TheSpringFestivalisthebiggestandthemostformalfestivalforChinese
people.Yet,inthe1970鈥檚theSpringFestivalwasnotitisnow.It鈥檚afarcry
betweenthem.Therearealotofexperiencesinmymemory.IrememberwhenIwas
inthemiddleschool,everyyearbeforetheSpringFestival,theNo.1taskof
everyfamilyisbuyingfestivalgoods,themostimportantbeingfoodstuffs,in
ordertospendasatisfactorySpringFestival.Beingthebiggestchildofthe
family,Iwasgiventhetaskofrushingoutforbuyingallthefestivalgoods
withpurchaselistandmoneyinmypocket,usuallyonfoot.Almostallthe
festivalgoodsonthemarketwereinshortsupply,fromchickentofish,from
vegetablestocake...Ithoughtouteverywaypossibleandbentoverbackwardfor
buyingallthefestivalgoods.ItwasjustlikefightingabattleandIwas
quiteproudofbringingfruitfulbasketsbackhomealmosteverytime.
Theearlybirdcatchestheworm.OneyearIremember,afewdaysbefore
SpringFestival,Imademanycards,nearly100pcs.,withnumbersonforbuying
chickens.Igotupat3:00o'clock,andwenttothebigfoodstuffsstoreto
distributethecardsatthegate.AssoonasIfinishedthedistributionIwent
backhomesleepingforawhile&wakedupatthecrackofdawn.Irushed
backtothestoretoorganizethecrowdedendlessqueueinorderaccordingtomy
cardsnumber,keepinganybodywithoutcardoutofthequeue.Ikeptthetop10
cardsandgavethemtomyneighbors,classmatesandfriendsasfestivalgifts
whothankedmealotjustforbeingabletobuyafewchickens.Thenoticeon
thegatesaid:"Twochickensforeachpersononly."
Anotherthingimpressedmedeeplywas,oneyear,threedaysbeforetheSpring
Festival,Itookmy3-years-oldyoungerbrotherbythehandgoingtoby
fireworks.WhenIsawthedragonlikelongqueuecrowdedintheshopyard,I
arrangedmylittlebrotherstandingbythecornerwithinmysightwherewasnot
socrowdedwaitingforme.Imyselfrushedintothecrowdedqueuesearching
familiarfaces,justlikelookingforaneedleinahaystack.Atlast,thanks
God!Mysightwasfixeduponayoungguy!Iwasluckyenoughtofindafellow
studentwhostudiedinthesameschoolwithme.Thoughwenevertalkedwitheach
otherbeforeIwassurewemeteachotherintheschoolyardseveraltimes.With
thisideaflashedacrossmymindIactedatonce.Iwentuptohimpattinghis
shouldersaying:鈥Hi!Iwashereafteryou,wasn鈥檛鈥watchinghiseyeswith
smile.Peopleinthequeuelookedatmewithdoubts.Myschoolmatereplied
loudly:鈥Yes,correct!You鈥檒lmissifyoucomeoneminutelater!鈥Onhearing
this,theyhadnothingtospeakof.Infact,everybodypresentknewclearly
that,Icutintothequeue.Seeingwetwoyoungguyswhoseemednotafraidof
fightingforshopping,theygavein.Andbesides,wemadeitsmoothly,giving
therightexcuse.Inthisway,Iwasaheadofthegame,havingboughtseveral
packsoffireworksandsaid"Good-Bye!"tomyschoolmatewhomI鈥檝ebeenstill
keepingcontactswithforfriendshiptillnow.Whenmylittlebrotherseemebuy
thefirewo