2 posts tagged with "Changing Times"

Old Wang at the Civil Affairs Bureau's Marriage Registration Office was nearing retirement. He had sat in this palm-sized place for nearly thirty years. The red booklets and green booklets that passed through his hands, if stacked up, would probably reach half a person's height. The red booklets signified celebration, their gilt characters slightly dazzling in the sun; the green booklets were a bit duller in color, like the water of a late autumn pond – no ripples on the surface, but things were pressed underneath.

Recently, a new regulation came in, saying that for marriage or divorce, looking at the hukou booklet (household registration booklet) was no longer required.

At the end of the old street, there is a stone bridge. At the head of the bridge, there is a pastry shop that sells Qiaotou Gao, a cake famous far and wide.

When I was a child, my biggest craving was for this Qiaotou Gao. White glutinous rice flour, kneaded with lard and brown sugar, sprinkled with osmanthus flowers, and then steamed. It came out hot and fragrant. One bite, and the soft, glutinous, sweet taste would reach deep into your heart.