On this sea of stars, how many people have dreamed day and night of being able to travel in space? Zhai Zhigang, whose name engraved the history of China's aerospace industry in 2008, became "the first person in China to walk in space." Behind this hero, there is a little-known sad story. When he returned from the vast universe, what he missed most was not the honor and applause that followed, but the regret that he could not return to his mother in time. What kind of mood is this, and how does he find a balance between persevering with his dreams and family responsibilities in the face of all difficulties? Let's find out and uncover the life story behind this space hero.
Zhai Zhigang, a young man from Heilongjiang born in October 1966, seems to have struggled with difficulties all his life. His family conditions were not superior, his father was bedridden for a long time due to illness, and the burden of the family fell on his strong mother. Mother Jia Guizhi, a typical Henan woman, has the spirit of hardship and hard work. In the era of frequent wars and natural disasters, she and her husband Zhai Xiangchao traveled all the way north in order to find a place to relocate, and finally settled in a small village in Qiqihar.
In such a family environment, Zhai Zhigang has been very sensible since he was a child. Not only does he have to take care of his father in his hospital bed, but he also has to help with the family's farm work. Whenever he came home from school, he would quickly put down his schoolbag, help his mother cook, and then go to the county seat to help sell melon seeds. Even on a bitterly cold winter day, my mother often had to wait until the end of the late-night movie to sell a few more bowls of melon seeds. Zhai Zhigang saw it in his eyes and felt pain in his heart, he knew his mother's hard work and the family's difficulties.
As he grew older, Zhai Zhigang's studies gradually reached a stage where he needed more financial support. Faced with the increasing pressure of tuition fees, he once wanted to give up his studies and go out to work to ease the burden on his family. His mother, who had been hardened by life, sternly rejected his decision, believing that education could change his destiny and did not want her son to repeat his mistakes. She told Zhigang in an almost commanding tone: "If you don't suffer hardship, it's rare to be sweet and sweet." This sentence was deeply engraved in Zhai Zhigang's heart.
Zhai Zhigang lived up to his mother's expectations, his performance in school was getting better and better, his grades were excellent, his behavior was good, and he was a good student in the eyes of his teachers. Just as he was about to step out of school and go to the wider world, bad news came from his family - his mother was seriously ill. This is undoubtedly a huge blow to him who is about to step into society. However, life did not allow him to stop, and his mother insisted that he continue to chase his dreams.
Zhai Zhigang finally chose to join China's aerospace industry, a decision that turned the trajectory of his life upside down. After years of hard training and unremitting efforts, he finally became the first Chinese astronaut to conduct a spacewalk in 2008. This feat not only brought honor to the country, but also fulfilled his own childhood dream. At the very moment when he returns to Earth on a mission, the heartbreaking news comes from home again - his beloved mother has passed away due to illness.
Faced with such a situation, Zhai Zhigang's heart was full of contradictions and self-blame. He was unable to be by his mother's side in her last moments, which became the regret of his life. My sister's sentence "Whoever calls him can't afford it" made his heart cut like a knife. Although this sentence came from the mouth of my sister, it reflects the profound embodiment of the conflict between family responsibilities and personal dreams of people in that era.
Zhai Zhigang's story is a mirror in the hearts of countless ordinary people. How many people have to face the double pressure of family and career on the road of pursuing their personal dreams? His experience makes us think about how many invisible sacrifices and bitterness are hidden behind a person's achievements? In this seemingly cold universe, every warm family is the strongest backing for astronauts.
Zhai Zhigang's mother, Jia Guizhi, is an ordinary rural woman, but she has an extraordinary life. Her tenacity and indomitable spirit are a big part of why her son was able to persevere in a difficult environment. It is this strength of the family that shapes the growth of a hero. Whether it is in the distant space or in the ordinary fields, there is such a strong figure supporting us forward.
Zhai Zhigang's life trajectory and his indomitable spirit make us understand that in this complex and ever-changing world, everyone is facing the trials of life in their own way. Whether it's the stars, the sea, or the dirt, we all need to maintain a resilient and grateful heart.
Through Zhai Zhigang's story, we see how an ordinary person faces the dual challenges of family and personal responsibilities on the way to pursue his dreams. His experience tells us that behind every seemingly mundane choice, there may be deep emotions and responsibilities. And these are the realities and complexities that make up our lives.