That Generation

Whenever the older generation talks about how they grew up, they always start with, "People of our generation..." Those words seem to make their stories feel more real and personal, tinged with a little pride. They speak of lives we never experienced, and of complicated emotions we could never understand in our own lifetimes. As a post-90s generation child who grew up alongside elderly people born in the 1940s, I heard countless stories about "people of that generation." From my initial disbelief and curiosity to the admiration I felt later, those stories were enough to show just how rich their experiences were.

Someone once said, "Forgetting and being forgotten are what it truly means to be gone." Last year, my grandmother passed away from lung cancer. I couldn't escape my grief for a long time. I couldn't believe that such a strong, independent old woman had suddenly left us, and even less could I accept how fragile life was. That's what inspired me to write about the lives and experiences of my grandmother's generation. I know all too well that I can't recreate those days and events perfectly. I can only hope to show a small part of their truth. Writing is also the product of both reality and imagination, and does not represent the facts in their entirety. From my perspective, I'll tell the story of Old Mrs. Xie, based on my grandmother, and her five children: the laughter and sorrows of their family life.

Theme: Family affection may seem hard as an egg, but it is fragile. When hearts drift apart, even family can become strangers. I hope everyone will cherish the relatives and family members by their side.