Winter Days in the Countryside

By Huang Lu

This winter,with a newlyadded mantelpiece,the house is warm and cozy.The weather in January has been pleasant.Living in the countryside increased my fondness of winter days.The tranquility of the village in winter,so clear and quiet,is really fascinating,no sounds of house building,random talks of people,humming of insects,but occasional dogs' barking.The leafless branches of the bosket by the village and absence of the distant green mountains seem to have magnified the universe.Yes,wintertime gives me the sense that the world is open wider in front of me.

In the early days of the winter season,when you open your eyes in the morning,you will feel mesmerized for a second: Is there something to be done in the field? When you feel sure it is wintertime and there won't be anything waiting for you in the field,instantly you feel completely soaked with happiness and wish the winter may linger on longer.But within a blink of eye,half of the season is gone.When strolling around the village this afternoon,I sensed the apparent warmth in the wind and felt the strong reluctance in my heart to part from winter.The wind genuinely makes you feel cozy,and you think of spring: Just come naturally as it may.

Staying leisurely idle inside home on winter days,I found that our goods in stock (cabbage,radish,potatoes,pickles,various kinds of dried vegetables,frozen eggplants,beans,tomatoes,bitter gourds,okras) could definitely last till the coming April,even May when fresh greens begin to grow in the field.

The day before the fierce drop in temperatures,I invited my friends to my home.On winter days we seldom host guests at home,as the place is confined and not as warm as the buildings in cities,yet it is still a thing of blessing getting packed in with people on cold winter days.

To me,every winter living in the country is filled with the sensation of being idle,which brings me deep enjoyment.