The old man was originally a flower grower but loved poetry, so he formed a friendship with me, so we might talk regarding literature together. A few times leisurely, sitting and sipping a cup of tea together, my long-time friend quietly asked me: “What do you miss most regarding Tet in your hometown?”. No need to hesitate too long, I asserted that I miss peach blossoms the most.
Peach blossoms bloom in the spring breeze. Photo author provides
Also because this is a typical flower for spring in my hometown in particular and the Northern countryside in general. It’s so unique that I can’t remember what typical dishes I enjoyed during Tet in my hometown when I was young, but I only fondly remember the many times I followed my grandfather around the Tet flower markets in the countryside. The scent is filled with the pink and red colors of spring flowers. Suddenly I remember once visiting a valley full of cherry blossoms in Japan, looking at each flower bud fluttering in the wind, I was excited to read to the owner of the peach garden some of Thoi Ho’s Duong Thi lines that my grandfather often recited. Russia in the past: “The person’s face is unknown to the past / Peach blossom still wears the old smile of the East wind” took them by surprise. As for myself, I only feel so much sadness in my heart.
I suddenly remembered that in my hometown, it seemed like everyone’s garden had a few small peach blossom trees. At that time, in my hometown there were no dark pink peaches or beautiful white peaches, only pale pink peaches that bloomed shyly every spring. Peach blossoms are inherently pure flowers, looking fragile but surprisingly strong and patient. In the cold winters, when other plants wither or have bare branches and leaves, peach blossoms bud once more, so that they can bloom in time for Tet or January. Peach blossoms have thin petals, only a few simple layers of petals, radiating a pure fragrance, their pink petals are like the blush of a young girl’s cheeks when she is stirring coals at the stove to help her mother cook banh chung. The name faded peach, according to my grandfather, probably came from that color characteristic.
The peach branches I grew at home have a rough appearance, but my grandfather bent them into a very graceful shape. According to my grandfather, this is a faded peach blossom that he extracted from the house of an old fighting friend. This peach blossom has five pink petals like thin silk, relatively fragile, so even if a strong wind blows, it can easily fall to pieces, spreading a gentle fragrance, so sometimes you have to be very observant to smell it. .
Every time my grandfather went to the garden to take care of the peach blossom tree, I often followed behind, asking him all sorts of questions. But my grandfather did not find it annoying, but on the contrary, he enthusiastically explained to me the principles of bending branches, creating branches, and meticulously taking care of peach blossoms. The naive child that I was at that time didn’t understand much, but I might see in his eyes a meaningful and gentle smile. It felt like spring had come with the bright pink color of peach blossom petals blooming. monsoon comes.
Peach blossoms bloom. Photo author provides
On the morning of the 30th of Tet every year, my sisters and I would leisurely follow him to the garden to cut peach branches. My grandfather often walked around with a knife in his hand, wondering which branch to cut to avoid regret. Also because every branch is full of life, holding back peach rose buds that are still hesitant to bloom. My sisters and I often anxiously wait for his decision, but it seems like my grandfather himself cannot decide.
My biggest impression is the moment when peach blossom buds bloom on the morning of the first day of the year, making the whole house bright and filled with pure fragrance. My sisters and I just stood there in a daze next to the peach blossom pot, watching passionately. A few days following Tet, the flower buds continued to bloom, blooming even more until mid-January, but my sister kept holding on to her grandfather’s hand and not letting the peach tree uproot from the peach pot into the garden. As Tet comes to an end, the peach blossom petals gradually fade, and from the sepals they begin to form tiny peaches, making us kids even more excited. My little sister, who loves flowers very much, kept whispering around the pot of peaches, her eyes shining brightly. From my sister’s eyes, it feels like spring has just begun.
Peach blossoms fade. Photo author provides
My grandfather often shared how to choose faded peach blossoms for Tet, so priority should be given to choosing branches that rise up with a natural curve and must have many buds. Peach branches with many buds will flower for many days followingward, sometimes even until the full moon of January. If you know how to take care of them, the peach branches following the Tet season will still be full of life with full of young buds and flowers, evoking fresh vitality, signaling a happy and fulfilling new year for the whole family.
Boiling peaches on Tet has become a tradition for the people of my hometown. Anyone who has a peach blossom tree in their garden can pick it directly from the garden. If they don’t have one, then on the days leading up to Tet, they can leisurely go to the countryside market to buy a branch. The peach branch doesn’t need to be too big, just a small branch inserted into the neck of the bottle is enough to make the atmosphere in the house brighter. Under peach branches blooming with spring flowers, people sit together to enjoy a cup of wine or a cup of tea to feel the poetry of life. Occasionally, the fleeting breezes make the peach blossoms sway with a smile, radiating a pure scent in the space filled with incense sticks. My living room was originally a small library with countless ancient books collected by my grandfather. During the spring days of my teenage life, I, a young adult, often studied under my grandfather, sat thoughtfully reading Duong poetry next to a pot of faded peach blossoms blooming with a few smiling buds, quietly listening to the spring rain falling outside. window, deeply feel the harmony between heaven and earth and human hearts.
That period of carefree and peaceful life passed by without knowing when. Grandfather passed away, leaving only himself quietly in the middle of life. Occasionally, in the last days of the year, when the weather gradually becomes warmer, I often keep the habit of walking along spring flower streets. As always, when walking in a sea of spring flowers, immersing myself in the colors of flowers, listening to the bustling sounds echoing from the heart of the city, my heart still feels extremely empty. Because he lacks the hunchbacked, thoughtful figure of his grandfather beside the bright pink peach branch in the past.
The peach blossoms of the past must have faded away in another life. A new spring has come, I quietly sit and admire the vast peach blossom gardens, remembering so many beautiful memories of the peach branches my grandfather planted. Knowing that I love peach blossoms, every year when I visit, my long-time friend meticulously chooses a suitable branch and respectfully presents it to me. A few times, I asked to give him some compensation, but he dismissed it with a thoughtful shake of his head: “You and I are old friends. This peach branch is a spring gift I sent you to reminisce regarding the past.” The beauty of peach blossoms is priceless, no amount of money can compare it.” Just saying that, he hurried back to the peach garden where rose buds were blooming, busy with his busy work in the last days of the year. I stood and watched his shadow fade among the countless colors of fresh roses, feeling filled with so many memories of spring.
Electronic media Vietnamese people Open the column “Telling village stories” from March 4, 2020. This column is for all professional and amateur authors who have love for the countryside and want to share their true stories with readers.
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