In the early morning of December 9, 1947, the third column of the Jinji-Hebei Luyu Field Army was set up in a temporary command post in a small village in Macheng, Hubei Province, and commander Chen Xilian and other column commanders were gathered in front of the map to deploy the battle plan for the Pinghan Campaign.
Suddenly, Zhao Shili, chief of staff, hurriedly ran in and said to Chen Xilian with a smile: "Commander, tell you a good news..."
"What's the good news?"
"Your mother has come to see you!"
"What?!" Chen Xilian had a look of disbelief on his face.
"Your mother is coming, she is on the road at this time, and it is estimated that she will arrive soon."
"Really? Old Zhao, don't be blind..." Chen Xilian muttered to himself, "I haven't seen my mother for eighteen years, and I haven't heard from her, is her old man really still alive?" ”
"You'll see for yourself, won't you?" Zhao Shili said deliberately, "In short, that old lady has not seen her eldest son in eighteen years!" ”
Chen Xilian said eagerly, "Where is the old lady?" Take me to see it! ”
At this time, the commander of the column, who commanded thousands of troops and horses, had completely lost his calm general demeanor, and he walked impatiently outside the door, and Zhao Shili shouted while chasing: "Don't worry, commander, they are rushing here..."
Coincidentally, as soon as Chen Xilian went out, he saw a PLA soldier walking toward the command post, and behind the soldier was a young peasant pushing a trolley, and on the car sat an old lady with white hair and a new blue cloth.
Chen Xilian could not care about the commander's restraint and trotted all the way to the old man.
Although he hadn't seen each other for twenty years, he could see at a glance that the old lady in front of him was his mother, who had been lost for many years!
"Mom! Mother..." Chen Xilian's tears burst out of his eyes, and he immediately fell to his knees in front of the old man with a thud, crying silently to his mother.
In 1929, chen Xilian, who was only 14 years old, could not bear the insults and beatings of the landlord, angrily injured the landlord, broke into a catastrophe, and was forced to leave his hometown of Pengjia Village in Huang'an County and join the Red Army.
In the following 18 years, Chen Xilian had been accompanying the troops to the south and fighting in the northern war, and did not have the opportunity to go home to visit his mother.
After all, he had not met his son for 18 years, and when Chen Xilian suddenly appeared in front of him, the old lady was stunned, as if afraid of recognizing the wrong person, raised her sleeve to wipe the corners of her eyes, and carefully looked at the faces of the people kneeling in front of her.
When she finally confirmed that this was her son, the old tears suddenly rushed out, and then desperately pounced on it, hugged Chen Xilian tightly with her arms, and said in a trembling voice: "Xi Lian (Chen Xilian's original name)... You really are Xi Lian... I'm not dreaming, am I? ”
"Mom, it's not a dream... It's not a dream! My son has finally seen you..." Chen Xilian also cried.
At this time, the young farmer pushing the cart also came over and said to Chen Xilian with tears in his eyes: "Brother, I am Xi Li!" ”
"Brother, my good brother, you and your mother have suffered!" Chen Xilian also hugged and cried with his brother.
The mother and son three held their headaches and cried for a long time, and then their emotions slowly calmed down.
"Mom!" Chen Xilian wiped his tears and asked, "After I joined the Red Army, how did you and your brother come here in the past ten years?" ”
"At that time, your brother was still young, so I had to take him around to ask for food, and it was hard to pull him up." You haven't heard from you since you left, and both I and Xi Li thought you were..." The old lady fell into painful memories.
"Until a few years ago, we heard rumors that you were still alive and took the troops to the Area of Guangshan and Xiaochuan, and I asked for food all the way to find you, but I didn't think that I was suddenly very ill and almost died on the road, but fortunately Xi Li went to pick me up..."
"Mom, you've really worked so hard all these years..." Chen Xilian could imagine how hard his mother and brother's life was at that time, and he bowed his head in sadness.
Chen Xili took over and said: "As soon as the People's Liberation Army crossed the Yellow River, we heard news about you again, saying that you are indeed still alive and have taken great responsibility in the army. After my mother knew, she couldn't sleep happily for half a month..."
Chen Xilian nodded, "Then this time, how do you know I'm here?" ”
"When your troops passed through Huang'an the day before yesterday, they wanted to find someone to be their guides, so I took your troops to Macheng. On the way, I made small talk with a Red Army soldier and talked about a 63-year-old mother at home, but brother had been gone to the Red Army for 18 years. ”
Speaking of this, Chen Xili suddenly smiled: "You said that it was a coincidence that the soldier was very enthusiastic, and asked in passing, what is your brother's name, I can help you inquire in the army whether he is still there." ”
"Oh? That is true? Chen Xilian's eyes widened.
"Yes!" Chen Xili said, "As soon as I said that my brother's name was Chen Xilian, the soldier said that the commander of our column was called Chen Xilian, who was also from Huang'an, Hubei Province, could it be your brother?" As soon as I heard him say this, I quickly found another guide and ran home to take my mother to you..."
Chen Xilian laughed and said, "Haha, it seems that I really have to thank that soldier for casually asking a question, helping me find two relatives who have been separated for eighteen years, and promoting the reunion of our mother and son here!" ”
Next, Chen Xilian left his mother and brother in the army for one night, and because the great battle was imminent, they could only send them back the next day.
When he was parting, Chen Xiliantang, a commander, could not take out anything of value, and could only give the blanket and quilt he had covered to his mother, hoping that the old man would wear a warmer winter.
But the old man refused to ask for it anyway, but just said vigorously: "When I see you, I don't want anything." Originally worried, I couldn't sleep on a coffin board. Now, I don't want this, I just want to eliminate Old Jiang and live for a few more years! ”