "Your hair is so greasy, don't dirty the pot. In our group, you are the only one who brought a wok, so you have to cook."
"Just wash it off later."
"No! Put it down quickly."
"Oh, okay Angkor."
He seemed a little aggrieved.
…
There were about three to four hundred people in our five classes. Under the leadership of the teachers, we arrived at the pebbled river beach.
Then they lined up in a long strip along the river beach, with each class occupying a place.
The class is divided into 5-6 groups, and they cook according to the ingredients, seasonings and kitchen utensils they brought.
As soon as the score was good, Wang Dachun started shouting.
"In our group, Angkor must be the one calling the shots and arranging various tasks. No one objects, right?"
This guy is a playboy himself and has a reputation as a villain throughout the grade. Of course, others dare not object and shake their heads like a rattle.
I was not interested myself and shook my head: "It's up to you to make the arrangements. I'm not interested in these."
"Okay, I will definitely fulfill my mission! I will prepare a meal later, let the teachers eat it and praise it, and win the first place."
Wang Dachun patted his chest.
It turns out that there is a "little tradition" in this picnic - after each class prepares the meals, the head teacher and other teachers will definitely taste them and judge the best group.
Although it was only verbal praise, there was no substantial reward. But a young man of twelve or thirteen years old is the time to be competitive. Of course he wants to compete with this kind of vanity...
I don’t know if Wang Dachun did it on purpose or not, but he arranged for me and Yao Nan to go to the river to wash vegetables together.
At that time, although the social economy had begun to take off, it was not as dramatic as it would be a few years later.
There are not many factories in the town, so there is not much pollution, and the river water is very clear. Of course there is no problem in washing vegetables by the river.
So, Yao Nan and I packed the ingredients for ten people in a big plastic basket and walked to the river.
"Wu Zhong, there are too many people over there. I know a place with a very clear puddle next to it. It's very quiet and there's no one around yet. We can wash the vegetables alone."
She said, pointing to a place a little further away.
In summer, when it rains frequently, the Sichuan River will swell.
When the river overflows onto the river beach, it will flood large areas of open space. After the river recedes, water will accumulate in some low-lying areas, turning into small puddles of different sizes scattered on the river beach.
What Yao Nan was talking about was a puddle about three hundred meters away on our left.
There are green water plants half a man tall growing in the clear water, reflecting the misty sky, which is quite beautiful.
"Okay! Just go over there and wash the vegetables."
We carried the plastic basket and walked over.
After arriving, prepare to start washing in the order of vegetables and then meat.
Yao Nan actually has a lively personality, not the kind of nerd who studies hard.
Especially having a picnic outside was so fun, so he couldn’t stop chatting with me.
Yao Nan: "Look, I said this place is very good! Last week, a few little sisters and I came here to play. We also secretly brought out my dad's camera and Kodak film and took a lot of photos. Wait. I washed it out for you to see."
Me: "Oh, okay."
Yao Nan: "By the way, math has been a bit difficult recently. It's a little difficult to learn. How do you feel?"
Me: "Okay."
Yao Nan: "...can you say a few more words?"
Me: "Okay."
"I'm furious!"
Yao Nan glared at me fiercely, turned around, washed the vegetables seriously, and ignored me.
Well……
I scratched my head speechlessly, wondering why she was so angry suddenly.
Many years later, when the Internet became more developed, I recalled that there was probably one word to describe myself at that time - straight man!
But I'm not that stubborn. When I realized that Yao Nan seemed to want me to talk more, I immediately adjusted my state. I started telling her all kinds of interesting things about living in the countryside when I was a child, which made her laugh, and the atmosphere became better again.
"The water here is a bit dirty, let's go a little further to the side."
Yao Nan and I carried the remaining half basket of ingredients and walked through the water plants that were half a man tall. We found a clear place and were ready to continue.
"Eh? Why are there black water plants there? They look so strange."
As soon as Yao Nan put down the basket, he pointed to a place three or four meters away.
I looked in the direction of her finger, and sure enough I saw a black thing spread out on the water next to the clump of water plants, swaying with the waves.
What it is?
I took another closer look, and suddenly something came to my mind. Suddenly his scalp felt numb and his pupils suddenly narrowed.
"It's strange, let's go and take a look."
Yao Nan has already stood up and walked over there.
"Don't, don't go there!"
I wanted to hold her hand, but it was too late.
After all, the distance was only three or four meters, so Yao Nan took two steps forward. As the water rippled, the black water-weed-like object floated a little further towards us.
Then I could see it as soon as I came... among the black "water plants" spread out and floating on the water, there was a pale face that had been swollen by the river water!
That's right!
This is a corpse.
A female body floating on the water.
That weird black waterweed is actually her long hair spreading out while lying on her back on the water!
She should have been among the water plants, slowly following the waves as she drifted toward the puddle from the periphery near the river.
I'm actually okay. Although the floating corpse still makes me feel a little nervous, I'm still pretty calm on the surface.
But Yao Nan is different...
Little girl, where have you ever seen such a terrifying thing?
So she immediately opened her mouth and let out a shrill scream.
"ah!!!!"
Then his eyes suddenly went black, and he fell straight backwards.
He was obviously frightened and fainted on the spot.
To be honest, Yao Nan's performance frightened me far more than the female corpse that suddenly floated over. I quickly stepped forward and supported her fallen body.
