Submitted by Zhang Weiyao
Braided hair / Shi Hu Wenhu
In December 1970, I enlisted in the army, in February 1975, when I had been in the army for more than four years, I became a platoon commander, and in early February 1979, when I had been in the army for more than eight years, I was serving as a deputy company commander in the second company of the first battalion.
In the 70s, in the army, the task of the deputy company commander was to assist the company commander in handling the large and small tasks in the company. However, after the specific assignment, in fact, the deputy company commander mainly planned the company's food work, that is, led the division chief, the "sergeant" and the cooking class, and was responsible for the company's food arrangement and agricultural production ("sergeant" was the Xi name of the company at that time, in fact, it was the supply staff, and the usual work was to be responsible for the procurement of vegetables and food in the company under the leadership of the division chief).
At the same time, it is worth mentioning that at that time, although I had been in the position of deputy company commander for more than a year, my salary was still the same as when I was a platoon commander, which was 52 yuan per month. The reason for this is because, at that time, the salaries of military cadres were based on rank. The platoon commander's monthly salary is 52 yuan, 23 yuan, but the deputy company commander in some companies (I was like this at the time), and even the company commander is also 23 yuan, so their salary is the same as the platoon commander, 52 yuan per month. You must know that every time you raise the level, you have to increase your salary by 8 yuan, which is not easy. So at that time, some comrades-in-arms who were promoted relatively quickly always joked, saying that they were "only promoted, not rich".
Although my salary was 52 yuan a month, I had been married for four years and my daughter was more than three years old. My wife was at home alone, and it was not easy to take care of my elderly mother (my father had passed away at the time, and my mother was not in good health) and her young daughter. So I actually paid 37.5 yuan of salary every month (52 yuan of salary per month, after deducting 14.5 yuan of food expenses, 37.5 yuan was actually paid), except for the 12.5 yuan reserved for daily necessities (toothpaste, toothbrushes, etc.) and emergencies, the remaining 25 yuan, I got together in two months and sent it home together.
To be honest, at that time, although I was already a deputy company commander, my ordinary life was still very tight. Xiao Wu, the second platoon leader who had just been promoted in 1978, wore a Shanghai brand watch (120 yuan a piece), but I was reluctant to buy even a pair of new leather shoes. Those two pairs of big scalp shoes, since 1975, I have worn and worn them, for four years. But I knew in my heart that I had nothing to do in the army, and I couldn't suffer the old mother, the young daughter, and the wife who was not easy at home.
Seeing that the Spring Festival in 1979 was approaching, but in my heart, I had already decided not to go home to visit my relatives (in the past few years since I was promoted to platoon leader, I have not once gone home to visit relatives during the Spring Festival, this time, it was my turn). Every year during the Spring Festival, everyone who meets the conditions for visiting their families wants to go home and reunite with their relatives, but in a company, there are only a few places, so the arrangement of the order is also based on the actual situation, and the priorities are divided.
As far as I'm concerned, I always feel that there are still too many soldiers in the company who haven't gone home to visit their families, so I have given up all the opportunities that I can make. After all, it is also very lively to celebrate the New Year with the soldiers in the army. And back in early February, two days ago, I had already sent back a letter and 50 yuan. In the letter, I explained that I would not be going back this year. In addition, I also specially explained to my wife that although the family usually lives in poverty, after all, it is the New Year, and I still can't suffer the old mother and the little daughter, so I still have to improve the food and have a happy New Year.
Since I chose to stay in the army and saw that the Spring Festival was approaching, I began to prepare for the food arrangements for the Spring Festival holiday in the company. In the two years that I have served as the deputy commander of the second company, the food in our company has improved greatly. The reason for this is that as soon as I became deputy company commander, I began to focus on developing the company's agricultural and sideline production, and replanted wheat, corn, peanuts, and vegetables on the dozen acres of land near the camp that had been abandoned for several years. In addition to that, I also arranged two fighters full-time and raised seven or eight big fat pigs in the cooking class. Therefore, during my tenure as deputy company commander, every festival, our company was able to slaughter a big pig to improve the food for the soldiers. Speaking of pig slaughtering, it also reminds me of the experience of eating pork when I first came to Erlian.
It was September 30, 1974, and the National Day was approaching, so the company also decided to slaughter a pig and improve the food for everyone. I remember that afternoon, the company commander first found five soldiers and asked them to go to the courtyard of the cooking class to start preparing a series of work for slaughtering pigs.
Pigs, don't look at the usual stupid, in fact, they are also very fine. As soon as it saw a few people walking towards it, it knew that something was wrong, and when the two warriors rushed forward to catch it, it broke free from the hands of the two comrades. But the pig, to say that it is still stupid, after it broke free, did not run far, but jumped up and down around the pigsty. At that time, many of our soldiers were standing next to the pigsty watching the pigs slaughtered, so when they saw this, they all rushed over immediately. So, seven or eight of us, along with the company commander, started a "pig hunting battle" in the courtyard of the cooking class.
This pig should be young and very aggressive, and rushed out of us again and again (everyone was afraid of being bitten by it, plus with bare hands, so for a while, I really didn't catch it). A few of our soldiers were chasing after us, and suddenly we saw a comrade-in-arms smashing a pig with a stone. A few of us thought it was a good idea, and we stopped and began to pick up the rocks on the ground and threw them at the pig.
We smashed it very accurately, and for a while, many stones fell on the pig, and it howled as it ran. At last after tossing for half an hour, the pig finally could not run, and at this time, I saw an experienced veteran, quietly approaching it, and grabbed its big ears at once. Seeing this, everyone rushed up and tied the four hooves of the pig firmly.
In the end, it goes without saying that everyone knows how it ended. But the next day, when the company had dinner and ate pork, I found that the existing pieces of meat were blackened and could not be bitten. We recruits didn't know what was going on, but a veteran who happened to be sitting next to me for dinner knew about yesterday's "pig catch" and said to us with a smile: "The pork is black and can't be bitten, and it is the result of your stonework yesterday." Under normal circumstances, pigs are slaughtered and bloodlet first, so that the meat is soft and delicious. But if you throw a stone at a pig, the pig hurts, and as soon as there is blood in the place where you smash it, the meat will become tight, and it will definitely turn black, and it will not taste good. After listening to the words of the veteran, we all suddenly realized at that time. Since then, we haven't stoned a pig in order to eat good pork.
In the seventies, the troops generally had a five-day holiday for the Spring Festival. During this five-day holiday, the group will organize group meetings, show movies, perform theatrical performances, and hold sports competitions. In addition, Lianli will also hold small parties and fun activities. Needless to say, the food has improved greatly (a pig will be slaughtered, a hearty meal will be held, and dumplings will be wrapped twice). In short, it was all about creating a joyful atmosphere to dilute the homesickness of the soldiers.
I remember that it was the afternoon of the 28th of the lunar month, and I was discussing with the secretary general about the dinner at 4 p.m. on Chinese New Year's Eve this year, and I would prepare a few meat dishes and a few vegetarian dishes. At this time, our considerate company commander suddenly came to find me, he knew that I had been a soldier for nine years, and I had not gone home to visit relatives once during the Spring Festival, so as soon as we met, the company commander smiled and said to me, "Wei Yao, I just discussed with the instructor, and the cadres in our company, only you, have not gone home to visit relatives once during the Spring Festival." This year, you also go back to take a look, I remember, your daughter is almost four years old, you, as a father, should also accompany her for the Spring Festival. ”
As soon as the company commander finished speaking, our division chief also spoke, "Yes, deputy company commander, you should also go back and have a look." Last year, it was supposed for you to go home to visit your family, and you had to let me go back, but this year, no matter what, it's your turn. "After listening to the words of the company commander and the secretary general, I fell into deep thought for a while, yes, my daughter is almost four years old, and I haven't spent the Spring Festival with her once. In addition, my mother is in her sixties and her health is not good, so I should indeed spend more time with her old people. Thinking of this, I didn't shirk and readily agreed.
So, two days before the Spring Festival in 1979, that is, on the morning of the 29th day of the lunar month, after breakfast, I embarked on the journey home to visit relatives. When I arrived home on the evening of the 29th day of the lunar month, my old mother and wife were very happy, after all, it was the first time in the nine years that I had been a soldier that I had gone home for the New Year. My little daughter, who is almost four years old, also stared at me with big eyes. I haven't been home for almost a year, and when I saw my daughter who couldn't even recognize me, my heart was sour.
Then, I quickly took out the exquisite snacks and two beautiful clothes I bought for my daughter, and then I hugged her and started to play with her. Driven by family affection, after a while, she became familiar with me and began to surround me, shouting "Daddy, Daddy" all the time. At this time, the mother also smiled and opened her mouth, "It seems that it is still my father, Xiaoyan (my daughter's nickname), who always points to the photo and nags you on weekdays." No, as soon as you come back, she will follow wherever you go. "My mother's words made me feel even more guilty, and at the same time, I made up my mind that I must accompany my daughter well these days.
I haven't been home for the New Year for nine years, and when I come back suddenly, the strong atmosphere of the New Year in my hometown is also deeply impregnated with me. The next morning (Chinese New Year's Eve), after breakfast, I took my daughter in my arms, and together with my mother and wife, I went to the commune's market to wander around and buy, although it was the last day of the market (tomorrow is the New Year), but it was still very lively. In the bazaar, all kinds of items related to the Chinese New Year are placed on both sides of the street, and even extend to the alleys, which is really everything, which makes people dizzy. When I got home in the afternoon, I took the initiative to post couplets and hang up the money. On Chinese New Year's Eve, our family had a sumptuous Chinese New Year's Eve dinner together.
In 1979, TV at that time was still a rarity. My brother's family just bought a 14-inch black and white TV a few years ago, so after eating Chinese New Year's Eve, we all sat at his house and watched the Spring Festival Gala together (the first time). At that time, we sat together as a family, and the warm scene and sincere feelings are still unforgettable to me. On the first day of the new year, it is even more lively, and those young people wearing fashionable new clothes go to the villagers, loved relatives and friends to pay New Year's greetings together. In the streets and alleys, there are also smiling people, everyone greeting each other and blessings. And I, holding my daughter, went to several relatives, elders, and comrades-in-arms to pay New Year's greetings. When they saw me arriving in a military uniform, they were overjoyed, and they also greeted me with warmth and pampering.
Cheerful times are always short. Before I knew it, it was the fourth day of junior high school, and I had been back for five days. On this day, I was just about to return to the army, and it happened that my second aunt, whom I hadn't seen for a few years, rushed back from the county seat, and when I met, she told me that it would be better to wait until the "Breaking Five" was over. After listening to the words of the second aunt, I thought about it, it is rare to come back once, it is better to stay at home for two more days.
In these two days, I took my daughter and wife to continue to visit relatives and friends, and time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, I came to the sixth day of junior high school, and it was time for me to return to the army. Because I was afraid that my daughter would be sad when I left, I didn't have breakfast at home, but at dawn, after saying goodbye to my mother and wife, I quietly walked out of the house with my satchel and embarked on the journey back to the army.
-ENDS-
Picture/From the Internet
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