When I was in primary school, I went to the county town for the first time.

Back then, living conditions in the countryside were very poor.

We didn't have electricity, so we used firewood to cook.

The firewood was usually the straw or stalks of various crops, such as wheat, corn, soybeans, cotton, and so on.

It was only sold in the county town by a state‑owned company, and it was often in short supply.

To buy a certain amount, you needed to get a coal purchase quota through connections.

My father worked for the local township government.

Fortunately, he managed to get the quota once.

My family was really happy because we had never experienced cooking with coal.

One day, my father asked my brother‑in‑law to go to the county town to pick up the coal.

I asked to go with him, and my father agreed.

The common means of transport in the countryside back then was a two‑wheeled man‑pulled cart, which was mainly used for farm work.

Early one morning, we set off.

My brother‑in‑law pulled the cart, and I walked alongside him.

The town was about 35 kilometers away from my village, and we arrived in the mid‑afternoon.

Before they loaded the coal onto our cart, my brother‑in‑law had to go through several procedures, most of which involved paperwork.

We headed back as soon as the coal was loaded.

My brother‑in‑law pulled the cart, and I helped by pulling a rope tied to the cart.

This time it was much harder than the outward journey, because the cart was very heavy.

It got dark when we were halfway back.

We found a shabby inn to stay at, and for dinner we ate the cold steamed buns we had brought and drank some water.

We got up very early the next morning, eager to get home as soon as possible.

After a good night's sleep, we felt much more energetic than we had the previous afternoon.

We finally got home around noon.

We were tired but happy – we felt we had achieved something really great.

That was the first time I had ever been to the county town.

I got to see two‑ or three‑story buildings, paved roads, and the tall round red water tower built of red bricks.

Many years have passed, and I still remember almost every detail of that special trip.

I still feel excited and proud even now.

I guess that feeling might be similar to what I would feel if I went to New York today.

When I was in primary school, I went to the county town for the first time.

Back then, living conditions in the countryside were very poor.

We didn't have electricity, so we used firewood to cook.

The firewood was usually the straw or stalks of various crops, such as wheat, corn, soybeans, cotton, and so on.

Obviously, firewood was not as efficient as coal, but coal was not available in the countryside or in ordinary towns.

It was only sold in the county town by a state‑owned company, and it was often in short supply.

My father worked for the local township government.

My family was really happy because we had never experienced cooking with coal.

One day, my father asked my brother‑in‑law to go to the county town to pick up the coal.

I asked to go with him, and my father agreed.

Early one morning, we set off.

My brother‑in‑law pulled the cart, and I walked alongside him.

The town was about 35 kilometers away from my village, and we arrived in the mid‑afternoon.

Before they loaded the coal onto our cart, my brother‑in‑law had to go through several procedures, most of which involved paperwork.

We headed back as soon as the coal was loaded.

My brother‑in‑law pulled the cart, and I helped by pulling a rope tied to the cart.

This time it was much harder than the outward journey, because the cart was very heavy.

It got dark when we were halfway back.

We found a shabby inn to stay at, and for dinner we ate the cold steamed buns we had brought and drank some water.

We got up very early the next morning, eager to get home as soon as possible.

After a good night's sleep, we felt much more energetic than we had the previous afternoon.

We finally got home around noon.

That was the first time I had ever been to the county town.

Many years have passed, and I still remember almost every detail of that special trip.

I still feel excited and proud even now.

I guess that feeling might be similar to what I would feel if I went to New York today.