Things in the world are always unpredictable. There may be providence in the dark. Growing up in the south of the Huaihe River in Qinling Mountains, I was destined to blend closely with the land of southern Shandong by accident, and to blend tears and joy in quarrels and struggles.
In the eyes of strangers, Lunan is vast. The vast land not only accommodates the growth and reproduction of more than 9 million people, but also breeds diverse and complex ideas and viewpoints. In the process of integration with southern Shandong, I experienced the pain of being difficult to communicate and the joy of meeting and laughing. I feel the trouble of not giving in to each other and the joy of mutual understanding. It is the basic requirement of local Lunan for people's life to be sensible, considerate, not responsible for justice and geography. Home is an eternal harbor for people, a space for settling love and warmth, but home is never a place for reasoning. Lunan improved my mind, broadened my horizons, accelerated my growth, and made me understand that kindness is the most precious hope of my family.
In the eyes of southerners, Lunan is bright and clear. The sky is always so clear, the sun is always so golden, and the wind blows on the face with indescribable freshness. Seeing six roads, thousands of miles away, endless, tea in the breeze, relaxed and happy. In the process of blending with southern Shandong, I had gloom, hesitation, sadness and disappointment. In the rainy weather in the south, the resentment will be as thick and thin as moldy hyphae. In southern Shandong, gloomy skies are rare and sunny days are numerous. Even in the season when the north wind is howling, the cold blocks the whole southern Shandong, but the waterfall of sunshine will pour out at the first opportunity and sprinkle heat energy on the ice and snow. After a while, the snow water flowed into a clear stream, shining silvery white on the earth, which made people feel warm.
In the eyes of people in western Hubei, southern Shandong is mellow. Compared with the delicacy and delicacy that southerners never tire of eating, and the exquisite craftsmanship, ingredients, color and fragrance of southern cuisine, southern Shandong cuisine is not good at delicacy, but mellow and long. People in southern Shandong like to eat rich and colorful food, and they have a special liking for "salty" among the five flavors. Both cook the meat and home-cooked dishes pay attention to the strong and deep taste. Yellow sauce and soy sauce are the protagonists of southern Shandong cuisine seasoning. At first glance, the two kinds of ingredients are plain, but once they are mixed with ingredients and other seasonings, they will have a unique charm, warm stimulation and leisurely aftertaste. This is very similar to the character of Lunan people, rough and unrestrained, passionate, and the former United States.
Lunan is far away, but the distant Lunan is no stranger. Andrew West, a poet, said that human affairs are always worthy of our deep thought and aftertaste. In the colorful tapestry interwoven with mutual dialogue and exchange for so many years, looking back at the moment in southern Shandong, I saw an ordinary and simple life, a force deeply growing behind this simplicity. My growth benefits from this power, and because of this power, I can become a better self.
Life is born infatuated with love, and it has nothing to do with romance.