Text and photos by Chen Chi-Hsiang. In this season of crisp, clear autumn air, these two weeks are summer in India—a rare treat with gentle breezes and sunny, warm weather. Taking advantage of the time, I went with my friend V to his home in the countryside to tidy up the vegetable garden and courtyard. We pruned roses, grapevines, large and small branches, and the few remaining tomatoes; planted tulips and daffodils; transplanted herbs and lavender; weeded, tilled the soil, and tidied the house. This year, we also specially painted the wooden exterior windows of the house, preparing for winter.

Every time my friend V and I go down to the countryside, leaving the urban forest and city behind for the Burgundy countryside, far from the hustle and bustle of the metropolis, putting aside worldly matters, and entering into bright pastoral landscapes, it is always a longing and joyful experience. No matter the season, going down to the countryside occasionally to settle down, shifting time and space and context, viewing natural scenery, and restoring our weary bodies and minds is delightful. Late at night, one can gaze at the starry sky and wander in spirit—how enjoyable.

The pastoral melody of this crisp autumn season consists of post-harvest scenes, where one can still see the tracks left by harvesters rolling over the wheat fields. Some fields have already been tilled and fertilized. The groups of tree clusters forming the scenery on distant hills are particularly charming, as autumn has marked the treetops, gradually changing from green to red and yellow from top to bottom. Walnut trees by the road are covered with fallen walnuts (I picked up three or four kilograms), and wild apple trees are equally covered with fallen fruit. The secret forests on the hills are playing the natural melody of crisp autumn, while the vineyards behind the hills, preparing for winter, reveal the unique rural landscape of the Champagne-Burgundy region.