Since returning to Chengdu, my love for my hometown has only grown. I maintain the habit of returning to the village every year to pay respects to our ancestors. The village is sparsely populated, with only three or five elderly residents left behind. The cement road in the village was paved in 2019.

After 20 years, I attended a family gathering. Unsurprisingly, family gatherings have become car shows, all luxury brands—BBA and even two Maybachs (regrettably, I didn't take any photos). If your car isn't top-tier, it's probably better to just ride a motorcycle there. The only people I know are a few elementary school classmates. We exchanged a few words about childhood, and that was about it. After a quick lunch, I took my son and left.
Looking back, I realize there's really no need to attend these gatherings. They tend to easily trigger our human desire to prove ourselves. For a moment, I even wavered. Since my family is so well-off, the village's efforts to repair the ancestral hall are up to you all. From now on, I will skip these gatherings when I return to the village.