Preface: I am a native of Maiwangxinsheng Village, Chishui Town, Huazhou. My experience has extremely typical connotations, reflecting many ills of real society, and can give people a lot of inspiration from one aspect. After being introduced by Mr. Xu Linzhi, I asked Huazhou writer Mr. Tong Yangzhou to write my autobiography. After several consultations, an agreement was reached. This is how a myth created by an arrogant writer came out of the cage.
- Liu Guangqi
Survival Song
Author: Tongyangzhou
Return to Huaxian
I finally made up my mind to go home.
I prepared for the worst: Even if our policies there did not change, even if my brother wrote this letter out of desperation under the pressure of the public security officers, I would still go home. Yes, I haven't been home for twenty years. I miss home almost to the point of going crazy!
I think, even if I get caught when I go home, I will go home. I really can't stay here anymore. I want to go back immediately to feel the warmth of the times. I can't wait so silently...
Since I am a fugitive, the process of returning home is much more difficult. and twists and turns. When I went to the train station to buy a ticket, I hesitated. As a result of hesitation, I bought a train ticket to Xi'an.
The reason is very simple. I can't rush back home without thinking about it. I should go to Xi'an to meet my brother first to further verify the situation at home, and then decide what to do next. Doing this is for the safety of returning home, it is cautious and cautious, and it is also an inevitable choice for those who are timid and afraid of getting into trouble.
The trains in 1986 were much better than before. From time to time there were conductors selling food on trolleys. The rice is not expensive, only two cents a box, and it tastes good. When the conductor called Chishui Railway Station, I felt a thump in my heart. Logically speaking, I should get off here. This railway station is the nearest railway station to my home. The harsh reality forced me not to get off the car as expected.
Old house at Chishui Station Photo by Liu Huanmin
After getting off at Xi'an Railway Station , I hurriedly found a hotel with a public phone. I called my brother. The person who answered the phone asked me who I was. I didn't say my name. I said it was one of his friends.
My brother rode his old bicycle to the overpass east of the train station. When he saw me, he looked around. Then he greeted me in a low voice, Zhaoxiang, I guess you are back. Go, eat and go.
This is a small, remote restaurant, deserted and deserted. My brother and I sat in the corner inside. My brother bought two bowls of noodles for me, and he bought a sesame seed cake to eat. After a while, he stood up, walked out of the door, came back, sat next to me, and said in a low voice, Zhaoxiang, what are your plans when you come back? I want to hear your plans.
I expressed my concerns while eating.
My brother said, Zhaoxiang, there have been some changes in policies recently. The landlords and rich peasants took off their hats, the rightists were rehabilitated, and some of the rightists who were rehabilitated early even received back wages. I thought, I should tell you this news. It's been many years, it's time for you to come back. I thought, the landlords and rich peasants have taken off their hats. According to this reasoning, our family should also remove the landlord element. If our family were not landlords, you would not be criticized or paraded in the streets. Well, you wouldn't say that. Without that, there would be no arrest. So, naturally, there will be no such thing as a fugitive. Zhaoxiang, what do you think?
I said, brother, logically speaking, it should be like this.
My brother said, but for so many years, I have been doing sports every day and fighting all the time. Your brother and I have lived these years in fear. Zhaoxiang, I won’t let go if I don’t write to you to tell you about this situation. You are my brother, connected by flesh and blood. Although I am frightened, I still care about you all the time. Let me tell you, but I am afraid that if I make a wrong move, I will ruin you and implicate me. By then, I will regret it for the rest of my life. well!
I said, brother, I listen to you and do whatever you say.
My brother thought for a while and said, I met my uncle a while ago in the southern suburbs of Xi'an. He asks about you. I told you about your return a few years ago.Our uncle said that the police had been to his house before...
I was shocked and said, when?
My brother said, those few years shortly after you left.
I said, how about these few years?
My brother said that he has not been here in the past few years.
I said, brother, what do you think we should do?
My brother thought for a while and said, Zhaoxiang, I think you should go to my uncle's house first and discuss it with my uncle. My uncle has experienced a lot and has a wide range of knowledge. He'll come up with a way to get the best of both worlds.
I was even more disturbed by what my brother said. After hesitating for a while, I asked my brother to go with me. He said, no, I am at work today and my boss has something to do. After saying that, my brother left in a hurry.
I stood there not knowing what to do...
I carried my things and came to the door of my uncle's house uneasily.
Jizi's previously very beautiful face looked much older. She stared at me in surprise and said for a long time, "Oh, isn't this a good omen!"
I hurriedly entered the door and called out, "Hello, my dear."
Concubine took the things and said, Zhaoxiang, you kid will be fine when you come back. Why are you buying things? She put down the things in her hands and turned around and said, oh my, a few days ago, your uncle was still talking about you, saying that you got into that mouse hole without even a trace. You're back, that's good, that's good! Come in, come in! Your uncle is at home.
There were questions in the room, who is it?
Concubine said, Zhaoxiang is back!
The door curtain flashed and a person went out. Is this uncle? Could the bald old man in front of me be that shrewd and capable uncle? The uncle said, come on, come on, Zhaoxiang, come in the house quickly, come in the house quickly. Over the years, your sister-in-law and I have looked forward to you every year, thought about you every day, and talked about you often!
My uncle pulled me into the house and said to my concubine, you are a stupid person. You haven’t seen your baby come back for many years, and you don’t let her into the house when she comes.
Concubine said, "Oh, I can't have a conversation with my nephew." Zhaoxiang is back and you are worried.
I threw myself into my uncle's arms and hugged him. My uncle hugged me tightly, as if he was afraid that I would run away. My face suddenly felt a little cold, and I knew my uncle's tears were dripping on my face.
Uncle and I were sitting on the sofa, and there were many magazines and newspapers on the coffee table. Uncle lit a cigarette and smoked.
At this time, Concubine came in with a plate and said, old guy, wipe up your urine, it’s hard enough for the baby to be outside.
The baby is back, please say some more soothing words. The past is the past, and the fashionable saying is to look forward. After all, when people are alive, they still have to think about the future. Now, the most important thing is to eat!
Uncle said, OK, OK, eat and eat. Zhaoxiang, your concubine is right, eat.
After dinner, I discussed my concerns.
Uncle said, Oh, you can’t see the general trend. The central government adopted a negative approach to the Cultural Revolution, which meant overthrowing the past and creating a new one. Do you think, who dares to take the hat of landlord and rich peasant? This time, I took them all. You said, this is not a major change, what is it? I think it’s just right for you to come back. So many major and important cases have been overturned. What does your matter mean? A piece of cake!
I said, I am a fugitive, will they catch me?
Uncle said, he dared. This is the central government's policy. Let's see who has the courage to block the implementation of the central government's policy! Zhaoxiang, let me tell you, to untie the bell, you need someone to tie it. Don't go there if you go back, go directly to the female judge and ask her what to do? See how she responds to you?
Concubine said, old guy, let’s see what you can do. What if someone captures the baby?
Uncle laughed so loudly that he almost lost his breath and said, Oh my god, I said you have long hair and short knowledge, why can't you see the world like this? Hahaha, don't worry, if you dare to arrest anyone, I will go to the central government to sue him! Why, it’s the other way around!
Concubine said, ah, yes, yes, Concubine is not as far-sighted as your uncle. Just do as your uncle says. Don't be so arrogant when you go back, straighten your waist. Don’t be afraid, there are central policies to support you! You know, your uncle became a lawyer. He had nothing to do at home and read books all day long, specializing in studying national policies! What he said makes sense! People often come to him to ask questions about this and that.
I ate and said goodbye to my uncle.
I can't wait, and I have some courage in my heart.
When I got off at Huaxian Railway Station, that indescribable feeling of intimacy arose spontaneously. This is the hometown county I have longed for, the seat of an ancient and legendary state.
Photographed by Liu Huanmin of the Huazhou Section of Longhai Railway
Huazhou has a long history. The ancient sites of "Laoguantai Culture", "Yin Shang Culture", "Yangshao Culture" and "Longshan Culture" in the county highlight our Our ancestors thrived here and created the history of civilization. In the 22nd year of King Xuan of Zhou (806 BC), King Xuan of Zhou appointed his concubine Ji You as Duke Huan and established the Kingdom of Zheng here. During the Spring and Autumn Period, in the eleventh year of Qin Wugong (687 BC), Qin established Zheng County here. Western Wei In the third year of the deposed emperor (AD 554), Dong Yongzhou was changed to Huazhou. From then on to the second year of the Republic of China (AD 1913), Huazhou was changed to Hua County. This place has been known as "the first state in front of Tonghua Gate" since ancient times, and it is a battleground for military strategists. Due to its rich resources and abundance, it is known as the "One Hundred and Two Holy Lands, the Land of Abundance". "The young flowers are green, the Weishui River is turbulent, and the gentleman's style will last forever."
This is the Hua County in my memory. I have an old county chronicle at home. The memories of these ancient antiques are the result of my reading. Nowadays, as time goes by, the ancient customs are no longer there, and everything is desolate, which makes people feel chilly.
It's dark and I don't dare to stay in a hotel. I saw some people talking and laughing while going to the movies, so I went with them. Only when we got there did we realize that we were not watching a movie, but watching TV. This is a single room in the school. Although it is small, it is crowded with many people. After watching
TV, I walked out blindly. After walking for a while and everyone went home, I was the only one left alone on the street.
I was dumbfounded. I don't know where to go?
You have to pay to stay in a hotel, and I don’t want to stay in a hotel. You need a certificate to stay in a hotel, but I don’t have one. Besides, staying in a hotel is dangerous. The biggest danger is the lack of proof, which is the basis for people’s suspicion. If you were caught and thrown into jail without anyone taking care of you, wouldn't you be throwing yourself into a trap?
In the gray night, I hesitated for a moment and walked lazily towards the train station. Walking to the station is not to take a train to somewhere else, but there is a dilapidated vegetable garden nunnery next to this road. The owner of the nunnery went home for the winter, and the broken wooden door was ajar, making it convenient for me to spend the night. I knew in my heart that I would suffer if I stayed here overnight. Not to mention there were no accommodations such as bedding, and what was even worse was that the doors and windows were broken.
However, for the sake of safety, I have to stay here for one night before talking...
Original source: Contributed by the author of "Song of Survival"
Original author: Tongyangzhou
Compiled and edited by: Huazhou Literature and History Collection
