Unconsciously, it was another midsummer, and I accidentally read Yuan Mei's poem: "The shepherd boy rides the ox and sings loudly." Suddenly, there was a kind and familiar pastoral atmosphere, and the scene of herding cattle that summer naturally caught my eye.
Although my hometown is located in the hilly area, in summer, the river flows a lot and the shore is rich in aquatic plants, which is very suitable for grazing cattle. There was an old buffalo at home. It naturally became my duty to take care of it during the summer vacation. I drive it to the river to eat grass every day. The old cow is also sensible, very obedient to follow me, from time to time swinging its tail to drive away flies. At other times, I just eat grass with my head down. When I am full, I will find a cool place to lie on the ground and chew slowly, and my ears will be fanned from time to time, which makes me feel very carefree.
At this time, I was catching small fish in the nearby river. Small fish are so cunning that they often "slip away" from me. Still catching cicada, I approached the tree where cicada was. Before I got to the tree, I heard a "squeak" and the cicada flapped its wings and flew away. Sometimes I will read my books in the shade and immerse myself in another world, while the old cow keeps by and never walks. Each person has a cow, so he keeps company with the river.
That time, I had enough fun and suddenly remembered the shepherd boy in the ancient poem. I can't help but yearn for it and want to experience the feeling of riding on the back of an ox. Although the old cow is honest, I have never ridden its back. In case it falls on me, this is no joke. Looking at this behemoth, I felt really scared and couldn't help flinching.
However, once an idea comes into my mind, I always feel reluctant to try it, so I slowly gather around the old cow and gently touch its stomach and back with my hand. The old cow closed her eyes peacefully and chewed slowly in her mouth, as if enjoying it. My heart exulted, so I rode on its back gently. The old cow still didn't move, just opened her eyes and turned to look. I thought proudly, there is a door. So, I tried to pat his belly with my hand, and he stood up slowly, stretched out his neck and began to move forward. I rode on the back of the cow carefully, feeling proud and satisfied.
When I got home, I couldn't help showing off to my friends. They all appreciate it. When I was herding cattle again, some friends followed me, clamoring to ride my cattle. They also threatened me not to play with me unless I rode a cow. I have no choice but to allow them to ride cattle. To be on the safe side, I took the cow rope and my friends took turns riding on the cow's back. A little friend insisted that I let go of the cow rope, so I let go, but the old cow carried him slowly into the river, scaring him to shout and scream, which was very funny. We were laughing happily, and the laughter flew out of the water.
Sometimes, I ride an old cow to read. The old cow seems to be used to it. Walking steadily while eating grass. One thing I have always regretted is that I lack a bamboo flute. Otherwise, what would it feel like to learn from the shepherd boy's "no-cavity piccolo"?
That summer, I rode the old cow really smartly, and I also formed a deep friendship with the old cow. Under my grazing, adults say that the old cow is much fatter than before. However, after the summer vacation started, I came home from school one day only to find that the cowshed was empty. Later, I was saddened to learn that my father had sold the old cow.
Now, many years have passed, and whenever summer comes, I can't help thinking of the old cow and the summer on its back.
About the author:
Li, male, from Linyi, Shandong Province, is currently teaching at Tanghe Middle School in Linyi, a member of Linyi Writers Association and a member of the Network Literature Creation Committee of Linyi Writers Association. He has won many awards for essay writing, published many articles in the supplements of national newspapers such as Unity Daily, Southeast Morning Post, Xinzhou Evening News, Xingsha Times, Henan Daily Rural Edition, Tangshan Labor Daily, Huashang Daily, Hezhou Daily and Market Star, and wrote the novel Legend of the Sword and the Chivalrous Man.
"Bashu literature" came into being
Editor-in-Chief: Pen, Ink and Book Volume
Dazhou Radio and Television News (Dazhou New Newspaper) Supplement Selection Base of the Order of the Phoenix.
All high-quality manuscripts with high reading in the same period on the platform of "Bashu Literature" will be selected by Dazhou Radio and Television News.
Submission email: gdb010 @163.com.
Special note: when submitting a manuscript, the author must mark the words "original article, at your own risk". If it is not marked or original, it will be rejected.