"Tree Cutting"
Photo of the author in military uniform
In the summer of 1983, the company where I was the deputy company commander was given the task of cutting down trees at the compound of the 38th Army Headquarters on Qiyi Road in Baoding.
At that time, there were not many tree species, mainly poplars, elms, locusts, and willows. Poplar trees are more than 20 meters high, other trees are more than 10 meters high, and no one can hold them.
When I received the task, because the company commander had just visited his family, the main task was completed by me.
Leaders at higher levels have repeatedly stressed that the first is that personal and property safety issues cannot be solved. The second is to grasp the essentials of knowledge familiar with tree cutting as soon as possible. The third is to complete the task on time.
The tools we used at that time were only shovels, ropes and a two-meter-long band saw. After the task is assigned to each platoon, the platoon commander is responsible for the work.
Whenever a large tree is put down, there are family members watching, or looking for someone to saw the vegetable pier, I tell the platoon leader that you can saw the vegetable pier without hindering the work. Vegetable pier willow wood is best. This is followed by the locust tree. poplar. The elm trees are irregular, and we try to be satisfied with the vegetable mounds.
Military compound
In the past, whenever there was a Spring Festival, I had the opportunity to go to the military compound for a few years, to visit my father's elderly comrades-in-arms, and to meet my old classmates. But this time, it was good that every day in the courtyard (especially in the family home), I could see my father's old leaders, such as Deputy Commander Pei Feizheng and his wife Aunt Tong Ruigong, Deputy Commander Ding Jiyuan and Aunt Deng Cuihua, Aunt Chen Maohuai, wife of Song Shuren, director of the Political Department, and several deputy political commissars.
Chang Xuan asked me to go to the house for lunch many times, and I was not polite to have all of them, especially at Uncle Pei's house, Uncle Pei invited me to drink Moutai wine, which I will never forget in this life.
During those days, I don't know how many large trees were cut down, I don't know how many vegetable mounds were sawn, and I also sold several carts of tree rafters for the company, which were used to build houses, and each rafter sold for only one dime. The roots of the big trees can only be transported to the garbage dump, and now think about how wasteful it is. Although it also pulled the big tree roots for the company, it was always placed there.
Time passed so quickly, the task was successfully completed, I really did not want to leave the military compound, and even more reluctantly, I cared for my uncles and aunts.
Now although the compound has disappeared forever, the compound will always be in my heart.
author