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The morning sun pours into the house through the window lattice, casting rays of warm sunlight on the mud walls. Outside, a lush field and smoke wafted from distant villages, creating a peaceful and peaceful rural scene.
My name is Zhang Wanfu and I am 86 years old this year. Although I am old, I have always maintained a hard-working and simple style, and I will do some housework by myself every day. My children are all working in other places, and my wife and I are the only ones who depend on each other. They were always worried about our two old people's strong health, and from time to time they would urge us to move to the city to live with them. But I don't think so, I've been rooted in this hot land for too long, and I can't bear to leave.
However, in recent years, my wife's health has deteriorated, and she is often sick in bed. Sometimes I look at her old face and I can't help but feel a sense of melancholy. At this age, most of my friends have passed away, leaving only the two of us to snuggle up to each other and spend the last days of our lives. I often wonder what she would do if I went away before her, and if my children would always be there to take care of her? I didn't want her to suffer, but at the same time I was reluctant to leave this familiar land. Yes, everyone hopes that they can enjoy food and clothing in their old age, but this is not an easy task.
"Dad, your old couple is really not at ease at home. The eldest son made a video call with a worried look.
"What's wrong? What's upset?" I smiled and said, "Your mom and I can take care of ourselves." "
"But you're so old, what if something goes wrong? Or move to the city and live with us, and we'll hire you a babysitter, and you won't have to worry about anything." "
"That's not good, you work very hard in the city, how can you have spare time to take care of us? Besides, we are used to living here, and we are reluctant to leave our home. "
The eldest son sighed: "Then at least you have to promise, if you are really incapacitated in the future, you must live in a nursing home, and you can't be stubborn anymore." "
Instead of answering his words head-on, I changed the subject. After hanging up the phone, I went down to the field and began to take care of the daily chores at home.
First, he picked up the house and swept up the debris on the floor. Then I went to the kitchen to prepare a light lunch, set up the dishes and chopsticks and put them on the small table. Looking at the chopped vegetables and marinated bacon on the board, my heart warmed. Although it was just a simple home cooking, it was enough for someone of our age.
I don't want to be a burden to others, let alone a burden to my children. But I was a little unhappy about living in a nursing home. After all, I was still an old farmer, and I was not used to the environment in the city. Moreover, my greatest wish in life is to be able to stay in my hometown until the last moment of my life.
A few days later, the second son also called, and his attitude was more resolute than that of his brother: "Dad, you have to be obedient, and you must live in a nursing home in the future." We don't have that much energy to take care of you every day. "
I sighed, "Son, you are doing it for our good. But I really don't want to leave here, there are so many good memories here. "
"So what are you going to do in the future? You and your mother are still in good health, but what about the future? Do you really expect us to be by your side all the time?"
I was silent. My son has a point, I can't always rely on my children to support me. I have to plan for my old age.
After hanging up the phone, I silently went to the backyard, where some old objects were placed. I picked up a pair of rusty old scissors and couldn't help but feel emotional. I've used these scissors for most of my life, and now I should throw them away.
I looked around and saw things that had been with me for most of my life. The old mottled hoe, the rusty water tank, the worn-out mirror leaning against the base of the wall...... They were once part of my life, but now they are abandoned here.
My life is like these old household things, once glorious and lively, but now they can only be discarded in the corner. I began to hate my old age and helplessness, and the indifference of the world to the elderly.
However, what can be done? Birth, old age, sickness and death are the fate that everyone cannot escape. The only thing I can do now is to make some plans for my old age, so that I don't really become a burden to others in the future.
Is that just a nursing home? But I really can't yearn for that kind of place. Every time I see a nursing home on TV, I always feel a sense of slaughter, as if being there is equivalent to being swept out of the house and cut off from the world. I'd rather die on the land of my homeland than be locked up in that kind of place.
I am not willing to passively wait for death. I Zhang Wanfu has not lived in vain in this life, and I must fight for the last dignity for myself! As long as I still have a breath of air, I will never be obedient, but will open up a new road for myself!
A few days later, I called my two sons and one daughter to my house and solemnly said to them, "Sons, I have made my decision. I'm not going to move to the city, I'm not going to live in a nursing home, I'm going to stay here and live out my old age on my own. "
The three children were stunned for a moment, and did not speak for a long time. Finally, the eldest son spoke: "Dad, what are you talking about? How can you support yourself by yourself? You are too reluctant!"
"yes, Dad. The second son also chimed in, "Look at yourself, you are so old, where do you still have the strength to live on your own? Besides, if something happens to you, how can we rest assured that we are in the field?"
I snapped them off: "That's enough! I haven't lived in vain in my life, and although I'm old now, I still have my own plans. Rest assured, I won't trouble you. "
After saying that, I got up and walked to the courtyard, and the children wanted to say something more, but I waved mercilessly to stop me. When I came to the backyard, I looked around, silently thinking about something.
My eyes finally fell on the old straw hut. The hut had been unused for many years, the plaster on the exterior walls had peeled off, and the roof had been eroded by wind and rain. However, it was built by my own hands when I was young and strong, and the foundation is still very strong.
I went inside the hut and saw overgrown weeds and cobwebs in every corner. However, from a structural point of view, it is completely possible to take care of a very good living environment. I rolled up my sleeves, picked up my old hoe on the ground, and started clearing the weeds.
Yes, I have decided that I will settle down in this old hut and reconvert it into a hut suitable for my old age. In this way, I can completely get rid of the fate of being "swept away" and continue to live the idyllic life I have been looking forward to for a long time.
I know that my decision will definitely make my children angry. They must think that I, an old man, am crazy and want to take care of my old age on my own. However, I have made up my mind that I do not want to be a burden to others, let alone be imprisoned in those suffocating "iron cages".
I want to use my own hands to create a stable and comfortable world for myself in my old age. Although I am over 80 years old, my body is still strong and my hands are still strong. I am confident that I will be able to renovate this dilapidated hut into a self-contained and comfortable hut.
When my children saw that I had made up their minds, they had no choice but to give up. Over the next few months, I devoted myself to the renovation of the hut.
The first is to clean up all the weeds, dead branches and broken walls in the shed. The work took time and effort, but I gritted my teeth and finally got it done. The next step was to repair the walls and ceilings, which required the purchase of some new building materials, but I still had enough savings to cope. Sometimes my children come to help, but most of the time I'm alone.
Gradually, the dilapidated hut began to take on a new lease of life. The walls have been repainted and the roof has been refreshed with new thatch. I also built a small bedroom, a simple kitchen and bathroom in it. Looking at this "new home" that I built with my own hands, I can't mention how proud I am.
However, the restoration work has only just begun. I had to find a way to make this place more comfortable and convenient so that I could live out my old age here. I started looking around for all kinds of old things that I could use, and I could transform and use them.
For example, I built a small bed frame out of a few old woods and put a mattress made of old quilts on top of it to make a sturdy single bed. In the kitchen, I converted an old rusty iron pot into a small stove. The sink in the bathroom is a large porcelain basin that is old.
I also cultivated a small vegetable plot in the small yard, and I plan to grow some vegetables here in the future to add a little self-sufficiency to my own food. I told my children about these ideas and plans, and although they dissuaded me, they could only respect my decision when they saw that I was so persistent.
For me, this cottage is not only a place to live, but also a struggle against fate. I want to use my own hands to create a stable and independent living environment for my old age, not at the mercy of anyone. I want to prove with practical actions that even when we are old, we old people can live a decent and dignified life as long as we make up our minds.
Although I have reached the end of my life, I am not willing to be left on the edge of life. I want to re-energize my life and shine to the last of its glory!
"Dad, I came to see it just now, you're amazing!" The eldest son was amazed, "This cottage is even more beautiful than I imagined, you are so creative." "
I laughed and said, "It just took some effort." However, you have to support me, and I will live my old age here in the future. "
"Of course, Dad. The second son also nodded again and again, "Seeing you so energetic, we are much more relieved." As long as you say a word, we will always support you. "
The daughter asked with concern, "But Dad, are you really okay alone?" Why don't we hire a nanny to take care of you?"
I waved my hand: "No, I can take care of myself." You just have to rest assured. "
As I spoke, I had brought my sons and daughters into their new homes. Although this cottage is simple, it has been decorated with a special taste by me.
A kettle was boiling on the stove, and the faint aroma of boiling tea wafted through the room. On a small table, there are several potted plants, reflecting several small photos of the village scenery on the wall. The bed was a single bed, but it was neatly folded.
I guided my sons and daughters to the yard, where there was a small vegetable patch with some freshly planted vegetable seedlings. I pointed to a small shed in the corner and said it was where I was going to raise some poultry.
Seeing the joyful and relieved faces of my children, my heart was extremely gratified. Yes, I have sought a stable and dignified living environment for myself in my old age. From now on, I will live a semi-self-sufficient life without having to cause any trouble to my children.
I cook and clean by myself, grow some vegetables in the vegetable garden and raise some chickens and ducks in the shed. If there's something I can't do, I'll consider asking someone to help. In short, I must remain independent and never be a burden to anyone.
I know that my life is coming to an end. However, I am not afraid of death, on the contrary, I am looking forward to the last journey of my life with great joy. Yes, I can finally fulfill my long-cherished wish and enjoy a happy night until the last moment of my life.
"Lao Zhang, your idea is really great!" Uncle Wang, an old friend next door, praised repeatedly, "We elderly people live to this age, and what we are most afraid of is being abandoned by our children and becoming a burden to others." If you build a comfortable nest with your own hands, you will be able to live with peace of mind in the future. "
I smiled modestly, "To be honest, I wasn't sure if I would succeed at first. But now it seems that as long as we seniors make up our minds, anything can still be done. "
"You have a point!" Uncle Wang nodded approvingly, "Our generation has suffered too much since childhood, and because of this, we have developed a tenacity not to admit defeat. As long as we show this tenacity, there is no obstacle that we can't overcome!"
As I spoke, I had already invited Uncle Wang into his new house and personally brewed two cups of fragrant green tea. We sat in the small courtyard and chatted about the circumstances of our later years.
Yes, most of the elderly of our generation have endured hardships and hardships. Since childhood, he has grown up in the midst of wars and harsh environments, and has since experienced countless social changes. Our life is like a long and arduous journey, full of thorns and bumps.
Because of this, we have developed an unparalleled resilience and vitality in the face of adversity. We are never defeated by fate, and we never bow to hardship. As long as there is still a breath left, we will never give up easily, but grit our teeth and move forward with perseverance.
It is this tenacious will not to admit defeat that has supported us step by step to where we are today. When someone says that we elderly people are already "a group of outcasts from society", I categorically disagree. Our generation has never passively waited to be "abandoned", but actively fought hard to create a dignified life for themselves in their old age.
Let's take it personally. If I hadn't made up my mind and had followed my children's persuasion to either move to the city or go to a nursing home, I would have lost the last bit of dignity in my life forever. I would rather be self-reliant in this piece of land in my hometown than be "swept away" like this.
I know that my life is coming to an end. But I am not afraid of death, on the contrary, I am looking forward to the last journey of my life with great joy. Yes, I can finally fulfill my long-cherished wish and enjoy a happy night until the last moment of my life.
In the yard, a small yellow chicken is pecking at insects on the ground by the edge of the vegetable garden. I looked at their wandering figures, and I was secretly happy. Yes, since keeping a few poultry in the shed, I've added a whole new kind of fun to my life.
Every morning, I would go to the shed first and feed the chickens and ducks. Watching them eat their fill, fluttering their wings and wandering around the yard, my heart is filled with joy. Sometimes, I would drive them into the garden and let them weed and loosen the soil for me, which not only saved me effort, but also made the vegetables in the garden grow stronger.
In the afternoon, you can pick some vegetables from the vegetable garden and make lunch. I'll go to the stove and cook some homely meals. Although it is just a simple vegetarian and meat dish, I will take care of it very carefully, so that each dish is full of the taste of home. After lunch, I turn on the radio and listen to the rural radio for a while to catch up on what's going on in the outside world.
Sometimes, I also do small manual tasks, such as making baskets and stuff. Not only can you pass the time, but you can also use the things you make up for yourself or give them as gifts to your children. Slowly, I have become accustomed to this leisurely and fulfilling pace of life.
It can be said that what I am living now is a back-to-basics life. Without the hustle and bustle of the city and the pressure of work, my whole person became calm and calm. I have been rooted in this familiar land for too long, and I have long remembered every grass, tree, mountain and stone here.
Every day, I walk along the field paths in my hometown, breathe in the fresh air, and listen to the whispers of nature. Looking at the familiar village, the green wheat waves, and the distant cooking smoke, I will feel a sense of happiness in my heart. Yes, this is the life I used to love and fight for, and I can finally enjoy it to the fullest.
The reason why I insist so much is to live up to my own persistence. Yes, it took me a whole life to finally get the opportunity to enjoy the evening today. I must not just give up and let my efforts go to waste. I want to use the living environment I have created with my own hands to defend my last dignity and spend the last days of my life.
This is the meaning and value of my later life. For those of us who have experienced hardship, our old age should not be a passive waiting for death to come, but an active attempt to create a dignified living space for ourselves. Only in this way can we inject more meaning into our limited lives and make the last days of our lives shine more brilliantly.
It is with this belief that I insist on renovating this dilapidated old hut into a separate hut. It's a simple hut, but I built it with my own hands. It is a testament to the hardships I have put into my old age, and it will be my last safe haven for my old age.
Here, I can live on my own. I cook and clean by myself, and I can grow some vegetables in the vegetable garden and raise some poultry in the shed. If there's something I can't do, I'll consider asking someone to help. But no matter what, I want to remain independent and never be a burden to anyone.
I know that life will come to an end one day. However, I am not afraid of death, on the contrary, I am looking forward to the last journey of my life with great joy. Yes, I can finally fulfill my long-cherished wish and enjoy a happy night until the last moment of my life.