One day in 1985, the weather in the Yimeng Mountains was exceptionally good. This old revolutionary area, which has been weathered by wind and frost, is now shining under the sun and is full of vitality.
On the mountain road, a group of people are hurrying to hurry. The man in charge is called Zhuang Xinmin. I remembered that when I was fighting in Yimeng Mountain, I was still a flesh-and-blood young man.
Nowadays, the bucket has shifted from star to star, and he has long become a departmental-level cadre, and he has reached the age of retirement.
He knew in his heart that without the benefactor, he might have died in this mountainous area a long time ago, and there would have been nothing else to come.
Thinking of the benefactor, the picture came to his mind: a simple peasant woman was feeding her milk little by little into the mouth of her seriously injured self...
I haven't seen him for many years, and I don't know how this benefactor is doing now? Thinking this in his heart, the steps under his feet became even bigger.
After a while, Zhuang Xinmin and his party came to the front of a small farm yard.
Pushing open the door and entering, Zhuang Xinmin saw at a glance that an old lady was sitting in the courtyard.
Even if he hadn't seen him for many years, Zhuang Xinmin still recognized the other party at a glance.
At that moment, all kinds of complex and indescribable emotions surged into my heart. Zhuang Xinmin could no longer control his emotions, and threw himself on his knees on the ground, crying in his mouth: "Mother, help the mother, your son is back!" ”
And the old lady quickly recognized the man in front of her. She excitedly touched Zhuang Xinmin's face, and then hugged the other party and cried bitterly.
Suddenly, the "mother and son" cried into a mess, and the crowd of onlookers was also moved to tears by this scene...
What kind of story is there between Zhuang Xinmin and this old lady? After seeing the benefactor, how will Zhuang Xinmin repay the life-saving grace of that year?
(Statue of Yimeng Red Sister-in-law Ambulance Warrior)
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="7" >, "dumb sister-in-law" milk rescue warrior</h1>
This old lady's name was Ming Deying. In the year of the Xinhai Revolution, she was born in a small village in Yishui, Shandong.
Just like that tragic era, Ming Deying was destined to be accompanied by ups and downs from the moment he was born.
At the age of two, she became deaf and mute due to a serious illness. Soon after, the mother who brought her a lot of love also passed away and left her.
Since then, Ming Deying's life has lost all its dependence, and can only rely on doing some odd jobs for the landlord's family to barely survive.
Is the landlord's money so easy to earn? Despite Mingdeying's efforts, she often did not have enough to eat, and she was also subjected to verbal abuse and beatings from the landlords.
However, a long and difficult life has tempered Ming Deying's heart. Compared to her peers, she is more resourceful and brave.
(Ming Deying)
One day, Ming Deying and a few other friends went to the field to dig wild vegetables. When they returned, the landlord's son led a fierce and evil black dog and blocked their way.
When other small partners saw the situation, they were all frightened to "lose their color", and only Ming Deying stood up.
She slammed the shovel that dug the wild vegetables hard, and then strode forward, beckoning her and other sisters to follow her as she went.
And the son of the landlord's family was frightened the moment Mingde Ying pulled out the shovel.
Watching Mingdeying pass in front of his eyes, he did not dare to say a word.
In this way, Ming Deying relied on his strong character to live alone to the age of 21.
At that time, 21-year-old girls who had not yet married were rare.
Matilda has no father and no mother, but fortunately there are also enthusiastic villagers. With their help, Ming Deying married a man named Li Kaitian.
(Poor children)
Li Kaitian is also a poor man, with no room and no ridge. After becoming relatives, the two people continued to live without food and clothing.
In the end, it was the well-meaning villagers who asked them to take care of the village's tomb forest, and they could use the scattered land in the corners of the forest to cultivate.
In this way, the husband and wife built a shack next to the tomb forest, and although life was still difficult, it was finally settled.
The Yimeng-Mongolian region was a revolutionary base area that our Party opened up earlier. The headquarters of the Shandong Column of the Eighth Route Army was set up in Mamuchi Township, where Ming Deying was located.
After dealing with the Eighth Route Army a lot, Ming Deying deeply felt the greatness of the people's army.
Warriors often came and went in the village, but they never disturbed the common people.
Sometimes, they even fetch water and farmland for Mingdeying.
(Monument to the Yimeng Revolutionary Base Area)
Although Ming Deying could not speak on his lips, he knew very well in his heart that only a contingent like the Eighth Route Army was a truly revolutionary army that served the country and the people.
And such an army is exactly what the Japanese invaders feared and targeted.
On the night of November 3, 1941, a large number of Japanese puppet troops took advantage of the night to march rapidly, and quietly surrounded the headquarters of the Shandong Column in the early morning of the 4th.
After carefully analyzing the enemy's situation, the commanders of our army made the decision to break through.
In the case of the enemy being outnumbered, although our army suffered heavy casualties, the good villains broke through.
However, at this moment, a small eighth road covering the breakthrough of the brigade was discovered by the Japanese devils. This little eighth road is Zhuang Xinmin, who was only 18 years old at the time.
Seeing that the devil had found himself, Zhuang Xinmin astutely turned around and ran.
As he maneuvered with the enemy, two bullets fell into his right arm and shoulder, respectively.
After being injured, Zhuang Xinmin felt more and more difficult to deal with the enemy's insistence.
At the critical moment, Zhuang Xinmin thought of his father. He was also a member of the revolutionary ranks, but was later killed in a battle.
(Japanese forces invading China)
Is it true that today, he will also be sacrificed under the butcher's knife of the Japanese Kou?
Just when Zhuang Xinmin fell into despair, he suddenly found a shack hidden in the shade of the forest not far in front of him, and then began to run hard towards the shack.
After a while, Zhuang Xinmin ran to the door of the shack.
And this shack is Matilda's home.
When Zhuang Xinmin ran over, Ming Deying was sitting on a stone mill to feed the child.
Inadvertently, Ming Deying saw the desperate Zhuang Xinmin. With an eye contact, the clever Mingdeying immediately understood something.
She quickly stood up and dragged Zhuang Xinmin to the cemetery.
After a while, Ming Deying pulled Zhuang Xinmin to the front of an empty tomb. She pushed Zhuang Xinmin into the empty grave, and then went to find many branches to cover the hole tightly.
After doing all this, Ming Deying returned to the shack without a word. Matilda Came back on the front foot, and the devil's back foot chased after him.
(Shack)
The devil first looked into the room a few times, but did not find anything unusual.
Then, with a gesture, they asked Ming Deying about Zhuang Xinmin's whereabouts.
Matilda pointed in the direction of a mountain without a trace, and then the Japanese soldiers did not doubt that he had him, and immediately chased after him.
Seeing that the alarm was lifted, Ming Deying and her husband Li Kaitian carried Zhuang Xinmin back from the cemetery. However, due to excessive blood loss, Zhuang Xinmin, who was carried back, had already passed out.
Looking at the dying warrior in front of him, The impatient Mingde Ying did not say a word, and then dripped his own milk into the mouth of the little warrior.
She hoped that the little warrior who had drunk her milk would wake up quickly.
However, at night, Zhuang Xinmin still showed no sign of waking up.
Li Kaitian said worriedly: "This child may not be able to save life", but MingDeying did not believe it and wanted to try again.
She found the big needle that she usually used for daily use, and then began to prick at Zhuang Xinmin's human middle hole.
After a while, Zhuang Xinmin had a reaction.
Ming Deying saw hope and hurriedly fed milk to Zhuang Xinmin to drink.
In this way, Zhuang Xinmin retrieved a life from before the ghost door closed.
Since then, Zhuang Xinmin has lived in Mingdeying's house to recuperate. In order to supplement his nutrition, Ming Deying killed the old hen that the family had raised for many years.
Afraid that he would catch a cold at night, Ming Deying gave him the only broken quilt in the family. And Ming Deying's own young children, in the cold wind, were frozen and crying.
When Zhuang Xinmin saw this, he really couldn't bear to live any longer.
However, as soon as he said his thoughts of leaving, Ming Deying grabbed him deadly and said to him: Your injury is not good, I will not allow you to leave.
Under the retention of Ming Deying, Zhuang Xinmin continued to live.
This stay is another twenty days.
(Ming Deying and Li Kaitian)
Ming Deying's home was originally three meals that were difficult to continue. In order to let Zhuang Xinmin have enough to eat, he gave him all the grain.
After learning of this situation, Zhuang Xinmin could no longer stay and was determined to leave.
This time, Ming Deying knew that he could not stop him, so he had to gesture and say: "You beat the devil to Chinese, you are a good boy, if you can't find the troops, you will come back."
In order to let Zhuang Xinmin eat enough to go on the road, Ming Deying killed the last old hen in the family.
Looking at the pot of chicken soup, Zhuang Xinmin could no longer control his inner emotions.
He knelt on the ground and held Matilda's thigh and said:
"Mother, I will never forget your great kindness in my lifetime." As long as I live, I'll come back to see you."
After eating, Zhuang Xinmin picked up the package and left the small shack that provided him with shelter.
Ming Deying and Li Kaitian gave him a ride after another, and Zhuang Xinmin looked back at the simple couple from time to time.
He wanted to try to remember the faces of the two men, and secretly swore: When the revolution is victorious, he must come back to repay the favor...
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="15" > second, the flames of war dissipated, and the revolutionary heroes of repaying favors were looking for "mothers"</h1>
After sending away Zhuang Xinmin, Ming Deying and her husband did not stop cheering for the revolutionary cause.
In the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the War of Liberation, Li Kaitian took the risk of delivering grain to the front-line troops, while Ming Deying made pairs of military shoes for the soldiers with his hands at home.
(Women providing logistical support to the revolutionary army)
At the same time, Zhuang Xinmin successfully found the original unit and became more and more courageous in the subsequent battles.
Every time he went to the battlefield, Zhuang Xinmin's eyes would always appear in front of the figure of Ming Deying.
That figure seemed to inspire him at all times: only by killing more enemies could we liberate poor people like Ming's mother, and could we be worthy of Ming's mother's life-saving grace.
With this belief, Zhuang Xinmin made great achievements in the army.
Zhuang Xinmin followed Chen Yi and liberated Shanghai in 1949. Since then, he has been working in the military and political departments in Shanghai.
After years of struggle, life has finally ushered in a real peace.
However, Zhuang Xinmin's heart has always had one thing in mind. That is to find Mingdeying and repay the kindness of that year.
(Shanghai Liberation)
Therefore, he constantly asked the Yinan County government and local comrades-in-arms to help him find Mingdeying.
Finally, after many twists and turns, Zhuang Xinmin received a letter from Ming Deying in 1955.
Finally, with the news of Ming's mother, Zhuang Xinmin was overjoyed.
He even shared this good news with Chen Yi. Chen Yi was also very happy about this, and said: "We must not forget the people's nurturing grace! I have time, and I have to go to Shandong to see her."
However, at that time, Shanghai was in ruins, and neither Chen Yi nor Zhuang Xinmin could find the right time to return to Shandong to visit Ming Deying.
Unable to visit the benefactor in person, Zhuang Xinmin often sent money and gifts to Ming Deying to talk about his heart.
(Chen Yi)
In 1956, Zhuang Xinmin suddenly thought of a good way to "have the best of both worlds": he could not go to Shandong, but Ming's mother could come to Shanghai.
After Learning of Zhuang Xinmin's idea, Ming Deying refused his kindness.
In desperation, Zhuang Xinmin could only invite Li Kaitian to Shanghai first.
As soon as Li Kaitian got off the train, Zhuang Xinmin recognized the old man at a glance.
He quickly stepped forward, hugged Li Kaitian, and said excitedly: "Father, you are coming, and your son will do filial piety!" ”
Words and actions are as intimate as between biological fathers and sons.
After Li Kaitian lived in Shanghai, Zhuang Xinmin took time out of his day almost every day to accompany the elderly.
Once, Zhuang Xinmin looked at the old man and said sincerely: "I brought my mother-in-law, my younger brothers and sisters also came, and the whole family was reunited. ”
However, Li Kaitian did not want to cause trouble for Zhuang Xinmin, and said kindly to him: "Child, if you have this heart, you can do it, they all come, then how can it work!" Who planted the land in the house? ”
(Shanghai Railway Station in the 1950s)
Zhuang Xinmin knew that he could not persuade Li Kaitian for a while, so he could only give up this idea for the time being, and was ready to find an opportunity to discuss this matter with Li Kaitian in the future.
But who knows, after Li Kaitian stayed in Shanghai for a few days, he was very worried about his home and had to go back. No matter how Zhuang Xinmin retains, Li Kaitian is already determined.
In desperation, Zhuang Xinmin could only send Li Kaitian back to the train, and bought many nutritional products and asked him to take them home.
After Li Kaitian left, Zhuang Xinmin's contact with Ming Deying's family became more frequent.
Every month, he had to send a little money to Ming's mother. At the time of the festival, many gifts are also sent.
And Ming Deying, who was far away in Yimeng Mountain, cherished Zhuang Xinmin's heart very much.
Every time she "chatted" with the villagers, Ming Deying always happily "told" people that she also had a "son" in Shanghai and was very filial to herself.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="22" >3, "Help the mother, your son is back!" ”</h1>
For a long time in the main job position, Zhuang Xinmin could not spare time, until 1985 did not realize the wish to visit the benefactor in person.
That year, he was 62 years old, already a retired old man.
After years of long-cherished wishes finally come true, Zhuang Xinmin excitedly prepared all his belongings and took the family on a journey of "visiting relatives".
So, that happened at the beginning of this article.
The boy knelt down and said with true feelings, "Help the mother, your son is back", telling the gratitude that Zhuang Xinmin has cherished in his heart for many years.
Zhuang Xinmin's behavior infected his wife and children. They also knelt down to the elderly to thank them for saving their lives.
In tears of gratitude, joy and excitement, the "family" achieved a true reunion.
(In Honor of Matilda Ying)
After visiting Ming Deying, Zhuang Xinmin's feelings for the old man became deeper and deeper.
Not only did he often remember the kindness of that year, but he also taught the children: "Never forget your grandmother, without her old man's home, it is absolutely impossible to have our family!" Feed me mouthful after mouthful..."
Every time he said this, Zhuang Xinmin always choked up and it was difficult to tell it anymore.
Under the influence of his father, Zhuang Xinmin's children are also very grateful to Ming Deying.
As the Spring Festival approached in 1994, Zhuang Xinmin prepared to return to Shandong to spend the Spring Festival with Ming Deying.
However, just as he was about to set off, he accidentally slipped and fell, causing a crushing fracture of the second lumbar spine.
At that time, Zhuang Xinmin was already 71 years old, and naturally could not withstand such a fall.
The plan to accompany Ming's mother for the Spring Festival was in vain, and Zhuang Xinmin, who was lying on the hospital bed, was very distressed. After thinking about it for a long time, he finally called his son Zhuang Jian to the side and said to him:
"Kids! You go, you go to Shandong, go there for me and your grandmother's family to celebrate the reunion year, otherwise, Dad, I can't have a good Spring Festival! ”
(Yimeng Mountain, Shandong)
Listening to his father's words, Zhuang Jian immediately set off for Shandong.
After seeing Ming Deying, Zhuang Jian was like the grandson of the old man, a grandmother in one mouth, and called very affectionately.
During the Spring Festival with the elderly, Zhuang Jian would always help the old man to wear shoes and clothes neatly.
Then help the old man to sit on the bamboo chair at the door, and chat with the old man in a row.
However, unfortunately, Zhuang Jian, who had become a naval lieutenant at that time, was unable to accompany the old man for long due to his official duties.
Before leaving, Zhuang Jian recalled the bits and pieces of getting along with Ming Deying in the past few days, and recalled the old man's kindness to his father, and tears also poured out of his eyes.
He reluctantly hugged Ming Deying and said, "Grandma, take care of yourself, when Your Father is well, we will come to see you again!" This sincere friendship, Ming Deying felt.
She smiled and touched Zhuang Jian's head, telling him to work well and be a good soldier of the people.
(People's Soldiers)
With his grandmother's expectations, Zhuang Jian returned to the army.
However, what he did not expect was that this parting turned out to be a farewell.
A year later, the 84-year-old Matilda Died. After hearing the news, Zhuang Xinmin was in pain. Then he faced the direction of Shandong and knelt down for a long time.
Later, Zhuang Xinmin set up a spiritual hall for the elderly in his home, and took his children and grandchildren to send the "mother" on the last journey.
He originally thought that when his body was fully recovered, he would go to Shandong to see the old man's home.
But now, this can only become his lifelong regret...
epilogue:
Chinese often say: "The grace of dripping water should be repaid by the spring", so what about the "grace of the spring"? I believe that Zhuang Xinmin has answered this question with actions.
As a woman born and raised in the old era, Ming Deying was able to use her own milk to save the dying warriors without hesitation, which is undoubtedly a noble sentiment.
In fact, as an old base area during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, there are many "red sisters-in-law" like Ming Deying in the Yimeng Mountains.
They often do not seek refuge and provide the revolutionary fighters with the best possible help.
(Yimeng Hongyi Memorial Hall)
They may not be able to pass on their names to future generations like Ming Deying. But their brilliance has always illuminated the way forward for the Chinese nation.
And the party and the people will never forget their efforts. Earlier, when a TV political discussion film talked about Ming Deying, it once gave this commentary:
"She was hunched over, a mute, the wife of a grave watcher. It is precisely through hundreds of millions of lowly and toiling masses that the Communist Party of China has gained invincible strength."
Believe in the words of The Wise!
bibliography:
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Wang Chunmei, Fang Yan, eds. Selected Stories of Yi MengHong. Jinan:Jinan Publishing House, 2019.03.
Yimeng Hong's sister-in-law Ming Deying[J].Friends of Party Members and Cadres, 2011, (No. 6).
YANG Guizhu,ZHAO Chenglin. The Story of Matilda Ying[J].Juvenile Monthly, 1995, (No. 9).
Zhang Jianguo, Li Zhenxing." Red Sister-in-law "Ming Deying[J], Spring and Autumn, 1998, (No. 4).
Thorns." Red Sister-in-law "Ming Deying: War Turns Women into Mothers[J], Qilu Weekly, 2014, (No. 33).
Pompey. Yimeng "Red Sister-in-law" Ming Deying[J].Party History Wenhui, 2000, (No. 6).
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EDIT: Lonely
Editor-in-Charge: Thalia