Illustration: Hang Dachuan

Canned yellow peaches, referred to by netizens as "the healing magic medicine," have quietly occupied a position on people's shopping list as they stock up various medicines in case of COVID-19 infection. For many Chinese people, especially those in Northeast China, canned yellow peaches are a kind of sweet and special memory and an essential part of treating colds and fevers. Whenever a child comes down with a fever, his or her parents would open a can of the sweetened fruits that could not only help improve the child's appetite but also reduce the bitterness of medicines. Now, as Omicron spreads across Beijing and other parts of China, canned yellow peaches have become a comfort food for many, evoking nostalgia and serving as relief for COVID-19 patients, which also means, people are increasingly viewing the virus with a relaxed attitude.