The wind blows the banana leaves behind the house…

The wild banana tree bloomed and bore fruit. A bunch of bananas looked so appealing. I watched over it every day, waiting for the bananas to ripen so I could taste them. Oh! At first glance, the wild banana looked just like a regular banana, but when you bit into it, it was full of seeds. It truly lived up to its name. And then, I couldn't possibly eat a banana and have to keep spitting out the seeds – how could that be?

I jokingly asked my mother, "These bananas are all seeds, I don't know why you planted them?!"

My mother laughed: "The leaves of the wild banana tree are for wrapping cakes, my child. As for the banana fruit, I'll save it to make banana wine for your father. And the trunk, if it's a bit rough, you can cut it up and add it to chicken salad – it's delicious!"

It turns out there's nothing about the wild banana tree that we don't use. And perhaps, only with this particular species of banana do people utilize everything from the leaves to the trunk.

I've noticed that whenever my mother cuts down a bunch of plantain bananas, she always chops the trunk straight down. Then, if she forgets, you'll see new shoots sprouting right where the banana tree fell. A new life cycle begins!

With all the worries about food, clothing, and money, people sometimes look back and see a new bunch of bananas appearing on the straight trunk of a banana tree. Few realize that the banana tree also carefully nurtured itself until the day and month came to produce a deep purple banana bunch. Then the bunch bursts open, revealing pristine white banana flowers with countless drops of nectar at the tips, and begins to bear fruit. It's a long process for the banana tree; but for humans, it's about the blink of an eye.

In the blink of an eye, memories of the past return…

That day, we had an abundance of dried banana leaves at home, and coincidentally, the man who makes puffed rice cakes was passing through the neighborhood carrying his equipment. He went to gather the dried banana leaves, then took out his tools.

It was a tube with lids at both ends, where people put white rice inside, sealed the lids, and rotated it over a fire fueled by banana leaves. Once the pile of dried banana leaves was gone, he told the children like me to stand back. He took the tube out of the fire and tapped it hard with a stick. Suddenly, "boom"... The roasted white rice puffed up, turning bright white. A fragrant, rich, sweet aroma lingered in my throat as I grabbed a handful of the puffed rice and put it in my mouth. Thanks to the dried banana leaves, the children in my neighborhood had a snack that was both delicious and filling...

When my youngest brother moved out on his own, my parents had to clear the banana grove to dig the foundation for the house. Those old banana trees were too big for just anyone to uproot. My father and a few uncles spent the whole day digging, tilling, and clearing the land to get a flat surface.

After a while, perhaps in the blink of an eye, while strolling around the neighborhood, I was incredibly surprised to see a young shoot vigorously reaching towards the morning sun. I didn't know if it was a banana plant, a plantain, or a Simon banana, but I was truly impressed by the banana plant's incredible vitality.

A cool breeze blew through, and the tender green banana shoots seemed to brighten up amidst the myriad shades of green of the surrounding foliage…