On a Mid-Autumn Festival night in 1928, Xu Guangda and Zou Jinghua entered the palace of marriage in the jubilant sound of gongs and drums. No one thought that the newlyweds would soon be separated for ten years. That Mid-Autumn Festival night, Xu Guangda's heart was full of contradictions and struggles. On the one hand, he was deeply attracted to this virtuous and capable bride; On the other hand, he feared that marriage would hinder his determination to join the revolution. It was in this psychological struggle that they spent a short and sweet honeymoon period. Ten days later, one night, the enemy suddenly surrounded the village, and Xu Guangda had to flee with his family... Ten years later, when they finally met again, Xu Guangda excitedly said to his wife: "Go and get a pot of hot water." This seemingly ordinary sentence contains what kind of sad journey of separation and reunion?
First, the newlywed Yan'er is deeply affectionate
The Mid-Autumn Festival in 1928 was a good time to hold weddings. Xu Guangda and Zou Jinghua entered the palace of marriage in the jubilant sound of gongs and drums. The bride, Zou Jinghua, had a beautiful face, dressed in red, and had a happy smile on her face. The groom, Xu Guangda, was dressed in a horse coat and was extraordinary. With the blessings of relatives and friends, the two became married and tied the knot.
As soon as the wedding is over, the red candle is burning, and the cave room is spent on the night. Xu Guangda unveiled the bride's hijab, and the first thing he saw was Zou Jinghua's exquisite embroidery bed, which was embroidered with peony flowers blooming all over the splendor. He couldn't help but have an infinite affection for this virtuous and capable bride. It's just that deep down, he is a little uneasy. As a hot-blooded young man, he longs to devote himself to the fiery revolutionary cause, but will marriage become a stumbling block for him?
Xu Guangda asked Zou Jinghua tentatively: "People say that women don't marry military lieutenants, and they keep empty rooms night and night, how can you be willing to marry me, a military lieutenant?" Unexpectedly, Zou Jinghua replied with a smile: "You do your big thing, I will embroider my flowers." I don't want you to feed either. Xu Guangda was taken aback by these words, he didn't expect this delicate woman to have such an independent and self-reliant mind.
Next, Xu Guangda asked about the rumors that the Red Army had killed people and set fires, and Zou Jinghua justifiably justified the name of the Red Army. Xu Guangda felt more and more that this bride was different, not only with excellent craftsmanship, but also open-minded and supportive of the revolutionary cause. From that moment on, Xu Guangda sincerely admired Zou Jinghua.
Newlywed, they spent a ten-day honeymoon period. During the day, Xu Guangda fished by the river or enjoyed the flowers in the garden, enjoying this short but beautiful time. At night, he and his lover were in the cave room illuminated by red candles, you and me, chanting poems and expressing their hearts. For a while, they were like a paradise, temporarily isolated from the distractions of the outside world.
But the good times did not last long, and as soon as the ten-day honeymoon period was over, the enemy discovered Xu Guangda's traces and surrounded his village. With the help of Zou Jinghua, Xu Guangda escaped from the village with his bags and began a wandering life of escape. In this way, the newlyweds had to be separated for ten years.
2. Fleeing and devoting himself to the revolution
As soon as the ten-day honeymoon period passed, Xu Guangda had to leave his newlywed Yan'er's wife and start a life of wandering and fugitive.
One night in October 1928, the enemy suddenly surrounded Xu Guangda's village. After learning the news, Xu Guangda hurriedly packed his bags and escaped from the village at night with the help of his wife Zou Jinghua. From then on, he began a career that lasted for several years.
At first, Xu Guangda fled to Changsha City, only to find that there were notices everywhere that wanted him. In order to evade pursuit, he had to run around in search of the whereabouts of the revolutionary organization. During this period, he lived a very difficult life, working as a laborer in a coal mine and a coolie in the docks.
In 1929, Xu Guangda finally got in touch with the revolutionary organization in Shanghai and entered the military training class. After graduating, he joined the Red Sixth Army Corps as Chief of Staff.
During his service in the Red Sixth Army, Xu Guangda followed the famous Red Army general He Long, participated in many large and small battles, and made great achievements. He soon became He Long's right-hand man and close comrade-in-arms.
In September 1930, the Red Army launched an offensive to seize the central city of Changsha. Xu Guangda also went to Changsha with the troops, but during the attack, the troops lost their direction overnight. Although the attack failed, Xu Guangda still established outstanding military merits in the subsequent battles.
At the same time, Xu Guangda's wife, Zou Jinghua, is also living a very difficult life in her hometown. The enemy constantly harassed her, and her relatives and friends did not dare to associate with her. At one point, she even received false news that Xu Guangda had died, and she was so depressed that she wanted to commit suicide to cut off her life.
Just when Zou Jinghua was at her worst, she received a letter and remittance slip from Xu Guangda. In the letter, Xu Guangda not only reported her safety, but also told her to continue her studies. After Zou Jinghua learned that her husband was safe, her spirits were lifted, and with the help of her father Zou Xilu, she quickly completed her studies and was admitted to the normal school.
In 1938, after years of war, Xu Guangda finally had the opportunity to reunite with his wife Zou Jinghua. At that time, Zou Jinghua was already studying at Yan'an Kang University, and Xu Guangda was the principal of Kang University. A couple who have been separated for many years finally reunited in Yan'an and opened a new chapter in their lives.
3. The wife waited hard and tenaciously
After Xu Guangda fled, his wife Zou Jinghua also lived a very difficult life in her hometown. The enemy constantly harassed her, and her relatives and friends did not dare to associate with her, and her life was in trouble.
At first, Zou Jinghua could still make a living by embroidering. She was a skilled embroiderer, and once embroidered a robe and horse coat embroidered with peonies for her husband at a wedding. This dress not only shows her craftsmanship, but also expresses her longing for her husband.
However, as time went on, Zou Jinghua's situation became more and more difficult. Enemies continued to harass her husband and ask her about her husband's whereabouts. Since she had no information, the enemy made things difficult for her, even threatening to throw her in prison.
Just when Zou Jinghua was at his lowest level of spirit and his life was the most difficult, a false bad news came that Xu Guangda died in battle. This news is tantamount to a slap in the face, Zou Jinghua almost collapsed, and once wanted to commit suicide to cut off his life.
Fortunately, just when she was desperate, a letter and remittance slip from Xu Guangda rescued her in time. In the letter, Xu Guangda not only reported her safety, but also told her to continue her studies and regain hope.
After learning that her husband was safe, Zou Jinghua's spirits were lifted. With the help of her father, Zou Xilu, she quickly completed her studies, was admitted to a normal school, and began a new stage of life.
In September 1930, the Red Army launched an offensive to seize the central city of Changsha. Zou Jinghua met the Red Army in Changsha, and she earnestly hoped to find out about her husband. So, she took the initiative to do logistics for the Red Army, boiling water, cooking, and delivering fruits, hoping to take this opportunity to find out her husband's whereabouts.
Unexpectedly, this offensive failed, and the Red Army lost its direction overnight. Zou Jinghua was disappointed that she did not hear from her husband. She could never have imagined that she and her husband were so close at that time, but they missed the opportunity to reunite due to the tension of the war.
Despite this, Zou Jinghua did not give up hope. Under the recommendation of her mentor Xu Teli, she resolutely embarked on the journey to Yan'an, hoping to reunite with her husband there. In order to have a companion on the way, she also brought her sister-in-law Qilian sister with her.
Before leaving, Zou Jinghua helped his father-in-law unpack and wash the bedding, sew the cotton clothes for the winter, and made full preparations for the long journey. On this day, the two sisters-in-law packed their bags and headed for Yan'an. When passing by the Liuyang River, Zou Jinghua couldn't help but think of the scene of saying goodbye to Xu Guangda in tears, and his heart was mixed.
Although there is a long way to go, Zou Jinghua's hope for a reunion has never been extinguished. She longed for her husband with deep longing for her husband and waited tenaciously until ten years later, in 1938, when they finally met again in Yan'an.
Fourth, miss the reunion that is close at hand
In September 1930, the Red Army launched an offensive to seize the central city of Changsha. At that time, Xu Guangda was already the commander of the 17th Division of the Red Second Army, and he personally led the troops to Changsha and passed by his wife Zou Jinghua.
In September of that year, the Red Army received an order from its superiors to concentrate all its firepower to seize Changsha, the capital of Hunan Province. As the division commander of the Red Second Army, Xu Guangda was ordered to lead his troops to Changsha. In order to avoid the pursuit of the enemy, Xu Guangda had to change his name and temporarily hide his identity.
At the same time, Zou Jinghua has been searching for her husband's whereabouts in Changsha City. She once posted notices on the streets and alleys, hoping to find out about Xu Guangda. When she saw the Red Army marching into Changsha, she eagerly hoped to find traces of her husband in it.
So, Zou Jinghua took the initiative to do logistics work for the Red Army, boiling water, cooking, and delivering fruits, and she wanted the Red Army soldiers to help inquire about her husband's news. Unfortunately, the Red Army soldiers knew nothing about this, and Zou Jinghua's efforts were in vain after all.
While Zou Jinghua was searching around Changsha City, the Red Army troops led by Xu Guangda had already marched outside Changsha City. They wanted to capture Changsha in one fell swoop, but they lost their direction overnight during the offensive, and the offensive was blocked, and they had to temporarily retreat.
In this way, Xu Guangda and Zou Jinghua were close at hand, but they missed each other due to the tension of the war, and missed the opportunity to reunite again. At that time, they could never have imagined that there was such a close distance between them.
Missing the opportunity to reunite, Zou Jinghua did not give up hope. Under the recommendation of her mentor Xu Teli, she resolutely embarked on the journey to Yan'an, hoping to reunite with her husband there.
In order to have a companion on the way, Zou Jinghua also brought her sister-in-law Qilian sister with her. Before leaving, she helped her father-in-law unpack and wash the bedding and sew the cotton clothes for the winter, fully preparing for the long journey. On this day, the two sisters-in-law packed their bags and headed for Yan'an. When passing by the Liuyang River, Zou Jinghua couldn't help but think of the scene of saying goodbye to Xu Guangda in tears, and his heart was mixed.
Although there is a long way to go, Zou Jinghua's hope for a reunion has never been extinguished. With deep longing for her husband, she tenaciously waited until eight years later, in 1938, when they finally met again in Yan'an.
The reunion in five or ten years is even stronger
In 1938, after ten years of separation and waiting, Xu Guangda finally reunited with his wife Zou Jinghua in Yan'an. At that time, Xu Guangda was already the president of Yan'an Anti-Japanese Military and Political University, and Zou Jinghua came to study under the recommendation of his mentor Xu Teli.
On that day, Zou Jinghua and her sister-in-law Qilian traveled from Xi'an to Yan'an, and they saw slogans of "Unite to Resist the War" everywhere along the way, and they took a deep breath of fresh air and were full of expectations for the future. Under Lin Boqu's arrangement, they soon arrived in Yan'an and were arranged to stay in the Northwest Hotel.
Not long after, Zou Jinghua received a letter signed by the character "Xu", in which he said that the principal of Kang University was also surnamed Xu and was a native of Hunan. She and Sister Qilian suddenly came to their senses and immediately sent a letter back to each other, hoping to find out Xu Guangda's whereabouts.
Unexpectedly, President Xu of Kang University turned out to be Xu Guangda himself. After receiving the letter, he was immediately excited, and hurriedly put down the work at hand and ran from the campus of Kang University to the Northwest Hotel, just to see his wife's face.
At that time, Zou Jinghua and Sister Qilian happened to be out, and Xu Guangda waited patiently at the Northwest Hotel. The guards on the side felt very new when they saw that the always dignified headmaster was waiting so patiently.
Soon, the sister-in-law and sister-in-law returned, and they saw Xu Guangda's burly figure from a distance. Zou Jinghua was so excited that she almost threw herself into her husband's arms, but she barely remained reserved when she was pulled by Sister Qilian.
At the moment of reunion, Xu Guangda excitedly said to his wife: "Go and get a pot of hot water." Zou Jinghua was puzzled, and walked around with a pot full of hot water, only then did he understand her husband's intention - he wanted everyone to know that Principal Xu's lover had come to Yan'an from Hunan to get together.
After ten years of separation, the relationship between the two has become more and more intense. In that turbulent era, they overcame many difficulties with their steadfast love and persistent belief in the revolution, and finally came together.
This year, Xu Guangda is over forty years old, and Zou Jinghua is no longer young. But the joy of their reunion was as sweet as that of their newlyweds. Zou Jinghua sewed a brand-new robe and horse coat for her husband, embroidered with peony flowers blooming all over the country, implying that their love will never wither.
Since then, Xu Guangda and Zou Jinghua have started a new life in Yan'an. They started from scratch, relying on their own diligence and wisdom, and soon settled in Yan'an. Their love story has also been widely circulated in Yan'an, becoming a positive example of encouraging everyone to overcome difficulties.
In that turbulent era, Xu Guangda and Zou Jinghua used their actions to interpret what true love is. Their love is not the tenderness and sweetness in the boudoir, but the unswerving loyalty tempered in the smoke of war. This love not only warmed themselves, but also warmed the whole Yan'an, becoming the most beautiful footnote in the revolutionary era.