The soft and cute spring, yawning in the spring breeze, wakes up again.

Some of the buds emerging from the branches are like the clenched little fists of a sleeping baby, held up vigorously under the blue sky, and some are like their furry sleepy eyes that are still squinting. In the warmth of the sun, maybe he would open his eyes in the next second, with clear brows and a smiling face.

In the green wheat fields and beside the river ditches, all kinds of delicious things emerge, such as willow ears, shepherd's purse, noodle trees, rice mugwort, wormwood, dandelions, and toon heads. ..Like stars, countless.

Human beings are sensory animals, and all memories are nothing more than the first breaths, tastes, sounds, colors and body touches.

Then I thought of the thatch roots in my hometown of Ruhetan in this season, and a fresh feeling suddenly appeared in my heart. This feeling originated from the memory of my childhood taste buds, and the chewing in my mouth was sweet, crisp, and raw. Cool and refreshing taste.

Thatch root is a perennial herb that can be seen everywhere in the countryside. It grows on sunny grasslands beside roads, on hillsides, and in riverbanks. The rhizomes are coiled in the soil, crawling sideways, and densely covered with scales. The flower spikes are shaped like spears and are white in color, so they are also called Imperata root.

Its rhizomes can be dug and eaten in spring and summer. Especially in early spring, it has the best taste, the most water, and the freshest texture. It is not only a delicacy for children in the countryside, but also a traditional Chinese medicine. It has the effects of cooling blood and stopping bleeding, clearing away heat and detoxifying.

As the temperature gets warmer in spring, it is easy for people to "get angry". At this time, it is the season when Imperata cogongrass roots are growing vigorously. It is a tradition passed down by farmers from generation to generation to dig fresh cogongrass roots and boil them in water to make tea. A folk remedy against plague.

I remember when I was a child, my mother was the principal of a rural middle school. She considered the school her home and often organized work-study programs for teachers and students to plant trees and plant castor beans, pick dung and pick cotton, catch ladybugs in the wheat fields, walk sweet potatoes, and go up the mountain. Kill thorns (thorns) to make a fence for the school garden.

Every spring, my mother, who knows something about pharmacology and medicine, must personally lead the teachers and students to the river beach or hillside in the east of the village, dig out a lot of thatch roots, and let the school staff boil them into buckets. Herbal tea is placed at the door of each classroom, with a gourd and gourd placed on the lid. Children have to line up to scoop out water when they come to school, so that they can safely survive the flu-prone spring.

Anyone who has lived in the countryside will recognize thatch roots. After digging it from the ground and drying it, it is tied into small bundles and hung on the eaves or walls. Throughout the year, anyone who has a headache, brain fever, burning eyes, nosebleeds, or difficulty urinating will use it to make tea or boil it. Drink water. Adults and children can take out a few sticks and put them in their mouths to chew when they have something to do. Its close relationship with farmers is like betel nut to southerners and chewing gum to modern urbanites.

Not only the rhizome of thatch root is edible, but the unopened inflorescences are also a delicacy. The scientific name is "Imperata cogongrass needle" and it is commonly known as "mao bud".

The most suitable season for extracting and eating Mao Ya is early spring in February. By March 3, the Mao Ya extracted will be old and cannot be eaten by humans and can only be fed to cattle.

The newly born grass buds are like small bamboo shoots that have just emerged. Use gentle force to pluck them from the middle of the grass blades, and peel off the green layer wrapped around them. It tastes like grass, and the moist hairy balls are like marshmallows, but they lack the sweetness of sugar. Although they are tasteless, they are not to be despised. Those born in the 1970s who lived in rural areas during their childhood and were not yet able to have enough food and clothing must never forget this kind of "snacks".

In the plains of northern Shandong, Mao Ya is also called "Grain Di". Su Song of the Song Dynasty recorded: "It can be found everywhere. The buds grow in spring and cover the ground like needles. They are commonly known as Mao needles, and they can also be eaten. , very beneficial to children. The white flowers grow in summer and dry up in autumn. The roots are white and can be picked in June." When I was a child, I often dug the roots of thatch from the soft sand. You can directly scoop it out with your hands, wipe off the contaminated soil, or wash it in the clear river water, put it in your mouth and chew it to quench your thirst and greed. The sweet taste spreads from your lips and teeth to your heart. , recalling it from childhood to today.

When I grew up, I stayed away from the countryside and entered the university campus. On a quiet afternoon, among the books in the library, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the wild grass and vegetables I was familiar with in my childhood had been hidden long, long ago. In the book, waiting for me to open it and meet again.

This book is the Book of Songs. It is more than 2,000 years old. It is not only the first collection of poems, but also an encyclopedia. In particular, many of the flowers and wild vegetables mentioned in it are still popular among people today. Delicious food in your mouth.

The selfless gifts of nature, like the excellent traditional culture left to us by our ancestors, have been passed down to this day.

There are several figures of Imperata in the Book of Songs. For example, in "The Book of Songs. Zhaonan·There is a dead jūn in the wild", "There is a dead jūn (jūn) in the wild, and the Imperata is wrapped around it; there is a girl who is pregnant with spring, and she is lured by good luck." Of".

Imperata was a symbol of whiteness and suppleness in ancient times. It was often used to cushion or wrap sacrifices during sacrifices. In this love poem, the young hunter used Imperata to wrap the wild deer he had hunted to please the girl. , to express your admiration.

Newborn Imperata also has a beautiful name called "Ti". Because of its whiteness and tenderness, it is used to describe the slender hands of beautiful women. In "The Book of Songs. Wei Feng. Shuo Ren" "The hands are like catkins, the skin is like gelatin, the smile is charming, and the beautiful eyes are full of hope."

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I think this thatch root that is most close to the earth must be the grass in Liliyuan in Bai Juyi’s poem that “the wild fire cannot burn it out, but the spring breeze blows it again”. The distant fragrance invades the ancient road and the clear green In Jiehuang City, if history is an ancient road, then countless ordinary people must be the thatch roots that have spread through the ages.

The sweet thatch roots made me chew them again in the book. There are many wonderful flavors. If you can chew the aroma of vegetable roots, you can do Pepsi. If you can chew the aroma of grass roots, you will be able to enjoy peace of mind and not be impetuous.

I will stop writing here. I looked up at the desk and looked out the window at the colorful flowers and green willows and the lively orioles. This spring was so beautiful, and I thought about the fertility of the land in my hometown. I really wanted to put away the books on my desk for a while and rush back to the fields of my hometown. The green grass by the river was right now. The place my heart longs for most.