Colorful years

His voice boomed like thunder, echoing across the vast playground. Every word he uttered was like a sharp sword, piercing Congcong's heart with unerring precision.

Congcong's face instantly flushed red with shame, so intense he wanted to disappear into the ground. The strange looks from his classmates made him feel even more ashamed, as if he had become the biggest sinner in the world.

Moreover, in addition to the work-study activities during regular labor classes, Principal Luo harbored an even grander plan. He was determined to gather all the junior and senior high school students together and head to Fengqi Mountain in Yuanjiajie to carry out a unique land reclamation and farming activity, sowing the seeds of hope with their own hands.

For Congcong, clearing land and farming was not an insurmountable obstacle. Because, apart from studying, he spent almost every day working, either chopping wood and sweating profusely or carefully tending to the vegetable garden.

Moreover, he had participated in the production team's land reclamation and farming activities, and through his own efforts, he expanded his family's private plot and successfully solved the problem of food shortage.

However, for most students, this strenuous farm work is undoubtedly a formidable challenge.

In the spring of 1975, Congcong had just entered the first year of junior high school. In this season of renewal and vitality, more than 500 teachers and students from junior and senior high schools formed a magnificent procession and marched towards Fengqi Mountain.

Along the way, colorful flags fluttered in the wind, songs rose and fell, and everyone carried endless expectations and beautiful dreams in their hearts.

Under the teacher's careful planning and meticulous arrangements, the students were divided into two groups in an orderly manner. Half of the students shouldered the heavy hoes, while the other half tightly gripped the sharp curved knives.

Phoenix Mountain, located in the Shangping area of ​​Yuanjiajie, is 15 miles from the school. It is a barren mountain that has not yet been developed by humans, full of unknowns and challenges.

From a modern perspective, Fengqi Mountain in spring is undoubtedly a breathtakingly beautiful sight. From afar, Fengqi Mountain in spring resembles a vibrant painting, a truly delightful experience.

As the first gentle spring breeze caresses the mountains, the slumbering earth gradually awakens, and all things burst forth with vibrant life and vitality. Slowly ascending the winding mountain path, tender green grass lies beneath your feet, dotted with colorful wildflowers that exude a refreshing fragrance. The trees along the roadside also sprout tender green buds, shimmering in the sunlight, as if draping the entire forest in a verdant veil.

Reaching the summit, one can gaze into the distance and take in the panoramic view of the rolling mountains. The distant peaks, shrouded in mist, appear and disappear amidst the clouds, creating a breathtakingly beautiful scene, like a fairyland.

The villages nestled at the foot of the mountain are scattered in a pleasing, orderly fashion, with wisps of smoke rising from their chimneys, creating a tranquil and peaceful pastoral scene. A spring breeze caresses the face, bringing with it the fragrance of flowers and the earthy aroma, allowing one to deeply feel the beauty and warmth of nature.

In spring, Fengqi Mountain is also a paradise for animals. In the lush forests, you can clearly hear the clear and melodious songs of birds and see squirrels jumping and playing happily on the branches.

At the foot of the mountain, fish swim freely in the stream, their reflections shimmering and sparkling. In spring, Fengqi Mountain is brimming with the breath and vitality of life.

However, the teachers and students were not on a sightseeing trip to enjoy the scenery, but rather to shoulder the important task of reclaiming wasteland for farming. Moreover, living in a mountainous area, they were used to seeing endless mountains every day and had long since become accustomed to the beautiful scenery before them.

When they came into close contact with and attempted to transform the mountainous area, the reality they experienced was quite different from their initial expectations.

When they stepped into this desolate mountain area, they truly understood its desolation and bleakness.

The weeds grew wildly and densely, as if they had laid a thick green carpet on the ground; the shrubs spread wildly and intertwined with each other, forming natural barriers that were difficult to cross.

And those sharp, thorny brambles, like menacing monsters, blocked their path. However, faced with such a harsh environment, the teachers and students did not back down.

The teacher took the lead, setting an example by leading the students, who were armed with machetes, bravely into the overgrown area. They wielded their machetes, vigorously cutting down weeds, shrubs, and those daunting thorns.

With a series of crisp snapping sounds, clumps of haphazardly cut plants fell and piled up like mountains. Then, the students worked together to gather the felled vegetation together, piling it into small hills of grass.

Finally, a fire was set ablaze on the haystacks, and the raging flames instantly turned them into fertile ash. This ash will become excellent fertilizer for planting corn, providing ample nutrients for the crops to grow.

As the fire gradually died down and the embers were still warm, the students carrying hoes immediately began to dig.

They raised their hoes high and dug into the ground with all their might. One stroke, two strokes... each hoe stroke brought up a large chunk of hard soil, laying a solid foundation for the subsequent planting work.