This innocent idea brought me here, to a small grove nestled by the river in the heart of a city. Here, one can see nature and also glimpse the cityscape; hear the gentle rustle of wind through the treetops and the rhythm of water hitting the dam; watch sunrises and sunsets while listening to the murmuring stream. Occasionally, a car speeds past on the road outside, a fleeting moment like fireworks igniting youth, startling a flock of sparrows feeding by the roadside. They fly off, brushing against the fading glow of sunset, disappearing into the dense foliage.
Cooking sheep and slaughtering cattle brings joy, we should drink three hundred cups! Master Cen, Dan Qiu, let's drink, don't stop the cup. I will sing a song for you, please lend me your ears. Who has taken mom's money again? My sister laughs, "Oh, yesterday on the way back from the noodles shop, I was short of one yuan in change, so mom gave it to the person. Can I be blamed?"
We all laugh and joke around knowingly, but none of us know how my classmate will explain this situation at home.
In fact, this is not a real well, but a courtyard surrounded by six or seven-story buildings. It’s not ancient either, but a first-class modern building where people like me who have been "banished" live, along with a group of children.
Looking back on the past year, I feel a bit incredulous: the dejected mood and bleak future during graduation from university contrasts sharply with the current active life full of fighting spirit.
The delicate plucking produces harmonious tunes, starting with 'Rainbow Skirt' and then 'Six Yao'.
My childhood was mostly spent with my grandfather. The impression my grandparents gave us was one of kindness and friendliness, easygoing and approachable. In my childhood memories, I can say that my grandparents were the best people I've ever met. Many times, they would give food to strangers, even those considered crazy, despite their own poverty. Their generous spirit was well known. Even if they themselves went hungry, they would still help others. For a rural family, such broad-mindedness is rare. As for us, it was simply expected.
My grandparents were very kind to me. No matter what mistakes I made, they never scolded or hit me, only patiently educating me. So, whether the concept of crystal-clear mentality truly exists, I cannot convincingly articulate. In my childhood, I worked hard to help my grandfather with small tasks. He often gave me pocket money, which I never wasted but saved instead. Whenever there was good food, my grandparents would always let us have it first.
In the early days, on the 30th day of the twelfth lunar month, without widespread television, people had little else to do besides wrapping dumplings or playing poker. When we were kids, we could only look up at the mine night lights from below the mountain. Now, we choose to go up the mine to overlook the city night view, gazing at the flowing river of lights.
I didn't pay much attention before.
The sky changes quickly, last night's storm has brought today's severe cold. I remember one Mid-Autumn Festival when a typhoon was blowing fiercely, and amidst heavy rain and wind, I and a few colleagues, wearing raincoats, walked a long distance just to fulfill our agreement to admire the moon together, knowing fully well that there would be no moon visible in the stormy and dark sky.
The return journey by olive cart gave me another taste of experience.
I am a messy woman, expressionless, yet constantly devising ways to hurt myself without fear. The old house was our childhood home.
As long as one controls oneself well, chatting about some things in life, discussing some wild ideas, talking about some doubts one doesn't want to discuss with close friends, isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Savoring Kung Fu tea alone, watching CCTV-1's Lantern Festival Gala, at this moment, I appear detached from worldly affairs, feeling like tea poured into a cup, leisurely and natural. When you stop progressing for temporary pleasure, seeing crowds pass you by happily, at that time, you can only sigh at the vast ocean and regret immensely. Due to her passion for learning, her senior year of high school wasn't as dark as others said it would be.