It was a sunny and humid morning in the countryside when Lala woke up to the cheerful chirping of birds outside her window. She stretched lazily and peeked through the curtain. The rice fields glistened with dew, and the nearby pond sparkled under the rising sun. Today was no ordinary day—it was the day CEO Kien had promised to take her snail harvesting!
Lala had heard about snail harvesting before but never experienced it herself. She had always associated snails with the small ones crawling across garden paths—not the fat, juicy freshwater snails that lived in the muddy fields of the countryside. The idea of catching something slippery and slimy didn’t sound glamorous, but with CEO Kien by her side, anything could be fun.
By 7:00 AM, Lala was dressed and ready. She wore a wide straw hat, a long-sleeved shirt to protect her from the sun, and rubber boots that reached her knees. CEO Kien was already outside, standing by the motorcycle, grinning and holding two woven baskets.
“Ready, snail hunter?” he teased, handing one basket to her.
“Let’s do it!” she replied with determination, though a tiny shiver ran down her spine thinking about those slimy creatures.
They drove down a dirt path surrounded by tall grass and banana trees until they reached a muddy pond with shallow water, filled with thick weeds and soft mud. It didn’t look like much at first glance, but CEO Kien pointed excitedly.
“This pond is full of snails! After the rains, they come out in large numbers to feed. Perfect time to harvest.”
Lala stepped cautiously into the water. Her feet sank into the mud, and the cool squishiness surprised her. She squealed, but CEO Kien just laughed.
“You’ll get used to it!” he said as he knelt and reached into the mud with practiced ease.
She watched closely. With a few slow movements, CEO Kien pulled out a big, dark-shelled snail and dropped it into his basket. Lala hesitated, then mimicked his actions. The mud felt cold and sticky, and she couldn’t tell if she was touching a rock or a snail. Then suddenly—she felt something move under her fingers!
“Aaah!” she yelped, dropping the mysterious object.
CEO Kien laughed so hard he nearly lost his balance.
“Relax, it’s just a snail! They’re harmless. They can’t even bite you.”
Feeling embarrassed but determined, Lala tried again. This time, she managed to grab the shell properly and pull it out. She held up her first snail like a trophy.
“I did it!”
“Nice work!” Kien clapped. “We’re going to fill both our baskets before lunchtime.”
And so, the two of them got to work. At first, Lala was clumsy—she’d confuse snail shells for stones or pull up handfuls of weeds. But slowly, she started to get the hang of it. Snails liked to hide under the thickest clumps of weeds or snuggle into the softest parts of the mud. You had to feel around patiently, sense their subtle weight, and gently pull.
The sun climbed higher, and the air became heavier. Mud splashed on their clothes, and their hands were covered in dirt. But Lala didn’t mind. It was quiet and peaceful, the only sounds being frogs croaking and birds flitting through the trees. CEO Kien kept cracking jokes, and they even raced to see who could find the biggest snail.
After two hours, Lala had harvested over fifty snails. Her basket was heavy and nearly full.
“I think I’m officially a snail master now,” she said proudly, wiping sweat from her brow.
“You’ve earned your title!” CEO Kien said. “And just wait till you see what we do with them next.”
They rinsed off by the edge of a nearby stream, laughing at how muddy they looked. Back at Kien’s house, his aunt was already heating up a large wok in the outdoor kitchen.
“You two look like swamp monsters,” she teased. “But I see you brought back a feast!”
They helped clean the snails with salt and lime, scrubbing them to remove the slime. Then came the magic—CEO Kien’s aunt stir-fried the snails with lemongrass, chili, garlic, and fish sauce. The aroma was mouth-watering.
Lala had never tried snails before, and she was a little nervous. But as she bit into one, her eyes widened.
“This is delicious!”
“Told you!” Kien said. “Fresh snails, country-style cooking—nothing beats it.”
They ate until their bellies were full, sitting under the shade of a mango tree. Lala felt proud and strangely fulfilled. She had stepped out of her comfort zone, gotten dirty, learned something new, and ended up with one of the best meals of her life.
“You know,” she said, sipping a cold drink, “I never thought I’d say this—but I really enjoyed snail harvesting.”
CEO Kien smiled. “That’s the thing about the countryside, Lala. It teaches you to find joy in the simple things.”
She nodded. “And the slimy things too, apparently.”
They both laughed.
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, Lala helped wash the baskets and clean up. Her muscles were sore, her boots were caked with dried mud, and her hands smelled faintly of lemongrass and garlic. But her heart was light.
This adventure, unexpected and earthy, reminded her that life was about experiences—messy, real, and full of little surprises. And today, it had all started with a humble snail.
“I’ll never look at snails the same way again,” Lala said as she waved goodbye.
CEO Kien gave her a knowing grin. “Next time, we’ll catch frogs.”
She laughed aloud. “One slimy adventure at a time, please!”
And with that, she hopped back onto the bike, the wind in her face, a basket of leftover snails in her lap, and a story she would never forget in her heart.
