That wisp of smoke

That wisp of cooking smoke is the sweetness of childhood; that wisp of cooking smoke is the difficulty of youth; that wisp of cooking smoke is the wish of middle age.

Childhood is far away, but the memories are always sweet. Although poor, it is full of pure beauty. Those childhood friends, some have not been seen for a long time, and I wonder if they can still remember their childhood looks when we see each other again; some have not been heard from, and do they still remember the nights we played together; some are rarely seen, but we still keep in touch on WeChat to chat about the past. , talking about the present, every innocent word is a perception of life. Living healthily and hard is just the normal state of middle-aged people. They need to make money to support their families, and they also need to start taking care of their bodies and souls. There are some people who, even if they have not seen each other for a lifetime, still remember them again and again in their hearts, because the same land and the same river have left us with the same sweetness.

We went to dig wild vegetables together, carrying small baskets, jumping and laughing; having snowball fights together, the cheers in front of and behind the house; watching outdoor movies together, that wind, that rain, that time Walking together; the care you gave me on the way to and from school... When I see the smoke from the kitchen, I think of my childhood, because when the smoke curls up, it is when my mother calls us home for dinner, which is an expectation and a satisfaction.

That wisp of smoke is the difficulty of youth. The most difficult days were when I just got married. During the three most miserable and tiring years, I didn’t know what to cook for every meal. I looked at the smoke from other people’s roofs and lit my own stove, but I didn’t know what to do. Worried and heavily in debt, how could I have survived such a time if I had not been supported by love and hope? Every time I think back to those years, I still feel the courage to dream for love. Nowadays, although I rarely see smoke from cooking stoves, I still want to do something. I have nothing to worry about. I don’t have anything to eat. I don’t know what to buy for the New Year. It’s not that I have eaten enough big fish and meat, but that I have no desire to eat. Maybe this is also the reason why I am thin. Sometimes I even think that I can last a lifetime. People who eat delicious food are really lucky. In the smoke of youth is love, hope, and hardship.

That wisp of smoke is the wish of middle age. When I cross the threshold of forty years old, I realize that time disappears in a blink of an eye. I don’t know when it will turn, and I don’t even say goodbye. A new day has gone far away. I live in a small town, not far from that familiar little yard. It only takes half an hour to pick up the car. However, I am also very busy with life and work. I occasionally take the time to go back and take a look. If I are far away, I can see the roof. When the smoke rises, there will be a kind of warmth in the heart. I can't help but quicken my pace. The child even runs to open the door first and then hugs the old man. The smiles of the reunion are like the smoke. Lighting up the smoke, the people who love me are still healthy and can keep the hut warm. They all say that I often go home and visit. This is more of a middle-aged wish. My own busyness takes up too much time. I have plenty of heart but not enough time. When I was there, I would recall over and over again the curl of smoke, the hot kang head, and the familiar call...

That wisp of smoke has been curling, drifting, and drifting away, But it can't disappear...