Lao Meng is located about sixty kilometers away from the southern part of Yuan Yang, no too far from Vietnam. Every Sunday, thirteen ethnic groups from five counties of the two countries come to this market. There is a wide variety of goods and snack stalls. There are also key makers, hairdressers, cobblers, dentists, and even snake charlatans.

Ethnic groups come together, merchants each showing its own profession; making it a heaven to photograph human interests.

After walking around, I came to a small stall providing which appear to be like hookah smoking services. The stall is full of tobacco and pipes, with just a few cents; one can sit down and enjoy the service.

There are many smokers in the stall; the thick smoke indicates good business.

Between the smokers, an old countryman attracted my attention.

I saw that his face was branded with deep wrinkles, an old and worn glass on the nose; the outer layer of the frame is a little peeling, and the lens is also spent. He wore a duck-tongue cap; clothing which looks likes the blue-collar workers of the Mao Zedong era. He seemed like he was intoxicating himself in the smoke.

The old man suddenly looked up; his expression had a kind of indescribable melancholy, but also with a touch of sadness. The opportunity was too good to miss, so I raised my lens and took a few shots.

Is the burden of life or the bitterness entangled in his heart? I do not have the answer, but that moment of expression is recorded in the camera eternally.

The old man stood up, and so the shooting ended.

I called upon him, smiled, and show him the output. Seeing his own appearance, the old man pointed to the screen and laughed out loud.

At that moment, the sadness and melancholy before that suddenly disappeared. His cheerful look was contagious, causing me to also laugh. Other smokers were also joining in and laughing.

At that moment, everyone was happy; the magic of photography was extraordinary.

With a smile on his face, the old man waved to me and turned around and walked away.

Another smoker immediately sat down, and the small stall once again, fills with smoke.