the sun reaches the celestial longitude of 105°,

and Minor Heat — a solar term infused with summer's fiery temperament —

makes its fervent entrance into our lives.

“Lesser Heat and Greater Heat, steaming above and boiling below”—

this popular saying captures the sultry atmosphere of the season.

It's a sensation that mirrors a common life experience:

you walk ahead with joy and purpose,

only to suddenly feel sluggish, weary, and drowsy—

in desperate need of a cooling breeze.

As poet Yang Wanli put it beautifully,

“Deep in the bamboo groves and dense trees where insects hum,there's at times a coolness—not brought by wind.”

If not the wind, then where does the coolness come from?

Perhaps, it arises from one word: stillness.

to protect them from moisture and insects, and let the ink and paper breathe.

Perhaps it's time for us to air ourselves out as well—

lay out our musty thoughts in the sun,

and let the heat distill away our restless distractions.

a gentle seasonal reminder:

to live wisely is to live in harmony with nature's rhythms.

The harsher the sun, the more precious the shade;

the fiercer the storm, the more dazzling the rainbow.

So it is with life—

in the hardest times

lie the most valuable insights.

As the days grow hotter,

lotuses bloom in the mud in full glory,

while crickets retreat to corners and keep singing.

They all seem to be telling us:

when facing adversity,

you don't always have to push head-on.

Step back, take a different approach，

and you can still thrive with grace.

Yang Wanli could sense that “the coolness was not from the wind”

because he “briefly stood at the door under the moonlight.”

If you ask Bai Juyi how he escaped the summer heat,

he would say, “By quietly sitting in the courtyard.”

Whether it's a quiet stand or a tranquil rest,

both are ways of putting the heart at ease.

On this day of Lesser Heat,

may there be a breeze by your window,

inspiration in your writing,

and no worries in your heart.

Remember—

every scorching summer endured

is a letter sent ahead by autumn,

an invitation written in sweat.