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On July 24, 2014, the martyrs' cemetery in Malipo was as quiet as ever, and a woman walked through the tombstones of the martyrs with flowers in her hand.
In front of the tombstone of the martyr Wang Changxian, she knelt down and gently stroked the edges and corners of the stone, her warm fingertips contrasting with the cold granite.
"Brother Changxian, I did what I promised you...... Brother Changxian, come back with me......"
Tears and choked voices mingled, and the air around them seemed to be filled with endless sadness.
Who is this woman?
What kind of indissoluble bond does she have with the martyr Wang Changxian?
Tie the knot
The woman is Xie Yuhua, the wife of the martyr Wang Changxian. Tracing their past is like opening a long scroll of tactful and pathetic love, which records the loyalty they wrote together, as well as the vows and tears that have been reincarnated in the turbulent years.
Wang Changxian was born in Yexian County, Henan Province in 1963.
The Wang family is quite poor, his parents are old and frail, and there are many brothers and sisters in the family, among which Wang Changxian ranks third.
But he has always maintained kindness and optimism in his heart.
In addition to his own household chores, he will also take the initiative to carry a hoe during the busy farming season to help his neighbors plant and harvest grain.
In the eyes of the villagers, he is like an old cow in the ploughing field, not saying that he is bitter or tired, but only silently cultivating the crops of hope for everyone.
The taciturn Wang Changxian had great ambitions, and he aspired to become a soldier and contribute his strength to the construction of the motherland.
In 1981, Wang Changxian joined the army.
In the life of the barracks, Wang Changxian became an outstanding soldier in countless morning and night exercises.
It didn't take long for him to be promoted to deputy squad leader.
This honor did not make him forget his original intention - the family that is still struggling.
He sent most of his income home to support his family.
Whenever he returned to his hometown from visiting relatives, the enthusiastic neighbors in the village urged him to start a family as soon as possible, but he always smiled and did not speak.
For him, he has no regrets in this life to be able to take on the heavy responsibility of his family and pursue his dream of serving the country in the cracks.
When he was 20 years old, Wang Changxian met a girl named Xie Yuhua through the matchmaker.
Xie Yuhua is the little treasure of the family, with three elder brothers, all of whom have already married and become independent.
As the eldest child of the family, she was pampered and grew up happily under the care of her brother and parents.
When it was time to discuss marriage, the Xie family wanted to find a good home for her.
But Wang Changxian's family situation made Xie Yuhua's parents turn away as soon as he heard about it.
However, Xie Yuhua has her own ideas, and she is attracted by Wang Changxian's image of being responsible and responsible for protecting the family and defending the country.
For Xie Yuhua, Wang Changxian's quality is far more important than his family background.
Wang Changxian was also moved by the lovely and charming Xie Yuhua, and on a clear afternoon, Wang Changxian began his long-hesitant marriage proposal.
"Yuhua, I know that I am just an ordinary warrior, with no gold and silver in my hands, and no Toyoda Liangzhuang at home, all I can give you is this pair of hands that are willing to farm for you, and a heart that will always love you. ”
Xie Yuhua smiled, her eyes flashing with hope for the future, and her hand gently rested on the back of his rough-skinned hand.
"Changxian, you are the bravest person in the world, I have known it since I was a child. A person who can protect his compatriots on the battlefield will definitely be able to hold up the little heaven of this world at home. I don't want gold or silver, only you. ”
In 1984, Xie Yuhua and Wang Changxian entered the palace of marriage......
Newlyweds separated
As early as 1979, Vietnam frequently interfered with China's border areas, and in the face of continuous provocations, the Chinese People's Liberation Army quickly responded and launched a self-defense counterattack against Vietnam.
After only three days of marriage, Wang Changxian's life was disrupted by a telegram sent back by the army.
The leaders demanded that he immediately return to the army and go with the army to the Sino-Vietnamese border battlefield.
Wang Changxian's responsibility in his heart was heavier than Mount Tai, but when he turned his head to look at his sleeping new wife Xie Yuhua by the bedside, his heart was also heavy.
At the time of separation, he plucked a blooming jasmine from the courtyard, the purity and tenacity of this flower resembled his love for his wife and his hopes for the future.
He gently placed the flower on Xie Yuhua's sideburns, and the air was filled with the fragrance of flowers and unspoken affection.
"Wait for me at home, and I will return safely. ”
His words were soft, but they were as firm as they were.
Xie Yuhua sent him out with a smile, convinced that this was only a temporary parting, and that he would always return as scheduled, as they had exchanged countless promises.
On April 28, 1984, the Chinese military began a reconquest operation against Laoshan.
With the brilliant blooming of signal flares over our position, the prelude to the battle of Laoshan was officially opened.
Immediately afterwards, hundreds of artillery pieces roared in unison, and the fire was in full swing towards the positions of the Vietnamese troops in Lao Son.
An hour later, the mainland army was in full swing and launched an attack on Laoshan.
Wang Changxian is a member of this team. On the battlefield filled with gunsmoke, Wang Changxian lay prone in the trench, carrying an automatic rifle on his shoulder, and the bullets poured down on the enemy like a torrential rain.
His movements were swift and precise, and every aim and shot successfully won a breakthrough for his comrades.
After a fierce exchange of fire, a grenade crossed the noisy battlefield and landed in a trench with a deafening explosion. The shock wave tore through the small space
Wang Changxian was blown away, and blood gushed like a spring. He looked down at his blood-colored military uniform, knew that his time was running out, and used his last strength to write a suicide note.
On July 12, 1984, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) successfully recaptured important territories such as Lao Son and Zheyin Mountain on the Sino-Vietnamese border, rebuilding peace and stability in the border areas.
Martyr Wang Changxian was awarded a third-class meritorious service, and his name was included in the list of heroes who defended the country.
Xie Yuhua, who didn't know it, was looking at home, but she was just waiting for a phone call.
The phone call urged Xie Yuhua to rush to the troops.
With a bad omen in her heart, she still tried to comfort herself, and there was still a glimmer of hope in her heart, imagining that perhaps her husband had been injured on the battlefield and needed her care.
But soon, the harsh reality is in front of her - a suicide note, along with her husband's relics, declares that her deepest fears have become a reality.
Wang Changxian's death notice was sent to Xie Yuhua's hands. At that moment, she felt that the whole world was plunged into darkness, and she burst into tears.
She wanted to go with the king like this.
But the suicide note written by Wang Changxian before his death transcended the haze of time and space, conveying heavy love and responsibility to his wife between the lines, hoping to give her the reason and strength to persevere.
On this yellowed letterhead, Wang Changxian suddenly felt Xie Yuhua's loss and despair at the moment, and he told her in the letter to take care of herself, to live strongly, and to continue to move forward for the love between the two.
He entrusted his unfulfilled responsibilities to the family to her, injecting a ray of strong light into Xie Yuhua's life.
悲伤再嫁
As the widow of a martyr, Xie Yuhua could have enjoyed the help of the army, worked in the army, and started her life again.
Yet, she said, "He gave his life for the country after only three days as a bridegroom." I want to go back, to our home, to take care of the old man for him, to raise his younger siblings, and to fulfill his unfinished duties. ”
So, Xie Yuhua chose to remarry Wang Changxian's physically disabled eldest brother, and then stayed in the Wang family. Since then, the burden of the family has all fallen on Xie Yuhua's shoulders.
Busy before dawn and waiting until the stars are lit to catch her breath, she tidied up the yard, fed the livestock, sawed wood and chopped wood, all by herself. Her hard work and tenacity became the mainstay of the Wang family.
In 1986, when Wang Changxian's father passed away, he held her hand tightly, his eyes full of gratitude: "Son, you are our great benefactor, and you have supported our whole family." Thank you!" In this heavy responsibility, Xie Yuhua found a new meaning of life and a sense of belonging to the family.
After the death of her in-laws, Xie Yuhua continued to pour all her love and efforts into the family without reservation, and she focused her life on the growth and education of her younger siblings.
After finishing her farm work, she changed out of her mud-stained clothes and went back to the small factory in the village.
The work in the factory was hard and monotonous, with ticking machines drowning out almost everything, and she had to work in the noise for hours on end to complete her barely barely surviving job.
Although she was tired and had a sore back, every time she thought of the two figures who were studying hard at the desk, the energy in her heart would make her grit her teeth and persevere.
She is frugal and never willing to spend more on herself.
Clothes are always worn to the point where they can no longer be mended, and meals are always simple and coarse. Every penny saved, Xie Yuhua used to pay for the tuition and living expenses of her younger siblings.
After working so hard for more than ten years, he finally sent the two younger siblings of the Wang family to college.
But fate is like an unpredictable wind, cold and ruthless.
After graduating from university, my younger brother contracted hepatitis, and the high cost of treatment was prohibitive.
In order to raise money to fight against this invisible enemy, Xie Yuhua did not hesitate to sell all her belongings.
Sadly, however, all the fundraising is still not enough to fill the bottomless pit of medical bills.
In the dead of night, Xie Yuhua's prayers echoed through the empty room, and with despair and pleading, she called out her late husband's name, hoping that he would hear her voice in the heavenly spirit and give her strength and guidance.
In the end, Xie Yuhua made a difficult choice - sell blood.
She sold her blood three times before she could get her brother back.
It was this sacrifice and determination that turned into the fuel of hope and sustained the flame of his brother's life.
Xie Yuhua's firm belief has become the most moving chapter of courage and sacrifice in this family.
In 2014, with the sponsorship and accompaniment of the leaders of the army, Xie Yuhua embarked on a journey to the Malipo Cemetery to fulfill her wish for many years - to pay homage to her deceased husband Wang Changxian in person.
On that day, the sun shone through the misty clouds on this sacred land.
Neatly arranged tombstones come into view, each engraved with the names of revolutionary martyrs, recording their heroic deeds.
During the search, when Xie Yuhua finally found the tombstone engraved with the words "Wang Changxian" in the rows, tears couldn't stop flowing.
"Brother Changxian, I did what I promised you...... Brother Changxian, go back with me......" The voice was full of endless longing and reluctance, as well as memories of the past years.
Xie Yuhua's day in the cemetery was not just a simple memorial activity for her, but her deepest farewell to the years she had loved and been loved.
Xie Yuhua's life is a magnificent hymn to love and dedication.
Her indomitable perseverance has reshaped the future of her family, and her endless dedication has illuminated the hearts of all people like a beacon.
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