Mountains and giant beasts, cabins in the woods

The damp, earthy scent mingled with the freshness of grass—this is the smell of spring. The babbling brook mingled with the chirping of birds—this is the sound of spring.

A man and a woman sat comfortably on the rounded carapace of a tortoise; the strangely shaped tortoise strolled leisurely through the early spring forest.

The melting snow and ice have dampened the soil, making the black earth somewhat muddy. Tender green shoots push aside last year's withered leaves, growing strong and healthy in the sunlight.

Liu Xingmo took off his thick coat and couldn't help but shout, "Ah! I'm free!"

"You get excited every spring, haven't changed in all these years," Su Mali smiled faintly.

As you walk along the birch-lined avenue and through the vast forests, the entire Midtown awakens from winter.

People were busy going into the mountains to plow the fields in the spring, some carrying hoes, others carrying shoulder poles. Some even climbed ladders up buildings to repair roofs that had been battered by wind and snow all winter.

Bao Hei stepped onto the stone-paved road and squeezed into the bustling street.

Among the densely packed little people, there were also a few hairy big guys, some pulling carts, some carrying goods, and occasionally passing by other big guys at narrow intersections.

Following his memory, Liu Xingmo found the only movie theater in the entire city.

It was located on the edge of town, with a lower section consisting of a grandstand made of bricks and wood, and an upper section of tents made of animal hides and bamboo poles. The interior was very spacious and could accommodate hundreds of spectators.

Liu Xingmo and his wife got off the turtle's back and walked hand in hand toward the ticket booth.

"I'm sorry, sir! We're closed for renovations right now," the employee said apologetically.

Sumali frowned: "So sudden? There was no prior announcement."

"The animal hide ceiling was soaked by water and exposed to the sun, and it suddenly cracked last night. We have already called a construction team, and if everything goes smoothly, we can still show a movie tonight."

"What a pity, we'll come back to see it later." Su Mali took her husband's hand. "Let's go, Xingmo."

"Okay, let's go to a restaurant nearby for dinner. I want to see how the construction team works."

……

The tall, straight cedar trunk has been carved out into the interior, creating layers of houses with beautiful windows and viewing balconies, making the whole structure resemble a pagoda.

This is the Metasequoia Restaurant, one of the tallest treehouses in the city.

Liu Xingmo reserved a private room on the upper floor and ordered a table full of delicious dishes.

Stewed forest frogs, steamed river shrimp, deep-fried willow root fish, cold dandelion salad...

Springtime is not a season of abundant resources, but the freshness of wild game is unparalleled.

After eating stale grains and cured meat all winter, we can finally have a proper feast.

After eating and drinking to our hearts' content, we took a short rest.

The spring sunlight streamed in through the window, bright but not glaring. Inside the cedar house, the wooden floor, bearing the marks of time, radiated a warm, comforting scent that made one feel drowsy.

Liu Xingmo lay on the sofa in the private room and fell asleep without realizing it.

A long time passed.

The sound of "thump! thump! thump!" was like a giant boulder falling from a mountaintop to the earth, its vibrations spreading in all directions.

Liu Xingmo was awakened by the noise.

He sat up from the sofa, covered with a thin blanket.

He turned his head and saw Sumali flipping through an old book in the sunlight.

He rubbed his face, stood up, and walked to the viewing balcony.

White sunlight streamed down from the sky, illuminating the nearby river, the distant mountains, and even the entire world. A cool breeze brushed against my face, carrying with it the hustle and bustle of the market.

Liu Xingmo squinted, holding onto the bamboo railing with both hands, standing on the wooden balcony with the bark of the cedar tree sticking out.

In the distance, the massive building under the blue sky and white clouds had been completely overturned. The tent covering the cinema had been removed, leaving the complex frame shimmering in the sunlight.

Tiny workers, secured by ropes, walked between thick bamboo pipes, repairing damaged areas. Tall raccoons, with their short legs supporting their bodies, used their front paws to carry the workers up and down the stairs.

This is the construction team? They're much more professional than the small workshops that maintain residential wooden houses.

Liu Xingmo stood in the cedar tree house, watching with great interest as the workers repaired the beams and pillars.

Building houses is actually a very interesting thing, and you can never get tired of watching it.

Before we knew it, the sun had set, but the repair work was still ongoing. Some time later, the moon was high in the sky.

Inside the huge movie theater, workers worked overtime with lanterns lit, and finally renovated the roof.

This trendy new theater, nestled in a mountain town, lights up its neon sign, casting colorful glows in the dark night.

Groups of children ran over, gazing intently at the wondrous colors, before laughing and playing as they left.

Liu Xingmo and Su Mali returned to the movie theater.

Liu Xingmo took out two silver coins, each worth 100, and slapped them on the counter: "Boss, two tickets!"

"My esteemed guest... I didn't expect you to come so late." The middle-aged man in a suit and top hat accepted the two silver coins, his gentlemanly mustache twitching. "In that case, I'll make a special screening for you. Just tell me what you'd like to see. You've booked the entire theater tonight."

Sumali quickly said, "I want that newest film."

The middle-aged man handed over two bills: "You have a good eye! This film, 'Snow Mountain Swordsman,' was produced by the Yin Kingdom at great expense. They even hired a fifth-level swordsmanship master as the lead actor, perfectly recreating the original plot."

"The Snow Mountain Swordsman!" Liu Xingmo exclaimed in surprise. "This was even made into a movie? Wasn't it a banned book?"

"Sir, you know quite a lot! Hehehe..." The middle-aged man reached out and tugged at the slightly curled corner of his mustache. "The government bans books, not movies."

"Is this even possible? That damned court is just a bunch of incompetent officials holding positions without doing their jobs."

"Don't say that. We all hope this story can be presented in another form. After all, it's something our village is very proud of..."

As the middle-aged man finished speaking, he raised his eyelids and made out the young man in the dim light.

"Oh dear! How rude of me. I didn't expect to see you here. Please allow me to offer you two bottles of cheap wine to celebrate this wonderful evening."

"Thank you, let's begin." Liu Xingmo reached out and took the two glass bottles, then pulled his wife into the theater.

A small incandescent bulb illuminates a vast space.

Proceed in the dim light and find a good seat facing the screen.

Liu Xingmo sat on a wooden chair covered with a red velvet carpet, and Su Mali sat to his right.

"Mary, you brought me to see this movie on purpose, didn't you?" Liu Xingmo said calmly.

"Hehe, let's enjoy your wonderful story together!" Su Mali placed her left hand on her husband's right hand, gripping his large, well-defined hand tightly. "Xingmo, you're not allowed to run away! You have to stay and watch it with me until the end."

"This kind of thing... it's like public humiliation!" Liu Xingmo said through gritted teeth. "It's like being called upon by the teacher to read an article aloud in school. Isn't that embarrassing?"

"Why? So many people have already read your book!"

"What does it have to do with me that they saw it? I wasn't even there!"

"Now that you're here, you'd better answer my questions carefully!" Sumali covered her mouth and chuckled.

Liu Xingmo slumped resignedly into his chair.