I Returned to the Village Where I Grew Up | Rural Life in China

children. For a child, there are few the children. For a child, there are few things more exciting than playing with things more exciting than playing with things more exciting than playing with water on a hot summer day. So, we water on a hot summer day. So, we water on a hot summer day. So, we changed our plan. We would join the changed our plan. We would join the changed our plan. We would join the activity first and then head back to the activity first and then head back to the activity first and then head back to the village. A lot of children from

the village. A lot of children from the village. A lot of children from the community came to take part. And it community came to take part. And it community came to take part. And it wasn't only the children. Many adults wasn't only the children. Many adults wasn't only the children. Many adults joined in as well. There was water, joined in as well. There was water, joined in as well. There was water, foam, and laughter everywhere. My son foam, and laughter everywhere. My son foam, and laughter everywhere. My son had an amazing time splashing around. He

had an amazing time splashing around. He had an amazing time splashing around. He enjoyed it so much that he didn't want enjoyed it so much that he didn't want enjoyed it so much that he didn't want to leave. The community management also to leave. The community management also to leave. The community management also prepared cold watermelon for everyone to prepared cold watermelon for everyone to prepared cold watermelon for everyone to enjoy for free. On such a hot day, a enjoy for free. On such a hot day, a enjoy for free. On such a hot day, a piece

of chilled watermelon made piece of chilled watermelon made piece of chilled watermelon made everything feel a little cooler. Does everything feel a little cooler. Does everything feel a little cooler. Does your residential community organize your residential community organize your residential community organize activities like this? Once my son had finished playing, it was Once my son had finished playing, it was Once my son had finished playing, it was finally time to get ready. Before finally time to get ready. Before finally time to get ready.

Before leaving, I washed my hair and helped him leaving, I washed my hair and helped him leaving, I washed my hair and helped him pack his toys. No matter where we go, he pack his toys. No matter where we go, he pack his toys. No matter where we go, he never wants to leave his toys behind. never wants to leave his toys behind. never wants to leave his toys behind. So, of course, they had to come with us, So, of course, they had to come with us, So, of course, they had to come with us, too. Where are you? But before driving to the village, we But before

driving to the village, we But before driving to the village, we needed to stop at a store. I wanted to needed to stop at a store. I wanted to needed to stop at a store. I wanted to buy a new shirt for my father. I looked buy a new shirt for my father. I looked buy a new shirt for my father. I looked through several options and compared through several options and compared through several options and compared them for quite a while. Eventually, I them for quite a while. Eventually, I them for quite a while. Eventually, I found one that I thought he would

like. found one that I thought he would like. found one that I thought he would like. And since I was already there, I also And since I was already there, I also And since I was already there, I also bought myself a new pair of shoes. With everything ready, we could finally With everything ready, we could finally With everything ready, we could finally begin our journey. It takes about 1 hour begin our journey. It takes about 1 hour begin our journey. It takes about 1 hour to drive from our home to the village. We arrived near my hometown quite We

arrived near my hometown quite We arrived near my hometown quite quickly, but before going home, we had quickly, but before going home, we had quickly, but before going home, we had one more stop to make. My wife and I are one more stop to make. My wife and I are one more stop to make. My wife and I are both very nearsighted. Because of that, both very nearsighted. Because of that, both very nearsighted. Because of that, we worry that our son may also become we worry that our son may also become we worry that our son may also become nearsighted at an

early age. >> Whenever we return to my hometown, we >> Whenever we return to my hometown, we >> Whenever we return to my hometown, we visit my sister's optical store and have visit my sister's optical store and have visit my sister's optical store and have his eyesight checked. Luckily, the his eyesight checked. Luckily, the his eyesight checked. Luckily, the results were good again this time. Are they Are they Are they are there? >> My sister's store was also holding a >> My sister's store was also holding a >> My

sister's store was also holding a small activity called the sneaky eating small activity called the sneaky eating small activity called the sneaky eating challenge. After his eye test, my son challenge. After his eye test, my son challenge. After his eye test, my son stayed and played there for a while, but stayed and played there for a while, but stayed and played there for a while, but his grandparents were still waiting for his grandparents were still waiting for his grandparents were still waiting for us at home. So, we decided to visit them us at

home. So, we decided to visit them us at home. So, we decided to visit them first and come back later to talk with first and come back later to talk with first and come back later to talk with my sister. This is the village where I was born and This is the village where I was born and This is the village where I was born and raised. No matter where life takes me, raised. No matter where life takes me, raised. No matter where life takes me, this will always be my route. Come on. Go back. My mother had been waiting at home for My mother had been waiting at

home for My mother had been waiting at home for us to arrive. This is the place where I us to arrive. This is the place where I us to arrive. This is the place where I grew up. >> And this room used to be my childhood >> And this room used to be my childhood >> And this room used to be my childhood bedroom. Today it has become a storage bedroom. Today it has become a storage bedroom. Today it has become a storage room filled with different things. But room filled with different things. But room filled with different things. But standing

here and looking at these standing here and looking at these standing here and looking at these familiar walls, I suddenly felt as if I familiar walls, I suddenly felt as if I familiar walls, I suddenly felt as if I had returned to my childhood. Many had returned to my childhood. Many had returned to my childhood. Many things have changed, but the memories things have changed, but the memories things have changed, but the memories are still here. My mother knew we were coming, so she My mother knew we were coming, so she My mother knew we were coming, so

she had already prepared some cold had already prepared some cold had already prepared some cold watermelon for us. Here in the watermelon for us. Here in the watermelon for us. Here in the countryside, watermelon costs only about countryside, watermelon costs only about countryside, watermelon costs only about 4 cents per pound. How much does 4 cents per pound. How much does 4 cents per pound. How much does watermelon cost per pound where you watermelon cost per pound where you watermelon cost per pound where you live? You try you know. It was just an

ordinary piece of It was just an ordinary piece of It was just an ordinary piece of watermelon, but somehow when it was watermelon, but somehow when it was watermelon, but somehow when it was prepared by my mother, it tasted prepared by my mother, it tasted prepared by my mother, it tasted especially sweet. Cool. Is there This is my mother's vegetable garden. This is my mother's vegetable garden. This is my mother's vegetable garden. She grows vegetables anywhere there is She grows vegetables anywhere there is She grows vegetables anywhere there is

enough space, both in front of and enough space, both in front of and enough space, both in front of and behind the house. At this time of year, behind the house. At this time of year, behind the house. At this time of year, there are more cucumbers, tomatoes, and there are more cucumbers, tomatoes, and there are more cucumbers, tomatoes, and green beans than the family could green beans than the family could green beans than the family could possibly finish. When I was a child, we possibly finish. When I was a child, we possibly finish. When I was a

child, we ate green beans almost every day during ate green beans almost every day during ate green beans almost every day during this season. Back then, seeing another this season. Back then, seeing another this season. Back then, seeing another plate of green beans felt like a plate of green beans felt like a plate of green beans felt like a nightmare. But now, looking at the nightmare. But now, looking at the nightmare. But now, looking at the vegetables my mother has grown, I feel vegetables my mother has grown, I feel vegetables my mother has grown,

I feel something completely different. I feel something completely different. I feel something completely different. I feel happy. Maybe some of the things we happy. Maybe some of the things we happy. Maybe some of the things we wanted to escape as children become wanted to escape as children become wanted to escape as children become precious once we grow older. Yeah. >> Huh? My father had gone out to play Chinese My father had gone out to play Chinese My father had gone out to play Chinese chess. So now I'll take you to see where chess. So now

I'll take you to see where chess. So now I'll take you to see where he and the other older villagers spend he and the other older villagers spend he and the other older villagers spend their free time. My tuk has a realistic tired we decided My tuk has a realistic tired we decided My tuk has a realistic tired we decided to walk there. A lot of elderly people gather here. A lot of elderly people gather here. A lot of elderly people gather here. Some sit in the shade to escape the Some sit in the shade to escape the Some sit in the shade to escape the

heat. Some talk with friends. Others stand Some talk with friends. Others stand Some talk with friends. Others stand around and watch people play chess. The around and watch people play chess. The around and watch people play chess. The weather is hot, but the atmosphere here weather is hot, but the atmosphere here weather is hot, but the atmosphere here is lively. Over here, someone is is lively. Over here, someone is is lively. Over here, someone is performing you opera. Heat. Heat. Know you wait a What are you doing? New opera has developed Over

several New opera has developed Over several New opera has developed Over several centuries in China. It was once known as centuries in China. It was once known as centuries in China. It was once known as Hunan Bongzu before gradually developing Hunan Bongzu before gradually developing Hunan Bongzu before gradually developing into the form people know today. Many into the form people know today. Many into the form people know today. Many older people in Hunan love listening to older people in Hunan love listening to older people in Hunan love listening

to it. When I was younger, I couldn't it. When I was younger, I couldn't it. When I was younger, I couldn't understand it at all. To me, it just understand it at all. To me, it just understand it at all. To me, it just sounded like a lot of long, high-pitched sounded like a lot of long, high-pitched sounded like a lot of long, high-pitched singing. I never understood why older singing. I never understood why older singing. I never understood why older people enjoyed it so much, but now, people enjoyed it so much, but now, people enjoyed it so much, but

now, strangely enough, I'm beginning to like strangely enough, I'm beginning to like strangely enough, I'm beginning to like it. Maybe this is what Chinese people it. Maybe this is what Chinese people it. Maybe this is what Chinese people jokingly call an awakening in the blood. jokingly call an awakening in the blood. jokingly call an awakening in the blood. Besides Chinese chess and U opera, many Besides Chinese chess and U opera, many Besides Chinese chess and U opera, many older villagers also come here to play older villagers also come here to play

older villagers also come here to play cards, chat, and walk their dogs. Their cards, chat, and walk their dogs. Their cards, chat, and walk their dogs. Their lives may look simple, but they have lives may look simple, but they have lives may look simple, but they have their own ways of enjoying their time their own ways of enjoying their time their own ways of enjoying their time and their own kind of happiness. Come on. Look at this. When we returned home, my mother had When we returned home, my mother had When we returned home, my mother had already

prepared dinner. Well, Mm-m. Yeah. There you go. You back. >> Finally, the whole family sat down to >> Finally, the whole family sat down to >> Finally, the whole family sat down to eat together. The meal wasn't expensive eat together. The meal wasn't expensive eat together. The meal wasn't expensive or luxurious. But when the whole family or luxurious. But when the whole family or luxurious. But when the whole family can sit around the same table, it brings can sit around the same table, it brings can sit around the same table, it

brings a special feeling of comfort and a special feeling of comfort and a special feeling of comfort and happiness. This is the rural Chinese happiness. This is the rural Chinese happiness. This is the rural Chinese life I wanted to share with you today. life I wanted to share with you today. life I wanted to share with you today. It's the room where I spent my It's the room where I spent my It's the room where I spent my childhood. It's the vegetables my mother childhood. It's the vegetables my mother childhood. It's the vegetables my mother grows.

It's the familiar way my father grows. It's the familiar way my father grows. It's the familiar way my father spends his free time. And most spends his free time. And most spends his free time. And most importantly, it's the warmth of having a importantly, it's the warmth of having a importantly, it's the warmth of having a family waiting for us to come home. I'm family waiting for us to come home. I'm family waiting for us to come home. I'm Kai. See you in the next video.