Soufflé

IT IS RECALLED THAT, AS A CHILD, THE MATERIAL CONDITION IS SUCH THAT THE SWEETNESS OF THE SOYBEANS, ESPECIALLY THE SOYBEANS OR DATES, IS CONSIDERED SUPERIOR. EVERY TIME I FOLLOWED MY MOTHER TO THE CO-OPERATIVE, I LOOKED UP AT THE COUNTER, AND THE HAND-DRAWED EIGHT SNACK POSTERS WERE COMING OUT OF BEIJING. THE BEAN SOFA IN THE POSTER WAS PARTICULARLY INTERESTING, BECAUSE IT WAS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL. BUT EVERY TIME I LOOK AT IT, I FALL FOR IT. I DON'T REMEMBER WHO SENT IT FOR A SPRING HOLIDAY. IT WAS PAINTED ON THE BOX! THE MOST STRIKING IS THE SOFA BEAN! AT THAT TIME, I WAS SURROUNDED BY A SNACK BOX, AND I WAITED FOR AN ORDER FROM AN ADULT TO EAT! MOM SAID, "COME ON, GOOD BOY, EAT THE PEACHES THAT MOM BOUGHT. DON'T OPEN THE BOX AND GIVE IT BACK TO AUNT XX. SHE'S BEEN HELPING US ALL THESE YEARS." I NEVER DARED TO TELL MY MOTHER HOW MUCH I WANTED TO TASTE THE SOYBEANS SO I GREW UP IN A COOPERATIVE AND IN A SNACK BOX. AFTER YEARS OF WORK, IT WAS NOT UNTIL AFTER THE RICE FRAGRANCE VILLAGE, THAT IT ENDED UP BUYING ITS OWN BEAN SOFA, WHICH IS NOW FINALLY EATING. MOM NEVER KNEW HOW MUCH I WANTED TO TASTE THE SOYBEAN SOFA, BUT ONLY BECAUSE OF THAT LACK OF MATERIAL