The golden sunlight shone brightly everywhere, a gentle breeze rustled through the leaves, carrying with it the stifling heat. On this hazy afternoon in the city, I remember those beloved summers of the past…
Summers of childhood... ( Photo: Internet ).
For me, summer is a fleeting image of my homeland, filled with overflowing love. It's a season of hot winds chasing each other across the palm fronds, the dry, curved tiled roofs, and the dusty, white-hued roads. Every summer, I would diligently go to the garden with my grandmother to gather palm fronds to make fans. I remember those summer days when the power often went out, and the heat made the palm frond fan an indispensable item for everyone. Those childhood summers were incredibly hot. The heat always reached 39-40°C. Even sitting inside, I felt the heat, sweat pouring down, soaking my clothes. At midday, the children would rush to the river to cool off. In the evening, we'd wait by the village well, scooping up buckets of water to splash around in. Back then, there were no water pumps or piped water like there is now; everyone went to the village well to fetch water for washing clothes and bathing. Days passed by, and the harsh summer was over.
Kites of childhood. (Photo: Internet).
I recall the summers of my childhood, the harvest season in the countryside. Right when the sun was at its hottest, the rice began to ripen. Farmers would carefully monitor the heat to harvest in time for drying, ensuring the rice and straw were dry enough to fetch a good price. Going to harvest in the summer made me realize just how hard the farmers worked. The sun beat down on their faces, making everyone's complexions dark and their hardship even more apparent. As a child, I followed my parents, carrying water jugs for them to rest during breaks. The harvest season brings back memories of grasshoppers jumping around in plastic bags. Despite the scorching heat, my mind was always preoccupied with the thought of a delicious, fatty "feast" of roasted grasshoppers, which further motivated me to trudge back and forth across the fields.
For me, summer was filled with moonlit nights as the whole family gathered around an old mat. My mother would prepare a pot of soft, boiled potatoes, while my father would brew a pot of strong, slightly bitter and sweet green tea. We'd eat potatoes and gaze at the moon until late at night before going inside to bed. I'd lie on my father's lap, gazing up at the twinkling stars, innocently asking how far the road to heaven was, and if I'd ever reach those tiny stars. My father patiently pointed out the constellation Scorpio, the Big Dipper, the Milky Way, and even flocks of ducks and swans frolicking in the sky. Outside in the courtyard, the night was tranquil, with frogs croaking and insects chirping. Such evenings were always so peaceful for me!
Simple yet incredibly heartwarming home-cooked meals. ( Photo: Internet )
Summer days evoke memories of simple yet incredibly warm and cozy meals at home. The dry summer was so harsh that plants couldn't grow. There were days when the whole family had to subsist on withered wild vegetables, or meals consisting only of a bowl of thin tomato soup made with cold water. Sometimes, meals were better thanks to my father returning from the fields with a handful of skinny, emaciated field crabs. He would pound the crabs until finely minced, strain the liquid, and add a handful of wild vegetables to make a sweet and savory soup. Such meals were so easily "burnt" (as my mother jokingly put it) when she saw her children eagerly devouring them. Later, as I grew up and moved far away, I had the opportunity to enjoy countless delicious foods, but I could never forget those simple summer meals from my hometown. It wasn't just an ordinary meal; it represented sacred family love and happiness.
The beloved summer just slipped away. Leaving the village for the city, my heart always ached with the longing to return home. A part of my soul is anchored there, memories become eternal, and they form a solid foundation for me to confidently step into life…
Emperor Tang Hoang Phi
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