It was a sunny day, and Zhao Dashan rushed back to his hometown from the provincial capital. Along the way, his heart was heavy, and his mother's dying words kept echoing in his mind.
Although Mrs. Zhao is over eighty years old, she has always been a lively and cheerful old man. Her greatest wish is to hope that her only son, Zhao Dashan, can change the fate of the family, get out of this small mountain village, and live a better life.
Everyone in the village knows that Mrs. Zhao is an amazing mother. She single-handedly pulled Zhao Dashan big, with hard work, and worked hard all her life. In order to save some more tuition for Zhao Dashan, Mrs. Zhao even did some chores in the village to earn extra money.
Zhao Dashan has been a smart and clever child since he was a child, watching his mother's hard work, he made up his mind to study well, get up in high school in the future, and repay his mother's nurturing kindness.
Sure enough, Zhao Dashan was admitted to a key university in the provincial capital. Before leaving, Mrs. Zhao took her son's hand and said earnestly: "Dashan, you have to study hard, you must make something in the future, so that my old bones can be blinded under Jiuquan!"
Zhao Dashan agreed to come down one by one, so that his mother could rest assured.
After entering the university, Zhao Dashan was hungry for knowledge, and participated in club activities in his spare time to exercise his comprehensive quality. His excellent performance was quickly appreciated by his teachers and teachers, and he was rated as a good student many times.
Despite being away from home, Zhao Dashan never forgot his mother's teachings. Every once in a while, he would write a letter to his mother, reporting in detail on his studies and life at school. Mrs. Zhao looked at her son's letter, and her heart was so happy that she couldn't close her mouth, and she couldn't stop muttering: "The child has studied hard, and he will have a bright future in the future!"
One summer vacation, Mrs. Zhao traveled thousands of miles to the provincial capital to visit her son Zhao Dashan. Seeing her son's excellent performance in school, Mrs. Zhao was so happy that she couldn't close her mouth. She took out some hometown specialties prepared in advance and shared the warmth of the countryside with her son.
"Dashan, you have to continue to work hard, you must become a talent in the future, so that my old bones can be blind under the Nine Springs!" When parting, Mrs. Zhao repeatedly admonished.
Zhao Dashan accepted them one by one to reassure his mother.
No one thought that when Zhao Dashan was in his senior year, a letter from home came with bad news that Mrs. Zhao was critically ill. Zhao Dashan was struck by lightning and rushed back to his hometown overnight, only to find that his mother's condition was already very serious. The doctor diagnosed it as terminal cancer, and the condition was incurable.
Mrs. Zhao, who was lying on the hospital bed, showed a relieved smile when she saw her son Zhao Dashan come back. She took her son's hand and advised: "Child, mom is leaving, you have to live well, you must achieve something in the future, don't live up to your mother's expectations!"
Zhao Dashan couldn't cry, so he could only nod his head over and over again.
Soon, Mrs. Zhao died. Zhao Dashan was very sad, handled the funeral, and prepared to hold a grand funeral for his mother to express his grief for his mother.
However, what Zhao Dashan never expected was that no one in the village came to attend Mrs. Zhao's funeral. It turned out that the villagers were very dissatisfied with the Zhao family, thinking that after Zhao Dashan studied, he no longer respected the customs and habits of the village as before, and fought against others everywhere.
"After a few years of reading, you forgot the rules of our village? Someone said.
"Yes, he's changed all day long, like an outsider, looking down on us old hats!" The other chimed in.
In the face of the indifference and criticism of the villagers, Zhao Dashan was very painful in his heart. He always believed that he was just studying hard and pursuing progress, and he had not done anything wrong. However, his mother's dying instructions echoed in his ears again, and he had to reflect on whether he had really drifted away from this village and his roots.
Looking back on the past, Zhao Dashan finally realized whether he had neglected the local traditions and customs too much while pursuing his personal ideals. My mother once repeatedly told me that no matter how far I go, I must never forget my roots. And to some extent, he seems to be a little out of the soil and drifting away from the villagers. What a sad situation it would be for a person to completely deny his roots, which is tantamount to denying his past!
Zhao Dashan reflected deeply on himself, determined to regain his respect for the customs of the village. So, he took the initiative to find several elderly people in the village and humbly asked for advice on local customs, hoping to reintegrate into the village.
In order to express his grief for his mother, Zhao Dashan held a grand funeral for his mother in accordance with the customs of the village. Seeing that Zhao Dashan was so sincere in following the township rules and regulations, the villagers also came to offer their condolences, and the scene was very warm.
In front of his mother's grave, Zhao Dashan silently said to his mother: "Mom, you can rest assured that you can sleep forever now." My son will always remember your teachings, and although he may have to go out to work hard in the future, he will never forget his roots. "
The death of his mother made Zhao Dashan heartbroken, but at the same time, it also made him deeply reflect on his relationship with his hometown. After this grind, he finally realized that no matter how far a person goes, he should never forget his roots.
In order to express his grief for his mother, Zhao Dashan held a grand funeral for his mother in accordance with the customs of the village. At first, the villagers still had prejudices against Zhao Dashan, but seeing that he followed the township rules and regulations so sincerely, they also came to mourn, and the scene was very warm.
After the funeral, Zhao Dashan took the initiative to find several elderly people in the village and humbly asked for advice on local customs, hoping to reintegrate into the village.
"Lao Zhang, I may have done something wrong when I was a child and offended you and other people in the village, please forgive me. Zhao Dashan said sincerely.
Lao Zhang looked at Zhao Dashan's sincerity, nodded and said, "It's nothing, you are a good boy, but you have been away from your hometown for too long, and some customs are unfamiliar." Communicate more in the future, I believe it will get better and better. "
If Zhao Dashan was reborn, he secretly decided to re-learn the customs and customs of the township with a more humble attitude. Only by truly respecting and assimilating into the local culture can he truly take root in the land and no longer alienate the villagers as he did in the past.
Under the guidance of the old people in the village, Zhao Dashan gradually refamiliarized himself with the various customs and rules in the village. For example, he learned how to greet his elders on the first day of the first lunar month; learned to greet acquaintances warmly in the village when they met them in the vernacular; I learned that during the harvest festival, I should prepare some sacrifices according to the village rules, worship my ancestors, and so on.
Gradually, Zhao Dashan reintegrated into the village and regained the distance with the villagers. Sometimes, he will take the initiative to make suggestions for some affairs in the village, such as repairing the ancestral hall at the entrance of the village, improving the sanitary conditions in the village, etc., which have been well received by the villagers.
"Dashan, you are much more mature now than before, which is really reassuring!" Lao Zhang said happily.
"Yes, I used to think that he was assimilated by the outside world, but now it seems that he is truly rooted in this land. Another old man also praised sincerely.
After this tempering, Zhao Dashan finally realized that no matter how far a person goes or how high his ideals are, he should not forget his roots. Only by always remembering one's roots and respecting the local culture can one truly become a responsible and effective person.
Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, Zhao Dashan is about to graduate. Although he is about to leave this small mountain village and go to another place to develop, his heart will always be connected to this land.
"Mom, you can sleep in peace now. My son will always remember your teachings, and although he may have to go out to work hard in the future, he will never forget his roots. In front of his mother's grave, Zhao Dashan said silently.
In this way, Zhao Dashan worked hard in other places, but his spiritual home was forever rooted in that pristine land. He used his actions to interpret the profound connotation of "following the customs of the villagers", and won the heartfelt appreciation of the villagers.
The mother's teachings finally bore fruit in her son, which allowed Mrs. Zhao, who was in the spirit of heaven, to finally sleep with peace of mind.
One early morning a few years later, Zhao Dashan once again set foot on the land of his hometown. The sun is shining, and the countryside is peaceful. Walking on the familiar path, Zhao Dashan took a deep breath, and the earthy smell made him feel extremely kind.
"Dashan, you're back!" A familiar voice came, it turned out to be Lao Zhang.
"Lao Zhang, are you okay?" Zhao Dashan stepped forward and greeted respectfully.
"Haha, my old bones can still hold up. You've been working hard outside for the past few years, so it's time to come back and rest, right?" Lao Zhang patted Zhao Dashan on the shoulder and said.
Zhao Dashan smiled and did not answer directly. He turned to look at the ancestral hall at the entrance of the village, his eyes a little gloomy.
"What's wrong? Are you thinking about your mother?" Lao Zhang seemed to see through Zhao Dashan's thoughts.
Zhao Dashan nodded, sighed and said, "Yes, after my mother left, I have always been haunted, and I feel that I couldn't give her a decent funeral back then, and my son is really unfilial." "
Lao Zhang patted the back of Zhao Dashan's hand and comforted: "That was a few years ago, haven't you corrected it now? Your mother will definitely be proud of you." "
Zhao Dashan looked at the familiar ancestral hall at the entrance of the village, and his eyes became firm. "Lao Zhang, you're right. I have decided to hold a solemn sacrifice ceremony for my mother in accordance with the custom of our village, to express to her the filial piety of a son. "
Seeing this, Lao Zhang nodded again and again and said, "Okay, good, this is the tradition in our township." Whatever you want to do, we will fully support you even if you tell us!"
On the day of the sacrifice, the sky was cloudless and the sun was shining. The villagers gathered in front of the ancestral grave of the Zhao family early and waited for the ceremony to begin. Zhao Dashan, dressed in a plain robe, stepped forward respectfully, and the candle flame flickered with his steps.
Subsequently, Zhao Dashan worshiped the high hall and the sacrifice in accordance with the sacrificial procedures, and they were all done in one go. The villagers all admired the piety of Zhao Dashan's sacrifice, and they were also infected by this traditional ceremony, all of which were solemn and solemn.
After the sacrificial ceremony, Zhao Dashan bowed his head in front of his mother's grave, and his heart was extremely relieved. He seemed to see his mother's heroic spirit nodding and smiling, affirming his filial piety.
"Mom, do you see? My son now knows how to respect the customs of his hometown, and you can rest assured. Zhao Dashan muttered to himself, tears hanging from the corners of his eyes.
After the sacrificial ceremony, the villagers all cordially stepped forward to hug Zhao Dashan and expressed their appreciation.
"Dashan, you have really grown up now and become a good son of filial piety. "
"Yes, your mother's spirit in heaven will be proud of you. "
"If you need anything in the future, just ask, we will give us our full support!"
Facing the praise of the villagers, Zhao Dashan's heart was extremely warm. He felt that he had finally found his spiritual home, and that this village was his eternal home.
There is still a long way to go in life, and Zhao Dashan is determined to make great achievements outside, but at the same time, he will often return to his hometown to feel the warmth of this land and draw strength to move forward. He believes that as long as he never forgets his roots, he will be able to go further and further on the road of pursuing his ideals.