The Most Terrifying Sound!

When I was young, the most anticipated time of the year was the Chinese New Year! As boys, we weren't too concerned about new clothes, what we looked forward to the most was having meat to eat during the festivities and getting to enjoy snacks every day!

I remember when I was a child, before the New Year arrived, my mother would not only prepare a feast for the whole family (with dishes like braised pork, Dongpo pork, and stuffed meat), but also prepare snacks for us children. Back then, we didn't have money to buy fruit candies! Instead, during the autumn season when sweet potatoes were being harvested, my mother would wash them and not peel them. She would boil the sweet potatoes whole, not cooking them until they were completely soft, only 70-80% cooked. Then, she would take them out and let them cool down before cutting them into small pieces. These pieces would be placed in a sieve or a basket to dry in the sun, and once dried, they were stored away. A few days before the New Year, we would go to the riverbank to collect some sand, which would be mixed with dried sweet potatoes when frying them. I would be in charge of starting the fire, and as my mother used a spatula to stir-fry the sweet potatoes in the iron pot, the sound it made was truly horrifying and piercing. It was a sharp and scraping sound, making me feel extremely uncomfortable. Without any other choice, I would tear two clumps of cotton from my quilt, and when the frying began, I would stuff them into my ears. However, I could still hear some of the sound. Even now, although I no longer eat dried sweet potatoes as snacks, the sound of a shovel scraping against the ground when mixing cement still makes my heart race! It is far more impactful on my heart than the sound of bullets being fired from a Type 56 semi-automatic rifle or submachine gun, the explosion of a hand grenade, or the detonation of an artillery shell. Some people say that those with a soft heart are afraid of this kind of sound. I wonder whether this is true or not?

In conclusion, the sound of a shovel scraping against the ground when mixing cement is the most terrifying sound I have ever heard. It surpasses the sounds of gunfire, explosions, and even the use of heavy weaponry. It is a sound that has left a lasting impact on my heart, reminding me of the fear and discomfort I felt as