Zheng Zhendong was riding a bicycle, with his sister sitting on the crossbar in front and Zheng's mother on her back, heading towards the courtyard.
On the way, Zheng Zhendong suddenly thought about why his eldest brother had been hospitalized for so long, and why the armed forces and the street didn't come to visit him. Thinking of this, Zheng Zhendong couldn't help but ask.
"Mom, you said my eldest brother was injured. Why didn't people from the neighborhood office and the armed forces come to visit his injury?"
Zheng's mother was sitting in the back seat and said calmly.
"I really can't blame them for this. Our family's situation is a bit special, so it's understandable that they didn't come!"
Before Zheng Zhendong could ask, Zheng's mother explained.
"Third brother, let me explain to you the situation in our family. I also heard what your grandma said about these things.
It’s a long story to tell, and we have to start from the winter of the 32nd year of Guangxu’s reign in the late Qing Dynasty.
That year, there were serious floods in southern Jiangsu, making life difficult for the people.
Your grandfather was young and strong at that time, and he was the only one left in the family. Because the land was scarce and there was a bad year, and he didn't have enough to eat, he went to the nearby landlord's house and worked part-time to support himself.
Speaking of this, it's a coincidence that this landowner is your grandma's father and your great-grandfather's family.
As the saying goes, hunger and cold arouse the desire to steal, while wealth and honor know etiquette. In a year of great disaster, the people can no longer live their lives, so how can they care so much.
Your grandmother and your great-grandmother went to the temple to burn incense and fulfill their vows, but they encountered bandits on the way.
Your grandma and your great-grandmother were kidnapped by bandits, and then they sent a message to your great-grandfather, asking for grain as a ransom.
Although your grandfather was reluctant to let go, it was his wife and daughter who were tied up after all, so he still took out the food.
But the family's nursing home, the director, and his subordinates didn't dare to go with your great-grandfather to pay the ransom. Finally, your grandfather stepped forward.
In this way, the two of them drove the carriage and the food to the place agreed upon by the bandits, waiting to redeem their people.
These damn bandits don't show credibility when they see the grain, insisting that the grain is the price to redeem a person.
In the end, only your maternal great-grandmother was released, leaving your grandma to continue to be a meat pawn.
Your great-grandfather and the others begged for a long time, but the kidnappers refused to agree. In the end, the three of them had no choice but to go back.
Halfway through, your grandfather didn't know what was going on, so he suddenly turned back and found the kidnapper's lair.
When the kidnappers weren't paying attention, they rescued your grandma in the middle of the night and found a safe place.
Let your grandma hide first, and then return to the kidnapper's lair.
Your grandpa set a fire and burned the kidnappers' lair and the newly obtained food. Then he went back and took your grandma home.
After this incident, your grandma and your grandpa also developed feelings for each other. Unfortunately, due to their status gap, they could only get along secretly.
Later, for some unknown reason, your maternal grandfather found out about it. He beat your grandfather and drove him out of the house. He also locked your grandma in the boudoir.
Your grandma went on a hunger strike for several days because of this matter. Your great-grandmother felt sorry for her and released her.
Your grandma left the house and found your grandpa wandering nearby. The two of them discussed how to elope.
The next day, your grandma met your grandpa with dry food and private money, and the two of them headed west, and finally settled in Huang'an.
After they settled in, they got married very quickly, and gave birth to your father the next year, and later your second uncle, third uncle and the others.
If life were like this, it would be nice to live a normal life, but in that world, hey!"
Mother Zheng sighed and became silent as she spoke.
Zheng Zhendong, who was pedaling, was listening intently. Zheng's mother suddenly stopped talking and asked him in a hurry.
"Mom, what happened next? You stopped talking all of a sudden. You didn't mean to whet my appetite!"
After hearing this, Zheng's mother rolled her eyes at Zheng Zhendong. Then she thought that Zheng Zhendong was riding in front and couldn't be seen at all, so she laughed and cursed.
"Hey, you little brat, why are you so anxious? You have to let me take a breath before talking!
Okay, okay, don’t rush me, I’ll continue talking!
By the way, it was no different back then than it is now. After your grandparents fled to Huang'an, they first relied on your grandma's private money to live.
But how much money would there be? In desperation, your grandfather had no choice but to look for work everywhere.
But your grandfather turned out to be a farmer in the countryside. In addition to being able to farm, he also had a lot of strength, so he had to go to the warehouse to carry the big guy!
How much money can you make by working hard? What's more, at that time, your grandma was pregnant with your father, and her life was even more frightening.
Later, your grandfather saved some money, bought two acres of land, and started to be a farmer again.
In this way, your grandparents lived a stable life for more than ten years.
Then it happened in the 15th year of the Republic of China. At that time, your father was 17 years old. He had studied for several years and made a few friends.
One of them is Liu Songqing, a native of Luojiatian Village, Bali District, Huang'an County. This guy was the chairman of the District Agricultural Association at the time.
Liu Songqing is three years older than your father, and he often comes to your father to talk about the Farmers' Association.
Your father wasn't very interested at the time, but your grandfather was very interested. After all, he had been a farmer for half his life, so it's understandable.
Later, your grandfather also joined the Peasant Self-Defense Army, and later participated in the Jute Uprising.
In this way, your grandfather and his family followed the team and fought all the way, and even joined our party during the process.
Inspired by your grandfather, your father also joined the team.
After all, your father had been studying for several days and was very brave in battle. When he charged, he was like a tiger descending from the mountain. That's how the nickname Zheng Laohu came from.
Soon your father was promoted, and in the 34th year of the Republic of China, he became the regiment leader.
Speaking of this, Zheng's mother revealed a sweet smile and recalled many past events, as if the happiness of this life was blooming at this moment.
Because of the lesson learned last time, Zheng Zhendong did not interrupt Zheng's mother's memories this time, and made this woman who had worked hard for half her life shed tears of happiness.
…
Until Zheng Zhendong parked the car at the entrance of the courtyard, Zheng's mother was still lost in memories and could not extricate herself.
Zheng Zhendong couldn't help but turn around and looked at Zheng's mother. Tears were clearly falling from her eyes, but the sweet smile on her face could not be faked.
At this time, Zheng Zhendong and his younger sister Zheng Xinyi were completely confused. They wondered what was going on. They had never seen Zheng's mother in such a situation.
Seeing that his sister Zheng Xinyi was about to ask Zheng's mother, Zheng Zhendong quickly covered her mouth and signaled her to stop talking.
Then he pushed his sister off the front beam, then he got off the bicycle from the front, and finally pushed Zheng's mother on the bicycle towards home.
When he met someone on the road who wanted to say hello, Zheng Zhendong would put his finger in front of his mouth and "shush" to signal the other person to stop talking, so as not to wake up Zheng's mother who was crying tears of happiness behind her.
Zheng Zhendong knew that she was too tired and suffering too much. Her husband had sacrificed her life, her eldest son was seriously injured, and her second son was still on the battlefield. An accident might happen at any time.
Just let her remember it for a while, or she will be happy only at this moment!
How much Zheng Zhendong hopes that time will stop at this moment, so that this woman who has gone through vicissitudes of life can be happy forever!