Fairy couple in Tangxi Valley

Text/Ke Yan

Living in seclusion, that's all. At the foot of the towering mountain of Tangxixia, there is a small restaurant, two people, a cat and a dog. The woman grows flowers and grass, and the man cooks root carvings. At the foot of the mountain, it is a humble small restaurant, which has been like this for decades.

The first time I went with my friends, I just felt that the male boss of the store was lean, diligent, fond of laughing, inarticulate and honest, while the female boss was pungent, smoking, drinking and singing opera generously. When I first went there, the shop was very busy. The stewed chicken smells good all the way. My friends and they are old friends. Because there was no reservation, the hostess cooked us a simple meal, a bowl of wild vegetable noodles and two side dishes, which were very delicious. I was so hungry that I ate all the chopped green onion and ginger on my plate. My friend laughed at me and said that I didn't eat for three days!

I like this small shop not only because it is delicious, but also because I like the shopkeeper who often goes up the mountain to carry some strange stones, as well as some herbs and bonsai he occasionally digs and collects some roots and dead branches in his yard. Just like works of art, I always think that the best art is created by nature. They may never consider themselves artists, but real artists come from life. An ordinary stone has different beauty in different people's eyes. Brother Xinjian can always find unusual stones on the mountain and find their beauty. In this way, when business is not busy, day after day, year after year, we move stones, pick up roots and decorate the yard with extra flavor. Sometimes these things are taken away by diners. I remember once, the yard was full two days ago, and there was nothing on the ground when I went there again. It turned out that a big boss took a fancy to his Shi Gen, found a cart and took it all away.

Sometimes a stone costs 300-500 yuan, and sometimes it costs 200-200 yuan. My sister-in-law thinks it's good to supplement her family once in a while. After all, children in Dashan can only get some gifts from Dashan. Later, my sister-in-law knew that I painted and made pottery, and seemed to think that I was a real artist and became very friendly to me. I also like to stay away from the hustle and bustle of the city occasionally, sit here quietly, feel the different scenery in spring, summer, autumn and winter in front of the mountain, and feel the four seasons. In spring, I will dig bamboo shoots up the mountain with my new brother, pick mushrooms in summer, pick grapes and chestnuts in autumn. Sometimes you will meet pheasants, rabbits and wild boars. Brother Xinjian told me where there are all kinds of trees. Carya cathayensis, tung oil tree and pear tree are the main tree species. All kinds of thorns and shrubs are found all over Shan Ye. Wild flowers, birds, and some wild fruits and mountains that I can't name, have endless surprises and treasures that we can never dig! It is said that the wise Leshan benevolent enjoys water and is a man of great wisdom in mountains and rivers! People who love life like this will naturally make different foods!

Once, I took a fancy to a stone in the yard and wanted to buy it, but my sister-in-law didn't sell it. She said that if you are free, you should go up the mountain with your brother to pick it up. What you find is yours. I know that she is embarrassed to accept money from me for the stone that Xinjian has worked so hard to memorize, and I am embarrassed not to accept money, but it is right to accept money, which is also their hard-earned money.

One day, my brother's business was not busy. My friend and I went up the mountain with him and drove his tricycle on the stone road for more than 20 minutes until we reached the foot of the mountain without a road. We climbed the mountain on foot and met many flowers and plants on the way. There is also a broken walls, where people once lived, and a temple, which exposed a corner of the forest and went up again, probably because of the earthquake or crustal movement. The stones here are particularly unusual. I took a fancy to a big stone and couldn't move it, so I had to give it up. Then Xinjian pointed to a red stone and said it was a water stone. It's time to put it back in my sink to raise calamus. I was so happy that I decided to move myself as soon as I moved. Brother Xinjian and his friends kept looking. I said I was tired. It's good enough to move this stone down the mountain today. This stone weighs fifty or sixty kilograms visually. I thought I could move 100 kg alone when I was in my twenties. There should be no problem with these 50 or 60 kilograms.

I packed the stone with a fish skin bag given by my new brother and carried it down. I couldn't walk after a few steps, so I pulled it instead, so it was only a few hundred meters from where the stone was found to the foot of the mountain. But because there is no road, I am so hard to pull, even pushing and pulling. Because they are still on the mountain, I am embarrassed to ask my friends for help. When I pulled the stone down from the mountain, the whole bag was torn, my hands were worn out, I fell several feet and my clothes were torn. I realized that this stone was only sold for physical strength when it was moved down from the mountain and pulled back. Selling 100 is not expensive at all. Even if it's 200, give me 300, and then let me move, I'll quit. Later, my whole body ached for three days, and I exercised every day! I waited for a long time at the foot of the mountain that day. My new brother and friends came down from the mountain and moved back and forth several times. A small tricycle soon filled up and it was getting dark. I looked at the stone in my hand and was deeply moved. How much time and energy did my new brother spend putting those stones in the yard today? Some stones weigh 1200 Jin, which greatly exceeds his weight, that's all. He is like a mountain bearer, selling not only his own physical strength, but also his love for life and nature. This is the treasure! Sister-in-law said that she felt very comfortable when she saw stones, planed roots and weeds all over the yard, and she felt that there was still hope for this day. There is also a pair of jujube benches in my room, which are newly built and polished. Do root carving when you are free, and put it in a room next door! This is the person who really loves life!

Once I went to my eldest brother's house, and he planted many flowers and plants on the balcony. My eldest brother is also a flower lover. I'm talking about the newly built brother restaurant deep in the mountains of Tangxi Valley. My eldest brother was very interested and asked me to lead the way to visit that day. Later, the eldest brother said that he often took his sister-in-law and his family to eat, and also took people from the unit to eat. It doesn't matter where we eat, but it's special here.

Yesterday, the mountain after the spring rain was like an ink painting. I can't wait to walk into the mountains and see the rape fields in the fog. The rape blossoms are early this year, and I haven't seen them well yet! I also want to meet my newly-built brother and sister-in-law. They didn't come again after the New Year. The yard should be a little different.

From my Yaoyao Zhi Tao studio to Tangxi Gorge, it is the most beautiful highway in Wugang, and each section of scenery is different. Go straight through Tieshan Avenue, and you can see the Jade Emperor Jinding of Erlang Mountain on the opposite side, as if the mountain is in the way, but along Panshan Highway, bypassing Shimantan Dam, it is another scene, turning a small corner, and not going to the east gate of Erlang Mountain for the second time, peach blossoms, pear blossoms and begonia on the roadside. In the direction of Yinji, after Yinji Town, the mountains in the distance show an ink-like level. In the smog, just like a small town in the south of the Yangtze River, we just want to stand quietly and walk in the clouds.

When we walk to Dama City, there is a small intersection in the east to Tangxi Gorge. Although Tangxi Gorge is a scenic spot in Zhumadian, it is separated by a river, and the two places are like a family!

Follow the winding path, cross the bridge and walk to the foot of the mountain in Tangxixia Scenic Area. At the entrance of the mountain is Xinjian's farmhouse, surrounded by mountains, and the store is very quiet. There are no guests at noon and my sister-in-law is taking a lunch break. Brother Xinjian, look at us. Wake my sister-in-law up!

Unfortunately, the yard was empty. It turned out that when the Chinese New Year was fine, all the things that Brother Xinjian got were taken away by others yesterday. Sister-in-law said she didn't care to call us. The azaleas dug for my brother were forcibly taken away by that man yesterday.

There is only a pot of hawthorn and rhododendron bonsai left in the yard, which is said to be reserved for my brother. He also said that he would take my brother up the mountain when he was free and feel the feeling of digging roots in the mountain. I smiled and said that it would be nice for Brother Pang to climb up and down, but I dare not let him move stones, or I will be hurt all over for a month! My brother happily brought cigarettes and wine to my sister-in-law I wanted to stay for dinner. My brother's company is very anxious. My new brother quickly went to the kitchen to prepare some game and a selected chicken. Let's go home and eat simply! Brother Qian Xinjian doesn't want it, so we have to respect it and do it!

Say goodbye to the newly-built brother and sister-in-law, the scenery behind seems more beautiful! Brother Lu also said that he would bring him mutton, chicken and a box of free-range eggs for New Year's play! It is said that the newly-built brother is very practical and his sister-in-law is not bad. He used to be a diner, but now he is a friend! Looking at the distant scenery, my sister-in-law seems to have a hearty laugh in my ear!

I think there are so many fairy couples. I hope the life of fairy couples in Tangxi Gorge will always be so beautiful!

202 1.3.9 night