Colorful years

These classic pieces, such as "The Butterfly Lovers," "On the Road to the Underworld," and "Lament," are not only musical works, but also expressions of emotion.

With its melodious tune and poignant story, "The Butterfly Lovers" touches people's hearts.

Through his suona playing, Grandpa vividly portrayed the tragic love story between Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai.

"On the Road to the Underworld" is a piece of music specifically for funerals, and its tragic melody evokes a sense of solemnity and reverence for death.

"Lament for the Dead" expresses the grief of losing a loved one more directly; the grandfather's suona playing sounds like weeping, heartbreaking to hear.

These pieces not only demonstrate Grandpa's superb playing skills, but also showcase his profound understanding of the various aspects of life.

In his grief, Grandpa used the suona to send his final blessings and farewells to his deceased loved ones, and also to offer solace to the living through music.

In such an atmosphere, people may be better able to accept reality, cherish the past, and appreciate the present.

The suona was a constant companion in my grandfather's life.

During those difficult years, when the pressures of life left Grandpa feeling weary and helpless, he would pick up his suona and play a tune. The melodious sound seemed to carry away all his worries and sorrows, giving him renewed strength and courage.

Whether it was dusk after working in the fields or a quiet night, the sound of the suona always accompanied Grandpa, becoming a solace for his soul.

Grandpa's life has been filled with laughter and tears, but the suona has always been his constant companion.

It witnessed Grandpa's journey from a naive young man to a white-haired old man, and the ups and downs he experienced.

In this family, although Congcong is still young, he holds a unique position.

He was not only his parents' darling but also his grandparents' precious child. Even his uncle's family valued him highly. He was always invited to holidays or important occasions, becoming the center of attention.

That morning, a red sun slowly rose, and its rays instantly bathed the earth. Birds sang merrily, as if welcoming the arrival of a new day.

On a lush meadow, cows leisurely graze on tender, juicy grass, swishing their tails to shoo away flies as they eat.

At this moment, a middle-aged farmer appeared in this peaceful and serene scene.

Congcong recognized him as Jinming-ge, and he walked respectfully to his grandfather.

"Fourth Grandfather, my Qing'er is getting married tomorrow, and I would like to ask you to make the trip."

Grandpa understood that this meant he was to bring the suona (a traditional Chinese wind instrument) to the wedding procession.

"Ah, Qing'er is getting married! This is a joyous occasion, something to celebrate! I'll go, I'll go!" Upon hearing this, Grandpa's face lit up with joy, and he readily agreed without hesitation.

Upon hearing this news, Congcong, who was standing to the side, became extremely excited.

He knew that his grandfather would bring him some delicious food when he came back at noon, perhaps a fragrant piece of pork ribs or tender and juicy lean meat.

In those days, resources were scarce, and every farmer had to hand over a pig to the state as tax.

Therefore, most families do not have a pig to slaughter for the Lunar New Year. Being able to eat pork during the three traditional festivals of Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival and Spring Festival is considered very lucky.

However, whenever Grandpa came back from playing the suona outside, he would always leave the portion of meat that was rightfully his to Congcong, making him feel endless warmth and love.

This transmission of family affection makes Congcong cherish the love from his family even more.

This time was no exception. After Grandpa finished playing the suona, he sat at the banquet, surrounded by a festive atmosphere and laughter.

The table was laden with a sumptuous feast, but what attracted Grandpa the most was the bowl of braised pork with noodles.

That dish was quite special; it was topped with eight pieces of pork with alternating layers of fat and lean meat, and underneath the meat were pickled vegetables. The aroma was irresistible and made one's mouth water.

According to custom, everyone is entitled to a piece of meat, but Grandpa couldn't bear to eat it.

His first thought was that his beloved grandson Congcong was young and growing, and that he couldn't afford to be too malnourished.

So he would quickly grab a piece of lean meat or a pork chop, secretly wrap it up, and put it in his pocket, hoping the performance would end soon...