Chapter 53: The Ginkgo Tree
Starting around the twenty-something day of the twelfth lunar month, Changchuan County began to feel very festive.
Ying Kongtu’s home was halfway up the mountain, counted among the highest residences in all of Changchuan County.
Even so, when they were at home, they could still hear scattered firecrackers from time to time.
Among the furry creatures at home, none were afraid of firecrackers except Jingwei.
Jingwei lived and ate with the mountain god, and had grown very well, but in truth, it was still a young wolf not yet one year old.
It had never heard such dense firecracker sounds before. At first, it was so frightened that it kept hiding under the chair. Later, once it got used to the sounds, it curiously pricked up its ears and tracked where the noises came from.
“Jingwei, you’re here again?” Ying Kongtu looked at the way it crouched by the courtyard gate, poking its head around, and gently stroked its wolf head.
It turned its round wolf head and softly went, “Ying.”
Ying Kongtu stroked it two more times. “Go play.”
With the New Year approaching, Ying Kongtu and Wen Zhongshan were busy sweeping away dust, washing household items, and replacing bedding and nests.
The weather had been excellent these past few days, and even the temperature had risen quite a bit. It was perfect for washing and sunning things.
Ying Kongtu and Wen Zhongshan cleaned both houses and replaced all kinds of old items with new ones.
The two houses instantly became extraordinarily cozy, and even the air was filled with the scent of detergent.
Now, only the furry ones had yet to be refreshed.
Wen Zhongshan asked, “Should we take them to a pet shop for a bath?”
“No. Dart might be fine, and Jingwei could pass too, but Tiaozhu and Xian Niao definitely won’t.”
Ying Kongtu turned his head and glanced at Dart, who was sprawled out in the courtyard under the sun, sleeping in all directions.
It was New Year. Not bathing definitely would not do.
Ying Kongtu thought for a moment. “Why don’t we find a hot spring deep in the mountains?”
“There’s a hot spring nearby?”
“There is deep in the mountain forest. It’s very far. We need to drive there. It’s inside the villages.”
Ying Kongtu tilted his head slightly and leaned closer to Wen Zhongshan. “A few hundred years ago, I sometimes went deep into the mountains to soak in the hot spring. I checked a few days ago. That hot spring is still there now.”
“Did you soak alone?”
“Sometimes I soaked with friends too.” A smile appeared in Ying Kongtu’s eyes. “Back then, my divine power was deep. Traveling a thousand li (1 li = 500m) in a day was easy, much more convenient than now.”
Wen Zhongshan looked at him gently. “You must have had many friends back then.”
Ying Kongtu had not expected him to answer like this. A nostalgic expression appeared on his face, and he reached out to wrap an arm around him.
Wen Zhongshan gently patted Ying Kongtu’s back.
Ying Kongtu announced this news at home.
Tiaozhu looked a little disdainful. Dart sneakily retreated, cat-like. Jingwei understood nothing and only opened its clear, bright eyes wide.
In the end, Wolf King Xian Niao agreed. “Awooo.”
On the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, a bright and breezy day, Ying Kongtu and Wen Zhongshan drove the four furry creatures deep into the mountains to bathe.
Ying Kongtu had even specially brought strawberries, blueberries, and watermelon, the three kinds of fruit that all the furry creatures could eat, along with a big pile of dried meat.
He directly turned the outing for baths into a picnic.
Washing them deep in the mountains was indeed much more convenient than going to a pet shop.
They drove to the end of the cement road and still had to walk farther in.
This place belonged to an unfamiliar mountain forest. The furry creatures at home had never been here before.
Seeing the scenery here, they could not help running, sniffing, and calling out.
All kinds of “meow meow awooo awooo” sounded out, and there was no need to worry about disturbing anyone.
Ying Kongtu and Wen Zhongshan each carried a basket, one containing food and the other all kinds of supplies.
Seeing how lively the furry creatures were, the two of them were also in a good mood.
When they arrived by the hot spring, this natural hot spring was still flowing water.
Ying Kongtu directed Tiaozhu and Xian Niao to go down first, then Dart and Jingwei followed.
Once they gradually adapted, they soaked in the lower part of the stream and looked at everything before them in wonder.
Ying Kongtu and Wen Zhongshan took out pet shampoo and bath brushes and washed and conditioned their fur one by one.
After washing them clean and drying their fur, they let them go sunbathe on the nearby grass.
The two of them also went into the woods to change into swimming trunks, then went to soak in the deeper pool.
They were both lovers and friends.
Soaking leisurely in the hot spring like this made it feel a little like several hundred years ago.
Before the New Year, after everyone was washed fragrant and soft, and everything that needed doing had been done, celebrating the New Year became much easier.
On New Year’s Eve, Ying Kongtu began preparing the reunion dinner in the morning.
He also invited Wen Zhongshan to bring Dart over for the New Year’s Eve dinner.
As a result, all day long, his house was filled with all kinds of aromas.
Oil-burst shrimp, steamed fish, steamed pork with rice powder, stir-fried cured meat, clear-stewed lamb, chicken soup with mushrooms… The two of them made nine dishes and one soup, taking the auspicious meanings of “long-lasting” and “perfect completeness.”
For today’s dishes, a large portion was taken out before seasonings were added, so all the furry creatures could eat them.
Thus, that night, everyone ate until their bellies were round and full, then lazily stayed in the courtyard watching other people set off fireworks.
“Shall we go out tomorrow?” Ying Kongtu invited him. “I’ll take you to visit an old friend of mine. Tomorrow happens to be the Beginning of Spring, so we can go for a spring outing too.”
“Sure. Should we bring anything?”
Ying Kongtu thought for a moment. “Bring a small piece of Ba Snake fertilizer as a gift?”
The moment Wen Zhongshan heard this, he knew this old friend was a plant friend, probably one who could not move around. “What species is your friend—”
“Secret. You’ll know tomorrow.”
Since Ying Kongtu and Wen Zhongshan were going out, the furry creatures at home naturally wanted to follow.
And so, the whole household of furry creatures was stuffed into the back seat of the car, filling it completely once again.
“We’re going into the mountains behind the scenic area today.” Ying Kongtu sat in the passenger seat and watched Wen Zhongshan drive according to the navigation. “Once we reach the scenic area, we just need to walk a little farther.”
The location Ying Kongtu provided was a ginkgo scenic area.
In this season, the ginkgo leaves had long since fallen. The scenic area was bare and had nothing worth seeing, and there were not many people.
Ying Kongtu took the whole family along a small path, and they soon followed the mountain path into the mountains.
There were also many ginkgo trees growing on this mountain, mixed among the other bare trees, not very eye-catching.
“That’s the ginkgo tree.” Ying Kongtu pointed from afar at the tallest, largest ginkgo tree in the forest. “My friend. Over five thousand years old already, though most of the time, she’s asleep.”
Wen Zhongshan looked up, and the furry creatures also sat crouched on the ground, all raising their heads in unison.
A living being over five thousand years old was truly awe-inspiring.
Ying Kongtu walked over and reached out to pat the trunk.
This giant tree had no reaction at all. Even the red silk hanging on it did not sway.
Ying Kongtu had no choice but to stretch out his hand and slap the trunk hard.
This time, the tree shook. The trunk trembled with a rustling sound.
“Who?!” the great ginkgo tree shouted. It was the clear, bright voice of a young woman. “Who hit me?”
She spoke in an ancient accent, and in the local dialect too.
Ying Kongtu skillfully switched into the local dialect. “Me, the mountain god Ying Kongtu.”
“Ying Kongtu!” The great ginkgo tree was deeply moved, and even her crown turned slightly. “You really came to see me?”
“Yes. I’ve awakened now, so I can fulfill the promise I made back then and plant a few ginkgo trees on the mountain.”
“That’s wonderful!” The great ginkgo tree shook her trunk. “Do you want seeds or seedlings? There are three-year-old seedlings under my tree. If you transplant them back, in another ten or so years, they’ll be able to bloom and bear fruit.”
As she spoke, the great ginkgo tree’s trunk began to move, and the roots underneath also shifted. It looked like she was about to pry up the young ginkgo seedlings growing under the tree and give them to Ying Kongtu.
Ying Kongtu was shocked and hurriedly reached out to stop her trunk. “Wait!”
“It’s fine. I have plenty of seedlings here. Even if I give them to you, I still have more.” The great ginkgo tree said warmly.
“It’s not about whether you still have more. It’s that digging up your seedlings now is illegal!”
“Ah? Oh.” The great ginkgo tree muttered, “What exactly have humans been telling you? You even worry about this.”
“You wild ginkgoes are national first-class protected plants. If I don’t worry about it, I’ll be arrested and locked up by humans after New Year.”
“All right, then. Seeds should be fine, right? Dig under my feet. I’ve saved lots of good seeds.”
“Even that isn’t necessary. Just give me twenty or thirty seeds. I have other trees over there too. I can’t plant too many ginkgoes for now.”
Hearing Ying Kongtu say this, the great ginkgo tree’s roots worked hard to turn the earth, pushing the seeds out. “Here.”
Ying Kongtu crouched down to pick them up. “You ginkgo trees have male and female trees. Remember to give me both male and female seeds.”
The great ginkgo tree said, “Ah, if you hadn’t said it, I almost forgot. The male tree seeds are on the other side. I’ll turn them out for you.”
The great ginkgo tree soon turned out two large piles of seeds. Ying Kongtu carefully selected among them. These seeds were all excellent.
Their vitality was strong, and their quality was also very good.
The great ginkgo tree said proudly, “The best seeds from the past ten years are all here. They’re definitely better than the seeds of my kin on the market.”
As she spoke, the great ginkgo tree asked expectantly, “Can you really not plant more? Ginkgo nuts are delicious.”
“I really can’t. I need to plant other trees on the mountain. If I plant more ginkgo trees, there won’t be space for the other trees to grow.”
“All right.” The great ginkgo tree said regretfully, “You’re going to plant more than thirty trees, right? Then plant thirty-eight. I’ll give you two male seeds and thirty-six female seeds.”
“That works too.”
Ying Kongtu picked thirty-six seeds from the female ginkgo seeds and another two from the male ginkgo seeds.
These thirty-eight seeds were all among the best seeds produced by the great ginkgo tree over the past ten years.
Ying Kongtu was quite satisfied with the quality of this batch of seeds.
After he finished picking, he conveniently buried the Ba Snake fertilizer near the great ginkgo tree’s roots.
The great ginkgo tree sensed it at once and asked curiously, “What did you bury for me? It feels very fertile.”
“Ba Snake fertilizer.” Ying Kongtu smiled and said, “I recently exchanged for a little fertilizer from them, so I brought you a piece as a New Year’s gift.”
“Thank you!” the great ginkgo tree said happily. “I’ve long heard the birds say their fertilizer is especially good. Unfortunately, there was no way to contact them.”
After the man and tree spoke for quite a while, Ying Kongtu said, “I’ll come see you again next time. We’ll head back first.”
“So soon?” The great ginkgo tree was reluctant to part. “Stay here a little longer.”
“Next time.” Ying Kongtu smiled. “I’ve already awakened. There will be many chances to meet in the future.”
Only then did the great ginkgo tree stop trying to keep them and only said, “Put the seeds you picked on the ground. I’ll send them something.”
Ying Kongtu placed the thirty-eight seeds on the ground and, according to the great ginkgo tree’s request, took two steps back.
The great ginkgo tree’s roots turned out again, grabbed the seeds, and burrowed underground.
After a while, the great ginkgo tree used her roots to send the seeds back out. These seeds were already wrapped in mud, making them look like little sugar balls.
The great ginkgo tree said somewhat weakly, “All right. Take them and plant them. They’ll grow very well and produce lots of ginkgo nuts for you.”
Ying Kongtu said, “Thank you.”
The great ginkgo tree adjusted herself and then happily said, “No need to be polite. Come see me when you have time.”
As she spoke, she lifted her crown and said to Wen Zhongshan and the group of furry creatures, “You too. You’re welcome to come play here in autumn. The scenery here is wonderful in autumn.”
Wen Zhongshan said, “Thank you.”
Xian Niao answered softly on behalf of the furry creatures. “Awooo.”
After leaving the great ginkgo tree, Ying Kongtu and Wen Zhongshan drove the car downward, taking the furry creatures to play by the river.
There were few people here. The two of them played ball with the furry creatures and let them play with sparklers. Every furry creature had a wonderful time.
When they went back, the furry creatures squeezed into the back seat, sleeping soundly in the air conditioning.
Ying Kongtu turned to look at them, then raised his eyes to Wen Zhongshan and said, “They had such a good time today.”
Wen Zhongshan leaned closer and kissed Ying Kongtu. “I had a very good time too.”
By the time they drove back to Changchuan County, it was already past four in the afternoon.
Today was the first day of the Lunar New Year, and every household was setting off fireworks and firecrackers.
Ying Kongtu smelled a trace of gunpowder smoke and was just about to close the window when he suddenly froze.
Wen Zhongshan immediately noticed and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“My divine power has increased, and my connection to Changchuan County has deepened too.”
Ying Kongtu raised his eyes and looked at the road ahead through the windshield. “Someone worshipped the mountain god today.”
Wen Zhongshan said, “Let’s go take a look.”
Wen Zhongshan drove along the county’s main road toward the riverside.
They saw that the originally small mountain god temple had been swept clean today.
On the earth left in front of the shrine, red candles and incense sticks had been densely inserted. Candle tears had flowed down, like flowers blooming before the mountain god temple.
When they arrived, there were still people carrying baskets of incense, candles, and offerings to worship.
Sitting in the car, Ying Kongtu heard the worshipper praying from afar, “May the mountain god bless us with favorable weather in the new year, peace, and lasting safety…”
Ying Kongtu looked at the person’s back and did not know whether the voice had been carried into the car window by the wind, or directly through the shrine.
He listened seriously until the person finished worshipping and left with the basket.
Watching that person’s back, he said softly, “It certainly will.”
In the new year, he would also do his utmost to protect this land.
“Kongtu?” Wen Zhongshan’s warm palm covered the back of Ying Kongtu’s hand. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.” Ying Kongtu came back to himself and said softly, “I just didn’t expect people to pick up the habit of worshipping the mountain god again.”
“Because the past year went smoothly, and someone had already worshipped before, people easily followed and picked up the custom of worshipping gods again. But I suppose this is only following New Year customs, and there isn’t much faith power?”
“Yes, everyone is just following New Year customs.” Ying Kongtu looked at the shrine. “That’s already very good. At least it’s a very good beginning.”
Wen Zhongshan tightened his hold on Ying Kongtu’s hand. “I think so too. A new year brings new prospects. This year, everything will definitely move in a better direction.”
Their hands clasped tightly together. As they looked at one another, they could not help exchanging another kiss.
The furry creatures in the back seat were still sleeping soundly.
Only Xian Niao noticed a little movement and opened its eyes for a glance.
Seeing that they were kissing, Xian Niao closed its eyes again and continued sleeping.
It had run into these two kissing several times already. Every time, these two never noticed. Awooo.
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, there were not many cars on the main road.
Very soon, the car parked by the roadside turned its headlights back on and smoothly merged into the traffic.
They were going home too.
Author’s Note:
Jingwei follows Dart and also loves wandering around the county.
It even pretends to be a dog and has made a group of good dog friends.
One day, Jingwei went out with its head held high and came back dejected.
“Awooo—awooo—awooowooo!” Jingwei howled desperately at home.
The furry creatures at home listened for a long time and finally understood.
One family had newly raised a Samoyed. Every day, they taught the Samoyed, but it could not learn. They scolded the Samoyed for being a stupid dog and no longer let it out to play.
The Samoyed was locked on the balcony and became a Samo-sigh.
“Awooo! Awooowooo! Awoooowooo awooo!”
Does a little dog have to study that well so it can get into dog academy, become Sheriff Dog, secure a government post, and earn cans?!
Jingwei howled indignantly.
