The interview was over in less than half an hour. The four children had almost finished their watermelon too. Grandma wanted them to stay for dinner, but all four shook their heads at the same time: “Grandma, we’ll come play with you again tomorrow!”
They had been out for too long. Their parents would be worried. After saying goodbye to A Ming and Grandma, the four little ones set off again on their treasure hunt. The four small baskets had been washed clean by Grandma and were already dry under the eaves.
“Where should we look for treasure?” Niu Niu asked.
Pei Qiqi looked back at the woods they had just left. The clue they had been given was a photo of the forest, but before it was polluted. Time couldn’t be reversed, and the forest couldn’t be restored to its lush, clean state.
Mi Le rubbed his chin, thinking calmly: “Are we supposed to find seashells?”
The accompanying cameramen watched the little ones who had set out so confidently, vowing to find the best treasure. Now they were frowning and moving forward slowly. Su Youli looked up at the sky and sighed. What exactly was the treasure? What was treasure? It was the shiniest and most precious thing. But they couldn’t find it.
The further they walked, the heavier their steps became. Halfway there, they simply sat down and refused to go any further. They sat on the beach, facing the rolling white waves. Mi Le and Pei Qiqi, being the responsible older brothers, studied the photo seriously.
On the other side, Niu Niu was leading Youyou in recreating the toilet bowl Mi Le had made for them on the beach. The sound of crashing waves was more appealing than building toilet bowls. Watching the waves up close, Su Youli thought they looked even more like cream cake frosting. His little mouth opened and closed a few times, making “om nom” sounds, followed by small swallowing sounds.
Ocean cake. So delicious. By now, the sun was beginning to set. The two older brothers were brainstorming, trying to figure out what treasure the task was asking them to find. Niu Niu, absorbed in building toilet bowls, had made a flower-shaped one and even wrote her name on it. The bored Su Youli hugged his little basket. The golden light and the shimmering sea intermingled, as if countless diamonds were dancing.
The sea breeze gently caressed the little guy’s soft, fair cheeks, carrying a damp, salty sea smell. It was such a wonderful feeling that the little guy stuck out his tongue, trying to taste if the sea breeze was salty too. Soon, the enormous sun, like a fireball, slowly descended. Its light was soft and warm, and the entire sky turned orange-red.
The clouds were also dyed in various brilliant colors by the afterglow, like red flames, pink cotton candy, and golden ribbons dancing in the sky. This was a magnificent sight Su Youli had never seen before. His first thought was how much he missed his three fathers, his mother, his big brother, his second brother, Brother Xiao Tang, and Su Yuanzi.
Then, he noticed the small camera always hanging from his basket’s handle. It was a very small children’s camera. Not the one Cen Yuankai had grabbed before, but a brand new one, palm-sized, lightweight, and adorable. The little guy’s face was full of excitement. He tilted his round head and spoke to Uncle Da Mo: “Uncle Da Mo, can I use the camera?”
The black camera lens moved downward. Then the little guy in the frame smiled, his cheeks puffing out, his eyes curving into little moons, revealing his neat baby teeth. Click, click. The rhythmic sound of the shutter interrupted the other three little ones.
“Youyou, what are you doing?” Niu Niu, who was closest, came running over.
The little girl’s first experience building toilet bowls hadn’t gone smoothly. Her arms and face were covered in sand, and some was even in her hair.
“I’m taking pictures to show Dad when I get back.”
He was too young to describe such a beautiful scene; taking photos was much more direct. Niu Niu wasn’t very happy with her dad right now, but she also wanted her mom to see this beautiful sunset. However, her mom wasn’t here. Since she could always watch the show later, she didn’t take out her own camera. Compared to her, the little guy was very eager. The show wouldn’t air for a long time. He wanted to share his photos with all his family members immediately the moment he got home.
“Brother Qiqi, look.”
The little guy ran over with his little camera, showing off the sunset he had just captured. Pei Qiqi looked at the not-so-clear photo, still able to make out the beautiful scenery. Then he looked up at the little guy, who was bouncing his head around. He couldn’t help it. He pinched the little guy’s chubby cheek and said to Mi Le: “I think I know what the treasure in the forest is.”
Yes, as he had guessed, the treasure hidden in the forest was the tall trees that, despite being hurt, still stood straight and tall. Every time the sunset fell, they could briefly regain their former beauty. Humans had harmed them, but the sunset, the moonlight, and the ever-warm sun hadn’t given up on them. The photo the little guy had taken happened to capture the sunset resting on the treetops. He suddenly heard the little guy swallow.
“Brother Qiqi, doesn’t it look like the salted egg yolk pastries Second Brother bought us?”
Pei Qiqi smiled. He found the little guy’s ability to relate everything to food absolutely adorable.
“Do you think it’s beautiful?”
“Yes.”
“Do you think it counts as a treasure?”
Could the treasure be this? The little guy was surprised.
After a moment, the little guy nodded firmly: “I think it’s the treasure we’re looking for.”
It wasn’t something you could just pick up, nor was it a rare plant hidden in the forest. The treasure they were looking for was the sunset enveloping this ‘wounded’ forest, as if clothing it in a soft, beautiful suit of armor. Allowing the wounded forest to absorb energy and continue to root itself in the ground. No matter how severely hurt, it would still stand strong. Thinking this, the little guy was already moved by the friendship between the sunset and the forest.
His mouth pouted. “They can only see each other for a little while each day.”
Childish words, full of wild imagination.
Pei Qiqi comforted him: “But this is the happiest moment of the day for the sunset and the forest.”
They were both waiting for this moment. The little ones discussed it and decided to submit the photo Youyou had just taken. The director uncle looked at the photo on the camera, which had no technique and was even a bit blurry. It was a picture of ‘sunset resting on the branch,’ and his heart melted.
Without a second thought, the director approved it immediately and announced in an exaggerated tone: “All the children did exceptionally well today!”
“When you saw the dirty forest, you didn’t leave. You even helped pick up trash. We are so proud of you.”
The praise flowed endlessly. The four little ones stood with their ears perked, puffed out their little chests, lifted their chins, and showed proud smiles.
“Now, come up and receive your rewards!”
The golden little foot stickers had been upgraded to pure gold little foot badges, shining brightly on their chests.
“Brother Qiqi, take a picture of me! I want to send it to Little Dad and Kun Kun!”
Click. In the photo, the little guy had rosy lips and white teeth, round, adorable eyes, and a smile sweeter than honey on his chubby cheeks.
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