<p class="ql-block">The Sorrow of the Mountain Forest</p> <p class="ql-block">In a vast forest, various animals and plants live together, jointly forming an ecosystem that seems harmonious. However, beneath the tranquility, there are many "ecological oddities" that are truly lamentable.</p><p class="ql-block"> </p><p class="ql-block">There is a plant called the "fast-growing vine" in the forest. It grows rapidly and is always eager to cling to other trees. They always "move on after causing damage." The fast-growing vine ignores the growth patterns of the trees it attaches to and is solely focused on competing for more sunlight and nutrients for itself. It spreads wildly and covers a large area of the forest in a short period. Some trees that were originally thriving are tightly entangled by the fast-growing vine and gradually lose their vitality. But when the "ecological crisis" in the forest begins to show signs, the fast-growing vine quickly moves to other places with the help of the wind and the migration of birds and beasts, leaving behind a devastated forest as if it had never wreaked havoc there. And those injured trees can only silently endure the pain, with no way to hold the fast-growing vine accountable for its actions.</p><p class="ql-block"> </p><p class="ql-block">Deep in the forest, there is a scenic spot called the "Misty Pond." The water in this pond should originally be clear enough to see the bottom, nourishing the surrounding creatures. But somehow, a peculiar type of "color-changing algae" has multiplied in large numbers. They continuously release toxins, turning the pond water murky and emitting a foul smell. When the surrounding animals come here to drink water, they are all poisoned. When other creatures in the forest try to find out the truth, the color-changing algae cleverly use the turbidity of the pond water to hide themselves. They even interfere with the perception of other creatures by releasing special substances, making them mistakenly think that other factors have caused the pollution of the pond water, creating scenes of "miscarriages of justice" and allowing the real culprits to go unpunished.</p><p class="ql-block"> </p><p class="ql-block">Among the forest managers, there is a group of managers known as the "forest protection finches." Some of these forest protection finches act absurdly when performing their duties. When there are problems with pests and diseases in the forest, instead of actively seeking solutions and delving into the forest to understand the root causes of the pests and diseases, they stand on high branches, shouting loudly and putting on a busy appearance. They only care about "performing" and do so just to show their "efforts" in front of other animals. In fact, they take no substantial actions to solve the problem of pests and diseases. It is puzzling that the "higher-level managers" in the forest seem to only see their apparent busyness but ignore the fact that the forest problems have not been solved. They still entrust these forest protection finches with important tasks, which deeply disappoints other animals that are earnestly protecting the forest.</p><p class="ql-block"> </p><p class="ql-block">There is also a kind of "blind worm" that is responsible for spreading pollen and seeds in the forest, which is a crucial job. However, some blind worms, when carrying out this task, neither understand the distribution patterns of the plants in the forest nor consider the characteristics of different plants. They spread pollen and seeds randomly and completely fail to follow the normal "notification procedures." Without sufficient investigation, they bring some seeds that are not suitable for local growth to other areas, leading to ecological imbalances in these areas. The actions of the blind worms have caused great damage to the forest ecosystem, but they are completely unaware of their mistakes.</p> <p class="ql-block">When an "ecological inspection storm" arrives in the forest, it should have been a great opportunity to solve problems and restore vitality. The small animals in the forest, full of hope, collected various "evidence" of ecological damage, such as the残骸 of trees strangled to death by the fast-growing vine and water samples polluted by the color-changing algae, and were ready to submit them to the "messengers of justice" who came for the inspection. But they never expected that those who came to receive the evidence were not the real inspection messengers but a group of forest residents called the "old woodpeckers." These old woodpeckers were once "managers" in the forest. Now, after retirement, they have betrayed their original aspirations. They handed over the evidence painstakingly collected by the small animals to the "culprits" that damaged the ecology, such as the fast-growing vine and the color-changing algae. What's even worse is that, in order to destroy this evidence, they even colluded with a mysterious creature called the "shadow bug." The shadow bug is proficient in various "destruction techniques" and, like lawbreakers using high-tech means to destroy evidence, under the instigation of the old woodpeckers, destroys the evidence, completely cutting off the small animals' path to safeguard their rights. And the real inspection messengers, the small animals never got to see them.</p><p class="ql-block"> </p><p class="ql-block">People can't help but wonder if there is "protection" from the "forest high-level" for these ecological-damaging behaviors behind all this. Judging from various signs, there is indeed such a suspicion. When ecological problems occur in the forest, some "forest high-level" do not severely punish the destroyers but adopt a laissez-faire attitude. The inaction of the "forest high-level" makes the destroyers even more unscrupulous, seriously disrupting the ecological balance of the forest and also making other creatures in the forest lose their confidence in "fairness and justice."</p><p class="ql-block"> </p><p class="ql-block">To change this situation, the forest must establish a strict "ecological accountability mechanism." For those animals and plants that damage the ecology, whether it is the powerful fast-growing vine or the tiny color-changing algae, they should be punished in accordance with laws and regulations without any leniency. At the same time, improve the assessment system for managers like the "forest protection finches" and select truly capable and responsible animals to protect the forest. Only in this way can the forest restore its former vitality and harmony and regain the long-lost fairness and justice.</p><p class="ql-block"> </p><p class="ql-block">Finally, a brave little squirrel stood up. It jumped onto a tall stump and shouted loudly, "We can't go on like this! The forest is our common home, and we should protect it together!" The little squirrel's voice echoed in the forest, awakening the courage in the hearts of all the animals.</p><p class="ql-block"> </p><p class="ql-block">The animals responded one after another. They gathered together and held a grand forest meeting. The clever monkey put forward a wonderful idea: to establish a "forest court" specifically to try those who damaged the forest. This proposal was unanimously approved by everyone.</p><p class="ql-block"> </p><p class="ql-block">Soon, the forest court was established. The majestic elephant served as the judge, the fair owl served as the prosecutor, and the witty fox served as the defense lawyer. The first one to be brought to court was the overbearing dodder. In the face of the ironclad evidence, the overbearing dodder could not quibble and was finally sentenced to receive punishment - to be uprooted and banished to the edge of the forest, never to be allowed to return.</p><p class="ql-block"> </p><p class="ql-block">Then, the black waterweed, the reckless beetle, and those derelict forest protection finches were all tried and received their due punishments. And the retired old owls and shadow mice, because they helped the villains destroy the evidence, were also imprisoned in the "forest prison."</p><p class="ql-block"> </p><p class="ql-block">From then on, strict rules and assessment systems were established in the forest, and every animal took on the responsibility of protecting the forest. With the joint efforts of everyone, the forest gradually restored its former vitality and became more beautiful and prosperous. And I, this old tree that has witnessed everything, can finally enjoy the tranquility of the years in this forest full of love and justice with peace of mind.</p>