An old thing that has disappeared from Wuhu (1): the cat sighs.

Cat sigh, a folk commodity in the past, is quite popular in Wuhu area.

Its shape is generally round or long waist-shaped, with long handles and sleeves, and the weaving material is mostly thin bamboo strips. Some weaving methods use grey cloth, and the small holes facilitate the internal and external air circulation and see the contents inside; Some of them are finely woven, leaving no gaps, and coated with bright paint, which is really dark and airtight.

According to legend, Maotan was first used by people in mountainous areas rich in bamboo, and its design was inspired by clay pots with lids. In the simple life of farmers in the past, only in the slack season and near the end of the year can we make some fresh meat dishes, usually pickled game, pork and fish.

It was not easy to survive when the years were scarce. This game fish was preserved to survive the long and depressing winter. Wouldn't it be hateful if other creatures wanted a piece of the action? Therefore, people try their best to prevent unearned creatures from coveting human food. Cat sighs came into being.

The name of the cat with a sigh is that the cat took the blame for the mouse. In the animal pen full of famine, both cats and mice like to steal human food. Both cats and mice should be involved in stealing food. However, it feels much better to name a cat than a mouse that everyone yells at. The reason why cats are adopted and domesticated by human beings is not so much related to their super cute state and unique mystery, but rather that they always have a temperament beyond human beings when they get along with human beings, which changes the imagination of human beings to train cats and then conquers human beings. Rats eat the fruits of other people's labor by hook or by crook and spread diseases. Therefore, in the life-and-death contest between cats and mice, cats have won the support and encouragement of most human beings; In other words, cats get more understanding from humans, even if they eat human food abominably. From the above point of view, naming a cat after a cat is a manifestation of human love for cats.

Actually, I'm ashamed that no cat has ever sighed in my family. I saw it and understood it. It started at the neighbor's house. One year approaching the Spring Festival, I went to my neighbor's house to find friends to play with. My neighbor's aunt took out a round bamboo basket from the cupboard, opened the lid and handed us some candy. I found this bamboo basket different from ours, so I asked my aunt, "What basket is this?"

"This is called a cat sigh. With it, mice and cats can't steal anything inside, so they can only watch it sigh. " Aunt explained it very well.

Later, I learned why there are no cats sighing in my house. Because four boys in my family have a great demand for food, they often eat the last meal and worry about the next one, and there is basically no extra food to store. Therefore, even if there is a cat sigh in our family, it is useless. Later, the cat sigh gradually evolved into a special appliance for storing some snacks, which is also a symbol of good or bad living conditions. For a long time, I sighed in my mind, if only there was a cat sighing at home.

Nowadays, the material conditions are extremely rich, and the daily necessities such as cat sigh have long faded out of people's sight and left the post of life. However, the age it lived in gave us infinite memories. In the imprint of the years it carries, there are many children's joys and expectations. Its image is deeply imprinted in the memory of the older generation, and it will never be forgotten, let alone erased in a formatted way.