The social phobia substitute will not dream of the band girl

In the beginning, everyone actually disagreed. After all, the price Pingxin paid for helping them was that he and Nilu were exhausted. But Pingxin also suggested that if they really couldn't hold on, someone else could walk instead. It was better than sitting at a bus stop with nothing there and waiting for half an hour. So everyone reached a consensus.

Some people might ask, what about Miyauchi Renka? Are two people really going to be squeezed onto the back of a bicycle? That's too unsafe. Actually—

"Ohhhh, this brother from Tokyo is so awesome!"

Miyauchi Renka was perched on one of Hirayobu's arms, peering around. She was fascinated by the viewpoints she couldn't normally see, even from a small stool. They rode at top speed, making it from the school to their usual stop in less than an hour.

After arriving at the familiar place, the two people who had spent a lot of energy riding their bikes, the two people who had run for half a day but were only slightly sweating, and Miyauchi Renka who had been enjoying the scenery along the way all began to walk slowly.

"Be careful of the cows crossing here? Are there usually a lot of cows here?" Ping Xin asked when he saw a sign on the side of the road.

"Not only are there cows, but there are also occasional wild boars passing by~"

"Wild boar... is that the kind?"

Pingxin pointed to a small black pig at the bend ahead and said, "Compared to the pink fur of domesticated pigs, wild boars have much harder fur and a much different color." However, judging by the carefree appearance of this piglet, it's likely it frequently comes down from the mountains or is directly domesticated.

There are often reports of wild boars damaging farmland and even charging pedestrians. Compared to the legendary tiger, they are more common in people's lives, at least in many rural areas. They are probably harmful to most humans.

Wild boars are social and omnivorous, eating anything they can find. Plant matter makes up about 90% of their diet. They feed on young leaves, nuts, berries, grass blades, and roots, using their robust snouts to dig roots and bulbs from the ground.

Simply put, they eat plants while also destroying their roots. If they're in large numbers, they'll completely destroy the grass like a flock of sheep. But in Heishin's eyes, they're no different than meat on a plate. Now that I think about it, it seems like I haven't had a full meal in the last few days...

Ping Xin looked at the piglet at his feet, which was not afraid of people and even came up to smell the smell (remaining snacks) and then nudged him. His eyes gradually became sharp. As if sensing a subtle threat, the piglet, which had been a little arrogant just now, suddenly whined and begged for mercy, making friendly sounds to Ping Xin.

"Do you want to touch it?"

“...Ah! Is it okay?” Miyauchi Renka was eager to try.

"Normally, you shouldn't touch me because it could be dangerous, but today, I'm here so it's okay. You don't mind, right?"

Ping Xin squatted down and looked at the shivering pig on the ground with a smile. The latter made a very human "hum~hum~" sound to express its agreement... No matter whether it agreed or not, it agreed now!

"Ah, it's hard and prickly, and it doesn't feel comfortable at all..."

Miyauchi Renka reached out to touch it with great interest, then pulled her hand back in disappointment.

"The back of the Eurasian wild boar is covered with stiff, sparse guard hairs, which are coarse and sparse. The top layer is made up of harder bristles, and underneath is a layer of softer, finer hairs. People who usually keep them bathe them with a brush, which shows that they are not very pleasant to the touch."

Combining teaching with practice and then stimulating children's interest to encourage them to learn actively is the educational method that Pingxin most recommends. According to his personal experience, the knowledge learned under such circumstances will indeed be remembered more clearly and for a longer time.

"Really? Let's try it... Wow, it's so hard and it's not fun to touch. How about Xiao Xiaoju try it too?" Natsumi Koshitani also squatted down and stroked the little black wild boar. The little pig dared not say anything.

"Don't call me Xiao Xiaoju, I'm your sister! By the way...is this really...really okay?...It does seem uncomfortable to touch, is there really anyone who would keep it as a pet?" After seeing that the little wild boar did not resist after being touched by everyone for a long time, Koshigaya Xiaoju bent down and touched it twice.

"Senior Koju, I think they're being raised for food, right?"

"In addition to being used as food, in some places in the West they are also raised in hunting grounds as 'toys'... Okay, let's go~"

Pingxin patted the little wild boar, who then ran off as if granted amnesty after receiving his permission. Who knows, he'll probably complain about this to his family when he gets home. It's quite interesting to think about how he'll react to these terrifying upright apes who "teasing" him.

After unanimously giving it a bad review, everyone headed back to the village, sharing the snacks Heining had brought along. Yes, even after eating so much, they still hadn't finished.

While snacking before meals isn't a good idea, the two cyclists and the two runners needed some energy. Hei Xin had also been craving some barbecue. And for growing children, a little weight gain isn't a big deal; height increases at the same time.

"Ah, it's a rhinoceros beetle!"

Miyauchi Renka, walking beside Hirashin, tugged at his pants and pointed to a tree in the woods beside the road. Looking in the direction she pointed, there was indeed a handsome, shiny black beetle on the tree.

The scientific name of the rhinoceros beetle is Diplodocus rhinoceros. Adults reproduce in large numbers from June to August, giving birth to one generation per year. In the wild, adults live for about a month. Properly bred and raised in captivity, rhinoceros beetles can survive for two to three months, but most die by September.

In Eastern countries, rhinoceros beetles are particularly popular because of their appearance. People believe that the heads of these beetles resemble samurai helmets. Some people even make a living by breeding and selling these handsome insects. Many rural children also use them in insect fighting competitions or to earn pocket money.

Heishin wanted to explain this, but for a child with sparkling eyes like Miyauchi Renka, wouldn't mentioning the eternal topic of death seem too heavy? So he didn't say it out loud. He pointed at the rhinoceros beetle in the tree and asked:

"Want to see it up close?"

"Ah, is it okay?!"

Miyauchi Renka asked excitedly.

Chapter 38: Leisurely Summer Days Part 6

"But wild rhinoceros beetles are very sensitive. How can Pingxin catch one without a net?"

"If not...why not just let it come by itself?" Ping Xin smiled mysteriously.

what?

Even those who had just witnessed Hirayobu's incredible strength couldn't help but wonder: Could someone really be carrying a tool to trap rhinoceros beetles? Everyone waited and watched.

"To be honest... I've been wanting to try it out this late for a long time - now I have the future in my hands!" As Ping Xin raised his right hand high, the handsome black rhinoceros beetle on the tree flew over and landed precisely on Ping Xin's hand, motionless.

"Ah, so cool! I want to come too—I've got the future in my hands now~!" Miyauchi Renka's eyes sparkled as she tried to imitate Hirayobu's words and actions, but to no avail. After all, she wasn't some supernatural being.

Pingxin placed the rhinoceros beetle, which had been resting on his hand, in the middle of the group, and everyone observed it curiously. Most girls were afraid of insects, even the handsome rhinoceros beetle. Therefore, even though there were many insects in the countryside, they had never tried to touch them. Today, however, they had opened their eyes.

Gong Nei Lianhua poked again and again, and as her strength gradually increased, the curiosity in her eyes also gradually grew stronger.

"Oh...can I keep it? Just call it Chocolate!"

As if inspired by the snacks she had just eaten, Miyauchi Renka suddenly came up with this good name. Looking at the rhinoceros beetle in her hand, which was black with a hint of red, Heishin felt that the name was quite appropriate.

"Well...why don't you ask it?"

"'Chocolate', 'Chocolate', can I support you!"

Miyauchi Renka leaned closer, hoping for a positive response. Then the rhinoceros beetle left Hirayuko's hand and returned to the dense forest. Rhinoceros beetles are supposed to be nocturnal, so it was probably near dusk that this early-rising insect had emerged.

"It seems that's not possible... Maybe she went home to see her parents or siblings. Just like Renka-chan, there are people waiting for you at home, right? If you suddenly disappear, your relatives and friends will definitely be sad--" Pingxin touched her head and comforted her.

Unexpectedly, Miyauchi Renka, a first-grader who theoretically should be very emotional, showed no signs of crying. Instead, she began to ponder. Perhaps some children were indeed a little different, but Heishin always treated them all equally, teaching them according to their aptitude.

"Then come sit on my shoulders. Maybe the next rhinoceros beetle will be willing to go home with you. After all, just like everyone has different personalities, so do animals, fish, and insects."

"...Ah, indeed!"

Ping Xin picked her up and placed her on his shoulders. The view from a higher angle than when she was running and sitting on his arms before made her eyes light up. So this is the world of adults...

Along the way, she was eagerly looking for the next rhinoceros beetle to emerge, but unfortunately, she didn't see one in the end. Fate is like the summer that everyone has experienced, gone forever -

"See you tomorrow--"

"See you tomorrow~"

After sharing some of the remaining snacks with the others at the intersection and reminding them not to eat before meals or bedtime, Pingxin took Nilu and the others and left. Their goals were different, and their eventual separation was only natural, but at least they had left behind beautiful memories.

On the way to Meigan's house, Pingxin and Nilu rode their bikes, enjoying the last bit of warmth from the evening breeze. Darkness would soon fall, and both the lingering warmth of dusk and the coolness of the evening had their own unique charm. It would surely be a completely different place when they returned in winter.

As his journey drew to a close, Pingxin began to view the world with a more nuanced eye than usual, a small world that belonged only to the locals. Here, without the hustle and bustle of the city, there were only the simple villagers who didn't pick up things on the road and left their doors open at night, and one ordinary and heartwarming day after another.

Seeing Grandpa Meigan waiting at the door on his bike, the two waved. But upon seeing the latecomers return, the old man walked straight into the house, his long-handled pipe in hand. Pingxin and Nilu exchanged a smile, parked their bikes at the door, and followed him inside. A light layer of ash lay on the floor.

After enjoying a sumptuous dinner prepared by Grandma Mikan Rumi, the family sat in a row on the traditional wooden corridor of the East Country, eating watermelon as a dessert while watching the last rays of sunset in the sky to cool off.

Ping Xin thought that was just an excuse to keep the two of them, but he didn't expect that there was actually a small melon field behind the house, which was usually taken care of by Grandma Rumi who was always busy at home. Perhaps it was really fate, one after another insignificant details eventually intertwined their life paths together -

If Grandpa Mei Gan, who had poor acting skills, had not forced her to stay overnight that day, Nilu might have been discouraged and turned away. Perhaps they could still find each other when they came back many years later, but how many more "years" can two elderly people who are actually over 60 years old have?

No matter what, if you look back, you'll definitely regret it. Because humans are creatures, whether you get something or not, you'll always feel dissatisfied. At least for ordinary people, living a life without regrets is more difficult to achieve than becoming a successful person in society's definition.

While eating melons and chatting about today's events, Grandpa Mei Gan first loudly and smilingly recounted how great Ping Xin was as a chosen ox and horse to do farm work. When he started eating, he surprised a group of simple country people and made him proud.

Of course, as a proud and stubborn old man, he would not give direct praise. The above content was the result of the analysis made by the other three people after listening.

Then Nilu shared her experience of going to the Asahigaoka branch today. Although studying during class was very boring for her, the people there were still very friendly and interesting.

Ping Xin shared how he worked and ate in the morning, played and ate at noon, and explored the forest in the afternoon where he discovered a large cherry tree.

"Ah, well... that tree wasn't there when I was in school. It's said that a student read some romance novel he bought in town and planted one there. It's a shame he never got to confess his love under the cherry blossom tree until he graduated."

Spit the melon seeds into the palm of your hand and put them in a bowl to save as seeds for the future, said Grandpa Mei Gan.

"Ah...I see—it takes two hours to get a bus here. Isn't that inconvenient for going out?"

"Many people have never left the village in their entire lives. Some people have only walked to a nearby village. For this distance, an electric car is enough," explained Grandma Rumi.

She usually rides an electric bike wherever she goes, while Grandpa Meigan likes to take a leisurely walk and occasionally take a ride from others.

Grandpa Meigan used to be a brave and adventurous young man, but his heart stayed in Asahigaoka Village with his lover. After that, except for some things that required his presence, Grandpa Meigan would just walk around the village at most.

Chapter 39: Leisurely Summer Days Part 7

For city dwellers, the most annoying thing about summer in the countryside is not the lack of public facilities and air conditioning, but the endless mosquitoes that can never be driven away or killed. Fortunately, their corrugated protective gear and Pingxin's stand-in "The World" are more effective than any mosquito net or electric mosquito swatter.

Anyway, I went to bed early and got up early, and there was no conversation all night. Time came to Saturday, June 6th -

When Pingxin woke up naturally in the morning, it was around 6 o'clock. He went out for a morning run and played around before returning to Meigan's house to take a shower. After Meigan's grandfather triggered the "Lucky Pervert" incident, nothing happened.

After yesterday's wild boar had piqued his appetite, Hiranobu, eager to eat meat, checked in with Migan's grandparents and headed out of the village on his bike. It was a little after 7 a.m., and while riding his bike, Hiranobu happened to see a wild boar on the side of the road... A domesticated elementary school student, 7-year-old Renka Miyauchi.

"Good morning, Renka-chan, why are you up so early?"

Holding a straight wooden stick of appropriate length and thickness in her hand, Miyauchi Renka, with her lavender twin tails tied with two light yellow ribbons, was standing in the grass by the roadside, shaking her two ahoge hairs that looked like sprouting seeds and playing with them.

After seeing Ping Xin, she greeted him: "It's the big brother from Tokyo, Meowpass~"

As expected, I still don’t understand it as usual. What exactly is Meowpass?

After parking the car on the side of the road to avoid blocking the road, Ping Xin came to her side and squatted down together. It turned out that she was observing the ants on the ground. I wonder what these little lives are like in her eyes?

"...What are you looking at, ants moving?"

"The rhinoceros beetle...I can't find it. Has everyone gone home like me?"

Miyauchi Renhua poked the ground with the stick in her hand, just like she had poked the rhinoceros beetle yesterday. Judging from the fact that she didn't vent her anger on the innocent ants, Renhua must be a gentle child.

"I see... Since rhinoceros beetles are nocturnal insects, they only come out at night. It was quite unusual to see them near dusk. But you must not sneak out alone, okay?"

"Um......"

Seeing that Miyauchi Renka was still in a very low mood, Heishin touched her head and said -

"Keep going, brave warrior holding the legendary sword~"

"oh--!"

I watched as Miyane Renhua's face turned from gloomy to sunny, and then immediately turned cloudy again.

"Am I really in the countryside..."

Ah, why are we suddenly talking about this again? Kids' moods are so unpredictable...

"In a broad sense, yes."

"I see... No wonder the short-haired older sister doesn't like it—"

"You're not right... Nero must really like this place too. She just has a fierce look in her eyes."

"...Really? But everyone seemed really uncomfortable when they first arrived here."

So that's how it is... It turns out that neither adults nor children should be underestimated - adults' words and actions may have a profound impact on children, and children's thoughts may not be as simple as adults think.

"But Renka-chan, you won't feel uncomfortable in the city, right? People have to adapt to unfamiliar environments."

"...That's true. Guanghua-nee didn't say how she was doing in Tokyo, but she was relieved when she came back."

Miyauchi Renka's eyes gradually widened, and the atmosphere around her gradually returned to its original calm state.

It turns out that he has an older sister who studies in Tokyo. This is the first time Ping Xin knows this.

"And you live in the country today, but maybe not in the future."

"But I think it's good here now. If you like it here, then the countryside might be better than Tokyo..."

For a first-grade student, such thoughts are truly incredible. Are all the elementary school students in the East Country monsters? No, I've seen genuine little brats before. In the end, no matter where there are good people and bad people, there must be good kids and bad kids too.

"Why do we have to go to Tokyo? Even though Tokyo is the most populous city in the East, it's just a tiny part of the world. You can go to Yan Country across the sea, Victoria across the ocean, or any other place.

Life is not a game, but precisely because of that, there is no absolute optimal solution. Everything depends on whether you want to do it and whether you can do it...”

Hirayuko patted Miyauchi Renka's head. She was lost in thought, imagining what the country he'd just mentioned might look like. She realized, in the same way that she didn't know what the nearest major city, Tomakomai, was like, what Tokyo was like, or what lay beyond that mountain, she knew nothing about this either.

"..."

"And once you go out, it doesn't mean you won't come back. Just like your sister will definitely come back during the long vacation, right? And Mei Gan's grandfather also went out to make a living when he was young. Although he doesn't want to talk about it now, Grandma Liuhua has already revealed all his past." Ping Xin winked playfully.

First give students a set of ideas and let them think deeply about it, then propose another completely opposite possibility to broaden their horizons.