Colorful years

Congcong walked along the winding path, crossing fields of rice paddies shimmering with golden light.

In the rice paddies, the heavy ears of rice humbly bow their heads, as if paying the most sincere respect to the upcoming harvest season.

Looking into the distance, the lush green meadow on the riverbank and beach comes into view. It is a paradise where cattle graze leisurely, and it is also the destination that Congcong longs for today.

He took a deep breath of the fresh, invigorating air, a blend of the rich fragrance of grass and the deep, earthy scent that soothed his soul and quickened his pace. Before long, he stood on the riverbank.

The scene before him was breathtaking: herds of cattle leisurely grazed on the grass, some bowing their heads to savor the tender green grass, others strolling about contentedly, and occasionally raising their heads to moo a few times, their calls seemingly filled with endless joy and satisfaction.

Congcong looked around and began to carefully search for traces of cow dung. He clearly remembered that his mother had told him earnestly that cow dung was an indispensable treasure for farmers, as it could nourish the land as fertilizer and provide valuable heat when burned, making it an essential resource in rural life.

So he widened his eyes and meticulously searched every inch of grass for the dried cow dung.

Sunlight filters through the gaps in the leaves, dappling the ground and creating patches of light and shadow.

Congcong weaved through the interplay of light and shadow, occasionally bending down to deftly scoop up clumps of cow dung with a dung rake and carefully place them into a dustpan.

His movements were skillful and nimble, and in no time, the dustpan was filled with heavy cow dung.

Although collecting cow dung was a bit arduous, Congcong enjoyed it immensely, savoring every moment of close contact with nature and feeling the fulfillment and joy that labor brought.

Every time he successfully picked up a pile of cow dung, he would feel an indescribable sense of accomplishment.

As time went by and the sun rose higher, fine beads of sweat appeared on Congcong's forehead.

However, he did not stop working, but continued to work diligently. He knew that only by putting in hard work could he reap great rewards.

While collecting cow dung, Congcong also encountered several classmates who were also working hard. They greeted each other warmly and shared their work experiences and gains.

From them, Congcong learned that some of his classmates had already collected several piles of cow dung, almost filling their baskets. This made him realize that he had to work even harder.

The grassland on the riverbank stretched out endlessly, where herds of cattle roamed freely. Congcong walked along the riverbank, stopping from time to time to pick up the cow dung scattered on the grass.

Sometimes, he would encounter cow dung that was difficult to pick up. In such cases, he would patiently use a dung rake to gently stir it until he could pick it up completely.

During the work, Congcong also discovered an interesting phenomenon: the shape and size of cow dung varied. Some were round like balls, some were oval like eggs, and some had irregular shapes.

He observed the cow dung with curiosity, trying to find a pattern. However, after much thought, he reluctantly concluded that the shape and size of cow dung depended entirely on the cow's digestive system and excretion habits, and were simply unpredictable.

Although collecting cow dung was a somewhat monotonous and tedious job, Congcong found endless joy in it.

As he worked, he admired the surrounding scenery. The grass on the riverbank was lush and green, and the distant mountains rose in layers, like a beautiful painting.

Congcong was so engrossed in the picturesque scenery that he completely forgot about the fatigue from his work.

After some time, Congcong's dustpan was filled with heavy cow dung. He looked at his work with satisfaction, his heart filled with pride and joy.

He knew that this cow dung would contribute to his production team and also bring him honor.

So Congcong stood up, gently patted the dust off his clothes, and began his journey home. He retraced his steps, humming a little tune all the way, feeling exceptionally cheerful.

The sunlight shone on him, bathing him in a golden glow, as if it were the best reward for his hard work.

When Congcong got home, he emptied the cow dung from the dustpan into the yard. His mother smiled with satisfaction when she saw the result of his labor.

She praised Congcong as a hardworking and capable child and encouraged him to continue his efforts.

After hearing his mother's words, Congcong felt very happy, as if he had eaten a sweet candy.

From then on, Congcong insisted on going to the riverbank and river beach to collect cow dung every day after school.

He gradually mastered the skills and methods of collecting cow dung, and his work efficiency greatly improved. Every time he returned home, he would see his mother's satisfied smile and approving gaze, which strengthened his determination to continue working hard.

While collecting cow dung, Congcong also made many new friends. Some were classmates, and some were neighborhood children. They worked together, chatted, shared their joy and harvest, and spent many wonderful times together.

Congcong felt the friendship and warmth that came from working, which made him love his job even more.

One day, Congcong encountered a tricky problem while collecting cow dung. He found a large pile of cow dung, but because of its irregular shape and remote location, he couldn't lift it with a dung rake. Congcong tried several times without success, which made him somewhat frustrated.

Just as he was about to give up, a familiar figure appeared in his line of sight.

It turned out to be his good friend Xiaoming. Seeing Congcong's predicament, Xiaoming immediately came over to help.

He picked up the manure rake and, together with Congcong, lifted up the stubborn clump of cow dung.

The two looked at each other and smiled, their hearts filled with indescribable joy and a sense of accomplishment.