When I was 10 years old, my mom often took me to a hotel in another city.

That was the most difficult time for our family.

Mom told dad that she was going to the other city to buy goods, she would resell clothes, and there was a black market there where she could wholesale some super cheap clothes, stolen clothes.

Mom said she bought those clothes and sold them at a high price on the spot to make some money.

Dad let mom go.

Mom took me with her.

But I had never seen mom buy goods, nor had I seen any clothes.

I only saw some different uncles.

The uncles played with me.

During the days mom went to the other city, we stayed at a hotel all the time, never went anywhere, including me.

Every night, mom would sing me to sleep.

One night, I woke up in the middle of the night because I needed to pee, and found mom was not there, I was very scared. After using the toilet, I wrapped myself in a large blanket, shivering, eyes wide open, listening to the ticking of the clock on the wall.

A few days later, mom took me back home.

Mom bought a new leather jacket with a furry collar, very fashionable.

As mom took me home, we passed by a wonton stall.

The boss lady set up the stall early in the morning, the smell of wonton meat filled the air.

It smelled so good.

Those wontons thrown into the big pot, boiling vigorously, stirred my heart, my stomach, constantly swallowing back and forth.

I walked past without looking.

I was very sensible.

Really.

I knew mom wouldn't buy it for me, I knew we didn't have money.

So I held back, not even looking at it.

But at that moment, the boss lady called out, saying, "Hey, sister, buy a bowl for the child, just out of the pot, a big wonton, buy a bowl for the child."

So mom bought me a bowl.

I sat in front of the wonton stall eating wontons, gobbling them up, it was the most delicious wonton I had ever eaten in my life.

After eating half a bowl, I suddenly remembered that mom hadn't eaten yet, just staring at me blankly.

I timidly pushed the wonton over to mom.

Mom's tears fell "swish," I hurriedly wiped her tears, mom just sat there silently crying, not saying a word, not a single word.

Many years later, I became sensible.

I also guessed how we survived those years.

I never asked mom why she cried that day, and I never ate wontons again.