Recently, the Zhongtiao Mountains in southern Shanxi Province have entered the late autumn mode. The autumn colors on the deep hillsides of the mountains are dyed, golden, orange-red , and dark green form beautiful paintings. However, for folk photographers, no matter how good the scenery is, no one is regretful. Then they continue to move towards the hinterland along a mountain road, and they unknowingly came to the top of the mountain. When they were confused, they met an old man on the road and told us that there was a small mountain village hidden in the valley in front, and the scenery inside was even more charming, perhaps it was a place we like to take pictures.
mountain village is hidden in a dense forest in the valley, with chickens crowing and dogs barking endlessly. When you walk into the village, the new house and old houses come into view, giving people the feeling of being a paradise. At around 3 o'clock in the afternoon, it is the time for the villagers to go to work. Three middle-aged people came towards me. It seems that they should have worked. When they meet, they greeted him first. He enthusiastically introduced the situation of the village: "In our village, there were twenty or thirty families. Although there are now houses, there are not many people. If you want to take photos, you have to go to the small square next to the village. Where are the harvesting of food? There are many elderly people! "The small square in
pocket version is actually a small wheat threshing farm. There are very few flat land in the mountains. This should be the legacy of the previous collective economy. Almost half of the peanuts drying on the site are drying. Under the solar street lights, a pair of elderly people are busy working. They just bow their heads to work. They seem to have no idea about our arrival. The telephoto lens is pulled in and found that the elderly are harvesting wheat. It should not be the case that should be in autumn. Everyone feels a little confused.
"Hello, old man, the old couple harvesting wheat. What's the situation with harvesting wheat now?" After Teacher Cheng said two words, the old man raised his head and looked at us and said, "I work for others. The wheat belongs to this wife, I dare not make a mistake. We are not a family." The old man's answer added to us another doubt.
"Working" The old man's surname is Li, he is 86 years old this year. The mother-in-law who is drying wheat is Zhang, and he is 67 years old this year. Aunt Zhang said she has two sons, both of whom are farmers in the village. Now the mountain people cannot rely solely on growing crops. The children are all working outside. A few years after their wife passed away. She is the only one at home. Winter is coming. According to the locals' habits, they must grind noodles early to prepare for food and drinks for the winter. Today is a good weather. I bought 200 kilograms of wheat in the morning and had to go to the town to grind noodles after drying. I couldn't catch them by harvesting wheat alone. This Uncle Li is here to help, which is considered a "temporary work."
Uncle Li said: "I am working, not leaving the village, nor making money. I have nothing to do in the afternoon, and everyone is chatting here. When I see my wife alone, I come to help. "Working" is a joke. They are all neighbors and fellow villagers in the countryside, and they can't ask for money. It's time to help each other when they are old. If I don't want to cook tomorrow, I will go to her house for a meal or take a few steamed buns to save them." The old man's simple words solved the mystery for us in an instant.
Although Mr. Li is already an octogenarian, he has always been very strong and is a skilled expert in his work. He said he is helping Aunt Zhang harvest wheat. In fact, he is the protagonist, and he is doing almost all the hard work and technical work.
Uncle has 4 children, and now they all set up their own doors, and their wife has passed away. The children are usually very busy doing farm work. He is in good health. He doesn't drag down his children now, and he even has to help the children go to the fields to work. The elderly in the countryside are used to doing it, and they can't stop for a while. They are still constantly in their hands and feet. He is still a enthusiastic person, and it is common to help others. He is a famous good person in the village. When he encounters situations in need of help, he thinks it is a matter of duty. Today he is wandering around in the small square, and it is reasonable to help Aunt Zhang.
The elderly have a cheerful personality and often call helping people a joke of "working". "This term is not popular now. We are also fashionable when we are old. It is impossible to go out to work. Just play in the village and enjoy it if you don't make money."
" I have to send the Buddha to the West, and I have to finish my work. I am ugly and rational. I have this temper. Although my wife is more than 10 years younger than me, it is not easy for her to finish this work alone. It should be helpful to her and she will send her food home later, so that she can achieve her merits. "Uncle Li and his aunt folded weaving cloth , chatting with us and making jokes.
Aunt Zhang said: "The people in the mountains have a living for a living. The lifestyle habit of eating the crops they grow. Originally, I couldn't eat much at home alone, and this was all prepared for the children to come back. I washed the wheat and dried it. After a few days, the child took the time to come back and pulled it out and ground it into flour. I feel at ease to eat my own food. I work alone. I get up early in the morning, wash the wheat first, and then get it here to dry. I can't go home at noon, and I have to take it home in the afternoon. Without the help of this kind old man, I don't know when I'm busy. ”
Two more old people came to the wheat field in the middle of the two days. The peanuts here were dried by their home. The elderly said that peanuts were just harvested and the drying time should be longer. The good weather takes at least about three days. Today is the second day and there is no need to collect them. Now there are seven or eight old people in the small mountain village. Peanuts are here at night. They come here in the afternoon to see if the birds are ruined. Let’s chat and pass the time together.
The two old men were the same year. They played together since childhood and were considered childhood friends. When they got together, they started to joke. Later, the old man said, “Old Li is better in health than me and likes to help people work. It’s like a machine full of gas. Come on, I will work for my family for 2 yuan and help me collect peanuts. I will give it to you after I don’t owe the debt. "I didn't expect that as soon as the words finished, Uncle Li went over and grabbed his ears, and the two played together.
The two old men were childish and played together, which made the aunt next to them also amused. Watching the elderly people playing happily, it seemed as if they saw their childhood in the valley.
The only activity venue for the elderly in the mountain village on the wheat field. At around 4 o'clock, the elderly people would gather here to chat and exercise their bodies. Uncle Li said that in a while, they would be basically full. The family will help transport Aunt Zhang’s wheat back home. It is a habit here. Everyone will help with their work. No matter you and me, it will be the same even when this piece of peanut is harvested tomorrow.
An ordinary little thing in the mountain village actually shows the simple relationship between people in the countryside. Helping others has become a fine tradition passed down from generation to generation. Isn’t the peaceful and friendly village style a microcosm of our era? If you have the chance, are you willing to come here to live? [If you want to see more stories about the people, please click to follow]
