悟空教育“第二届华裔家庭故事大赛”获奖作品：Grandpa’s Mapo Tofu

2024年，悟空教育再度携手吴彦祖开启“第二届全球华裔家庭故事大赛”，邀请全球华人用文字讲述他们的华裔故事，分享人生感悟。卡耐基梅隆大学刘刚教授、华裔作家 Vincent Yee 等多位学术专家加盟担任评委，以专业点评和温情点拨提供独特视角与感悟。在众多优秀来稿中，25篇佳作脱颖而出，”Grandpa’s Mapo Tofu” 就是其中之一。作者用温暖细腻的笔触，娓娓道出一道家常菜背后的亲情故事，字里行间皆是质朴动人的暖意。

Grandpa’s Mapo Tofu

Mimi Peters

Light of Family AWARD

The smell of soy-braised pork and steamed rice filled the kitchen, but it was the spicy aroma of mapo tofu that always stood out to Tan Tan. Every day during primary school, Tan Tan’s lunchbox was carefully prepared by his grandpa. He made sure each meal was delicious and balanced. One dish that often appeared was mapo tofu.

TanTan’s classmates would gather around during lunch, curious about the different foods in his lunchbox. While they had sandwiches or simple meals, Tan Tan’s lunch was full of colors and flavors—braised chicken wings, stir-fried vegetables, dumplings, and of course, mapo tofu, a spicy dish with tofu and minced meat.

“Why does your lunch smell so good?” his classmates would ask.

Tan Tan would smile and say, “My grandfather made it. He says food is how we show love in our family.”

But there was a time when TanTan didn’t like mapo tofu.It was too spicy for him, and he didn’t understand why his grandpa loved it so much. That changed when his grandpa told him a story about the dish.

One evening, as they were preparing dinner together, his grandpa began to speak about Tan Tan’s grandma. “Your grandmother was known for her mapo tofu,” he said,his voice soft with memory. “She made it whenever we needed comfort, especially during hard times. Her mapotofu wasn’tjust food; it was her way of caring for us.”

He went on to share how. When they were younger, they lived in a remote area with no markets nearby. Fresh tofu was hard to come by. But that didn’t stop Grandma. There was a time when she would walk miles to get fresh tofu,just so she could make the perfect mapo tofu for the family. Her determination showed how much she cared, turning every meal into something special.

When Tan Tan left for university, he missed those home-cooked meals, especially the mapo tofu. The food at the cafeteria was bland, and he often felt homesick. During his first holiday break, he returned home, eager to taste his grandpa’s cooking again. But he noticed that his grandpa was getting older, his hands less steady, and his energy fading.

One day, while his grandpa was resting, decided to surprise him by making mapo remembered the ingredients and how his used to cook it with care. As he prepared the dish, he felt closer to her, hoping to recreate the love she put into every meal.

When his grandpa tasted the mapo tofu, his eyes filled with tears.

“You’ve made it just like she did, Tan Tan,” his grandpa said, his voice trembling with emotion. “This dish brings back so many memories. It’s like she’s here with us.”

Tan Tan realized that mapo tofu was more than just a spicy dish; it was a connection to his grandma and the love that had been passed down through generations. As he continued his studies, he promised himself that he would keep this tradition alive. The mapo tofu, with its rich flavors and deep history, would always remind him of the love and care that his family shared.

作者以Tan Tan与麻婆豆腐的故事为核心，层层递进，深刻展现了亲情的厚重与传承的力量。从Tan Tan最初嫌弃这道菜的辛辣，到聆听爷爷讲述背后的故事而理解接纳，再到长大后亲手复刻，三组画面串联起动人的情感轨迹。文中细节尤为出彩——爷爷准备午餐的用心、同学围观的童趣、爷爷回忆奶奶时的温柔语气——无不鲜活地烘托出亲情的温度。麻婆豆腐由此超越了食物本身，成为家族情感绵延的温暖载体，读罢温情萦绕心间。

25篇华裔家庭故事，一字一句，都传递着最真挚的情感。这些故事记录着个体生命的闪光与跋涉，更连缀成华裔精神的群像长卷。期待和你一起阅读，感受亲情的纽带，分享童趣奇思；跟随作者踏上寻根之旅，点燃文化传承的火种，见证华裔生活的丰富图景与生命的内在力量。

Lea | WuKong Chinese Teacher

Lea is a passionate educator and writer,hailing from Beijing Jiaotong University where she graduated with a degree in English.With a deep understanding of education and a knack for making learning engaging,she brings a unique blend of knowledge and creativity to her writing.Whether crafting educational content or sharing tips on making math fun,Lea’s goal is to inspire and empower both parents and children on their learning journey.