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墨書 Inktalez
From Zhu Shan Bay to Osmanthus Primary School, there is approximately a two-mile journey.
Every day, we had to measure this road with our tender little feet. In spring and autumn, we wore thin cloth shoes; in winter, we wore cotton shoes; and in summer, we went barefoot. If it rained, students from well-off families would wear rain boots; as for me, regardless of spring, summer, or autumn, I mostly went barefoot, and only during rainy winters could I enjoy the precious rain boots.
Considering the conditions of the small village in the mountains, this road was already the best one at that time. However, even this best road was filled with dangers and obstacles.
I usually divide this road into several sections:
The first section is from my home to the edge of Shuikou Mountain. I have to walk along two Field Ridges and pass through the ancient Zhu Shan Bay courtyard. This is a path I have known since childhood; I could walk it with my eyes closed. The only hazards are the occasional thorns hidden among the litter that can prick or cut my feet, making it the easiest part of the journey. However, my new home was originally chosen across the street, so this extra hundred meters feels like a burden, and I can't help but harbor some resentment towards those who forced my family to change our residence.
The second section begins at the pond by Shuikou Mountain, where I climb over the ridge between the mountain and the garden center to reach the banks of the ancient Qingjiang River. This part has two major obstacles. First, during heavy rain, the ridge between the old courtyard and the mountain becomes completely submerged, making the path invisible. I can only rely on memory to wade through the water; especially at the Canal in the middle of the ridge, where there are only two or three logs forming a makeshift bridge, and sometimes just a single log bridge that makes everyone walk with trepidation. The second obstacle is the ridge across from my courtyard. Although not very high, it is particularly steep and scattered with stones, which do not form a proper stone path. Therefore, it becomes slippery and unstable during rain or snow.
One winter, when heavy snow was falling, my father couldn't help but worry as he sent me across this ridge. We started by holding hands and walking slowly, but as time was running short, he decided to carry me on his back while I held onto a smoked platter meant for warming by the fire. He tried to hurry across but slipped on the ridge and fell hard, sending the smoked platter flying far away. I was bundled up in a thick cotton coat and was fine, but my father ended up bleeding from his mouth and had bruises on his face from protecting me. I can't recall how I made it to school afterward; all I remember is that fleeting moment when we were wrestling with fate on that ridge.
The third section follows the Qingjiang River to the dam. This stretch of road, a mixture of yellow mud and some gravel, can be likened to a highway on our way to school. It is about a meter wide, allowing us to chase and play freely, as long as we are careful not to fall into the small stream beside it. Even if we do tumble in, it's not a big deal; as long as it hasn't rained heavily, the water won't even reach our knees, adding a touch of refreshing fun.
In the fourth section, there are two options: one is to continue upstream along the Qingjiang River to the stone hill corner near the New House, cross the stone arch bridge, and take the main road into the school gate; the other is to go directly over the dam and take the small path through the fields to the side entrance of the school. We usually choose the second option, as it saves us three to five minutes.
At the dam, our platoon has organized a manual construction of a small barrier to divert the stream's water for irrigation of fertile fields. To manage the flow, the dam isn't built too high; when there's a lot of water, it nearly floods everything, leaving only a few stepping stones for us to cross. Below is the rushing water, and we have to jump from one stone to another. Although it only takes two or three jumps to reach the other side, it still poses a challenge for us.
Walking on the small paths in the fields, there is a danger. Because the ridges in the fields were formed a long time ago, some places have deep mud. When there are no crops in the fields, we like to take shortcuts and walk directly through the middle of the paddy fields. We often get our feet stuck in the mud and can't pull them out. Getting our clothes dirty is not a big deal, as everyone has to wear them for ten days or more before they can be changed. The big problem is if we ruin our shoes. At that time, shoes were precious, and if they were damaged, we would definitely get scolded and beaten when we got home.
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