︎ Jing


Office worker
Tongliang, Chongqing, China
translated by PaiPai



While the countryside seems open and unguarded, it might be the safest paradise during the epidemic. Numerous checkpoints have been set up in the villages, and vehicles from other places are strictly forbidden to enter, making it feel like we were truly isolated from the rest of the world.

In the mountains, there are less lights but more stars. The courtyards and streets of the neighborhood are tight and narrow. Traversing the dark alleyway from my backyard to my neighbor’s somehow made me think of the stories I heard as child about my elders’ experiences in tunnel warfare.

Typically, I would come back here for three or five days during the holidays. This time, being trapped in the mountains because of the outbreak, I ended up spending more than two months here with my elderly parents.

Life’s usually quiet here in the countryside, but now it’s rather busy. Many young people who work year-round in the city have no choice but to stay and can be seen fishing in the fields or rebuilding firewood houses.

If I happened to cross a busy scene, I would naturally pull tight my face mask and assume proper social distancing. However, for many of the locals here, regardless of the epidemic’s severity, doing away with social customs and closeness is much more difficult.

︎ 靖


公司职员
中国,重庆市,铜梁县



山野小院看似简陋,但没想到它却是疫情期间最安全的世外桃源。因为疫情,各村设了无数关卡,外地车尤其盘查严格不允许入村,几乎与世隔绝。

山里灯光少,星星多,天色到了晚上更是尤其的黑。邻里间院巷挨得紧凑,我们家通向别家后院得经过一个小巷道,黑灯瞎火的时候让我恍惚想起小时候长辈们讲述的关于地道战的故事。

平时节假日回来最多三五天,这次因疫情被困在大山里,能陪着老父老母的时间竟两月有余。

乡间清净惯了,现在却是热闹,到处是平日长期在外工作而现在不得已被困老家的年轻人下田捞鱼翻修柴房的身影。每次转路的时候碰见这些人头攒动的情形,我都紧紧口罩,转身远离。对于这里的人来说,疫情再严重,要不假思索地和邻里情隔离开来也是太难。




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