Expo's "Haibao" blue
That year, slogans such as "Cities make life better" quickly covered the walls of streets and alleys.
The blue "Haibao" mascot, with a big smile on its face, appears in the windows of stationery stores, convenience stores, and even on Lulu's new T-shirt.
I lay on the desk, listening to those unfamiliar words about "National Pavilion Day" and "Urban Best Practices Area", and my heart felt itchy as if it was being tickled by a feather.
A vague sense of honor, mixed with curiosity about that bizarre and distant place, grew in my heart.
"How about we go to Shanghai to see the World Expo next month?"
One day at dinner, the shredded potatoes my mother fried were a bit salty, and I was concentrating on eating.
Dad suddenly spoke up and pointed with his chopsticks at the date circled in red on the calendar on the wall.
"Really?" I almost jumped out of my chair.
"Of course," Dad raised his eyebrows proudly, "Let's take Nian Nian out to see the world and see the real world."
At that moment, my mind was already sketching out my experiences in Shanghai, and how after returning, I would mention it to Ye Zhixia, Lulu and the others in a seemingly casual tone, "Oh, that moon boat in the Saudi Pavilion? I saw it with my own eyes at the World Expo!"
Vision makes everything sacred.
I cut out a picture of the China Pavilion's "Crown of the East" from a newspaper and pasted it on the cover of my notebook, replacing the curled and faded Zhou Bichang sticker.
"Crown of the East"
I looked at the magnificent red color and imagined the shock of standing at its foot and looking up at it.
I couldn't wait to share this news in our "Hanshi Team" group.
Dancing lightly: [Picture: Night view of the China Pavilion] My dad said he wanted to take me there!
Jiang Huyuan: I'm so jealous! I heard the Saudi Arabia Pavilion has an IMAX screen, it feels like being in space.
Dancing Snowflakes: I heard that the queue for that museum is eight hours!
Qingwu Feiyang: When the time comes, I will bring you Haibao keychains!
————
Naturally, the Expo atmosphere was also blowing in the school.
Expo knowledge contest, essay and painting competition...
"City dream" has become the most frequently used word in our compositions.
Lu Xingye's talent for painting suddenly exploded that year.
In Aunt Shen's studio, he painted a city floating in the air.
The painting is filled with bold blue blocks and silver lines.
"How is it?" He put down his paintbrush and glanced at us with some pride.
"What is this?" Jiang Yuanzhou leaned over and tilted his head to examine it. "Why does it look like where Transformers live?"
"What do you know!" Lu Xingye said seriously, "This is called a sense of the future."
We looked at each other, really unable to understand these lines and blocks of color.
But when I looked at him, I saw something sparkling in his eyes, like a glimpse of some distant future.
This painting, which we couldn't understand, was highly praised by the art teacher.
"The sense of space is excellent," the teacher said, pointing to the large expanse of blue in the painting. "This kind of imagination is rare."
In the end, Lu Xingye's painting won the first prize, was framed, and posted in the most conspicuous position on the school bulletin board.
Every time I pass by, I take a second look.
As I looked at it, it seemed as if I could see Lu Xingye's future through those blue blocks.
Maybe that guy will really be able to deal with these lines and colors for the rest of his life.
————
For me, the biggest regret that year was that my dream of attending the World Expo did not come true.
As I grow older, I realize more and more that in the adult world, in addition to seeing the world, there are also practical considerations.
Ever since my father suddenly suggested taking me to Shanghai to see the market, I have been looking forward to it.
"Dad, Mom, when are we going to Shanghai?"
During that time, this sentence almost became my opening remark every day when I got home.
But after the initial excitement wore off, the conversation at the dinner table began to turn to specific numbers.
"I think it's better to forget it."
Mom's brows furrowed. "Round-trip tickets, accommodation, meals, plus the entrance fee, how much does that cost?"
"There are so many people, it's a torture to take your children there."
The little flame in my heart sizzled after being doused with this basin of cold water, and it almost emitted white smoke of grievance.
"I can stop eating ice cream and buying keychains," I interrupted hastily, "and save all my pocket money!"
I looked at them anxiously, hoping to find a sign of relief on their faces.
But my mother just shook her head and said, "Niannian, Shanghai won't run away. Let's go when you're a little older, okay?"
I know, that's another way of saying "don't go."
That feeling of loss weighed heavily on my chest, more concrete and bitter than any time I didn't get a toy as a child.
————
Halfway through summer vacation, I went to Lulu's house to do homework together.
She was fiddling with a doll with curly hair when, as if suddenly remembering something, she looked up and asked, "Hey? Nian Nian, didn't you say you wanted to go to the World Expo? When are you going?"
At that moment, I clearly felt my cheeks getting hot.
A strange feeling of shame came over me.
I lowered my head and pretended to organize my homework. "Oh, my dad's company suddenly had an urgent task, so I can't go during the summer vacation. What bad luck."
"Ah? That's such a pity." Lulu smacked her lips regretfully.
"Yeah, what a pity." I agreed, but my heart felt like it was blocked by a ball of wet cotton.
I found that I couldn't honestly tell Lulu that they were canceling the trip because they were worried about "too much money."
Subconsciously, I feel that such a reason is not decent enough, like a lofty dream stained with worldly dust.
The notebook with the China Pavilion on it was stuffed into the deepest part of the bookshelf by me, as if hiding an unfulfilled blue dream.
The disappointment of failing to show off is like a sour fruit stuck in the throat.
Even long after, when I can face the various regrets of my childhood calmly, I can still clearly recall that unique feeling of loss.
Although I was not able to see the moon ship with my own eyes, nor was I able to stand in front of the "Crown of the East", it did plant the seeds of the future and the world in my heart.
It is a world that is much bigger and more exciting than the Hanshi Family Compound.
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