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Showing posts from March, 2026

If only life could be like the first time we met

     If only life could be as beautiful as our first meeting.     Upon first encountering Nalan, the name itself is like a secluded orchid in a valley. Beyond the initial amazement, a breathtakingly beautiful scene unfolds. What kind of extraordinary talent could be worthy of such a refined name?     Although Nalan's real name should be Xingde, the mere mention of "Rongruo" evokes a natural elegance and grace that is unforgettable.     Nalan Rongruo, a solitary figure wandering the world, left behind countless breathtaking glimpses of brilliance. Yet, he remains only a fleeting glimpse in history. Only the elegant demeanor of this talented scholar remains vividly before our eyes.     Nalan is like smoke. Three hundred years ago, it was he who shaped the landscape of Qing Dynasty poetry. But in the blink of an eye, he vanished into the mists of history. In just thirty-one years, Nalan traversed the infinite possibilities of his life,...

Ancient City Sentiments

      The three rivers of Shahe flow together, a natural fortress perched atop the water.     Precipices and cliffs rise precariously, ruins and abandoned sites weathered by time.     —"Ya'er City" by Chen Cheng, Ming Dynasty     . Surrounded by steep earthen cliffs, a narrow passage leads to a rushing river below. Gazing at the ancient city of Jiaohe, and silently reciting Chen Cheng's "Ya'er City," I couldn't help but admire his apt description of the ancient city.     Entering the city through the narrow passage, the air thick with the scent of a thousand years ago, a whiff of earth, filled with the scent of soil, assaulted my senses.     Soil! Soil! Soil!     Nothing but soil.     The texture of soil. The form of soil. The posture of soil.     This ancient city, with its unique weight and profound his...

August Lavender

     [I]     I love Provence so much, or more precisely, I love the lavender that grows there.     [II]     Lavender is the beautiful garment of Provence. Blooming from June to August, the lavender forms the most romantic scenery in Provence…     [III]     When I was 14, I watched a TV series called "Lavender." The female lead was named "Yi Xun," and she and her lover made a promise about lavender, promising to reunite when Yi Xun turned 20… It was then that I learned that the flower language of lavender is waiting for love. I love violet lavender, so I told myself early on that I must go to Provence someday, no matter what. That "land of lavender" is also a small wish of mine. Go to Provence, see the lavender, and smell its cool fragrance. What a pleasant feeling!     [IV]     Let's elope to Provence together, to the romantic violet lavender fields. A promise we made.     Legend has it that i...

It nourishes things silently

     Words containing the character "润" (run) evoke a sense of gentleness, like a spring breeze. Examples include: 润下 (run xia, rain falling to nourish all things), 润雨 (run yu, receiving rain), 润改 (run gai, nourishing and cultivating), 润滋 (run zi, moistening)... each word possesses the soft, gentle quality of "entering the night with the wind, silently nourishing all things." Thus, this character has long been ingrained in my heart.     On the back cover of a digest, I read this passage: "润 (run) is a virtue. It benefits others, enriching oneself, giving, and sharing."     I love this passage. Savoring it carefully, I suddenly understood. This short sentence contains the author's positive and profound life experience. It also prompted me to deeply contemplate the meaning of "润 (run). " "     润 (run)" is like a drop of water quietly seeping into the soil, like a wisp of wind gently drifting into the air, like a snowflake happily merg...

Hometown feelings

     When traveling, it's inevitable to be asked about your hometown. When I tell them I'm from Zhangye, Gansu, almost everyone looks puzzled, as if they've encountered a completely unfamiliar term. My heart always skips a beat at this. Before they ask where Zhangye is, I break the awkward silence by saying, "You probably haven't heard of Zhangye, but you're certainly familiar with its ancient name, Yumen Pass. Li Bai's poem says, 'The long wind blows for tens of thousands of miles, passing through Yumen Pass.'" "And then there's Wang Zhihuan's: 'Why should Jiang's flute lament the willows, for the spring breeze does not reach Yumen Pass.'     Seeing their puzzled expressions slowly turn into smiles, I finally breathed a long sigh of relief. Indeed, a province easily forgotten, coupled with an even more easily forgotten city, makes it difficult for those not good at geography to pinpoint its location. Fortunately, there...

The Confession of an Ancient Tree Under the Moon

      I am a tree, my roots deep into the soil, deep into the darkness, deep into the deepest abyss!     I plunge into the terrifying void of darkness, and through this I elevate myself; how I yearn for the height of the stars!     Yet, my efforts will surely be in vain, the stars I touch will surely fall, and the higher I rise, the more indescribable the cold and emptiness I feel.     Even the understanding moon mocks me with its pale light.     Now, I am utterly despondent, yet I still stretch out my yearning hand to the heavens.     What am I praying for? I am praying for dark clouds, I am praying for lightning!     For I know that only lightning can save me.     Countless sleepless nights, I have imagined countless times lightning descending upon me.     That terrifying lightning tightly binds me, des...

It's that time of year again when apricot blossoms fill the air with fragrance.

     Peonies are a beautiful sight because of their magnificence and nobility; chrysanthemums are a beautiful sight because of their fragrance and beauty; red plum blossoms are a beautiful sight because of their purity and resilience. However, the unassuming apricot blossom is also a beautiful sight, a unique sight in my hometown's spring.     Every spring, apricot blossoms herald spring, and my hometown is immersed in a pink world. A gentle spring breeze carries the fragrance of flowers, invading the heart and soul, bringing instant comfort. Looking up at the sky, even the sky seems clearer, and the clouds appear more graceful and lighter. It     's that time of year again when apricot blossoms fill the air with fragrance; the apricot blossoms in my hometown should be blooming by now!     The Song Dynasty poet Liu Tong wrote in his poem, "The steps are covered with green grass, a fragrant expanse of apricot blossoms." I'm both grateful and g...

Eight rivers surround Chang'an

      "Chang'an" is a name derived from the hope of "long-term stability" that Liu Bang, the founder of the Han Dynasty, chose as his capital after unifying China. From the Han to the Tang dynasties, it was called Chang'an. Later, it had many names, but it was officially named "Xi'an" in 1368 after Zhu Yuanzhang established the Ming Dynasty in Nanjing. The following spring, General Xu Da captured Fengyuan Road (present-day Xi'an) and renamed it Xi'an, a name that evokes the idea of ​​stabilizing Northwest China.     Xi'an is the ancient capital of thirteen dynasties and the cradle of Chinese culture. There is an ancient saying that "eight rivers surround Chang'an," and it also boasts the "Eight Scenic Spots of Guanzhong": Taibai Snow, Xianyang Ancient Ferry, Ba Liu Snow, Lishan Sunset, Caotang Mist (Qin Town, Huxian County), Huayue Immortal Palm, Wild Goose Pagoda Morning Bell (Small Wild Goose Pagoda), and Q...

Li Bai's life amidst wind and rain, and the beautiful woman

      Li Bai, a disgraceful descendant who left Sichuan and never returned; Li Bai, a mid-Tang poet who poured his heart and soul into his writing; Li Bai, a court poet who wrote, "How can I bow to the powerful and wealthy, and not be happy?"; Li Bai, a wanderer who wrote, "I will not hesitate to travel far to seek immortals in the Five Sacred Mountains, and I love to roam famous mountains all my life"; Li Bai, a down-on-his-luck man who wavered between serving and remaining in officialdom throughout his life; Li Bai, a proud and arrogant man who wrote, "Even Confucius feared the younger generation, how can a man belittle the young?"; Li Bai, a drinker who wrote, "The emperor summons me, but I will not go to the palace, I call myself a wine immortal"; Li Bai, a Zen practitioner who wrote, "Why are the chrysanthemums so bitter, suffering two Double Ninth Festivals?"; Li Bai, a melancholy man who wrote, "I entrust my sorrowful heart ...