The Spring Festival period is actually quite long. Let's see what I can remember.
Going Home#
I vaguely remember taking the train back to my hometown a few days ago in freezing rain. The scenery outside the window had undergone the baptism of freezing rain, presenting a different view from usual. The tree branches seemed to be carved jade branches, shimmering with a cold light. Every leaf, every branch, was wrapped in ice beads. However, these ice beads also brought a heavy burden to the trees, and I saw many broken branches when I went out. Thanks to the invasion of freezing rain, our high-speed train was also delayed by 30 minutes.
The train swayed and arrived at the station. Due to the background of the economic downturn in recent years, the road was relatively quiet, unlike the bustling scenes of the Spring Festival in my memories. Even so, the cost of living in small cities is really high. "I'm really laughing at my own poverty." In a small city, it can't be considered self-deprecating. The people in small cities seem to be quite wealthy. It is said that big cities are urban jungles, while small cities have a slower pace of life and less life pressure, which is a "retreat" for many people. But I feel that small cities are scarier, and the desire for fame and fortune in a society of acquaintances is magnified several times. I know that our country has always relied on infrastructure construction to make money. Small cities have approved countless useless projects, and batches of people have become rich overnight, but the lives of residents have not necessarily improved much.
Let me give you an example. There used to be a city library in the city center, which served all the residents in the central urban area with convenient transportation. Now a large library has been built in the suburbs (I still have deep resentment about this plan). It occupies an area similar to that of the Changsha Library, but the collection is half the size. When you look closely, half of the collection is e-books and rare ancient books. There is no public transportation to the suburbs (so you need a private car to go to this library). When asked about the cost, it was 300 million yuan. Just think about how many books can be bought with 300 million yuan. Isn't the greenery in the city center stronger than that in the suburbs? When asked further, they would say that you don't understand. I don't know which people are supported by the 300 million yuan, but it's definitely not me. The biggest impact on me is that I lost the opportunity to go home and browse the library.
After bringing my luggage home, my mom made a bowl of lamb and vermicelli for me. The lamb and vermicelli, seasoned with red chili oil, had bright colors and a fragrant aroma, which I enjoyed.
My mom said she bought the lamb from our neighbor. After long hours of stewing, the lamb became tender and had a sticky texture. The delicious flavor of the lamb permeated the soup. From the cold freezing rain to the warm winter bamboo shoots lamb vermicelli, it was like the sun rising after a cold night, dispelling exhaustion and driving away the cold.
And the sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner I had with my new family
It was a feast, and that night we had a few drinks while casually watching the Spring Festival Gala on TV.
The Taste of the New Year#
Fireworks have been banned before the epidemic, claiming to protect the air quality. However, the air quality has not improved, which shows that fireworks are not the cause of the air problem. This year, no one stopped the fireworks because everyone had a tough year.
At night, lying on the bed, my family and I talked about fireworks. It is said that those who set off fireworks are not in the best position to watch them. The best place to watch fireworks is a distance away from where the fireworks are set off. For example, the view from Orange Island is definitely not as good as that of the people on both sides of the river. The people who set off fireworks cannot immediately go to the best viewing spot after setting off the fireworks. Therefore, a conclusion can be drawn: Fireworks are set off for others to see. In the past, when it was lively, you set off fireworks for others to see, and others set off fireworks for you to see. As the saying goes, "People all over the world are connected and in love. When they travel thousands of miles away, their hearts become one. Tonight, when the lights are on in thousands of households, perhaps they are looking at the beautiful scenery through the window in their dreams." When everyone set off fireworks for each other to see, the New Year became more prosperous.
But when you know that your neighbor spent 2,000 yuan on a firework, and the other neighbor spent 4,000 yuan on one, and you and my friends saw both fireworks without spending a penny, you start to feel secretly happy. From the moment you start thinking like this, the taste of the New Year begins to fade away from you. If the neighbor doesn't set off fireworks next year, you will start to lament that the taste of the New Year is getting weaker.
What I Captured#
Besides eating and chatting at home, I also took photos and went shopping.
During the Spring Festival, the empty streets were filled with pedestrians.
The tipsy dusk, mottled tree shadows.
Slight rust on the blue iron plate, just like this dusk to the blue sky.
Classic composition, strong color contrast divides the image into several sections. From cool colors to warm colors, combined with the dynamic movement of pedestrians, the whole picture maintains a calm balance while expressing strong emotions.
The harmonious coexistence of steel scaffolding and wild plants makes people think about the relationship between the city and nature.
The small town has become more vibrant than before, dilapidated but full of vitality.
Why can't the ring I made be a championship ring?
What I Ate#
Most of the time, I ate at home, but I also went out for a few days to eat.
To be honest, this stir-fried rice noodles are average, but the delicious rice noodle shop was closed during the New Year.
This one is really delicious, a lesser-known traditional delicacy from my hometown. The unique spicy taste and rich ingredients make it unforgettable. The ingredients are cooked until soft and absorb the rich spicy soup, giving each bite a spicy and fragrant taste. The abundance of ingredients ensures a diverse texture, including kelp, protein meat, bean sprouts, eggs, cabbage, rice cakes, black fungus... I can't remember all the ingredients, but it's definitely abundant. Eating it with the hot and spicy hot pot makes me sweat all over.
Always believe in the "Student's Choice Award". Food that students love must be delicious and affordable. The "Chicken Fillet Aunt" and the "Iron Plate Uncle" across the street have been competing since the first time they came here for a stroll. After so many years, it's still them. Food that stands the test of time is the real delicacy (but this time the chicken fillet feels a bit disappointing, as if it's hinting at retiring from the arena).
The former god, with the expansion of this restaurant's capital in my hometown, the taste is not as good as it used to be. Not to mention the previous "Under the Lu Mountain" spaghetti, this one is not as impressive, and it's not even as delicious as when I cook it myself.
From the same restaurant, it has a rich flavor and is above average. But as I said, the capital behind this restaurant has occupied too many spots in my hometown and failed to control the quality of each restaurant. The overall quality has declined.
What could be more enjoyable during the holiday than eating blueberries and cherries while lying down and playing Arknights?
What I Watched#
Pegasus 2#
Every year on the first day of the lunar year, I go to the movies. I was urged to buy movie tickets early in the morning on the first day. I chose to watch "Pegasus 2" instead of "Hot and Spicy" simply because I didn't want to watch a weight loss vlog. When a movie's promotion focuses on weight loss, neglecting the storytelling, there isn't much to say about the storytelling of this movie.
I watched "Pegasus 2" and it was okay. After leaving the cinema, I gave it a 4/5 rating. Han Han has started to use visual language and speak through the camera, which is a good start.
It has humor and is not awkward. Zhang Chi's car accident at the driving school and his helplessness and anger in the car were well portrayed. I believe that Han Han has experienced this stage himself, and Shen Teng's acting skills are also excellent. He accurately and skillfully captures the emotions, making me believe that he has experienced it himself.
I can only give it 4 stars after leaving the cinema. The main reason is that this movie is ultimately a wish fulfillment story, which can only be enjoyed as a light read. But it's good to enjoy it during the New Year. The climax of the two cars merging into one is quite impressive. I got goosebumps all over.
The Client#
I heard a long time ago that this movie is good. It was a New Year's film from years ago, and after watching "Pegasus 2", I decided to watch it. If we compare it as a New Year's film, I would give it five stars, while "Pegasus 2" would only get two stars. The difference is huge.
What made me laugh the most was Ge You's line, "The landlord's family doesn't have any surplus grain either." It's a classic.
It had laughter and tears, idealism, and 1997 has passed. I miss it.
Wish You Well#
A movie by Da Peng, I can only say it's okay. Da Peng's movies always give me the feeling of being formulaic, and the characters don't have much development. The plot revolves around whether Han Lu is a hostess or not, and fortunately, she is not. But what if she is? Would this tomb have to be dug up? The whole plot only touches on it and doesn't dare to explore too much, which feels a bit opportunistic.
It's another movie given to Liu Yan, anyway, after watching it, I can only say it's average, the intention is good, but it's scratching the surface.
Meow Meow Meow#
I'm already tired from writing so much. Recalling so much content has left me a bit exhausted. Let's take a look at our cat, Dodo.
Dodo is a well-behaved baby. You can touch and hold it without any resistance. The only downside is that it's not affectionate and its poop smells terrible, but everything else is great.