He Li's words left the surrounding middle-aged women marveling. They all declared they would learn from Sister He next time and release mineral water to accumulate great merit.
Laughing and chatting, they boarded a bus headed for the suburbs, each carrying their "treasures."
The bus stopped by the bank of the city moat.
It was late autumn. The reeds by the river had turned a withered yellow, but they were still dense and grew taller than a person. When the wind blew, they rustled.
"Alright, everyone, listen up."
The organizer, Zhao Chunxiang, shouted a reminder, "Autumn is when snakes come out. There are a lot of snakes in the grass by this river, so when you're releasing the animals, be very careful where you step. Don't get bitten."
"Got it."
Everyone replied in unison, but it was clear that few of them truly took the warning to heart.
The release ceremony officially began.
The women lined up and walked to the riverbank.
