A Grandfather's Green World: Animals and Plants Around Us

Grandpa Lin is an accomplished botanist in a quiet district in the south of China. For thirty years he studied plants in Malaysia, Vancouver, and along the great Amazon River. Now he is old, but his eyesight is still sharp and he is still strong. Every Sunday he takes his grandson, a bright little boy, to the zoo and the botanical garden nearby.

The zoo is large, and it is free to the public on Sunday morning. At the gate they see a tall steel sign. A guide named Mr. Wu greets them with a warm handshake. He tells the boy that every animal is a living creature, from a tiny insect to a huge beast.

First they watch a zebra eat grass behind a low bush. Its black and white coat and long tail look very pretty. Nearby, a lazy koala holds a branch and sleeps. In a clean pool, an otter swims and rolls over in the water. A wild boar digs the soft earth with its nose.

In the farm corner there is a herd of animals. A cow gives fresh milk every day, and an ox pulls a heavy cart. A pink pig rolls in the straw, while a hen sits on warm eggs in a nest. A cock, or rooster, stands on the roof and crows at dawn. Small chicks run after their mother. A gentle lamb and a tall horse share a pen, and a cowboy rides around the field.

The boy also loves birds. In the aviary, eggs hatch in spring, and every new bird learns to fly. An old birdcage hangs near the door, and a small cage holds a singing bird. Their pet cat at home likes to watch birds from the window, but it never catches one. A proud turkey walks slowly, and a parrot with bright feathers repeats words.

In the insect room, the boy sees a locust with strong legs. Some insects are pests that eat the crops, so farmers use pesticide with care. A worm slowly moves through the dark soil. The boy asks if a wormhole in the ground is a real hole made by a worm. Grandpa laughs and says a wormhole is a strange idea from science, not from the garden.

After the zoo they walk to the botanical garden. Grandpa plants new seeds in the soil every week. In spring many flowers bloom: a red rose, a white lily, and golden tulips. The garden grows some ornamental plants for their beauty. Grandma cuts a few flowers and puts them in a vase on the table. Grandpa uses small scissors to trim the bushes so they keep a neat shape.

The garden has many trees. A tall pine and a red maple stand side by side. Grandpa teaches the boy about a tree trunk. The bark on the outside protects the soft tissue inside, and a thin membrane covers every cell. Some trees give resin, which people use to make things. In a nearby field, farmers grow cotton, tobacco, and beans. Silkworms spin silk on the leaves of a mulberry tree.

Behind the house there is a small vegetable plot. The family grows potatoes, broccoli, and strawberries. At noon, grandma cooks a big lunch: potato soup, fresh broccoli, and a sweet strawberry cake with sugar and syrup. Grandpa drinks a small cocktail made from fruit juice. The whole family is satisfied and never hungry.

Grandpa dresses in a simple way. On warm days he wears cotton jeans and white socks. In winter he puts on a thick overcoat and a woolen scarf. He never wears a necktie, because he says it makes him feel cramped. The boy's clothes have a small triangle pattern, all in one uniform blue color.

One evening Grandpa reads an online forum about the zoo. The main topic is a plan to build a new animal hospital. Many people give their input and demand more detail about the cost. The city must prioritize safety, because an unsafe building is a serious risk. The plan needs a clear protocol for emergencies.

A city official replies to the public. He explains the total expenditure and every major expense, and he shows a ledger with each penny counted. He adds the mileage the trucks will travel and the rating of the equipment. He promises the new hospital will have high reliability, and any replacement part will be checked by a sensor.

Some citizens are worried. A respondent in an old survey asked about an embargo on certain imported animals. Another man says a corrupt manager once misused money, so he demands a strict check. The city answers that no unauthorized person may enter the site. Any refusal to follow the rules will be punished. They also discuss the limitation of the old hospital and the mitigation of risks, to improve the effectiveness of the whole project.

Grandpa remembers his homeland, a small village by a river. One year a flood spread over the fields and surrounded the houses. At dusk the water looked deep and frightening, like a ghost in the dark. The farmers did not lose hope. They did not wrestle with the water; instead they built a strong dam. No one had to work like a slave, and the whole village shared the task. To Grandpa, this was not a daunting memory but an enviable lesson in unity. Facing a dilemma, the village always found a way.

Back home that night, the boy sits on a soft mat on the floor and kicks a small ball. He and his playmate discuss the things they saw. Grandpa's prediction is simple: one day the boy will fulfill his promise to study biology. Of course, every rule has an exception, and the ending of the story is never fixed. Life is not always free of trouble, but that is fine. The boy memorizes the names of many animals and plants, and he can repeat them straightaway. Grandpa smiles, obviously proud. The experience is partly a lesson and partly a happy memory. Roughly speaking, no other day could have been more pleasant.

Grandpa also tells the boy a wise saying: a healthy body and a curious mind are the mainstay of a happy life. He never wastes a single day. In the evening he reads the newspaper in his armchair. He checks his old motorbike and the motor of a small water pump. A helicopter flies over the district, and its sound fills the air. The boy watches a video online and presses rewind to see the animals again. He is a little immature now, but his love for nature is strong. He keeps his individuality and follows his own dreams. Some people think a quiet life is a limitation, but Grandpa sees it as strength. He once said: 'I would never trade my green world for anything, not even a quarter of gold.'

On Sunday morning Grandpa wakes early. He opens the faucet to wash his face, and the cool water makes him wide awake. He looks up at the high ceiling of the old house. He sweeps the driveway and rakes the dry hay near the barn. Then he walks along a narrow footpath to the garden to pull the weeds. He says: 'I will spend the whole day here. It is possible to finish the work before noon if I start immediately. The garden takes care of itself, but a little help from me is still needed. I tell myself never to throw garbage on the ground.'

At the aquarium, the boy sees colorful coral in a deep tank. He also watches a documentary: a pack of wolves runs across a wide prairie in North America. He learns that a sea turtle can swim a distance as long as a marathon. A European scientist in the film explains that ocean resources are finite, so we must protect them. Small drops of water cumulate over time and form a river. The river flows downward to the sea. An incandescent lamp lights the old temple near the beach, and palm trees tilt in the wind. Nothing in the film intimidates the boy; instead, he is shocked by how beautiful nature is. He thinks an integrative approach is vital to save the ocean. Every animal, even the weak and small, plays a role. The boy is the recipient of a small prize from the nature club for his good questions. He flushes with pride and smiles. Before they leave, they sit on a wooden seat to rest. They pass an old red phone-booth that no one uses anymore.