Feibi | Shining Days (1)

Feibi

I still have one last post left unfinished from the last series. Didn't write a single one the entire May. If I had time, I would record everything. With all the details, writing in a painterly way. However, the days pass so quickly, like a speeding Cat Bus, disappearing into the night with a whoosh, leaving me dumbfounded. The little time I have is only enough to share with the people I like, the things I like, and the places I like.

June 9, Sunday, Sunny

Although the weather forecast has been showing scattered showers recently, the rain hasn't come yet. These are the hottest days between the windy season and the rainy season. There are two waves of guests brought by the Dali Xiaohongshu Slow People Festival this weekend.

Yesterday, five internet celebrity bloggers came. They didn't pay out of their own pockets to join the activity; one of them frankly said she chose based on timing. So they weren't really interested in my activity, just taking a walk, chatting about work and life among peers, and shooting some small content on the side. Fortunately, they were nice people; the three female participants cooperated fully in completing the nature journal and actively asked to take photos with me. I bought a children's instant camera to save costs; they commented that the output effect was quite retro. Everyone took a few shots, picked one to use in the journal, and colored it with oil pastels.

A creative nature journal, awesome!

Xiao Kai asked, 'Teacher, do you remember my name?' Oh, of course, I also remember her laugh was magical. While I wasn't paying attention, Xiao Kai somehow caught a small green insect that looked like a katydid nymph, and magically stuck it onto her journal. The little bug struggled desperately on the sketch paper. I was a bit torn: should I help seal the bug onto the paper as a specimen, or set it free? Even if I tore off the tape, would its tiny legs still be able to hop? In the end, I did nothing. I took home a black-and-white image printed from the children's instant camera, showing Xiao Kai's smiling face.

Today came nine VIP leader family members from Xiaohongshu. To avoid the midday sun, activities lately typically start at 3pm and end in the evening. But the contact person had customized the time for their group at noon. After breakfast, they drove from Santorini (why is there a Santorini by Erhai Lake? Such a knockoff name, I wouldn't be embarrassed to use it) to the meeting point. The activity started at 11am, with two families of three generations and four children. The three kids from one family followed me earnestly in making nature journals. The one kid from the other family wasn't interested in doing extra 'homework' during the rare vacation. It really depends on whether you see observation and drawing as a game or a task. The sun was scorching, so we looked for tree shade to stop. Nature journaling is a slow activity. Those not doing journals moved forward quickly; they sat on small stools in the shade midway to rest and wait for us.

The contact person said there were many kids and they wanted them to experience camping. The payer added extra money for the camping team to set up tents and a canopy at the rest point. So early in the morning, Xiao Qi had already prepared everything up there. He also came down to buy boxed lunches and fruit (the boxed lunch for himself, the fruit for the guests) and helped me transport food up. When we arrived at the rest point, the guests felt it was stuffy under the low canopy and moved the tables and chairs to the shade of the trees behind. We laid out all the food on the table and started eating. The guests also brought their own food: seaweed chips, sausages, milk, and the like. The child who didn't want to take notes felt bugs bothering him, and the adults quickly sprayed him with insect repellent. The parents felt it was hot and discussed animatedly that they should eat a little and then leave, to go to a pre-arranged place in Shuanglang for a proper meal and tea, which would be more comfortable. I saw that the oatmeal chia seed veggie sausage I had prepared was bitten twice and thrown into the trash bag. I felt it was a pity, but I understand that people's preferences can be polar opposites; what I think is good may not be recognized by others.

After eating, drinking, and resting for a while, I suggested that the kids finish their notes. After all, three of the children had already drawn half, and I had prepared some specimens to quickly complete the remaining half. But the parents just wanted to leave quickly. They were nice people; they took away two bags of trash, handed me a carton of milk, and when I hurried over to guide them, they said they would go back the same way on their own and told me not to bother making two trips. So suddenly, they left in a flurry, and I only had time to take one photo of their retreating figures.

Xiao Qi and I cleaned up, then continued drinking tea, eating, and chatting. I had just met Xiao Qi; he looked like a long-haired rock singer. He is from Zhangjiakou, a friend of He Chen, studied art before, and had spent some years in Dali. Before coming to Dali this time, he worked in game modeling in Shanghai. I asked, "Do you like playing games?" He shook his head, no. Of course, he also didn't like working, which was not hard to expect. The hillside at noon was very quiet, everything sparkling in the sunlight.

Xiao Qi had sharp eyes, and I photographed two insects he discovered. He picked a bunch of mushrooms and put them in the sun to dry, to be used for Zhen Hao's activities. A huge fly landed on my hand, and I let it stay, observing it carefully. Xiao Qi said, "It's about to give birth." I was surprised, "How can you tell?" I remembered reading about Fabre's experiment with the giant silkworm moth: "The female moth, heavy with eggs, had a swollen abdomen, making flight difficult..."

A spotted tiger moth, looks quite beautiful.

The thunder god vine is starting to bear fruit, its red samaras are quite brilliant. The name implies its high toxicity; stems, leaves, and roots can be used as botanical pesticide. For medical use, it can only be applied externally, not taken internally.

A bright gray butterfly, when it flies, reveals the blue-purple upperside of its wings.

June 10th, Monday, Sunny

These past two evenings I've been tinkering with my ever-evolving route species guidebook, looking up insects, and going to bed very late. A house in the village is being renovated, with red bricks and sand blocking the path, so I have to park my car by the Meixi River, some distance from home. Yesterday morning when I set off, seeing I was running late, I tried to move everything I planned to carry in two trips all at once. Today my shoulders and back are sore. In the first two years after coming to Dali, I started doing some strength training and my fitness improved. But since arriving in Dali, I've been busy building a new life—let alone working out, I haven't even been stretching.

Today is the Dragon Boat Festival. I went to Yangbo Village to bring Xiao Jing two zongzi that M sent for her to try. She said her first formal tattoo client came today. Before this, she had already tattooed many of her friends. She asked if I wanted one, and I said I'm afraid of pain (I'm just not that cool, anyway). But if I were to get one, I would choose a design by Xiao Jing—that kind of childlike cuteness is very unique in the world of tattoos. This is my first time visiting since she moved. She lives on the third floor of a house, with a rooftop terrace, three rooms, and a bathroom. The entire third floor is hers. The small east room is her kitchen plus living room, with the sink under the eaves outside the door. The central storage room is shared with the landlord. The west room is her bedroom.

When I arrived, the client had already left, and Yang Mi was there. Yang Mi is always smiling. Last time I saw Yang Mi and Xiao Jing was when we went to watch a movie at Aganzhen No. 404. At that time, Yang Mi had long hair, wore a helmet, rode a motorcycle, and looked heroic. I examined the tattoos on her arms that Xiao Jing had done—I'd seen the small stream and the red sun reflected in it on her left forearm before, and now I carefully looked at the mushrooms tattooed on her right forearm. I said they suited her well. Xiao Jing's Xiaohongshu and WeChat public account are called "Cangshan Mushroom Elf." Calling oneself an elf usually feels awkward. But they truly are elfin women, free from rules and conventions, so it fits perfectly and feels very natural.

Yang Mi has cut her hair short, making her natural curls more noticeable. She was wearing a small blue vest she sewed herself, with white stitches forming a decorative pattern on the shoulders and sides, paired with very loose yet well-shaped wide-leg pants. She once studied wood-firing pottery with a master at Jingtian Village. Yang Mi looks both simple and stylish; the back of her neck is much darker than the rest from the sun. Her arms are slender and strong, and the lines of her deltoids caught my eye. Yang Mi is a nickname given to her by Xiao Jing.

Xiao Jing wears a tight green top, showing off her slim waist and beautiful chest shape, paired with navy blue wide-leg cargo pants. Xiao Jing never hesitates to be sexy; it's a lively vitality. When I first met Xiao Jing in Shanghai last year, I took a candid photo of her. She was smiling brilliantly in the sunlight, reminding me of the description of Midori in Norwegian Wood: a little deer jumping into the world in spring sunshine.

Yang Mi and Xiao Jing both dress very well. So does Zhen Hao. On Tuesday when I went to scout the location, I ran into Zhen Hao, He Chen, and Xiao Qi. Zhen Hao was wearing her favorite printed dress, which she said she picked up for 15 yuan at the Xiaguan Chili Market. On her upper arm near the shoulder was a tattoo of an image that repeatedly appeared in her dreams. Tattoos, this body art, suit those who are sharp and unconventional.

Zhen Hao's dress, she was holding a bunch of Nepalese incense cedar seedlings, planning to take them home to plant

At Xiao Jing's place, I saw Yang Mi's dog for the first time—Xiao Xi. I asked where Xiao Xi came from, and Yang Mi said she picked him up from the mountains. Xiao Xi is five or six months old, looks like a small Belgian Malinois, sometimes like a fox, with a meek appearance. Haha is also full of energy, after all, it's his home. Haha also matches Jason's description of Lucky: a doll-like dog. He has curly fur, bright eyes, and looks at you like a child.

I brought a papaya. Xiao Jing peeled it, blended it with some milk, and added some mineral water. I asked for an ice cube to drop in. The lightly sweet papaya milk was delicious. Yang Mi had been up early leading a mushroom-picking activity, and she was feeling sleepy now, yawning. Xiao Jing caught it and started yawning too, then curled up like a cat in a chair and dozed off among the plants in the room. Xiao Jing said that during the busy summer break, she only wanted to seize every moment to sleep and rest.

While she slept, I sorted through a basket of mushrooms under her table, planning to take some home. The mushrooms gave off a rich, earthy aroma. Yang Mi walked out and sat on the steps of the terrace, facing her phone. I looked around at the various little details in the room. The table and chairs in the center of the small room were all outdoor gear. I picked up a pingpo fruit they had brought back from a trip to Mengding. The fruit had split open like a flower, dotted with black seeds. As soon as I held it, I noticed the outer layer of the pingpo fruit had needle-like fine hairs, and many tiny needles pricked my hand. Pinching it, I went to ask Yang Mi what it was, and even after letting go, my hand still hurt. Yang Mi used her fingers as tweezers to help remove the visible vertical needles.

Xiao Jing's drawing of the mushroom grandpa is very cute, with eyes like an earth star

Xiao Jing's fired pottery. The one in front is also an earth star. The doll-head jar is great

In the jar, there are dried datura and eucalyptus fruits, and a snake gourd hanging

Upper right is the ping-pong fruit that pricked my hand. I gave Xiao Jing two stones I painted, a little witch and bread)

A wall

The wooden box in the back has a great color, given by Jason. The driftwood is also excellent. On the right is a pile of paintings by Xiao Jing

A bunch of homemade wine on the floor. Where did that flower stand pillar come from? Yang Mi pointed to the range hood vent on the wall, saying she had asked the same question, and it was dug out from there. Strangely nice!

Mushrooms! Xiao Jing played music, and I said it sounded a bit like He Chen's video soundtrack, non-mainstream

Middle upper is a gift Jason brought from Xihua Hua Farm, probably made by Haishan, an 18-year-old Weishan embroidery inheritor. Ah, really vibrant embroidery, very likable

I praised the little rattan table, Xiao Jing said it was from a flea market

After Xiao Jing woke up, she and Yang Mi discussed whether to go for a seaside picnic and look for shaggy ink caps, then started getting ready to go out. I followed. So it was an evening of walking the dog, sitting and watching the clouds, sitting and watching the moon rise. We chose a patch of grass to sit on, spread out a cotton cloth, and made a simple tea setup. Accompanying the tea were a box of blueberries and bread made by Yang Mi's friend. The bread was really tasty, fluffy inside, chewy crust, caramel-colored, with a bit of a cheese flavor. What kind of bread is this?

We took a selfie.

I said, I haven't sat around like this for a long time; it's like having summer vacation before summer vacation. Xiao Jing nodded, the foraging group is the busiest during summer vacation. She pulled out a notebook and pen from her big black cloth bag and started sketching, drawing Yang Mi sitting in front of her. After she finished, Xiao Xi and Haha were playing around in front of us, and I tried to capture them on paper too. The dogs sometimes rushed over and then ran off, leaving traces of their saliva on my face. Puppies and kittens are like little kids; just watching them play is very relaxing.

The moon rose, the sky gradually darkened, and the night breeze was cool as we headed back. Xiao Jing asked, "Sister Phoebe, when did you start getting white hair?" I said, "Ten years ago, when I was in Guangzhou, I suddenly found quite a few. Over these ten years, they've increased and become more noticeable." She said, "I've also started to get white hairs recently, and I think to myself, I need to do the things I want to do quickly." I said, I think the same way. Like gardenias, when they first bloom they are snow-white, but over time they turn yellow. Color indicates age. The more white hair, the less youth remains. Although psychologically, we can always stay young. Masaaki Yuasa has an anime called "The Night Is Short, Walk on Girl," which I want to watch but haven't yet. When will I watch it with friends? Xiao Yan said the original novel is very popular among the boys in her class.

Xiao Yan finished her college entrance exam, and I chatted with her. Kids grow up so fast.

June 11, Tuesday, Sunny

At noon I went to eat and saw bobo and Teacher Aqiao and others sitting at the table outside the Yuanzhai room. Bobo greeted me and called me to come eat quickly. Someone was offering a vegetarian meal—there have been free lunches for the past five days. Listening to Xiao Lu's podcast, she said there are too many free things in Dali, and she thinks bookshops shouldn't be taken for granted as free spaces. She and Mo Qi have different opinions, each with their own reasons, and I agree with both.

Ah, the house is dirty and messy, I need to tidy up. Washed a load of laundry. After a while, I remembered to add the cloth bag I brought down from the mountain. I picked off the seeds of cogongrass that had scattered on my cloth bag one by one.

MK came to invite me to a vegetarian hotpot near home. He showed me photos of little owls taken at the Owl Ecological Village—very cute. Later I remembered seeing a recruitment ad for volunteers in that village in the Cangshan Erhai Insect group.

June 12, Wednesday, Cloudy with Showers

Finally it rained. I wonder what the weather will be like for tomorrow's night hike at Xipo.

Borrowed a book from Xiao Jing's place, "Two Summers" co-authored by Yoko Sano and Shuntaro Tanikawa. In the poem "Summer Comes," Tanikawa writes:

"Every time summer comes, I always look forward to 'this one being the only one'

But when summer ends, I feel no summer is the only one in life

...

Cicadas chirp, the sun blazes

Even the distant horizon blurs

Summer has come again"