Shepherd Boy No. 8: The Imprint of Growing Up

The Imprint of Growing Up

I was born in Nanhai

But after a family upheaval

my mother and I had no choice but to leave our hometown

for a distant land

while my father and brother were forced to journey north

When the plane landed

the bitter wind cut through the air

as if determined to shut out all warmth

Starting school in a new place was difficult I struggled to adapt

But thanks to the kindness of my classmates and the encouragement

of my teachers

I glimpsed something bright

like a faint star flickering in the dark sky

It lit a small spark of hope within me

One day after school

I wandered into Chinatown and noticed some mangoes

in a fruit shop

They reminded me of the kapok trees back home

stirring a deep longing for Nanhai

for my family

for the life we had left behind

The river of life flows on without pause

and the salty sea breeze eventually reaches every shore

I've come to understand that we carry the seeds of our homeland

within us

No matter where life takes us

those seeds can take root and blossom in our hearts

Every tear shed for home seeps into foreign soil

nurturing new roots.

In July 2025

after ten long years

I finally returned to the little courtyard in Nanhai

My heart swelled with emotion and for a long while

I stood in silence

When I came back to myself

my family was already there standing before me

In thenext moment

we embraced tightly

I asked my brother，eagerly, about everything to do with the “Shepherd Boy”

He told me the most important thing is the shared experience

the imprints etched in the hearts of a certain group of people

Even though we didn't live through them together

we share the same struggles

I'm honored to be one of the “Shepherd Boys”

Now, as I prepare to leave home once again to return to school

I carry our memories with me

and I look forward to our next reunion