White Cotton Across the Hills

In early spring in Yunling Village, Shen Mian takes over her family's cotton field on the south slope. Together with Shen Ning, He Chuan, and the fellow villagers, she carefully selects seeds, sprouts them, and prepares and sows the land. As the seasons turn, everyone tends the cotton seedlings with care according to the soil and the plants' growth—from thinning and earthing up to channeling water to protect the fields, and then to picking and sunning the cotton, ginning it, and saving seed—every step steady and orderly. Through this shared farm work, Shen Mian also gains experience, letting pure white cotton fluff blanket the hillside and weaving diligence and wisdom into village life, until a good season of cotton brings a bountiful harvest across the ridges.