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In the long years of 96 years, Ms. Chen Sikou, the wife of a professor at Peking University, has made a thought-provoking and courageous choice with her unique vision and extraordinary determination.
That is in his twilight years, he decided to face the inevitable law of life and death through hunger strike, this old man who has experienced the baptism of wind and rain, shows a deep understanding and open-mindedness.
Looking back on the eternal past, Chen Sikou used to be an ordinary middle school teacher who was silently dedicated, and in her married life, she and her husband Mr. Zhao Baoxu relied on each other, creating a dull and warm time.
In that era when everything was very precious, they worked hard together to raise their children together.
As time passed, the children stepped into their respective families and started a new journey in life. And this loving couple, under the precipitation of the years, ushered in their old age.
However, the tricks of fate always caught people off guard, and when Chen Sikou was 91 years old, a heartbreaking news came from her family - her beloved husband, Mr. Zhao Baoxu, had left this world due to illness.
Falling from heaven to earth, Ms. Chen Sikou could hardly withstand this sudden blow. She stared at the serene face, her eyes full of confusion and loss, as if the meaning of life had disappeared.
The family saw it in their eyes, although they had more than enough strength but not enough power, they still hoped to be able to bring her a little comfort with companionship. However, soon after moving in with her children, Ms. Chen Sikou began to feel that she had become a "burden" to them.
She always politely refused to let her children visit too often, and even reminded them solemnly many times: "If you don't have anything to do, you don't have to come to see me, if there is anything important, just call me and tell me." ”
Every time her children came to visit, Ms. Chen Sikou would always show a displeased expression, and even deliberately show anger. Although the children were confused by this, out of respect for their mother's wishes, they could only temporarily put aside their doubts.
However, as children, how could they bear to let their mother spend the rest of their lives alone, so they decided to take time out of their homes to spend the rest of their lives with their mothers every day from now on.
In this way, time flew by like flowing water, and when her ninety-sixth birthday was approaching, Ms. Chen Sikou seemed to have foreseen the end of her life. She stared out the window at the tree-lined landscape, a calm and serene smile on her face, and then made a firm decision: to give up treatment and die on hunger strike.
As an ordinary man, Chen Sikou's life and death may not have had a significant impact on society. However, the proverbs she left behind when she was about to die make it necessary for us to think deeply about the true meaning and value of life.
Looking back on Chen Sikou's short life, she actually had a full of sunshine and warm time. In 1921, this Jiangsu girl was born in a poor family, the fourth in line, and the family was quite poor.
Fate seems to always like to play a joke with others, and when she was five years old, her loving father died tragically, and the burden of the family fell on her mother's weak shoulders.
Thankfully, the mother was a resilient and intelligent woman who never stopped her daughter's thirst for knowledge. At that time, there were very few women who could get an education.
Chen Sikou deeply felt his mother's hard work, so he worked hard in his studies, and finally was admitted to Peking University, China's top university, with impressive results.
During his college career, Chen Sikou lived a hard but fulfilling life. In order to share her mother's pressure, she often took the initiative to take on household chores after school, and even went out to work to earn school fees.
It is with this indomitable perseverance that she met her lifelong friend, Zhao Baoxu.
Zhao Baoxu and Chen Sikou have similar growth backgrounds: they also come from poor families, and they were admitted to Peking University through unremitting efforts, which completely changed the trajectory of their lives. The two met on a college campus and quickly developed a deep emotional bond.
At that time, Zhao Baoxu was a senior in his prime, while Chen Sikou was a gentle and demure junior. Whether in academic research or daily life, they are always able to work together with each other.
Everyone praised that this pair of beautiful people can be called "made in heaven".
After graduating from Peking University, Zhao Baoxu chose to stay at his alma mater as a teacher, while Chen Sikou became a hard-working middle school teacher. As their careers gradually got on the right track, after several years of getting along with each other, they finally entered the sacred marriage hall and began a plain but happy life.
After marriage, Chen Sikou and Zhao Baoxu are like tens of millions of ordinary couples: while working diligently, they carefully raise their children to adulthood. Zhao Baoxu concentrates on teaching and teaching in school, while Chen Sikou takes care of the housework and daily life at home.
When night falls, the two elderly people will hug each other and eagerly discuss issues related to children's education or share trivial matters in their daily lives.
In this way, time slips silently through your fingertips like flowing water. In the blink of an eye, the children have grown up and built their own families. As a result, this old couple who have been together for many years are left with only the old age of supporting each other and spending the rest of their lives together.
Although the years have ruthlessly left traces on them, they still maintain the sweetness and affection of their first love, often strolling hand in hand in the park, attracting the envy of others.
However, life is always full of uncertainties and unknowns. In 2012, when Ms. Chen Sikou was 91 years old, her husband, Mr. Zhao Baoxu, unfortunately passed away due to illness.
This sudden bad news was like a thunderbolt from the blue, separating the gray-haired old couple abruptly.
Recalling that drizzly morning, Ms. Chen Sikou still remembers it vividly. She was awakened by the grief-stricken cries of her children, and saw Mr. Zhao Baoxu lying quietly on the bed, as if he had just fallen asleep, but could no longer open his bright eyes.
Ms. Chen Sikou's thin body collapsed to the ground in an instant, and tears poured out like water bursting the embankment. She clutched her husband's face and whispered, "Why did you leave me so cruelly, we haven't celebrated your 100th birthday together...... The children tried to help her, but she pushed her away, and she curled up in the corner in pain, crying like a helpless child.
Since then, Ms. Chen Sikou has become more and more emaciated like a puppet that has lost her soul. She stared at what was once a home, but now nothing but devastation. The children were full of worry and persuaded her to move back home so that they could take care of her at all times.
At first, Ms. Chan was adamantly opposed. She believes that she has entered old age, and she has long been accustomed to living alone, and does not want to be a burden to her children. However, under the repeated persuasion of her children, she finally made a compromise.
After moving into her children's home, Ms. Chen's situation has gradually improved, at least not as decadent as before. However, it was not long before she began to feel that she had become a "burden" to her children.
She always refused to allow her children to visit too often, and even told them many times: "If you don't have anything to do, don't come to see me, if you need help, just give me a call."
Whenever that moment came, when her children went to visit her, Chen Sikou would always show that helpless disgust, and even deliberately show great annoyance, expecting to "expell" them from them in this way.
Although the children are full of doubts about this, they still forcibly give in out of respect for their mother's wishes, burying their concern in the bottom of their hearts.
As children, how can they stay out of the situation and let their mother spend the rest of their lives alone? They secretly vowed that from now on, no matter how much their mother refuses, they will insist on coming to accompany her every day and do their best to take care of her old age.
Behind such a resolute decision of the children, there is actually unspeakable suffering. When Chen Sikou was 94 years old, she was unfortunately diagnosed with cancer in her left kidney during a routine physical examination.
This news was like a thunderbolt in the clear sky, and the whole family was instantly plunged into endless panic and worry.
The mother's illness kept the children awake at night, and their hearts were like knives. They are eager for Chen Sikou to receive treatment as soon as possible, in order to contain the disease in the cradle. However, when they made this suggestion to their mother, she flatly refused.
"I am in my last years, and it is undoubtedly a great deal of torture for me to endure such painful treatment. It is better to enjoy your old age in peace and wait for the arrangement of fate. Chen Sikou said calmly, with a calm smile on his face.
Faced with such a strong determination on the part of their mothers, the children were caught in a dilemma. They know that once a mother has made a decision, it is difficult to change it easily. However, watching their mother wait for death to come, they couldn't bear it.
As a result, the children began to constantly persuade Chen Sikou. However, no matter how hard they tried, Chen Sikou was always as firm as a rock and showed no signs of wavering. Eventually, after countless attempts to persuade them to no avail, the children had to compromise and silently resolve to visit their mother every day from now on to take care of her in her old age.
Since then, the children have quietly come to Chen Sikou's residence like thieves. Sometimes in the early morning, sometimes in the middle of the night, lest I disturb my mother's rest.
Whenever a guest visits Chen Sikou's house, she always turns blue and pretends to be displeased, hoping to "deter" the other party and make them retreat. However, no matter how coldly Chen Sikou spoke, the children always held their ground and did not flinch.
They come to the house every day, rain or shine, just to bring the last warmth and companionship to their mother, sometimes quietly tidying up the home environment, and sometimes carefully cooking nutritious meals for their mother to enjoy, although every time they do so, they will inevitably be blamed and admonished by Chen Sikou, but they still enjoy it, completely disregarding.
Because, deep down in the hearts of the children, there is not much time left for mothers. As children, the only thing they can do is to accompany them with all their hearts and do their best to let their mother have a peaceful old age.