That's when I realized that I had been outdoors for a long time, and I felt that my feet were a little stiff from the cold.

I helped Vasya carry the chopped firewood into the house.

The wooden house is very small, and when you enter the door, there is a small hall, and when you see the furnishings inside, I think that this hall functions as both a living room and a kitchen. The hall had two doors leading to the inner room, and it felt like they were two bedrooms, and the bedroom doors were open, and I heard snoring coming from one room.

- "My grandfather! Vasya explained with a smile to me, tossing a few pieces of birch into the stove.

The fire crackled and burned, and I always liked the feeling of an open flame, so I leaned in front of the stove and stretched out my hands.

Vasya quietly poured me a cup of black tea from the samovar and brought out jam and honey to entertain me.

Holding the teacup, I looked at the non-talkative boy in front of me and asked:

- "Is this where you live with your grandfather?" ”

- "Hmm! Vasya replied.

I want to ask, where are his parents? But I felt that this problem was too abrupt, and it would touch the child's sore spot if I didn't get it.

Vasya turned on the TV, and I saw a fourteen-inch color TV on the shelf. What I didn't expect was that there was no cell phone signal here, but I could receive TV shows.

- "Can I watch TV here?" I asked in surprise

- "Yes! Vasya replied, his expression very smug.

Vasya told me that the TV was given to them by Ms. Wang, and that his grandfather had only one radio before. I remembered that Ms. Wang said that yesterday she also gave Vasya wine and a lot of food. It seems that Ms. Wang still takes good care of this grandfather and grandson.

- "You like to watch TV, don't you?" I asked

- "Like! Vasya looked at the TV with a happy expression.

Looking at Vasya, I suddenly remembered the children who used iPhones in Moscow and Beijing. They don't seem to like watching TV for a long time, and even fewer people think that watching TV is a happy thing.

- "Vasya, have you lived anywhere else?" I asked him with some curiosity

- "I served in the army in Rostov-on-Don. Vasya looked at me and said.

- "Huh!? It's not far from Moscow, have you ever been there? I said in surprise.

- "After I retired last year, I went to Moscow with my partner, and we went to see Red Square and the Kremlin. Vasya said to me proudly

- "Do you like it there?" I asked

- "Hey...... Vasya's smile and didn't answer me directly.

Looking at Vasya in front of me, I really don't know, how does this simple child see his current situation? Can young people who have seen the prosperity of modern times really live peacefully in this remote place?

In the process of urbanization, there are too many villages in Russia where young people are no longer visible.

- "Haven't you ever thought about leaving here to work outside?" I became more and more curious about this Vasya and asked.

Vasya poured me a cup of tea and shoved the saucer with strawberry jam in front of me, motioning for me to taste it.

I scooped a small spoonful into my mouth, and the jam was sweet and the strawberry flavor was strong. It feels like a typical traditional Russian homemade jam.

- "Delicious! Did you do it yourself? I asked with a smile

- "Hmm! Vasya agreed, his expression proud.

I scooped another teaspoonful of jam into my teacup.

Vasya added a few more pieces of wood to the fireplace. He looked at the fire, and suddenly said:

- "Grandpa is old and needs to be taken care of...... The Chinese here are very good to us, and my grandfather said that I was lucky to work in a Chinese factory. Vasya said and looked at me, and I saw the happiness in the boy's eyes again.

Bidding farewell to the lovely and simple Vasya, I returned to my lodgings and reminisced about the adventures of my walks, which felt particularly new and interesting. I guess that's a good New Year's gift for myself!