My name is Li Qingde, and I was born in an ordinary working family in the county.
I remember when I was studying, the popsicle was only two cents a piece, and in the summer it was as hot as a steamer, and I always chased after the popsicle seller, but my mother was always reluctant to pay the two cents.
The days of our family are like the tight food stamps, 26 pounds a month for adults and 18 pounds for children, so we have to calculate and use them.
My father is in a meat factory, and the family is occasionally a little meaty, but most of the time, the taste of meat is rare.
My father was a filial and honest man, and the meat factory occasionally gave out some benefits, a few pig bones, I thought that I could drink the broth now, but he always silently wrapped the bones and sent them to the countryside.
He said: "My grandparents are in the village, and life is even more difficult. ”
My father worked hard, but he never complained, the work of the meat factory was tiring, but he was always the first to arrive and the last to go.
He said, "If we are workers, we have to look like workers." He dried the steamed buns he had worked overtime, carefully wrapped them, and took them home. Although the steamed bun is hard, when chewed in the mouth, it has an indescribable sweetness.
After graduating from high school, I followed my father into a meat factory.
The work in the slaughterhouse is not ordinary tiring, especially the night shift, which is really tiring.
Sometimes when I complained, my father would glare at me and say, "Aren't your grandparents working hard in the production team?"
In 1971, when a conscription notice was posted in the factory, my father was more excited than me, and pulled me to sign up. He said: "Go to the army and exercise well. "I quickly passed the medical examination and made it to the army.
The army is a new world for me, I graduated from high school, I am a bit of ink, I especially like natural science, I often talk about astronomy and geography to my comrades-in-arms, they don't blink when they listen to it, and the company commander and instructor are also impressed with me.
I can also write and draw, and I have done all the blackboard newspapers of the company, the writing is beautiful, and the paintings are also vivid, and everyone says: "Li Qingde, this kid, has two hits." ”
"Qingde, you write this word well, and the article is also well written, and you will definitely have a future in the future. The company commander patted me on the shoulder and said.
"Company commander, I'm just writing blindly, and I can't compare with you. I replied modestly.
Later, I was promoted to a cadre and became a cadre. At that time, it was not easy to be promoted, and I had to go through strict examination, and every step of my joining the party, being promoted, and getting married was strictly controlled by the organization.
I know that this is the trust that the organization has placed in me, and it is also a burden on my shoulders.
In 1981, I transferred from the army and was assigned to a local product company in the county.
At first, I really didn't know what the souvenir company did, but when I went, I realized that it was actually a business.
In those years, the company's benefits were good, and at the end of the year, you could also receive benefits, 200 yuan in cash, and a set of work clothes and fabrics.
"Qingde, this fabric is good, let's make new clothes for your grandfather. The leader said to me with a smile.
I took the fabric to the tailor's shop and made my grandfather a new dress.
During the Chinese New Year, I also used my prize money to buy gifts for my family, a new set of clothes for my mother and wife, two books for my son, and a bottle of good wine for my father. During the Spring Festival that year, the laughter at home continued, and it was more lively than in previous years.
By the following spring, the company had sent out two more bags of urea.
My father sent fertilizer to his family for farming at his uncle's and uncle's house.
They were so excited that they said they had saved money to buy fertilizer.
My family was happy for me, saying that I had been a soldier for so many years, and I finally had a good job and was assigned to such a good unit as a local product company, with a high salary and good benefits.
"Qingde, you work hard in the company, you don't have to worry about it at home. Mother said to me.
I know that this job is not only my job, but also the hope of my family.
I have to work hard and not fail the trust of my leaders and the expectations of my family.
In the autumn of 1982, when a remote commune in our county needed to be seconded, the leaders of our local products company began to mobilize the workers.
First of all, Xiao Wang, the young man in his early twenties, has no object, and when he heard that he went to the commune, his head shook like a rattle.
"Leader, it's not that I don't want to go, it's that I really can't go. He had a bitter look on his face.
Then there is Xiao Zhou, he has a partner, but as soon as he heard that he was going to be transferred to the commune, he was also 10,000 unwilling. "Leader, I just talked about this object, don't you want my life?" he smiled, but his eyes were full of rejection.
The last is a female worker, in her forties, and her family has a mess. "Leader, you are usually good to me, and I am not ignorant, but I am ...... in this family."
Before she finished speaking, the leader understood.
The leader was so worried, I looked at his tightly knit brows, and my heart was not happy.
Later, I found the leader, "Director Li, look at this......" Before he finished speaking, I understood.
"Leader, if you think I can go, then I'll go. "I put it bluntly.
The leader's eyes lit up, and his expression was like finding a savior. "Director Li, you've done me a great favor, I don't even know how to thank you. ”
I waved my hand, "Leader, this is what I should do." ”
The news that I had promised to go to the commune spread quickly.
When I got off work, the leader found me again, held my hand and said, "Director Li, you have really helped me a lot." You can rest assured that if you have any difficulties at home, the company will help you solve them. ”
I know that this is not a simple secondment, it is a transfer of responsibility and trust.
When I got home, I told my wife about it, and she was stunned and stopped what she was doing. "Qingde, what are you trying to do? Aren't our families doing well in the county?"
I took her hand, sat on the old sofa, and said patiently: "I am a soldier, and it is my duty to obey orders." When leadership is in trouble, I have to stand up. Besides, going to the commune is also serving the people. ”
My wife looked at me and she didn't say anything more, just turned around and went into the house and started packing my bags.
"Qingde, it's cold in the countryside, bring more clothes. As she spoke, her eyes reddened.
I nodded, a warm current welling up in my heart. This is home, and wherever I go, there is a sense of care and support.
The next day, I went to the unit to pack my things, and when my colleagues heard that I was going to the commune, they all gathered around.
"Director Li, why are you so troubled? How good you are in the local product company, the salary is high, and the work is easy. The old man was smoking a dry cigarette, looking puzzled.
I smiled and patted him on the shoulder: "Lao Zhang, people live for a lifetime, and they can't always think about themselves." The commune needs someone on the other side, and I went to help with it. ”
"But you're going to endure hardship!" Xiao Li interjected, he was young and straight-talking.
"I didn't endure any hardships when I was in the army? This little hardship is nothing. I waved my hand, but I knew in my heart that behind everyone's choice, there are his reasons and beliefs.
When my colleagues saw that I had made up my mind, they didn't say anything more, just helped me move my things and put me in the car.
The conditions of the commune are indeed far worse than those of the county seat. I rode in a jeep and bumped all the way to the commune. When I got out of the car, I saw that there were three rows of houses, which were very simple.
The first row is an office, the second row is a warehouse, and the third row is a dormitory.
"Director Li, this is your room. The comrades of the commune pointed to a hut and said.
I walked in, and there was nothing in the room except a bed and a table. But I think it's good, simple, unpretentious feeling.
"The conditions are much better than in the army. I laughed.
When the comrades of the Commune heard this, they all laughed.
I put my luggage down and started cleaning and tidying up my room. I knew this would be my new starting point.
My job in the commune was not easy, especially sorting through the messy materials. "Director Li, these materials have to be sorted out as soon as possible, and the year-end summary depends on them. Secretary Li of the commune said earnestly.
The enormity of the task is white.
I had to go down to the village often to check the situation, and the roads in the mountains were not easy to walk, so the commune gave me a bicycle. I rode my bike, bumped on a rugged mountain road, ran five or six villages a day, and my back ached from exhaustion.
"Director Li, you are a cadre from the city, and you are so able to endure hardships, it's really rare!" The villagers praised me, I smiled and waved my hand, but I thought to myself,
What is this little hardship, in the army back then, it was much more bitter than this.
Winter is coming, and heavy snow covers the mountains. I nested in the office for two days, but my heart was as anxious as an ant on a hot pot. “
Director Li, don't go out in this weather, safety first. Colleague Xiao Zhang said worriedly.
"No, Xiao Zhang, the year-end work can't be delayed. I said as I pushed my bike outside.
But I didn't go far before I fell a few times, and the road was too slippery. I had no choice but to push my bike back and decided to walk into the village.
The cold wind cut my face like a knife, and I wrapped my clothes tightly and walked deep and shallow in the snow.
"Director Li, why are you doing this?" the villagers on the road looked at me, their eyes full of puzzlement.
"It's nothing, work, someone has to do it. I replied with a smile, but I knew in my heart that it was my responsibility.
When I came back from the village that day, it was getting late, and my stomach was empty, and I only ate one dried steamed bun. The mountain road was difficult, and the steamed buns in my stomach seemed to have been taken away by the cold wind, and I began to feel bouts of abdominal pain.
"Director Li, what's wrong with you? Back in the commune, colleague Xiao Li asked with concern.
"It's okay, maybe I ate the cold wind. "I endured the pain and tried to look calm.
That night, I was in so much pain that I barely slept, but I didn't tell anyone.
The next day, I showed up at the office on time and continued my work.
"Director Li, you are really iron-clad. "My colleagues admired me, I just smiled and thought to myself, what is this difficulty?
In this life, don't you have to be a little persistent and responsible?
At night in the commune, it was often pitch black, and power outages were commonplace. I lit the kerosene lamp and went on with my work.
The lights flickered, the shadows stretched on the wall, and I felt as if I was back in the night of the army, and at that time it was also a lamp and a book, accompanying me through the long night.
"Qingde, it's so late, are you still busy?" Lao Wang knocked on my door next door, he was the accountant of the commune.
"yes, there's still some material to sort out. I looked up and answered, but the pen in my hand didn't stop.
"You really don't have to say anything about your work attitude. Lao Wang gave a thumbs up.
I smiled and didn't say anything more. I know in my heart that this is not only a job, but also a responsibility.
The two-year secondment was over in a blink of an eye, and the commune leadership was very satisfied with my work attitude. When the leaders of the county came up to investigate the work, the leaders of the commune praised me and hoped that I would stay.
"Qingde, you have done a good job, and the county has a high opinion of you. The county leader patted me on the shoulder and said.
"Thank you for the affirmation of the leader, I will continue to work hard. I replied modestly.
The county leaders said that there were more important jobs waiting for me and asked me to choose a unit. I thought about it seriously and decided to work in the Public Security Bureau.
"Public Security Bureau? That's a hard place. "My colleagues in the commune were a little surprised when they heard about my choice.
"It's hard work, but it's also a place to train people. I said with a smile, but my heart was full of anticipation.
I chose the Public Security Bureau, a decision that came as a surprise to many people. They think I'm doing a good job in the local product company, so why go to the public security bureau to suffer that crime.
But I have my own ideas.
"Qingde, what are you trying to do?" the wife was also a little puzzled.
"I want to do something more challenging, and the Public Security Bureau can help me learn more. I explained.
My wife listened, and although she was still a little worried, she knew what I had decided, and the nine cows couldn't pull it back.
I got the order and went to the county public security bureau to report for duty. The leaders of the Public Security Bureau welcomed me and let me work at a police station in an urban area.
"Comrade Li Qingde, when you arrive at the police station, you must continue to carry forward your fine work style in the army and the commune. "The director told me.
"Please rest assured that I will live up to the expectations of the organization. I replied firmly.
At the police station, I became a full-fledged police officer and started a new career.
At the police station, I became a police officer. The daily work is both trivial and important, dealing with neighborhood disputes, maintaining community policing, and I take everything seriously. "Lao Li, are you so serious, aren't you tired?" Xiao Li is a new auxiliary policeman, looking at my busy figure, a little puzzled.
"Tired, why not tired? But this is our duty, and we can't be sloppy. I replied with a smile, but I knew in my heart that this job was a mission and an honor for me.
My efforts were recognized, and soon after, I was promoted to deputy director and later director. "Director Li, you deserve it!" Lao Zhangtou smoked a dry cigarette, his face full of admiration.
"Lao Zhang, this is all the result of everyone's support. "I humbly said it, but I knew in my heart that this was a new beginning and that I had to work harder.
In 1993, the county's businesses began to slump, and local products companies were also killed. "Brother Li, if you say this is a trouble, the company will collapse. "Lao Wangtou is my old colleague in the local products company, he said to me helplessly.
"Lao Wang, the world is unpredictable, we have to look forward. I comforted him, but I also felt a sigh in my heart.
The old king sighed, "Yes, you have to look ahead, but where is this road?" His words made me feel very uncomfortable.
The collapse of the souvenir company has caused many people to lose their jobs, and many of them are old colleagues and friends of mine.
I can relate to their plight.
Once, I met Xiao Zhou on the street, who had been laid off after the collapse of the souvenir company. "Brother Li, I'm doing odd jobs everywhere now, and I'm having a hard time. Xiao Zhou's face was full of vicissitudes.
"Xiao Zhou, don't be discouraged, there will always be ups and downs in life. I patted him on the shoulder, but I felt a pang of soreness in my heart.
I bought him a bag of fruit and stuffed it for him for another 300 yuan. "Brother, you take this money first, and come to me if you have any difficulties. ”
Xiao Zhou was embarrassed to ask for it, so I forced it into his hand, "Take it, we were all in the same unit back then, and it was right to help each other." ”
He held my hand, his eyes were red, "Brother Li, thank you, I will remember this love." ”
I looked at his distant back and silently blessed him in my heart, hoping that he could get through the difficulties as soon as possible.
And what I, as their friend, can do is do my best to give them a little warmth and hope.
After retiring, my wife and I spent our old age in the county seat. The daily life is simple and peaceful, raising flowers, growing vegetables, and occasionally gathering with old friends and chatting.
"Qingde, you have a very comfortable retirement life. "Every time Lao Zhangtou comes, he will praise me like this.
"Haha, that's called contentment. I replied with a smile, but I knew in my heart that this comfort was not easy to come by.
I am grateful that this era has given me the opportunity to grow from a small worker to a soldier and then to a civil servant.
I am grateful to my family, their support and understanding are my biggest motivation. I am grateful to my colleagues for their companionship and help, which makes my work run smoothly.
"Qingde, your life is not easy. "My wife sometimes feels that.
"Yes, it's not easy, but it's also fulfilling. I replied, my heart filled with gratitude.
Life, like this cup of tea, is sometimes bitter, but more sweet.
I cherish my present life and I am grateful for everything in the past. Because I know that without the bitterness of the past, there is no sweetness of the present.