While the village's education system flourished and its achievements blossomed, Lin Yue's vision extended beyond the mere transmission of knowledge and cultivation of talent. She deeply understood that culture was the soul of the village, a spiritual treasure passed down through generations, carrying its historical memories, customs, and values. Like an invisible bond, culture connected every villager, endowing the village with unique charm and cohesion. Therefore, in the season of vibrant educational development, Lin Yue resolutely turned her attention to the vast fields of cultural inheritance and innovation in the village, diligently sowing seeds of hope and hoping to reap a thriving cultural landscape.
The morning sun filtered through thin clouds, softly casting a golden glow on the ancient stone paths of the village. Lin Yue strolled along this familiar path, a gentle breeze ruffling her hair, carrying the fresh scent of the fields and the distinctive aroma of village life. Her gaze was drawn to a slightly dilapidated temple by the roadside. Though weathered by time, the temple stood firm, seemingly silently recounting the village's past. Moss covered the temple walls, and several roof tiles were missing, but the ancient architectural style and exquisite wood and stone carvings showcased the superb skills of the artisans and the villagers' reverence for the gods. Lin Yue slowly entered the temple, the stone slabs creaking softly beneath her feet, echoing in the empty space like the reverence of history. She stood quietly in the center of the hall, gazing up at the solemn statue, a feeling of deep respect for her ancestors welling up within her. This temple is not only a place of religious belief, but also an important symbol of the village's cultural heritage. It has witnessed the rise and fall of the village and carries the prayers and dreams of the villagers for generations.
After leaving the temple, Lin Yue went straight to the village's cultural activity room. This spacious room, converted from an old warehouse, was adorned with paintings and calligraphy created by the villagers themselves, as well as antique farming tools and daily necessities, showcasing the village's agricultural culture and folk customs. Several long tables and chairs were placed in the room, where villagers would gather to chat, play chess, read books, and share their daily lives. At this moment, Lin Yue sat at a table, lost in thought. She realized that although the village had a rich cultural heritage, some traditional customs were gradually being forgotten with the development of the times, and the younger generation was increasingly unfamiliar with the village's history and culture. To change this situation, she decided to focus on both cultural inheritance and innovation, allowing the village's culture to radiate new vitality in the new era.
Lin Yue's first thought was to unearth and compile the village's folk tales. These stories, passed down orally, contain rich wisdom and emotion, and are an important part of the village's culture. She organized several elderly villagers and some young people interested in culture to form a folk tale collection group. The group members went from street to street, visiting every household to listen to the elders tell those ancient and mysterious stories. At the home of Grandpa Zhang, an elderly man in his seventies, everyone sat together. Grandpa Zhang cleared his throat and slowly began to speak: "Long ago, there was a magical legend in our village. It is said that in the mountains behind the village lived a kind fairy. Whenever the village faced disaster, she would appear and help the villagers overcome their difficulties. One year, the village suffered a rare drought, and the crops failed, leaving the villagers in dire straits. Upon learning this, the fairy waved her magic staff, and instantly dark clouds filled the sky, bringing torrential rain that saved the entire village. From then on, to express their gratitude to the fairy, the villagers would hold a sacrificial ceremony on a specific day each year, praying for the fairy to bless the village with good weather, peace, and tranquility." Lin Yue and her group listened with great interest, carefully recording every detail, afraid of missing any exciting parts. After a period of hard work, the collection team compiled a thick book of folk tales, containing all sorts of stories, including myths, legends, historical anecdotes, and folk tales. Lin Yue printed these stories into booklets and distributed them to every villager. She also opened a folk tale reading course in the school so that children could learn about the village's culture and history from an early age.
Building upon traditional culture, Lin Yue actively encourages villagers to innovate cultural forms. She believes that culture can only adapt to the times and attract more attention and participation through continuous innovation. Therefore, she proposed holding a cultural creation competition, encouraging villagers to unleash their imagination and creativity to create new folk tales, poems, paintings, songs, and other works. The news of the competition immediately caused a sensation in the village. Villagers responded enthusiastically and actively participated in the creation process. Young painter Li, inspired by the village's natural scenery, created a series of colorful oil paintings showcasing the village's different beauty in each season; poet Wang wrote many poems praising the village's new life, expressing his love for his hometown and his aspirations for the future; and some villagers combined modern technology to create short videos about village culture, which were disseminated through online platforms, attracting numerous likes and attention from netizens.
At the exhibition showcasing works from the cultural creation competition, the village's cultural activity room was bustling with activity. Villagers gathered around each piece of art, attentively admiring and discussing them, frequently expressing their admiration. Lin Yue moved through the crowd, a happy smile on her face. She saw the villagers' enthusiasm and talent for cultural creation, and she also saw the boundless potential for cultural innovation in the village. An older woman grabbed Lin Yue's hand and said excitedly, "Lin Yue, thanks to you for organizing this competition, even we old folks have the opportunity to showcase our talents. Look how creative these children's works are! Our village's culture is truly thriving!" Lin Yue smiled and replied, "Auntie, this is the result of everyone's joint efforts. We must ensure that the village's culture innovates while being passed down, and develops through innovation, so that more people can understand and love our village."
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