Colorful years

Writing poetry to express feelings is not merely the flow of words, but also the outpouring of emotions from the depths of the heart; it is a silent yet deeply moving farewell ceremony.

However, before this, Congcong had already completed a real and profound behavioral farewell to his childhood.

Whenever his eyes fell upon the simple furnishings, the dilapidated walls, and his parents' slightly hunched bodies from years of hard work, Congcong's young heart would be deeply pierced.

He knew all too well the hardships his parents endured every day as they struggled to make a living, and their exhaustion and helplessness pained him deeply. So, from a very young age, Congcong secretly prayed that time would pass quickly so that he could grow up fast and soon provide a small haven for his family.

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, Congcong has grown into a handsome twelve-year-old boy.

He understood that now was the time for him to step forward and share some of the family burden with his parents.

With this firm belief and determination, during the summer vacation of his fifth grade, Congcong resolutely embarked on his journey of youthful experience.

That year, in order to create a slightly better living and learning environment for his children, the father gritted his teeth and applied to the production team to take on a side job digging gourds in Heilong Valley.

It's important to know that Heilong Valley is no ordinary place. Located at the border of Dayong County and Sangzhi County, it sits precisely in the northwest corner of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and Tianzi Mountain Scenic Area. From Diaolan Village, where they live, it's a journey of about fifteen li (approximately 7.5 kilometers) to get there!

Legend has it that in ancient times, an incredibly powerful black dragon engaged in a fierce battle with other giant beasts in this place. In the end, the black dragon perished, and its enormous body fell onto this land. Over the long course of time, it transformed into a deep and treacherous valley, which has since been known as Black Dragon Valley.

The Black Dragon Valley is covered with lush forests, including many primeval forests untouched by humans. The towering ancient trees seem to pierce the sky.

As people step into this valley, the dense forest immediately blocks out the sky, leaving only slivers of light that struggle to penetrate through the gaps in the branches and leaves, making the entire valley appear exceptionally eerie and terrifying.

At noon that day, the scorching sun hung high in the sky like a blazing fireball, relentlessly baking the earth. Twelve-year-old Congcong, carrying a full thirty kilograms of rice and some vegetables in jars, walked unsteadily into Black Dragon Valley.

The blazing sunlight filtered through the dense branches and leaves, casting dappled patterns of light and shadow into the valley, adding a touch of mystery to the eerie environment.

The gusts of mountain wind, like the breath of nature, dispersed the sweltering heat in the air. Congcong, who had been drenched in sweat, felt much more refreshed after experiencing this coolness.

However, this was the first time in his life that he had ventured so deep into such a gloomy and terrifying valley, and he had no idea where his father was. After all, in this era, there were no smartphones like those of today to share location information in real time.

Left with no other choice, Congcong could only grit his teeth and carefully take one step at a time, while repeatedly calling out, "Daddy! Daddy! Where are you?"

He desperately hoped that his father could hear his calls and respond promptly so that he could quickly pinpoint his father's location.

And so, Congcong called out again and again, his voice echoing through the valley for a long time.

In fact, he did this not only to find his father, but also to bolster his courage by making noise, trying to dispel the chilling fear that lingered in his heart.

Zhang Zhong was working hard under the scorching sun, his clothes soaked with sweat, but his hands never stopped moving.

Suddenly, a faint shout reached his ears. The voice seemed to come from a distant place, yet it also seemed to be right next to him.

Zhang Zhong's heart tightened, and he stopped what he was doing, listening intently. The shouts were intermittent, somewhat muffled in the breeze. However, thanks to his familiarity with and concern for his son, he vaguely sensed that it seemed to be his son Congcong's voice.

So Zhang Zhong put down his digging knife and focused intently on discerning the sound. As time passed, the sound grew clearer and clearer, until he finally confirmed that the increasingly urgent shouts were indeed his son Congcong calling out!

Unable to contain his anxiety any longer, Zhang Zhong shouted at the top of his lungs, "Congcong, don't be afraid, Daddy is here to get you!" His shout echoed through the valley, startling a flock of birds.

Then, without hesitation, he strode down the valley to meet his beloved son, Congcong.