Reminiscences of the Days Gone By with You

I was born in the Inner Mongolian Hingganling Plateau, a village not far from the city. As a person in middle age, I recall my childhood, starting from the age of eight, when in summer we dug up bitter melon to feed the pigs, and in winter we worked hard to cook sweet potato for the pigs. At that time, I thought life was difficult, but now I think it was also happy. This is just like what Master Zhu Guangqian said: 'A thing that is originally disgusting, if you look at it from a distance, it can often become a beautiful image.'

I can't forget the time with my classmates when we had to walk a long distance to dig more bitter melon, and the laughter and conversations along the way still linger in my heart. The interest and enthusiasm we had when doing things is probably unique to childhood, and also unique to that era

The most impressive thing is in 1998, when I was ten years old, the sun was hot and scorching, and the cicadas were constantly buzzing in the branches. The wheat was standing tall with its heavy ears. Wearing my dad's floral short sleeves bought from the city, my sister and I walked through the forests and fields to dig more bitter melon. In the midst of excited chatter, our small shovels continuously dug down, one scoop at a time, and we pulled the bitter melon from the soil, root and stem. The fresh, bitter melon flowed with white juice, mixed with the taste of earth, and we carried it home in small baskets, which was 'food' for all the pigs in the village

Our childhood was materially poor but full of freedom and joy

I and my two best childhood friends—Xiaoyu and Xiaoping, walked together for one hour every morning to go to school, and together we played in the fields and forests during holidays

Introverted Xiaoyu spoke few words, with a delicate face that often had a faint cloud on it. Her family only had two daughters, and in the past, there were no sons. So her parents unconsciously looked down on her. I, who was outgoing and lively, often told her jokes and amused her to cheer her up

While Xiaoping was completely opposite, with dark eyebrows and bright eyes, black and shiny, like a deep, dark pond. She was pampered at home, as the youngest of seven siblings, and very beloved. She was smart and lively, and very popular

And I, with seven siblings, were united and loved. My dad worked in the city, and my mom was honest and kind. Among the three of us, I was the most ordinary

Under the authentic rural customs, our friendship was still very deep. When someone had something delicious, they would share it together; playing shuttlecock, kicking shuttlecock, playing together without stopping

We three were inseparable, always together; this friendship lasted until my dad took me to the city to live, but we had to separate

To this day, I still remember what my dad said: 'Girls, if you stay in the countryside, you won't be able to go through it in a few years, you'll just get married and have children. I don't want you to end up like that. I want you to study for a few more years!'

So, to ensure that my siblings and I could enter the city, my dad earnestly pleaded with the leaders of the unit, to have our family of sisters processed one by one in the city

My siblings and I will forever be grateful to our parents for their momentous and difficult choices. They deeply appreciated their foresight and willingness to invest in our education. This also made me realize, through many things, especially from the fates of my two childhood friends, how important learning, reading, and independence are for women!

Now, I have continued to accept education and learn constantly, leaving my hometown in Inner Mongolia, and have started a business outside, enjoying the benefits of the times. I also deeply realized the importance of learning, reading, and independence for women!

Today, let's use words like flowers to illuminate our childhood memories, and let this beautiful year, this pure friendship, shine brightly.

“”

“”

2020

……

“”