Qingming Festival is always calling you out to the nature, with flowers blooming and birds chirping and everything turns green and lively. That allure came with such a force this year that we found it hard to resist. We have been trapped at home for just too long because of the unexpected virus outbreak, so, we were almost desperate for an outing, to breathe some fresh air and let off the stream.

However, the reality checks. The virus is still out there, and we can’t afford a 14 days quarantine time when our kids are about going back to school. One of my friends arranged a short trip for us, specialized for such situation.

She found a famous B&B in the countryside of Pengzhou, just two hours’ driving from home, not two far that you have to report it and it has zero confirmed case during the virus outbreak, ---perfectly safe.

The B&B has a relaxing name: idly away together, which means 无所事事in Chinese. It has four bedrooms, one big kitchen, one huge dancing hall, a cozy place for tea break and a beautiful yard. We happened to be a group of 12 people, four families in total, so we could have the whole place for ourselves.

A trip during the virus is supposed to be a little bit different, and it can’t be just about exploring the outside. We had to make some adjustments and added great homestay experiences to it. I’m sure everyone has enough homestay experiences at home, but believe me, it’s totally different to try it at some other’s home, a home you dream about but perhaps can’t afford, with your friends and just have funs.

We played games together, and the most memorable one is to “Choose your bedroom”. Four dads danced first, and we ranked them through voting, and then the children can choose their favorite bedroom in order of their dad’s rank. Well, it might not be pleasant to look at four mid-aged men to dance, luckily none of them has a big belly, but at least it can make you laugh and definitely eye-catching, I mean, in a funny way.

As for dinner, we prepared hotpot by ourselves. Great foods, good wine, best friends, chit-chat, nothing could be more relaxing.

There is a beautiful green-road outside for you to explore. Nothing fancy, but beautiful flowers scattered around in well-trimmed plants, a river came through it, and birds chirped happily in the trees, what else you could expect from countryside?

Idly away together. When I got retired, I wish I could find such a peaceful, clean and cozy place to live, just idling away the rest of my life. What a luxury dream to dream about!