It has been two years since I returned to my hometown. The day before Tomb-Sweeping Day, I decided to go home to see my parents who were sleeping underground, to see my octogenarian grandma, and to see the things I once knew so well. of villages.
"It rains heavily during the Qingming Festival." Sitting in the car, I saw the picturesque scenery of my hometown behind the rain curtain from the window. The mountains in the mist looked like mountains but not mountains, and the green mountains and white mist lingered. , giving people a hazy, dreamlike feeling. Coming to my hometown gives me a romantic feeling like being in a fairyland.
My hometown will always be a picture that I never tire of looking at. In this early spring with continuous spring rain, this feeling is particularly strong. When you come to your hometown and look at the mountains and rivers after the heavy rain, you will feel that your secular heart will suddenly become clear.
Here we are, finally arriving at the village we haven’t seen for a long time. After we got out of the car and walked a few steps, we suddenly discovered our contemporaries in the village - the military woman. The moment our eyes met, we screamed almost at the same time. The shy boy in the past is now a boy with premature hair, and his slightly fat body is no longer as thin as it used to be. Seeing this change in him, I couldn't help but sigh that time is like a thief, stealing everyone's youthful style without anyone noticing, and not letting anyone go. I once thought that time was ruthless to me, turning me from a yellow-haired girl into a yellow-faced woman, but I didn’t know that time was also merciless to others, turning a handsome boy in the past into a slightly old middle-aged man. .
Although we are the same age as him, and although he has some white hair on his head, he still looks decent and elegant. In comparison, I am much shabby. Maybe this is because of the different circumstances? Over the years, he has made a fortune while working hard outside, built a building, bought a car, and lived a better life.
If it hadn’t been for Qingming Festival and I happened to go home, maybe I wouldn’t be able to see him; if he hadn’t happened to be standing outside the door, maybe I wouldn’t have been able to see him when I went home. Over the years, I have rarely seen my peers in the village. They make a living outside all year round and rarely go home. When they go home, it is mostly during the Spring Festival. As for me, it is rare for me to go back, and I usually only go back in a hurry before the Qingming Festival. Due to some strange combination of circumstances, we have been together for more than ten years. , and even rarely meet each other for more than 20 years. What a coincidence it was to see him this time!
In order to make a living, everyone is running around and working hard, and because each is forced by life, people gradually become alienated and indifferent to each other. However, whose fault can you blame? I also wanted to meet the people I grew up with in the village, but I couldn't be willful. I couldn't abandon my business and go back to my hometown when my family's shop was booming during the Spring Festival. I could only choose to go back to my hometown during the Qingming Festival when business was relatively slow.
When he sees me, will he also sigh and wonder why I became like this? I think he must think so too.
I came to my grandma’s house with my sister and saw my uncle sitting at the door holding his little grandson. Grandma is warming herself by the fire in the kitchen. My aunt and uncle are here too. It's rare for everyone to get together, so naturally we are extremely happy to see each other this time. Sitting around the fire pit, my grandma and aunt asked me to ask questions. The long-lost family affection was like the flames in the fire pit. It made me feel a touch of warmth in this early spring when it was warm but still cold, and my body and mind gradually warmed up.
After lunch, everyone was ready to go to Hanging Mountain. First I went to my grandfather’s grave, then I went to my grandfather’s grave to lay flowers and set off firecrackers, and then I went to my parents’ grave.
Standing quietly in front of my parents’ graves, I was speechless. I only listened to other people talking about hoping that my parents would bless me. Even though I went through all the trouble to come, I didn’t want to say anything to my parents’ tombs that they couldn’t hear, let alone squeeze out a few tears. Not crying doesn't mean that I have forgotten it. When my eyes are moist, I don't want others to notice. Regardless of whether my parents can sense that I have been here, I only need my heart to tell me: I have been back to my hometown during this Qingming Festival.
After hanging up the mountain, my sister and I went to my aunt’s house. I saw my uncle lying on the bed, his head turned to one side. I called "uncle", but he didn't turn around. I thought he didn't see me. I walked to the opposite side of him and called him, but he still ignored me. My cousin told me that my uncle didn’t know anyone since his serious illness. It’s useless for me to call him that.
Looking at my uncle, whose face was so thin and deformed, his eyes were dull, and his expression was dull, I suddenly felt sour in my heart, and tears were about to flow out. What a family after such a heavy blow needs is peace and smiles, not sadness and crying. I didn’t want to ruin the original peaceful atmosphere, so I held back my tears, choked with sobs and told my cousin to take good care of my father, and then changed the subject.
I think back then, my uncle, who was tall, handsome, and well-groomed, was very proud of himself, his business was booming, and his daughter was admitted to Zhejiang University. He saw that good times were coming, but he did not expect that serious illnesses would follow one after another. , and almost lost his life. Now, although there is no immediate danger of life, he is still like a disabled person. He has to be taken care of for food, drink, and diarrhea. He has a tube inserted in his nostril for a long time. He has no thinking and cannot speak.
Looking at my uncle lying on the bed, I knew what "life is impermanent". I hope my uncle will have another miracle and become a normal person soon. My cousin and cousin work in other places, far away from home, and my thin aunt takes care of my uncle alone. It is really hard! My aunt is miserable but she is optimistic and strong. There is no hint of boredom or complaint in her words and deeds. I think my aunt is really great.
After staying one night at my sister's house, I decided to go back to my home the next morning. Without my parents’ hometown, I always feel like something is missing. I came here in a hurry, just to stand still for a moment in front of my parents' graves, just to see my old grandma, just to see my uncle who was completely different from before. In this way, all my wishes were fulfilled. My wish has been fulfilled and it’s time for me to return.
Sitting in the car on the way back, I saw the highway being built in my hometown from the window, and I couldn't help but feel a little relieved. I believe that this highway connecting Hunan and Hubei must be a golden avenue leading to prosperity. The future of my hometown will only get better and better!
As the shuttle bus moved forward, my thoughts were slowly changing, and my mood changed from relaxed to heavy. The tombs of my parents were vaguely visible through the rain curtain, and my heart felt like it was being bitten by insects and ants, and it began to hurt.
Tears overflowed from my eyes unsatisfactorily...
Goodbye, hometown! Goodbye, my beloved parents! When spring comes and flowers bloom one year, I will return to my hometown and visit you again!