Colorful years

In the vast countryside, the people have a vivid proverb that goes: "The weather in February and August is like a shrew's face, changing in an instant."

That's absolutely true! You know, chopping or gathering firewood in the mountains is no different from any other experience in life; it's impossible for every day to be sunny and clear!

Sometimes, just when you've finally made it to the top of the mountain, or are on your way back, a sudden gale-force wind starts howling, followed by lightning and thunder, and then a torrential downpour begins as if it's free!

When you encounter weather like this, you can only blame your bad luck and end up soaking wet.

One morning, our protagonist Congcong was thinking to himself that he had carefully observed the celestial phenomena last night and was convinced that it would definitely not rain today.

So, full of confidence, he embarked on his journey to Zhaiyu to chop firewood.

Who would have thought that just as he was painstakingly binding the chopped firewood into a bundle and preparing to carry it home, the sky suddenly burst into a torrential downpour without any warning, as if someone had poked a huge hole in it!

Now Congcong was in a dilemma: should he quickly find a place to shelter from the wind and rain and wait until the rain stopped before carrying the firewood home; or should he simply leave the firewood he had worked so hard to chop here and run home?

If we choose the former, we can keep the hard-earned fruits of our labor—firewood—but the problem is, nobody knows when the rain will stop! If it delays us too long, we'll definitely be late for school and will inevitably get a severe scolding from the teacher.

But if you choose the latter, although it's a pity to have to give up the firewood you've already chopped, at least you can find a place to take shelter from this sudden downpour. After the rain subsides a bit, you can run all the way home, and that way you should be able to make it to school on time and avoid any trouble because you're late.

No, we absolutely cannot just throw away the fruits of our hard work! And how can we accept being late for class or skipping school because of these difficulties?

Thinking of this, Congcong gritted his teeth and made up his mind. He took a deep breath, then forcefully adjusted the load of firewood on his shoulder to a comfortable position, and plunged headfirst into the torrential rain without hesitation.

Large raindrops pelted down on Congcong, soaking his clothes instantly, but he paid no heed.

The road beneath his feet had become muddy and difficult to walk, requiring more effort than usual with each step, but Congcong still strode forward with determination, heading towards the school.

The wind howled and tried to blow him down, but Congcong stood firmly in the wind and rain like a tenacious sapling.

The roads were slippery from the rain, and it was easy to slip and fall. Even though Congcong was being careful, he still slipped and fell in a muddy spot.

He lost his balance and fell heavily to the ground, a sharp pain shooting through his knees and hands.

The muddy water instantly soaked his clothes, and mixed with sweat, making him feel extremely uncomfortable.

Congcong frowned in pain, but he did not give up. He knew that he was at a critical moment, and any retreat would mean failure.

He rubbed his knees and hands hard, trying to ease the pain. Then, he took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, and struggled to his feet, supporting himself with his hands on the ground.

His bundle of firewood scattered all over the ground when he fell, the firewood rolling everywhere in the mud. Congcong didn't bother to check his injuries, but quickly bent down and picked up the firewood one by one, then tied it up again.

The rain relentlessly lashed at him, but his movements remained exceptionally firm, without the slightest hesitation.

After retying the firewood bundle, Congcong's shoulders trembled slightly from the weight, but he didn't stop walking. He took a deep breath, adjusted his posture, and continued walking towards the school.

The muddy road made every step a challenge, forcing him to carefully find solid footing. Even so, he would slip from time to time, his body teetering on the brink of collapse. But each time, he managed to regain his footing with sheer willpower and continue onward.

The wind continued to howl, and the rain continued to pour, but Congcong's eyes were only on what lay ahead. He had only one belief in his heart: he had to get home before school started, and he couldn't give up because of these difficulties.

Just as Congcong was struggling forward, he suddenly heard a series of hurried footsteps. He looked up and saw a figure in a raincoat running towards him.

The figure drew closer and closer, and Congcong finally recognized it as his neighbor, Grandpa Li.

When Grandpa Li saw Congcong struggling to walk in the rain, he quickly called out, "Congcong, what's wrong with you? Why are you standing here in the rain all by yourself?"