锦绣华南 8

Oblivious to the domestic chit-chat,

granddad Guyong Song has serious matters on his mind.

Spring is a start of the rice growing season.

The success of the crop will determine how well the family will eat next year,

so planting at the right time is critical.

The ideal date depends on what the weather will do this year,

never easy to predict.

But there is some surprising help at hand.

On the ceiling of the Songs' living room,

a pair of red-rumped swallows,

newly arrived from their winter migration,

is busy fixing up last year's nest.

In China, animals are valued as much for their symbolic meaning as for any good they may do.

Miao people believe that swallow pairs remain faithful for life,

so their presence is a favour and a blessing,

bringing happiness to a marriage and good luck to a home.