The meaning of children in "The Book of Returning to Hometown" where children meet but don't know each other. I think it’s meant to make you look cute, is that correct? Please explain.

Teaching reference books generally explain it as "children", but I personally think it is "childhood playmate". As soon as the children in the village saw me, they smiled and asked me. Do I look so special? However, when I meet my childhood playmates now, I can’t recognize each other (it’s like we’ve seen each other before, but we can’t say each other’s names), so we can only smile and ask: “Where is this guest from?” — “When I was a boy. I left my hometown and only had the chance to come back when I got older. I still speak the local language fluently, but my hair is already dyed gray. My childhood playmates couldn’t recognize each other when they met. They asked me with a smile where I came back from. distinguished guest.