Visiting Uncle Chang of Xia Yu, I met Mr. Miao Deyu by chance
Yan Defenders
Mr. Miao Deyu (photo by Fang Junfu)
Around the summer of 1984, my father asked me to visit a friend of his, Mr. Xia Yuchang, who was then the chairman of the Shandong Federation of Literary and Art Circles. My father only told me the general location, near Jinan Jingliu Road and Weisan Road.
I arrived near Mr. Xia Yuchang's house and wanted to ask where Mr. Xia Yuchang's home was. At this time, an elderly man walked over, looking a little like Comrade Yang Dezhi, an old revolutionary predecessor whom I respected. I asked the old man where Uncle Xia Yuchang's house was. The old man told me: "Xia Yu is often in the west house of the third floor of the second unit of this building in the north. ”
Mr. Miao Deyu
I then successfully met Uncle Xia Yuchang. Mr. Xia Yuchang looked to be fifty-seven or eighteen years old at that time, and his eyes were a little short-sighted. At Uncle Xia Yuchang's house, Uncle Xia Yu Chang showed me a letter he had just opened. It was a letter written by Jun Qing, a famous writer who lived in Shanghai. Jun Qing is one of the authors of the texts in the textbook we just studied. Uncle Xia Yuchang introduced me to a calligraphy work hanging on the wall of his living room. Uncle Xia told me, "Calligraphy must be in traditional characters. And patiently explained to me the meaning of this calligraphy work. I didn't have the slightest sense of inferiority at the time, even though I was talking to a high-ranking official. Because I think he's an elder, a friend of my father's. Uncle Xia was even more approachable, he was dealing with a child, a friend's child. Later, Uncle Xia asked me how I found his new home. I told him how he came to his house. Uncle Xia told me: "The person you just asked is the famous poet Miao Deyu. ”
In October 1997, on the occasion of filming "Yimeng's Love - Father and Son Writer's Hometown Love", Miao Deyu (first from right) took a group photo with his fellow villagers
When I was in elementary school in my hometown, my nephew Yan Xianxue often tutored me because I liked composition. Yan Xianxue is a master of writing articles and is very famous in the local area. He often talked to me about Mr. Miao Deyu. When I left Uncle Xia's house, Uncle Xia Yu Chang sent me to the first floor. Uncle Xia pointed to a general's building downstairs and said, "This is Mr. Miao Deyu's home. ”
Miao Deyu and his lover Jiao Yong were photographed on the Thousand Buddha Mountain in 1956
When I walked out of the gate of this compound, I happened to meet Mr. Miao Deyu again. Mr. Miao Deyu asked me with concern, "Did you find it?" and I said, "Found it." Thank you. At that time, I was thinking of running a newspaper for the Communist Youth League of the unit, so I said: "Uncle Miao, I would like to ask you to inscribe a word for our Youth League newspaper." Mr. Miao Deyu warmly asked him to come with him. Mr. Miao Deyu took the paper and pen, and happily inscribed two big words: congratulations, and then the inscription. I saw a girl in her twenties doing laundry and drying clothes. Mr. Miao Deyu introduced me to his youngest daughter. At that time, I often went to Uncle Kongfu's house to ask him to write poetry. Uncle Kong Fu especially admired Miao Deyu's "By the Spring". There is a sentence in "By the Spring": "The youngest daughter grew up by the spring, with a pair of bright and vocal eyes." These two lines are the end of "By the Spring". Mr. Miao Deyu wrote about his beloved little daughter, I saw it with my own eyes. Stylish, youthful and vibrant.
Originally drafted on December 12, 2023
Revised on December 13, 2023
in Beijing