The countryside holds countless childhood memories, like dreams that linger on. The restless urban heart finds peace here. If possible, I would raise a few pigs, plant some fruit trees, and build a long corridor leading to the place of dreams. Or, during my leisure time, I could pick peach blossoms to exchange for wine money, living a carefree life.
A light rain came last night, but I didn't notice the early arrival of spring. Suddenly, dawn breaks over the spring mountains, and birds chirp around the house. The New Year has passed with half a month of continuous rain. Although time went by accompanied by rain, my mood was beautiful every day. Today is Start of Spring, the day closest to spring. Every household inserts willow branches at their doorsteps and eats spring pancakes, symbolizing everlasting spring in all four seasons. Tomorrow is the 15th day of the first lunar month; I woke up startled by the sound of gongs and drums. Flipping through the calendar, I realized the tranquil life is about to end, and it's time to return to work and start the year's struggle. I don’t know when this year’s swallows will come, but the snow arrived late anyway. Yesterday, the sky was shrouded in misty rain, and the apricot flowers were cold, but today, the sun rose red and bright. The weather changes like a lover's face, sometimes sunny, sometimes cloudy. In 2012, I hope hopes are no longer just hopes. At least, Grey Wolf should make progress and manage to eat a sheep. Our TV broke down, and Ou Yangde and Xiao Shenyang became the worst actors of the year. Who asked you to fight over the channel with me? Of course, in the end, I hope my wallet will be full!
When I returned home on the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month, I was so excited that even the way I wrote felt lively. Wow! The ancestral hall has been renovated, colorful decorations everywhere, except the door seems smaller. And the pond at the village entrance! Oh, one family's water buffalo drank a large portion of the water. The willow trees all grow slanted now, and the children have grown so tall and handsome – I can barely recognize them. Since I've been home, it has rained endlessly. In the morning, I was called by Mom to visit the elders, freezing to the bone. This southern winter, whoever said it wasn't cold should come here and try running naked. Today, there was supposed to be nothing to do, but some scholar got inspired and organized a New Year's Eve party for the whole village. Unfortunately, I was caught helping move tables and chairs. My goodness, it never ends! I hid in Auntie's house to warm my frozen heart, but someone snitched on me, and I was caught again and forced to perform a program. Oh no! I haven’t even finished primary school, how am I supposed to perform a program? But because of their milk candy bribes, I gave in. How pathetic! Finally, I performed a Huangmei Opera. Coincidentally, a beautiful journalist appeared in the village, seemingly familiar. Asking around, I learned she was a university student from a neighboring village. It turns out the village has people studying all kinds of things. Those tailors are terrible; they didn't even make me decent clothes. They must have failed their exams. The performances by the elderly ladies made me worry about their backs. This New Year is truly a display of everyone's talents! When I heard that Grandpa would perform martial arts, I was both nervous and excited.
February 14th, Valentine's Day, came unexpectedly, and distant classmates sent sincere blessings. However, I was rushing through life without stopping, visiting clinic after clinic, facing one cold face after another. I lamented this cursed Valentine's Day, wondering how many children would be tricked into bed, and how hotels would be full. People really have no sense of justice. Suddenly, I smirked, thinking, "If they get deceived, it's none of my business. The more deception, the more medicine we'll sell!" Passing by the cinema, girls holding flowers smiled more beautifully, obviously young lovers whose sweet voices sounded like cats in heat under the moonlight, making one want to admire from afar but not touch. A cat-like girl walked elegantly towards me. I tried to look disinterested but my legs trembled, probably due to the cold wind tonight. She was about my height, wearing a thick red jacket over black coral fleece, a tight red scarf, one hand in her pocket, the other holding a rose, and below, beige leggings.
"Are you here to watch a movie? Where's your date?"
I was confused, cursing silently, "I'm here to sell medicine!"
"Hmm, I'm here to watch a movie, but there's no seat left. Are you alone?"
"You too... Well, I have two tickets. Do you want to buy them?"
Inside, I cursed again, realizing she was a scalper. "I don't want to watch alone. If she hadn't come, I would have bought one and asked her to accompany me." The girl mewed happily, knowing I'd fallen into her trap. Without hesitation, she linked arms with me and entered the Spring Cinema. I sighed inwardly: "Women, how deceitful you are."
"What's your name? I'm cold."
"Just call me Spring. What's your sister's name?"
"Spring? You 'spring' cat, I mean I'm cold."
"Spring, why are you here alone? Where's your boyfriend?"
"I don't have a boyfriend."
"How is that possible? You're prettier than this flower."
"I just don't."
"Damn, who believes that? Am I seeing a ghost?"
"Look at those two on your left."
Spring remained calm, "So what? Haven't seen them before?"
I thought, "Today, I've met an expert." I stared at them curiously, but she muttered softly, "Me neither." I laughed, "Let's go have a snack!"
I pulled her out directly, asking if she had a car. Seeing her red Audi, I thought, "Thank goodness I can drive." On the way to the International Hotel, she didn't say much. As soon as we entered, the receptionist said, "Sorry, all rooms are booked." Embarrassed, I told her, "I planned to bring you here for a snack." She nodded and walked out. The cold wind outside made me shiver. What am I doing? Am I also in heat? I told her I needed to go home. She agreed, saying goodbye and asking for my phone number. I hesitated but showed her my counterfeit Motorola. After a few presses, I knew her number. That's how I spent Valentine's Day, without a valentine.
It was already 12 o'clock when I got back home. Should I call or not? Finally, I decided to wait a few more days.
Time flies, it's already February 20th, a week after Valentine's Day! Time is worthless, wasting away! Is this how my life is meant to be? - NO! I randomly dialed Xiaomao's number, "Do you have time to hang out with me?"
Xiaomao, indeed a spring kitten, replied, "Where are you?"
"I'm at the First People's Hospital, come here."
"What happened? I'll come immediately."
"Come and see."
Ten minutes later, Xiaomao drove her red Audi, "What happened? Why are you here?"
"Nothing, just feeling down and thought of you."
"Ha ha, what's bothering you? Let's go somewhere," Xiaomao linked arms with me like at the cinema.
"I'll drive. Your mood isn't good, I'm afraid you might run off with me!"
"He he, impossible, I still have goals."
"What are your goals?"
...
Nine years ago, I spent six months successfully losing weight. Five years ago, I gained weight successfully by binge eating. Starting February 21st, 2012, I decided to test my perseverance again, to see if my resilience remains the same as before.
Recalling my story, I wasn't born obese; I used to be very thin. In the first year of junior high school, due to poor physical condition and extreme thinness, the doctor suggested my mother give me more nutrition. Then, besides regular meals, my mother stewed an old hen for me every day, for a whole month. Due to overeating, I suffered from excessive nutrition and drowsiness, and my weight skyrocketed, joining the ranks of the obese.
By the second year of high school, I weighed 80 kilograms (height 171 cm). I strongly realized that weight was a serious issue affecting my personal image, so I decided to lose weight. For half a year, I woke up at 4 am every day, jogging for an hour and a half (more than 20 kilometers, non-stop), controlling my diet to only thirty percent of normal intake, and reviewing English words for an hour after returning. Due to excessive physical exhaustion, I often fell asleep in class. Six months later, my weight dropped to 55 kilograms. I couldn't imagine how I endured those days, constantly admiring myself in the mirror, smiling proudly, finally becoming a handsome man.
Five years ago, I entered the workplace, joining the sales industry. With irregular hours and more freedom, my appreciation for fine food increased, leading to binge eating. Over two years, my weight surged again, reaching a perfect obesity level of 88 kilograms (height 173 cm).
Unlike most people around me, I possess inner resilience. I rarely bother others when faced with difficulties, choosing to endure silently. I persist in everything I do, sometimes stubbornly continuing down the wrong path. A successful person must be strong and patient. Having studied literature and history, economics plays an important role, and commerce has always been my ultimate destination. Before embarking on business, I set five tests for myself, refusing to proceed until passing them. This time, I decided to re-test myself, considering it the first trial, resolutely shedding that hateful fat.
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