Encounter during a spring outing

Springtime is at its best, with gentle breezes and beautiful scenery that should not be wasted. Amidst the warmth of spring and the myriad blooms of nature, I only wish to meet you on this spring outing. On March 25th, the Human Resources Department, together with the Finance Department, Marketing Department, and General Manager's Office, visited Litian Garden in Tong'an to begin our spring outing.

An ancient poem says, "The apricot blossom rain threatens to dampen our clothes, the willow breeze is gentle on our faces." Our spring outing to Litian Garden was similarly damp. Although the weather wasn't ideal, it didn't dampen our spirits for a spring outing. Gently paddling a bamboo raft on the stream, we were reminded of the Tang Dynasty poem, "The wind is soft, the small boat is steady, it sails along the green water embankment." Today, we were greeted with the spring breeze caressing our faces, and green grass on both sides. Raindrops brushed across our faces, leaving a wet patch. Bai Juyi once asked, "Wanting to bid farewell to the waning spring, I invite drinking companions, but who among my guests possesses the charm?" But we, boating on the water, need neither charm nor drinking companions; we simply wish to enjoy the stream together.

Braving the spring rain and gentle breeze, umbrellas in hand, the group visited the Litianyuan Agricultural Memorial Museum. Looking at the traditional "green bamboo hats and raincoats," they imagined the people of the past working from sunrise to sunset. Looking at the butterfly specimens preserved in formalin, they imagined the spectacular sight of swarms of butterflies dancing in the air. Listening to the Minnan-style puppet shows, they recalled the ancient stories their grandmothers told them in their childhood. Watching the small puppets on stage, turning, rolling, and kicking, they imagined how the puppeteers had spent ten years honing their skills for just ten minutes on stage to create such a wonderful performance. They couldn't help but stop and watch. Tingting from the marketing department said, "During our free time later, she wants to come and see it again." This was a trip steeped in cultural heritage.

Lu You, a famous Chinese poet, once wrote of leisurely strolls where one "gazes at the smoke rising from chimneys, wondering if one could rest there." But we, starving and faced with a pile of ingredients, had no time for such contemplation; our only wish was to quickly prepare lunch for the team. The group split into two teams: one from the finance department, and the other from the human resources, marketing, and general manager's office. Chopping meat, washing vegetables, cooking, serving dishes, monitoring the firewood—everything proceeded in an orderly fashion amidst the hectic activity. Perhaps we were missing sugar here, vinegar there, but everyone was having a great time. Even with tears streaming down our faces from the smoke, the food was incredibly tempting at that moment—"everything tastes delicious."