Sending a touch of summer scent

On a summer night, a strong wind swept across the garden, the sky clear, twinkling with the light of stars from the heavens. In the night, carried on the wind, a gentle, familiar, and pure scent wafted through the air. It seemed as if the vast fields were carrying the aroma of freshly cut straw, the pungent smell of paddy water, and the clean fragrance of wildflowers growing along the roadside. The night was so gracious, calming the hustle and bustle of the day, allowing Hạnh to more fully appreciate the sweet, refreshing scent of summer.

Her grandmother told Hanh, "My dear, if you're too tired, come home, come to me, I'll give you a boost." So Hanh packed her backpack and... went to her grandmother's house. The vast countryside garden, with its lush, green trees, embraced her grandmother's old house. Early in the night, her grandmother called Hanh to bring out a mat to spread in the yard, to gaze at the crescent moon. Amidst the foliage, the chirping of sparrows could be heard, and the moon playfully danced and frolicked. The magnolia trees in the garden had revealed their first buds, not yet fully open, but still emitting a strangely sweet fragrance. The lemon tree in the corner of the yard still twinkled its half-closed purple buds in the dark night. A gentle breeze blew through the low wall, carrying the clean, sweet scent of young lemons. "Grandma, what kind of flowers are those in the garden that smell so sweet and warm? I've been thinking about it for ages," Hanh exclaimed. "They're betel nut flowers," her grandmother replied. "Both betel nut trees are blooming at the same time." "Betel nut flowers smell so good, Grandma? I only just realized that now. And our betel nut trees have been here for ages," the young girl said, feeling a little resentful. "Maybe it's because when I was little, I didn't pay attention. As I grew up, I was constantly away studying, and I didn't have time to visit Grandma. There are things around us for years, but we don't always notice them, my child..." With a heavy heart, Hạnh tried to inhale the sweet, gentle fragrance. As night fell, the scent of the betel nut tree grew stronger, enveloping the garden and her grandmother's house. Hạnh felt lightheaded, unwilling to escape from these wonderful scents. It was this very scent that drew her back to her beautiful, carefree youth, growing up with her friends under this betel nut tree. The first gift that made Hạnh exclaim with delight was when her grandmother used old betel nut husks to weave her a pair of small, pretty carrying poles so she could play pretend with her friends... All these memories and longings were concentrated in a familiar scent that Hạnh... had lost over the years.

As night deepened, the wind grew stronger, allowing the trees and flowers in the garden to sway freely, displaying their fragrance. The wind, along with the scent of the flowers, gently caressed and soothed Hạnh. It had been a long time since she had felt so comfortable and relaxed. It had also been a long time since all of Hạnh's worries and anxieties had suddenly "dissolved" into the air along with... many sweet, carefree summer scents. Life is full of hardships, but ultimately, there are unique ways to "heal." Like today, the scent of summer, in an instant, carried Hạnh's sadness to a distant land.

Spring Flowers

Source: https://baonamdinh.vn/van-hoa-nghe-thuat/202506/gui-chut-huong-he-d0920de/