Colorful years

As dawn broke and the first hint of light appeared in the east, Grandpa got up. He saw Congcong still fast asleep. Grandpa smiled gently, reached out and softly shook Congcong's shoulder, saying softly, "Congcong, wake up!"

Congcong rubbed his sleepy eyes and mumbled, "Grandpa, why are you waking me up so early?" Grandpa smiled and said, "We're going to Shentang Bay today to visit your dad who's digging gourds there. Get up!"

Upon hearing the words "visiting Daddy in Shentang Bay," Congcong immediately perked up. After all, Shentang Bay was a mysterious place, and he hadn't seen his father for many days.

He quickly got out of bed, dressed, and followed his grandfather out of the room.

Grandpa went into the kitchen, heated up the leftovers from last night, put them in a bowl, and brought them out to the table.

After Congcong finished washing up, the grandfather and grandson sat at the table and enjoyed their breakfast.

After finishing their meal, Grandpa packed a bag of lunch for the journey, took a sand knife, and put a pumpkin in his basket. With these simple belongings on his back, the grandfather and grandson embarked on their journey to Shentang Bay.

Diaolan Village is not too far from Shentang Bay, but it's not close either; the distance is more than 30 kilometers.

Along the way, they needed to traverse dense forests, climb towering peaks, and walk along rugged mountain paths.

First, they had to pass through Yejipu and Xiangzhixi, then cross Balipo to reach Yuanjiajie.

Next, they will travel along the narrow mountain paths, passing through Zhongping and Xiaping, and finally arrive at Shentangwan at the foot of Tianzi Mountain.

The mountains are enchanting in late autumn.

The leaves on the trees covering the mountains and fields were dyed in a riot of colors, red like fire and yellow like gold, creating a beautiful picture.

The mountain air is fresh and invigorating. Sunlight filters through the leaves, creating dappled patterns of light and shadow that are warm and inviting.

It is about three kilometers from Diaolan Village to the foot of Balipo, the source of Xiangzhi Creek.

The road is relatively flat, and although it is not wide, it is still easy to walk on.

Congcong skipped and hopped behind his grandfather, curiously observing everything around him and occasionally letting out exclamations of surprise.

However, things changed when they started climbing Balipo.

The steep terrain made every step a challenge for them. The mountain path wound its way up, sometimes clinging to the cliff face, where a slight misstep could lead to a fall; at other times it was blocked by thickets of thorny bushes, requiring them to carefully navigate through to avoid being scratched.

The grandfather and grandson climbed upwards with great difficulty, proceeding cautiously along the way, and finally arrived at the Great Rock House.

Despite the cool breeze in the mountains, the grandfather and grandson were still panting and drenched in sweat.

Grandpa looked at his grandson's flushed face and said with heartache, "Congcong, let's rest here for a while." Congcong nodded, plopped down on the ground, and gasped for breath.

The Great Rock House is a naturally formed stone house that not only provides shade but also shelter from wind and rain, serving as a resting place for travelers.

Here, the slope is only three miles away from the summit.

Above the rock hut, there is a narrow walkway clinging tightly to the steep rock face. It allows people to slowly climb up from one side of the hut and stand on it to overlook the beautiful scenery below.

A portrait of Chairman Mao is carved on the stone wall in the middle of the plank road. Whenever someone comes here, they come to pay homage to this great leader with reverence, hoping to draw strength from him to overcome nature and themselves.

From a young age, Congcong was influenced by his family environment and developed a simple and profound respect for Chairman Mao.

He was incredibly excited to be able to see Chairman Mao's portrait on a rock face in the middle of nowhere.

He stood up, took his grandfather's hand, and together they walked toward the portrait of Chairman Mao.

When he climbed to the middle of the boardwalk and saw Chairman Mao's kind and smiling face, his fatigue instantly vanished.

Opposite the rock house stands a majestic mountain peak, piercing the clouds with imposing grandeur.

Looking up from the foot of the mountain, a winding and precipitous plank road is built along the mountainside, like a giant dragon coiling among the peaks. Following this plank road, one can ascend step by step to the summit.

Grandpa pointed to the mountain peak and said to Congcong, "Child, this mountain is called Black Dragon Village. Legend has it that a black dragon once lived here, hence the name. Moreover, before liberation, this place was occupied by a group of bandits! But now it has become a beautiful scenic spot in our area."

Upon hearing this, Congcong's eyes gleamed with curiosity, eager to climb to the top of the mountain and find out for himself. The grandfather and grandson rested for a short while, and about fifteen minutes later, they got up again and continued climbing the mountain.