One night, my father and I spent the evening by the banks of the Yellow River in Kaifeng—a night that marked my first true encounter with this legendary river. That evening, my father brought me to the riverside just as the sunset bathed the river in a red glow, with shimmering light dancing gently on the flowing water. I stared at the vast expanse of the river, feeling both excitement and a touch of awe, as if I were witnessing thousands of years of history flowing before me.

My father lit a small campfire by the river, and we sat quietly watching the water. As darkness fell, tiny reflections of light began to dot the river's surface. In that moment, it felt as though the river's sounds were telling ancient tales. I asked my father if the Yellow River had always been there. Smiling, he began sharing stories of Kaifeng and the Yellow River’s past.

He explained that the river had changed course many times, sometimes gentle, other times ferocious, and that Kaifeng’s fortunes had risen and fallen with the river’s floods. I looked at my father's face as he recounted tales of devastating floods, feeling a mix of reverence and a budding sense of connection to the river.

That night, my father and I sat around the fire, listening to the murmurs of the water and watching the stars above. He told me how he had come here as a child, when the riverbanks were still wild and barren, but the unique scent of the river had remained unchanged through the ages. As I listened, I felt a connection forming with the river—a link tying me to the past and the land we stood upon.

We spent an unforgettable night by the Yellow River, with the sound of flowing water accompanying my father’s stories. It was then that I realized the Yellow River was more than just a geographical feature; it was the soul of Kaifeng. That night made me deeply aware of an unbreakable bond between myself and this land, with the Yellow River at its core.