I went back to China August 2014, to see my mother. Arriving at Xiamen airport, I was greeted by the seemingly burning hot air. In the days ensued, the temperature hovered over 90 and even 100 Fahrenheit, day and night. I lived here all my childhood, but do not remember how I managed the summer heat, without electrical fans and conditioning, at that time.

At 96, Mother is harder on hearing, but she still moves on her daily life, caring not only for herself, but for her sons and grandchildren. Every morning we went to the local marketing place together. There was fresh farm produce of every kind, from all over the countryside. Their prices have risen quite a lot, but so has people's living standard. Life without Mao in this small town of Shima is certainly much much better.

2014年八月我又回了一趟家乡石码，因为家乡有妈妈。才到厦门机场，扑面就是一阵热风。随后的日子，都是在摄氏三十六七度（华氏110度上下）度过--实在太热了。真不晓得以前连电风扇都没有的夜晚是怎么过来的。

九十六岁的妈妈耳更背了，但不仅生活能自理，还照样为下一辈劳力劳心。每天清早，我仍然陪妈妈去菜市场。市场上各色各样农贸产品都是新鲜的，而且应有尽有。比起几十年前，物价涨了数倍，但市民的生活水准显然比老毛在时好了数倍。甚至破落的路面也已经铺过，有人打扫。

小镇的街道，车多人多杂音多。但喧闹中不缺和谐。一阵风吹过，妈妈就说天气不热了，尽管温度计写着32度。是的，要有耐心和平常心，并把妈妈的健康，把亲友们和乡亲们的安祉放首位。

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(will switch to Yannan 2014 hometown visit (2) in 20 minutes; 二十分钟后自动转到 燕南2014年故乡行（2））