MikeGravel

Sorry for my bad english.

I was born in the spring of 1965 in the rural outskirts of Shunde District, nestled within Guangdong Province's fertile Pearl River Delta. My village, Qingxi, is a modest settlement where the cadence of life is orchestrated by the rhythms of the land and the lingering traditions that have shaped our community for generations. Here, the cultivation of snakes is not merely an occupation but an inherited legacy, a symbiotic relationship between man and nature that has sustained us both nutritionally and economically.

My earliest memories are intertwined with the serpentine creatures that have been a staple of our livelihood. As a child, I would accompany my father to the snake pits at dawn, the air thick with the earthy scent of damp soil and the subtle rustling of scales against straw. He taught me to respect these animals—not as symbols of fear or malice as often portrayed—but as vital components of our ecosystem and culture. In Guangdong, particularly in regions like ours, snake meat is esteemed for its purported medicinal properties and rich flavor, often featured in traditional dishes such as snake soup, which is believed to invigorate the body during the colder months.

Education in our village was a luxury few could afford, and like many of my peers, I ceased formal schooling after primary education to assist with the family trade. The knowledge I acquired was practical, passed down through generations: the optimal conditions for breeding, the seasonal behaviors of different species, and the meticulous care required to ensure both the safety and health of the snakes and ourselves. We primarily farmed the Chinese cobra and the banded krait, species indigenous to our region and well-adapted to the subtropical climate.

As I reflect upon my life's journey from the son of a humble farmer to a custodian of an age-old tradition facing the tides of change, I am filled with a sense of purpose. My hope is that through adaptability and a continued reverence for the natural world, the legacy of snake farming in Qingxi will endure, harmoniously blending with the modern era while preserving the essence of our cultural identity.

Again, sorry for my bad english.