2: Chapter 2: A Trip to the Rice Terraces

The green-skinned train traveled through the tunnel, like a long green Dragon winding its way through the darkness.

When it finally emerged from the tunnel, sunlight shot into the carriage like a golden arrow, instantly illuminating the entire space.

Outside the window was an expansive scene.

The terraced fields spread out layer by layer along the mountainside, like a massive green scroll painting.

The newly planted seedlings reflected tiny specks of green in the paddy fields; as a gentle breeze swept by, ripples spread across the water's surface, as if nature had laid out a piece of wrinkled green silk between heaven and earth.

The wild grass on the ridges was dotted with crystal-clear dew, shimmering faintly in the sunlight.

Occasionally, a farmer wearing a bamboo hat would bend over to pull weeds, their figures appearing and disappearing among the ridges, as if they were characters frozen in this ink wash painting.

In the distant mountain hollow, a thin layer of mist drifted, like a light veil, shrouding a few adobe houses in haze.

The columns of smoke rising from the chimneys were blown by the wind, dispersing into pale blue gauze that wrapped around the bamboo forest halfway up the mountain, adding a touch of liveliness to this tranquil scene.

"Look at this crappy train; it would be better to ride a shared bike to the mountains—at least I wouldn't have to smell the foot odor of the uncle next door."

Zhao Kai pinched his nose in disgust, his gaze drifting outside the window as if trying to escape the foul smell.

Meanwhile, his phone screen remained on a photo of a beach in his social media feed; that blue sea, blue sky, and golden beach formed a stark contrast with the environment inside the train.

Chen Jie, sitting to the side, did not complain like Zhao Kai; instead, he gazed quietly at the terraced fields passing by outside the window, seemingly drawn in by that ocean of green.

His fingertips tapped gently on the window ledge, as if he were pondering something.

Suddenly, Chen Jie turned his head, his full beard trembling slightly with the movement, and his eyes flashing with excitement.

He spoke to Zhao Kai without ceremony: "What the hell do you know!"

Zhao Kai was clearly surprised by Chen Jie's reaction, and he retorted with a look of disdain: "How come I don't know? Look at this crappy train, it's old and broken, and it smells so bad; how can it compare to the convenience of a shared bike?"

Chen Jie was not affected by Zhao Kai's words; he continued: "Look at these terraced fields, what an Aura they have! Layer upon layer, just like stacking blocks, neat and tidy.

And this green—it's so green you could squeeze water out of it; it's much better than Brother Li's crappy lawn.

When they were fixing the water pump in the neighborhood last time, the pipe layout wasn't even as well-designed as the gullies in these terraces! Don't you dare think these are just casually piled-up lumps of dirt!"

The more Chen Jie spoke, the more excited he became; his voice echoed in the carriage, forming a strange dialogue with Zhao Kai's complaints.

After Zhao Kai finished speaking, he rolled his eyes and leaned back against the seat.

"I don't see anything well-designed about it," Zhao Kai continued, "I just think these terraced fields look like bricks that haven't been stacked properly."

"What kind of eyesight do you have!"

Chen Jie got anxious the moment he heard that.

He slapped his thigh hard, stood up, pointed at the shimmering terraced fields in the distance, and shouted, "Look at that water; it's so bright it could be used as a mirror, even more dazzling than the old bronze mirror at Grandma Zhang's house!

When I helped her clean that mirror last time, the moment my spiritual energy touched it, I knew it was a good thing.

The water in these terraced fields also carries a sense of vitality; it's three times sweeter than city tap water! If you don't believe me, let's make a bet!"

Zhao Kai took out his earphones and plugged them into his ears: "I finally see it clearly; in your eyes, besides the junk you can repair, there's just these useless ridges."

"Bullshit!"

Chen Jie laughed and scolded, suddenly pointing at the egret passing over the ridge, "Look at that bird! Its wings are flapping like an electric fan, the frequency is so steady it could be used as a calibrator!

If Su Rui's oscillating fan were adjusted to this rhythm, I guarantee it would turn smoother than the knife Wang Lei uses to cut braised meat—this is called the knack of life, get it?"

Zhao Kai took off one earphone and frowned: "Can you speak like a normal human being?"

"This is human language!"

Chen Jie took a bite of an apple, the crunch sounding like a screw being tightened, "Just like you bite into bread when you're hungry, my hands get itchy when I see something loose—it's instinct!

Besides, this mountain fog is like a layer of cotton batting, wrapping the adobe houses tightly; it's warmer than the quilts Grandma Zhang dries in the neighborhood, what do you know?"

"When we arrive, you have to listen to me; we'll find a clean hotel first."

Zhao Kai stuffed the earphone back into his ear, his voice muffled, "Don't get stuck in your tracks the moment you see some scrap metal; the mosquitoes in these mountains are fierce, they can carry a person away alive!"

Chen Jie said to his companion with a playful look.

"Don't worry, you won't starve to death!"

He tossed the leftover apple core backward nonchalantly; the apple core drew a graceful arc in the air and then landed precisely into the trash can.

Chen Jie smiled smugly and continued: "I've got cured meat in my bag; when the time comes, I'll find a stove and steam some rice with this mountain spring water.

The taste, tsk tsk tsk..."

He smacked his lips, as if he could already smell the fragrant rice, "The Spiritual Qi is so rich it can make the scent of the rice waft for three miles; I guarantee that after you eat it, you'll smack your lips and forget all about what the beach looks like!"

After saying this, Chen Jie stood up and walked toward the connection between the carriages.

As he passed the aisle, his toe accidentally kicked an empty bottle, but he was quick-eyed and nimble-footed; with a gentle flick, the bottle seemed to be under a spell, spinning in the air before landing steadily in the trash can.

"Hey, you better watch my braised spice bag for me!"

Chen Jie suddenly turned back and shouted at Zhao Kai, "That's a secret recipe passed down through generations, even more precious than Su Rui's precious computer!

If it gets stolen, I won't forgive you; you'll have to compensate me with ten catties of pig trotters!"

Zhao Kai muttered behind his back: "With that braised spice of yours, it might not even be as fragrant as the free tea bags at the hotel!"

Chen Jie didn't even look back; he just waved his hand casually and shouted loudly: "You'll understand once you've tasted it yourself!

By then, don't act like Wang Lei, hugging the pot and starting to lick it, saying he wants to learn a few tricks to please his wife!"

At this moment, the terraced fields outside the window were like layers of green waves, rolling and undulating, extending all the way into the distance.

Chen Jie narrowed his eyes, gazing at that vibrant green, and a feeling of joy welled up in his heart.

He thought to himself: "This place is truly amazing; it feels even more right than repairing those ten old radios."

The train continued to move slowly forward, the rhythmic grinding sound between the wheels and the tracks sounding as if it were playing a unique piece of music.

And the faint, intermittent sound of cicadas coming from the distance blended into it perfectly, as if someone were humming a tune without a melody, adding a touch of tranquility and remoteness to the entire scene.