Mid-Autumn Festival night: I met my mother in my dream
Author: Li Ning
As night falls and all sounds fade into silence, only a bright moon hangs high in the sky, resembling a pearl dangling at the zenith of the vault of heaven, emanating a gentle and limpid glow. That moonlight, neither overly dazzling nor faint, illuminates the world just right, draping this serene night in a mystical yet tender silver veil.
On the Mid-Autumn Festival, this moon, which has been ingrained in the hearts of Chinese people since ancient times, carrying with it the boundless yearning for family unity and homeland sentiments, once again tranquilly traverses the mists of history, glides across the expanse of time, and gently descends upon every family eagerly awaiting its arrival. It is more than just a symbol of the festival; it is the embodiment of the purest longing for reunion and the deepest yearning for those afar that resonate deep within the heart, transcending the boundaries of time and space to tightly bind together relatives separated by thousands of mountains and rivers.
On this moonlit night, with silver light spilling everywhere, people invariably prepare tables laden with sumptuous feasts, not merely to celebrate the harvest season but also to find a warm home for the inseparable bond of blood ties. On the table, a dazzling array of dishes and mooncakes not only symbolize the sweetness of the festival but also carry profound blessings and yearnings for family members, as well as silent calls and affectionate greetings to relatives afar.
Our family gathered around, smiles bright, sharing the joys and sorrows of the past year. As we raise our heads to gaze at the moon, myriad thoughts come to mind, allowing that bright and pure moon to become a bridge for conveying emotions and yearnings. Our innocent granddaughter may not fully comprehend the profound meaning behind this festival, but her pure smile and carefree laughter are the most heartwarming scenery during this reunion, making one feel deeply that time seems to gently pause at this moment. May this tranquility and beauty be etched into our hearts as eternal memories.
In this serene night, I stand silently in front of the window, my gaze meticulously fixed on the moon that hangs in the sky, spilling out its pure radiance. Countless thoughts well up in my heart. The moonlight flows like water, gently caressing my face, bringing a trace of coolness, as if it can penetrate the skin and reach deep into the soul; the distant mountains, illuminated by the moonlight, appear hazy and mysterious, like an ink painting, silently narrating the vicissitudes of time. The nearby trees and flowers, too, display a unique beauty under the moonlight, as if whispering, conveying the joy and longing of this festival. In that light, there seems to lie some mystical power.
This scene evokes profound memories from the innermost depths of one's heart, making one spontaneously recall those wonderful and heartwarming moments spent with loved ones.
I close my eyes, letting my thoughts drift away with the moonlight towards the distant horizon. Unconsciously, I lean on the desk by the window and fall into a dream...
In my dream, I returned to that familiar courtyard, Mother's favorite place. The osmanthus tree in the courtyard remained lush and green, filling the air with its delightful fragrance. I saw Mother sitting under the osmanthus tree, gently fanning herself with that old palm-leaf fan, her gaze soft and intently cast towards the horizon. Her face was still so kind, her eyes brimming with boundless tenderness and profound love.
I approached quietly and sat beside her, nestling into her embrace. Mother lifted her head to look at me, and a warm smile appeared at the corner of her lips, a smile that seemed to dissipate all loneliness and sorrow from my heart.
"My child, you're back," Mother said softly, her voice as familiar and comforting as ever.
"Mom, I miss you so much," I hugged her tightly, as if to pour out all my yearning.
Mother gently stroked my white-haired head, consoling me, "My child, don't be sad. Mom is always by your side."
She carried out a tray of meticulously prepared mooncakes from inside the house. They were neatly arranged, their golden exteriors alluring, adorned with intricate patterns. There were ones filled with red bean paste, lotus seed paste, and mixed nuts – every flavor a beloved childhood favorite.
I took the mooncake Mother offered, taking a gentle bite, and instantly, sweetness and satisfaction flooded my heart. It was the taste of home, the taste of motherly love. Mother smiled at me, and in that smile lay boundless maternal love and warmth, providing my soul with the most sincere solace.
Later, my mother talked about my childhood anecdotes again. Looking at me with eyes full of tenderness and love, my mother asked, "My child, do you still remember the Mid-Autumn night in those years of scarcity?" "I remember it was the Mid-Autumn Festival in 1967," said my mother. "There were five people in our family, and we only bought one mooncake. I cut it into five pieces, and each piece was pitifully small."
"Mom, I do remember that," I nodded and said, "I took the small piece of mooncake you gave me, put it carefully into my mouth, and even hesitated to chew it. When I went to sleep, I still held it tightly in my mouth until the next morning."
My mother gently patted my shoulder and said, "Yes, when it was dawn, you were even afraid to brush your teeth, for fear that the rare scent of the mooncake would dissipate. You said you wanted to keep that taste in your mouth and take it to school, so that yourmates could smell the fragrance of the mooncake and prove that you tasted the sweetness of Mid-Autumn night last night."
When it came to my current life, my mother's voice was gentle and full of concern. She asked about my recent situation and shared her daily life. I listened patiently, occasionally chiming in a word or two to make the conversation more vivid and real. In the moonlight, I seemed to see the twinkling stars in my mother's eyes, which were full of endless love and expectations for me...
We looked up at the bright full moon, which seemed to be listening to our mother-son story quietly, witnessing this rare bond between mother and son.
Holding my mother's hand tightly, a warm current surged through my heart, thanking fate for allowing me to spend such a wonderful evening with her, creating Warmth and unforgettable moment. At this moment, time seemed to stand still, allowing me to bask in this happiness and tranquility deeply.
"Cackle cackle cackle—" As the crisp sound of a rooster crowing echoed, I awoke from my dream to find myself still sitting alone at the table by the window, yet somehow, tears had dampened my cheeks.
However, time is relentless, and my mother has been gone for exactly ten years. Now, I am over sixty, a gray-haired old man. But every time the night is quiet and still, I cannot help but think of my mother's kind face, her warm smile, and her familiar voice. These memories, like precious treasures, are deeply buried in my heart.
This dream on the Mid-Autumn night made me feel the warmth and strength of motherly love once again. Although my mother is no longer by my side, her love will always accompany me. On this day of reunion, I profoundly understand the greatness and selflessness of maternal love. May this yearning turn into a gentle breeze that drifts towards the distance, telling my mother: I love her forever and will always miss her. Regardless of how time changes, that deep feeling of affection and longing for my mother will be forever etched in my heart.
中秋之夜：我在梦里与母亲相逢
作者 李宁
夜幕低垂，万籁俱寂，只余一轮明月高悬天际，如同悬挂于苍穹之巅的明珠，散发着柔和而清澈的光芒。那月光，既不过分刺眼，也不显得黯淡，恰到好处地照亮了整个世界，给这宁静的夜晚披上了一层神秘而温柔的银纱。
中秋佳节，这轮自古以来便温婉地镶嵌于华夏儿女心间，承载着家国情怀与骨肉团聚的明月，再度悄然穿越岁月的烟云，温柔地降临在每一个翘首以盼的家庭之上；它不仅仅是一个节日的符号，更是心灵深处那份对团圆最纯粹的渴望与最深切的思念化作的实物，穿越千山万水，将亲人紧紧相连。
在这个月光如洗、银辉遍洒的夜晚，人们不约而同地张罗起一桌桌丰盛的晚宴，这不仅是为了庆祝这丰收的季节，更是为了那份难以割舍的血脉亲情找到一个温暖的归宿。桌上，各式各样的菜肴和月饼琳琅满目，这既是节日的甜蜜象征，又是承载着对家人深深祝福与思念，以及对远方亲人无声的呼唤与深情的问候。
我们一家人围坐一堂，笑语盈盈，分享着过去一年的喜怒哀乐；举头望月，思绪万千，让那轮皎洁的明月成为传递情感与思念的桥梁。天真的外孙或许还不完全理解这份节日背后的深意，但她那纯真的笑脸和无忧无虑的笑声，却是这团圆时刻中最动人心弦的风景线。此情此景，不禁令我心生感慨，岁月仿佛在此刻温柔地驻足，愿这份宁静与美好能化为永恒的记忆，镌刻心间。
在这幽静的夜里，我悄无声息地伫立于窗前，目光一丝不苟地盯着那轮悬于天际、清辉四溢的明月，心中涌起无尽思绪……
月光如水，静静地流淌在我的脸上，带来一丝丝凉爽，仿佛能穿透肌肤，直抵心灵深处；远处的山峦在月光的照耀下，显得朦胧而神秘，仿佛是一幅水墨画，静静地诉说着岁月的沧桑；近处的树木和花草，也在月光的照耀下，呈现出一种别样的美，它们似乎在低语，诉说着这个节日的喜悦与思念。我顿觉那光芒中，似乎蕴含着某种神秘的力量。
此情此景，仿佛能勾起人们内心深处的回忆，让我不禁想起那些曾经与自己共度温馨时光的亲人。
我闭上了眼睛，让思绪随着月光飘向远方。不知不觉中，我趴在窗前那张桌上进入了梦乡……
在梦中，我回到了那个熟悉的小院，那是母亲生前最喜欢的地方。小院里的桂花树依旧枝繁叶茂，花香扑鼻。我看到母亲正坐在桂花树下，手中轻摇着那把包了浆的蒲扇，目光温柔而专注地投向远方。她的面容依旧那么慈祥，眼中流露出无尽的温柔与深沉的关爱。
我轻轻地走过去，坐在她的身旁，依偎在她的怀里。母亲抬头看了我一眼，嘴角露出了温暖的笑容，那笑容仿佛能驱散我心中所有的孤独与忧愁。
“孩子，你回来了。”母亲轻声说道，她的声音依旧那么熟悉，那么温暖。
“妈，我好想你。”我紧紧抱住母亲，仿佛要将这份思念都倾诉出来。
母亲轻轻抚着我满是白发的头，安慰着我：“孩子，别难过，妈一直都在你身边。”
母亲从屋内端出一盘精心准备的月饼，它们排列得整整齐齐，外皮金黄诱人，上面还印着精美的花纹，有豆沙的、莲蓉的、五仁的……每一样都是我儿时的最爱。
我接过母亲递来的月饼，轻轻咬了一口，瞬间，甜蜜与满足溢满心间——那是家的味道，是母爱的味道。母亲看着我笑了笑，无需多言，母亲的微笑蕴含无尽的母爱和温情，让我的心灵得到了最真切的慰藉。
随后，母亲拉着我的手，聊起我儿时的趣事。母亲用充满温柔、疼爱的眼神看着我说：“孩子，你还记得在那个物资匮乏年代的中秋夜吗？”母亲说，“我记得是1967年的中秋节吧，家中五口人，只买了一块月饼，我将它切分成五份，每份都少得可怜。”
“妈，我记得呢。”我点点头说，“我接过你分给我那一小块月饼，小心翼翼地放入口中，竟不舍得咀嚼，一直含在嘴里，就连睡觉时也含着它，直至第二天天亮。”
母亲用手轻轻地抚摸着我的肩，说：“是呀，天亮了，你甚至不敢漱口，生怕那份难得的月饼香气会消散。你说，你想让那份味道在口中停留，带到学校去，让同学们也能嗅到月饼的香气，证明昨晚你也品尝到了中秋的甜蜜。”
母亲用双手拍了拍大腿，高兴地说：“如今生活好了，我这里的月饼管你够。”
在月光的照耀下，我仿佛能看到母亲眼中闪烁的星光，那是对我无尽的爱与期望……
接着，母亲询问我的近况，并分享着她的日常。我则耐心地倾听着，偶尔插上一两句，让母子的这番对话更加生动而真实。
我们抬头望向那轮明亮的圆月，它似乎也在静静地倾听着我们母子的故事，见证着这份难得的母子情深。
我紧紧握住母亲的手，心中涌起一股暖流，感谢命运让我能在这样一个美好的夜晚，与母亲共度一段温馨而难忘的时光。这一刻，让我深深地沉醉在幸福与安宁之中。
“咯咯咯——”随着清脆的鸡鸣声响起，我从梦中醒来，我发现自己依旧独自坐在窗前那张桌子旁，但不知何时，泪水已经湿润了我的脸颊。
然而，岁月无情，母亲已经离开我10年整了，如今的我已经年逾花甲，成为一介白头老翁。但每当夜深人静时，我总会想起母亲那慈祥的面容，那温暖的笑容，那熟悉的声音。这些记忆，如同珍贵的宝藏，我深深地珍藏在心底。
中秋之夜的这个梦，让我再次感受到了母爱的温暖与力量。虽然母亲已经不在我身边，但她的爱却永远伴随着我。在这个团圆的节日里，我深刻地体会到了母爱的伟大与无私；愿这份思念，能化作一缕清风，飘向远方，告诉母亲：我永远爱她，永远怀念她。无论岁月如何变迁，那份对母亲的深情与思念，将永远镌刻在我的心中。
