The 1960s were an era of great social change. Back then, people's clothes were simple and traditional, mostly made of cotton, in shades of blue, gray, and green, with uncomplicated designs. In a small county town in the south, a story of simple meals and plain living begins.
On a distant hillside, a girl is herding cattle. Her hair is parted into two braids, tied with red ribbons. She's a little thin and small, as if a gust of wind could blow her over. That's me. My name is Qing Ling. It's the weekend, and after breakfast I helped tidy up at home before coming out to herd the cattle. It's almost time to start planting vegetables, and the busy farming season is beginning. This afternoon, I still have homework to do. It's early summer, and azaleas are blooming brightly across the hills. Not far away, the big yellow ox shakes itself, lifts its tail, and grazes with its muzzle against the grass, nostrils flaring as it leisurely eats.
