This morning, the alarm went off around 7, and I was still feeling quite groggy. For a moment, I even considered telling Hamer that maybe we shouldn’t go to Fragrant Hills today. But before long, I got up and went to check on her room. She was already awake and even laughed, saying, “I saw you were still asleep, so I didn’t wake you.” After we washed up, we bundled up in warm clothes and headed out.
We grabbed breakfast at 7-11, where Hamer tried a rice ball and thought it was particularly tasty. She took a few bites of the chocolate donut she’d picked but soon focused on the rice ball instead. The sky was overcast, with heavy smog, and as we ate, it even started drizzling.
We took the subway to Fragrant Hills, and when we transferred to the Xijiao Transit Line, we discovered it was a unique two-car tram, which was pretty interesting. Once we arrived at Fragrant Hills, the first thing we saw was a lively shopping street. Hamer immediately had her eye on Mixue Bingcheng and candied hawthorn skewers, so we agreed to pick some up after our hike. Even before entering the park, we could already see some red leaves, but once inside, we realized the foliage wasn’t as widespread as we’d imagined—patches of yellow smoke trees, ginkgo, and maples dotted the path here and there.
We entered from the east gate and took the central route up the mountain. Although Hamer got a bit tired, she never once said she didn’t want to climb or asked me to carry her. At first, we took breaks fairly often, rehydrating and snacking each time. Gradually, the weather cleared, the sun came out, and the air warmed up quite a bit. At one point, we came across a small side path and, seeing others on it, decided to explore it like an adventure.
The path started as grass but soon turned into a steep, slippery mix of dirt and rocks. Hamer climbed carefully but determinedly, and as I watched her from behind, I felt a swell of pride. About halfway up, we looked back and realized this path was both long and steep—we had unknowingly taken Fragrant Hills’ hardest trail on the north side.
At last, we reached the summit and rested for a good while. Hamer happily played on the steps, using them like a slide over and over. She had an ice cream too. Earlier, she’d worried that if she had ice cream, she might have to skip the candied hawthorn skewers, and she even offered to give them up. I laughed and said, “You climbed all the way up here; of course, you deserve a reward! Let’s both enjoy them!” She happily dug into her ice cream, her face lit up with a look of pure contentment.
The descent was much easier, but we made it more interesting by picking two side trails as our “bonus challenge.” Both were rough, and we ended up covered in mud, but it added to the fun. Back at the base, we kept our promise—enjoyed candied hawthorn skewers and Mixue Bingcheng drinks—and then took the subway home.
The whole way back, Hamer was eager to get home to play with her aunt. After confirming that her aunt was at home, she showered quickly and dashed off to find her. That evening, after they returned for dinner, I asked her aunt to join us for Hamer’s homework session, which lasted from 7:30 to a little past 9.
