By Taotao

One day in Autumn, Qiuli’s eldest son, squatting on the floor, was blowing hard into a heap of firewood wet with rain in the kitchen range. With a rush of thick smoke, he was choked, coughing and rubbing his eyes with his hand. Then he closed his eyes, fanning the dense smoke and continuing blowing. Suddenly, the flame emitted from the kitchen range, he withdrew his head instinctively….

Qiuli, dragging her ailing body, came with a stagger. When she saw the scene of her son cooking, a spasm of sadness welled up in her heart. Three months ago, Qiuli’s whole family gathered with the brothers and sisters at her home, having a church life, but it was brok ... Read more »