Smoke from the Mountains

"Smoke in the Col" tells a story about loss, longing and inheritance. "I" received a letter from a fifteen-year-old girl, Xiuhe, who lives alone in Huangban Village deep in Wuling Mountain. It has been nearly two years since her grandmother passed away, but she repeatedly dreams that her grandmother guides her in her dreams. With concern, "I" returned to my hometown after ten years of absence, and met this thin but tough Miao girl. In front of her grandmother's grave, Xiuhe recounted the dreams that came true - her grandmother reminded her to collect clothes, pick mushrooms, and avoid dangerous bridges. When a butterfly landed on the tombstone, "I" suddenly understood: Grandma has never left. She has already buried the seeds of kindness, tenacity and love into Xiuhe's life. Three years later, Xiuhe was admitted to the normal school. After graduation, she returned to Huangban Village as promised and became a rural teacher. She continued to teach the children in the mountains everything her grandmother had taught her. The smoke from the cooking pots curls up endlessly.