When I was a child, I grew up in my grandmother’s house in the countryside. The summer there seemed to be gently wrapped by the sun and breeze, leaving me with countless beautiful and unforgettable memories. That small village was simple and pure, and the air was filled with the fragrance of soil and grass. Every summer evening, the clear fish pond at the entrance of the village became a gathering place for villagers. The water in the fish pond was so clear that you could see the bottom, and it was surrounded by dense reeds and soft grass. The breeze blew, and the reeds swayed gently, with tiny waves. On one side of the pond, women gathered together, chatting while washing clothes and washing vegetables, and laughter and the sound of water intertwined; on the other side, men who had worked all day took off their clothes and jumped into the water to wash off the dust and fatigue. Children also played by the water, chasing the water, and laughter echoed in the sunset. Life at that time was simple and natural, and no one would think there was anything wrong with such a scene.
I often ran to the fish pond to play, and I liked to watch the adults playing and laughing in the water, and occasionally I would secretly observe their figures. I was still young at that time, and I was full of curiosity about everything. I remember one time, it was getting dark, and I ran to the fish pond as usual, but found that there were not many people. From a distance, I saw my neighbor Xue Qing bathing in the water. He was about 19 or 20 years old at that time, and was one of the few “fashionable” young people in the village. He always dressed more elegantly than others, his hair was neatly combed, and he often had a sunny smile on his face. He had a solid and well-proportioned figure, broad shoulders, and a straight waist. His skin was tanned into a healthy wheat color by the sun, revealing the vitality of a young man. After taking a bath, he walked out of the water, and the water drops slid down his tight arms and chest, shining in the afterglow of the sunset. While he was tidying his hair with his hands, he grinned at me, revealing a mouthful of white teeth, with a bit of naughty and naughty meaning, twisted his body casually, shook off the water droplets on his body, and then walked away humming a little tune.
That day, I couldn’t help but look at him a few more times. His figure was particularly conspicuous among the young people in the village. His muscles were well-defined but not exaggerated, as if he was born with a healthy beauty. I still remember that I noticed that his skin was unusually smooth, and compared with other people, he lacked some common features, which made me feel both novel and mysterious. At that moment, the sun was setting, the fish pond was quiet and warm, and my heartbeat inexplicably accelerated, perhaps because of the ignorance of adolescence, or perhaps because of that simple and curious gaze.
A few days later, my uncle and his family came to visit relatives in the village from Beijing. There were not enough rooms at home, so my grandmother asked me to stay at Xue Qing’s house for one night. At that time, I didn’t realize that this night would become an important turning point in my memory. Xue Qing’s hut was simple but warm. There were several old New Year paintings hanging on the mud walls, and the house was filled with a faint smell of firewood. His mother greeted me warmly and asked me to sleep in the same bed with Xue Qing. That night, the moonlight poured in from the window, and the room was quiet, with only the croaking of frogs and insects from afar. I lay on the other side of the bed a little stiffly. Just when I was about to close my eyes and go to sleep, Xue Qing smiled and called me: “Xiaojun, come over here, why do you sleep so far away? Let’s chat and watch something!” His voice was a little playful and brisk, as if he was born with a magic that makes people relax.
I hesitated for a moment, but still moved over and lay down next to him. Xue Qing’s figure was more solid than I thought, and his broad shoulders and slender legs outlined a clear outline in the quilt. He took out a thin novel from the bedside, the cover was a little yellow, and smiled and asked me to read it together. I was still young at that time, and I didn’t know that it was a book with a bit of “taboo” color. After turning a few pages, I gradually understood the content of the book. My face suddenly turned red, and I wanted to close the book embarrassedly. Xue Qing laughed even more happily. He patted my shoulder and said half-jokingly: “Why are you shy? We are all boys, what are you afraid of!” As he said that, he deliberately pulled my hand over and gently placed it on his leg. His movements were natural and casual, but I felt my heart beating faster, as if some strange emotions were surging in my heart…
That night, Xue Qing began to talk to me about many things I had never heard of, such as the physical changes of boys and the secrets of growth. He spoke easily and frankly, like an older brother sharing his life experience. As I listened, I was curious and nervous, and the scene of seeing him by the fish pond that day emerged in my mind. His figure became clearer and clearer in my memory: tall body, tight muscles, and that youthful confidence. That night, we talked for a long time, and I gradually relaxed, but I was still a little shy and curious. Finally, exhaustion overcame excitement, and we fell asleep in the moonlight. The frogs outside the house continued to croak, and the night wind gently blew through the reeds, as if telling the tranquility of the countryside at night.
In the days that followed, Xue Qing often came to visit my house, with his usual smile and relaxed demeanor. He liked to tease me, pat my shoulder, or make some harmless jokes. I gradually got used to his company and even began to look forward to every time I was with him. He would tell me about the latest news in the city, the stories he had heard, and sometimes take me for a walk in the village woods to talk about future dreams. His figure was always so eye-catching. He wore a simple vest and shorts, revealing his strong arms and slender legs, and his steps were steady, like a boy who was born to run in the sun.
Once, when no one was at his house, he took out the old novel again and insisted that I read it with him. I smiled and refused, but he half-jokingly pulled me and said, “Xiaojun, we are good brothers, what’s there to be embarrassed about!” That day, he suddenly asked me if I had noticed any changes in my body. I blushed and hesitated, but he laughed, patted my back and said, “Grow up, brother!” His laughter was hearty and brought a kind of reassuring power. At that moment, I felt as if I had really changed from an ignorant child to a teenager who began to understand “growth”.
Time passed quickly, and in a blink of an eye I went to high school and left the village, and my contact with Xue Qing gradually became less. But those summer memories are like the waves in the fish pond, clearly rippling in my memory. Later, I heard that Xue Qing stayed in the village and started doing decoration work. Until last year, I returned to my hometown because of the decoration of the house, and my mother said that she had found a few fellow villagers with good craftsmanship to help. That day, I went to the construction site to choose the color of the wall paint, and I saw a familiar figure from a distance-it was Xue Qing. He is still so tall, with broad shoulders and a strong figure, but his face is a little more weathered, and his eyes are no longer as bright as when he was young. He was wearing work clothes, holding a brush in his hand, working attentively, and fine beads of sweat on his forehead.
Seeing him, my heart jumped suddenly, and my mind instantly flashed back to the fish pond, the small house under the moonlight, and those ignorant times. His figure is still upright, but the years have left some traces on him. He is less youthful and vigorous, but more calm. I really want to talk to him about the past, about those summer stories, but there are so many people coming and going on the construction site that I didn’t find a suitable opportunity. I stood there, watching his busy back, feeling a little regretful and a little warm in my heart. Those years and those things have long become an indelible part of my life.
