文章描述了作者回乡探亲的经历，尽管家乡小镇在石化工业、房地产和高铁建设带动下基建日趋完善，但新增工作岗位有限，年轻人依然选择外流。作者观察到长辈亲戚的衰老，并了解到当前高中生学业压力远超以往。与母亲的交流中，作者感受到母亲对离家工作的子女的不适应，并对母亲退休后的生活感到担忧。同时，作者也面临着来自家庭和亲戚关于婚恋的催促，并以经济压力作为回应。文章展现了小镇发展与个体发展之间的张力，以及年轻人面临的现实困境。

infrastructural improvements: Despite significant investments in infrastructure, such as new roads, facilities, and a sports park, driven by the petrochemical industry, real estate development, and the opening of a high-speed rail station, the number of new job opportunities in the author's hometown has not kept pace. This has led to a continued exodus of young people seeking better prospects elsewhere, with the town only seeing a temporary increase in population during holiday seasons. The author's personal experience of having left for work for several years highlights this trend.

Generational changes and academic pressure: The author observes the visible signs of aging in their relatives, including their father becoming noticeably thinner. A conversation with a cousin reveals that the current high school academic demands are significantly higher than in the author's time, with students needing to be in class for early morning reading sessions and having limited time for meals and bathing after school before evening study.

Family dynamics and future concerns: The author's mother expresses difficulty adjusting to the reduced number of people at home after the author's departure, a sentiment the author finds hard to address given their established independence. The author also contemplates their mother's future, particularly her retirement in a few years, and questions how she will occupy her time, suggesting she may be too idle. The author also expresses a lack of enthusiasm for the increasingly competitive civil service exams as the primary career path in their hometown.

Societal pressures and financial realities: The author frequently encounters indirect and direct pressure from family and relatives to find a girlfriend. The author's direct response, citing a lack of financial resources, effectively silences most inquiries, underscoring the significant financial hurdles associated with dating and marriage in contemporary society. This highlights the economic realities influencing personal relationships and life choices.

老家是十八线小城镇，这几年得益于石化工业区的新建、房地产的开发和高铁站的开通，不管是公路还是一些其他设施都修建得比原来要好，甚至还新建了体育公园。虽然基建普遍在完善，但是工作岗位增加得不多，年轻人依旧在往外逃离，也就节假日人多点；和亲戚聚餐的时候能看到很多很久才见一面的长辈亲戚肉眼可见的老了很多，我妈倒还好，我爸老的也挺明显，变的很瘦小；和刚上高中的表弟聊天才知道现在的高中也比我们以前那会还要累，早上六点多就要到教室晨读，下午放学到晚自习也只有一个小时能去吃饭和洗澡；我妈在我昨天返程后语音聊天时说不习惯家里又少人，我也不知道怎么说，我都出来工作两三年了之前都能习惯怎么又突然不习惯。再者不习惯又能怎么办，回老家也没什么好的工作岗位也只剩考公，我还不是很想考公，考公也不好考。还是觉得我妈太闲了，再过两年还是三年她就要退休我都不知道她怎么打发时间。这次回去又是被家里以及亲戚直接或间接地催找女朋友，我直接说没钱找，大部分听到这之后就不好说什么了，毕竟现在不管是找女朋友或者是结婚没钱都很难进行下去。