when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom

In 1932, Hamanozawa studied at a private university jointly opened by China and Japan, majoring in Chinese herbal medicine.

Except for the study time, he almost stays in my Chinese medicine room. I will definitely not let him treat my patients casually. Many times, he will stand in front of the shockingly high Chinese medicine cabinet and repeatedly pull open the box that has fallen off. The red-lacquered box, nervously touching or smelling the dried medicinal herbs.

At night, Hamanozawa and I slept together in a small dark cubicle.There is a monotonous light bulb hanging above our heads. I flipped through the medical books handed down by my ancestors. Hamanozawa obviously lacked patience in reading books, and would interrupt my train of thought with jerky Chinese from time to time.

At first, Hamanozawa only asked about my knowledge of Chinese herbal medicine. Out of politeness, I would answer in simple Chinese and in a short manner.Slowly living with me for a long time, a row of white teeth will bloom and tell me anecdotes met in school.Hamanozawa didn't seem to understand that I'm not interested in campus life. Seeing that I didn't respond for a long time, Hamanozawa would suddenly lean in front of me and ask cautiously, "Sir, did I use the wrong grammar?"

I am speechless.

At that time, Hamanozawa was no different from other Japanese in my eyes. He visited this vicissitudes ancient country dozens of times wider than their motherland with curious eyes, spoke broken Chinese, and talked with me about some meaningless things. .

At the same time, they have a special Japanese cultural atmosphere, which makes me feel tired and have no time to take into account the alien culture.For example, Hamanozawa once invited me to watch the moon on a lake that had just thawed in mid-April, early spring.

We leaned on the railing, and Hamanozawa looked at the black sky and said, "I really want to go back to my hometown to see the cherry blossoms."

Sakura is a flower species that does not exist in the land of China. I did not inquire deeply, but Hamanozawa said affectionately: "Liang Huai, in Japan, cherry blossoms represent love and hope."

"I heard that the cherry blossom is your national flower. Do you Japanese admire love?"

My tone was full of disdain, a real man stands up to the sky, and the romantic love of children has not been despised since ancient times.

Hamano Ze thought for a long time, then suddenly laughed at himself and said: "Not all. Cherry blossoms are actually very tragic. They bloom brightly and brilliantly, and die resolutely and magnificently. After death, the corpse does not pollute other things. People are small, Just like a cherry blossom, if you can live your life like it, you will die without regret..."

Is it as bright as cherry blossoms?Brilliant...it is really a gorgeous and tragic word.

For the first time, I felt that foreign cultures also have merits.

"I hope, one day, I can go to your hometown to see the cherry blossoms."

I said it casually, but Hamanozawa suddenly became very excited. When I spoke, the roots of my ears turned red, and it went all the way to my neck. He pressed my shoulder and said, "Of course! Definitely!"

I smiled back, for the Japanese's candor.

But in fact, 1932 was not a year of peace.

The torrents that can be seen everywhere are impacting the traditional and closed Chinese culture, and the panic-stricken people are painfully adapting to foreign things amidst sudden changes.

I was also struggling to run a Chinese medicine pharmacy in the cracks. Sometimes the money brought by people seeking medical treatment was less than half of the cost of the medicine. I looked at their thin bodies and pitiful begging eyes, smiled slightly, and did business at a loss.

At that time, it was not easy for the Chinese, especially the poor in China.

The only ones who are arrogant are those imperialist aggressors who are frighteningly strong and rich but scramble for weak countries like wolves.

Especially when the war was raging, and natural disasters and epidemics were rampant, I was so tired that I almost dislocated my wrist just by feeling the pulse and acupuncture.

Fortunately, Hamanozawa was by my side at that time, helping me take care of or treat patients.

I have to say that in many cases, Hamanozawa performed better than me.

This is probably due to his personality. Hamano Ze can face patients with a smile and create a relaxed atmosphere for them.

And I still can't laugh.

Knowing the incompetence of a weak country, and watching my compatriots suffer, I am only 22 years old, and my chest is often stuffy with worry.

One day I became ill. I had an unbearable high fever and fainted during the treatment.

After waking up, I slept peacefully in the mattress that I had almost forgotten, the softness was just right, and there was a warm and wet towel on my forehead.

Just as I was about to get up, Hamano Ze appeared. Seeing me wake up, his eyes were softer. He stepped forward to take the towel, and asked again: "Do you feel better? Just right, I just boiled a pot of soup to reduce fever."

After that, Hamano Ze pressed me down and said, "Don't sit if you can lie down, wait, I'll bring the medicine right away."

With Hamanozawa around, I feel more at ease and relaxed, so I can feel the physical and mental fatigue more clearly.

Not long after, Hamanozawa brought a bowl of medicine. I stood up and felt paralyzed all over my body, especially the pain in my joints.

My hands were weak, and I fell, hitting the back of my head against the stone-like wall.

"what!"

The pain went deep into the bone marrow, and tears welled up from the corners of his eyes.

Hamanozawa stretched out his hand to touch my sore spot, and when I felt better, I realized that my head was resting on a soft object—Hamanozawa's chest.

In front of me, there was a bowl of black medicinal soup exuding a bitter taste, and Hamanozawa was holding a spoon to deliver the medicine to my mouth with his free hand.

At the same time, I noticed Hamano Ze approaching deliberately, his face seemed to touch my ear, and his unique breath appeared in the air immediately.

Surprised and annoyed, I unceremoniously left the body behind me.

"Don't get so close!"

Hamanozawa obviously didn't react, he folded his arms and almost hugged me in his arms.

This time, I used all my strength, and Hamanozawa fell to the ground.The bowl shattered to the ground, and black liquid flowed all over the ground.

"I'm not a woman! There's no need for this!"

I'm back to that squeamish and willful young master again.

However, Hamanozawa didn't ask me anything, he quietly cleaned up the residue on the ground.

Hamanozawa said: "I'm sorry, I have no other meaning...then you take a break, and I'll cook another bowl."

After Hamanozawa left, the world returned to silence, and his head was dizzy, but he still understood and regretted what he did just now.

I put on my shoes and walked out, leaning on the wall.

Gently opened the door, and through the crack of the door, I saw Hamanozawa with his back facing me, squatting, boiling medicine in front of four casserole pots, holding small plantain fans in both hands, very busy.

After a while, Hamanozawa noticed me, but after taking a look, he shifted his gaze and asked, "Why did you come out?"

"It's okay, I feel better, under your care..."

The last few words made me feel very guilty.

Hamano Ze didn't try to persuade me, and let me stand in front of the door with a high fever. He continued to boil the medicine, but he just boiled it, and suddenly said: "Liang Huai, I know you are very strong..."

"But, really don't tire yourself too much. I, I feel sorry for you..."

Distressed...?

"Do you understand? I love you..."

In a daze, I saw Hamanozawa's ears turning red again.

From then on, the ambiguous atmosphere haunted me even more tirelessly, almost suffocating.

But I, never once, gave Hamanozawa a chance to confess.

Don't give.