novelnext Chapter 3308 New Book and Fireflies
Chapter 3308 New Book and Fireflies
Chapter 3308 New Book and Fireflies
As evening approached, a sunset appeared on the horizon. The children were playing in the yard, and several of them were digging in the sandpit, having a great time.
Zhang Tan walked into Little Red Horse Academy carrying a cardboard box, and immediately some children greeted him enthusiastically: "Boss Zhang!"
Zhang Tan responded with a smile. Xiao Bai ran over, stared at the cardboard box in the old man's hand, and asked, "Old man! Is this Chengcheng's book?"
Zhang Tan smiled and nodded, opening the cardboard box amidst everyone's expectant gazes. Inside, dozens of brand-new books were neatly stacked.
The cover depicts a tranquil rain-soaked alley, where a girl holding an oil-paper umbrella radiates a warm glow through the misty fog.
The large characters on the cover read: "The Girl with the Oil-Paper Umbrella in the Rainy Alley - Chengcheng's Story Collection, Volume 1".
"Wow--"
Everyone gasped in amazement.
Chengcheng reached out, her fingertips gently brushing against the cover. This was the first time she had seen her story become a real book; the fresh scent of ink wafted into her nostrils, and the texture of the paper felt both real and unfamiliar.
Zhang Tan explained, "We printed fifty sample copies first, which Chengcheng can give to her friends. The official version will be available in major bookstores next Monday morning."
Liuliu couldn't wait any longer and picked up a book, flipping through it: "I want Chengcheng's autograph! Sign it now!"
Xiaobai brought out the water-based pen that Teacher Wu had given her. Chengcheng had been reluctant to use this pen, but today it finally came in handy.
"I want an autograph too!! Give me an autograph! Chengcheng, give me your autograph first!" Robin shouted, trying to push his way forward.
Dudu was furious: "Don't push! Don't push! I'm the first one!!!"
Xiaobai helped everyone line up and maintained order with Xiaomi, while Dudu went to separate the noisy Liuliu Robin.
Everyone lined up, and Chengcheng sat at the stone table, carefully writing her name on the title page of each book with neat and beautiful handwriting.
When it was Liuliu's turn, Chengcheng thought for a moment and added a sentence: "For Liuliu who loves to hear stories."
"6666 duck—hahahaha~~~"
Liuliu hugged the book, beaming from ear to ear: "I'm going to treasure this! I can bring it up on TV shows later!"
Robin followed closely behind Liu Liu and also received a signed book. He humbly asked, "Chengcheng, can you teach me to recognize these characters?"
She pointed to the book cover, and Chengcheng read aloud: "Rain, alley, in, oil, paper, umbrella, girl."
"The girl with the oil-paper umbrella in the rainy alley."
Robin read along, then burst into laughter, happily hugging the book and snuggling up with Liuliu, whispering to each other about whose signature was better.
The next day was Sunday. Since everyone had been together all day the day before, no group activities were scheduled for the day. Around dusk, Chengcheng arrived at the school an hour early and prepared to go into the grove with Xiaobai to observe the fireflies.
Today it's their turn.
The two were wearing yellow rain boots, which have now become the team boots for the observation group. Xiaobai also brought his portable camera.
"Again, are we going to film?" Chengcheng asked.
Xiao Bai was adjusting the equipment. The light in the grove was dim, so he needed to turn up the brightness: "I want to record the whole process, from pupa to firefly. I want to make a complete documentary. I've even thought of a name for it: 'The Light of Fireflies'."
The two tiptoed into the grove. Robin wanted to follow, but Xi'er stopped him.
The six yellowish-brown pupae remained quietly half-buried in the soil.
"It seems... a little bigger?" Xiaobai squatted down and zoomed in with the camera.
Chengcheng also squatted down to observe: "It's the moisture that makes them look fuller."
She opened her observation diary and carefully recorded:
“5月27日，下午16：40-16：50
Observers: Xiaobai & Chengcheng
Weather: Sunny with a light breeze
Observation Record:
1. The six pupae remained in the same position and were still wet.
2. The puddle is full of water because it rained last night.
3. The soil moisture is very high, but the leaf litter layer remains unchanged.
After finishing writing, Chengcheng took out the small magnifying glass left by Researcher Chen from her pocket. She leaned close to one of the pupae and carefully observed it through the lens.
Xiao Bai pointed the camera lens at him and asked, "What do you see?"
Chengcheng said softly, "The surface has very fine lines, like the annual rings of tree bark, one ring after another."
Xiaobai also leaned over to look: "It's true! Liuliu didn't write this yesterday!"
"Maybe they didn't bring a magnifying glass," Chengcheng said.
The two observed quietly for ten minutes. The woods were quiet, but it was noisy outside the grove. Robin's voice could be heard from time to time, as if other people had arrived.
As she was about to leave, Chengcheng suddenly whispered, "Xiaobai."
"Ok?"
Do you think fireflies dream when they're in their pupae?
Xiao Bai thought for a moment and said, "Maybe, I might dream that I'm flying, with a shiny tail, drawing circles in the night sky, hahaha~~"
Chengcheng's lips curved into a slight smile: "That must be a beautiful dream."
The two walked out of the grove and found that it was Liuliu and Dudu who had arrived. No wonder they had heard so many noises earlier.
Chengcheng handed the observation diary to Xier, who eagerly flipped through it, whispering Chengcheng's entries, her eyes growing brighter and brighter.
Xi'er said, "Chengcheng wrote so carefully. Tomorrow it's my turn and Dudu's turn. We should observe carefully too."
As night fell, Old Li hung up a small lantern, and the parrot was taken to the guard post because it was too noisy.
The observation diary was passed around among everyone, and Chengcheng's new book was also passed around, but many children could not recognize all the words in the book, so Xiaomi took charge of reading it to everyone.
Xi'er said, "I like the girl with the oil-paper umbrella the most. She collects people's sorrows and then turns them into rainbows."
Xiaomi took a moment to say, "I like the little dandelion that can walk. It traveled to many places and finally returned to its mother."
Liu Liu has a special fondness for "The Old Piano Singing at Midnight": "This story is a little scary but also very heartwarming!"
Robin is holding the book. She can't read, but she loves looking at the illustrations and can guess the story from the pictures.
Seeing this, Old Li suddenly suggested, "Chengcheng, why don't you read a passage to everyone?"
Everyone immediately quieted down and looked at Chengcheng expectantly.
The story feels completely different when it's read aloud by the original author, not to mention that Chengcheng is a master storyteller; her stories are full of context.
Chengcheng took the book, turned to the page "The Little Stones That Collect Starlight," and her clear voice echoed in the courtyard along with the rustling of leaves in the evening breeze:
"...The little stone asked the star, 'Why did you let me collect your light?'"
The star said, 'Because darkness needs light, and light needs to be remembered.'
From then on, every night, the little stone would emit a faint but warm light. Though not as bright as the stars, in the darkest night, it could guide lost little insects home…
When the story was finished, the courtyard was quiet.
Then, someone started clapping, and the applause gradually grew louder.
Xiaobai said, "Chengcheng, when the fireflies come out, shall we hold a firefly watching party? You can bring your new book and tell stories to everyone in the light of the fireflies."
Chengcheng's eyes lit up, and she readily agreed.
Liuliu asked, "What do we need to prepare?"
Chengcheng replied, "A little lantern, and a quiet and romantic heart."
Liuliu: "..."
She had originally intended to suggest preparing some fruits and drinks, but Chengcheng's answer was so poetic that she felt embarrassed to reveal her own purpose, lest she seem vulgar.
"Why do we need a quiet mind?" Robin didn't understand.
Xiaomi explained, "The fireflies will be scared if it's too noisy, so we should watch them quietly, just like we're watching the stars."
So everyone agreed that on the day the pupae turn into fireflies, they would hold a firefly watching event by the grove, and Chengcheng would bring her new book and tell stories in the dim light.