In an ordinary Chinese village, an old man who has experienced many vicissitudes often tells the villagers about his glorious days as a Red Army commander. However, the villagers scoffed at his words, believing them to be nothing more than an old man's dream. They only knew that this old man had been a "traitor" in a nearby county, how could he be the commander of the Red Army? The old man was aggrieved, but he couldn't prove his identity. He tried several times to contact his former comrades, but there was no news. Just when the villagers' ridicule and disdain for him reached its peak, a majestic commander suddenly visited the remote village. His arrival caused an uproar, and the villagers were talking about why the big man had come. When the commander stood at the entrance of the village, his eyes scanning the crowd with blazing eyes, everyone held their breath. Who is he looking for? What was the purpose of his trip? What exactly is the true identity of this old man?
On a hot summer day in 1927, 15-year-old Hou Lixiang embarked on a journey away from his hometown of Jiangling County with a simple bag on his back. With a vision for the future, he came to Jingzhou, hoping to find a job. However, the reality is far more cruel than he imagined. For several days in a row, Hou Lixiang failed to find a job, and his coils were almost exhausted.
Just when Hou Lixiang was hungry and had nothing to do, a strong man named Liang Zi appeared in front of him. Liang Zi saw Hou Lixiang's predicament and reached out to him. In this way, Hou Lixiang joined the ranks of the Red Army by mistake.
At first, Hou Lixiang was just an ordinary warrior. But he was diligent and studious, and soon mastered military skills. In battle after battle, Hou Lixiang showed extraordinary courage and leadership skills. His performance caught the attention of his superiors and he was quickly promoted.
In 1934, Hou Lixiang had become a company commander. During the Long March, he led his company and overcame many difficulties. Over snow-capped mountains and trekking through grasslands, Hou Lixiang and his comrades-in-arms conquered one difficulty after another with tenacious will. During these arduous years, Hou Lixiang strengthened his revolutionary beliefs.
In 1936, Hou Lixiang was promoted to regiment commander with his outstanding performance. As a young commander of the Red Army, he led his troops to participate in many important battles and made important contributions to the revolutionary cause. However, the cruelty of the war also left indelible scars on Hou Lixiang. In a fierce battle, he was seriously wounded and had to leave the front line.
In 1939, taking into account Hou Lixiang's physical condition, the organization decided to arrange for him to work underground. So, Hou Lixiang returned to his hometown of Jiangling County. In order to hide his identity, he opened a card shop with the help of his uncle. Although the business is not good, it can finally maintain a basic livelihood.
However, fate played a cruel joke on Hou Lixiang. An unknown thief stole his suitcase containing documents and money. Having lost the documents proving his identity, Hou Lixiang fell into deep despair.
At this moment, the organization contacted him again and arranged for him to penetrate the enemy as a "security chief". Hou Lixiang assumed the pseudonym "Hou Wenbin" and began a new underground work. Despite his special status, he still provided a great deal of valuable intelligence to the organization.
In 1940, due to the defection of some comrades, the organization asked the underground party members to take refuge for the time being and not to contact the organization. Hou Lixiang followed the instructions, resigned from the post of security chief, and returned to his hometown again. However, with no regular income, he soon found himself in financial difficulties and had to leave his hometown again.
In the years that followed, Hou Lixiang traveled all over the world, making a living by opening teahouses and weaving bamboo baskets. Although life was difficult, he never forgot his revolutionary identity. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Hou Lixiang actively participated in the land reform movement. However, due to injuries at an early age, he was unable to perform heavy physical labor and had to work as a cattle herder in the township.
As the years passed, Hou Lixiang's age grew, and his gray hair increased day by day. He often sat under the old locust tree at the entrance of the village and told the villagers about his former Red Army career. However, these stories sound like a fantasy to the villagers.
"Old man Hou is bragging again!" The young people of the village often laughed at this. They have heard from their elders since childhood that Hou Lixiang had been a "traitor" during the Japan occupation, how could he be the commander of the Red Army?
One day, Uncle Li in the village couldn't stand it anymore, and questioned Hou Lixiang in front of everyone: "Old man Hou, if you really became the commander of the Red Army, then why don't you even have a discharge certificate?" "
Hou Lixiang explained with a wry smile: "My documents were stolen in 1939, and later because of special tasks, I couldn't reveal my identity..."
Before he could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by the surrounding villagers. "I'm making up stories again!" A young man shouted, "My grandfather said that you used to be a security chief in the county and a dog leg for the Japanese!" "
Such scenes are not uncommon in the village. Whenever Hou Lixiang tried to tell about his past, it always attracted a wave of ridicule and questioning. Gradually, the villagers' attitude towards Hou Lixiang changed from initial distrust to open ridicule and disgust.
At one point, a veterans' commendation meeting was held in the village. Hou Lixiang went to participate with hope, but was stopped by the village cadres. "Old man Hou, this is a meeting of veterans, don't come to join in the fun, you former traitor!" The village cadre said coldly.
Hou Lixiang stood outside the venue, listening to the applause and cheers coming from inside, and tears flowed uncontrollably. How he wished he could prove his identity, but couldn't.
The old people in the village had an even worse attitude towards Hou Lixiang. They often gathered at the entrance of the village, and pointed at Hou Lixiang as soon as they saw him. "Look, that liar is here again!" They make no secret of their disgust.
One day, a veteran came to the village. Hou Lixiang excitedly stepped forward to talk, hoping to find a confidant. However, when he mentioned that he had been the commander of the Red Army, the veteran had a disdainful expression. "I've been a soldier all my life, and I've never heard of you." The veteran said coldly, "Don't use the name of a revolutionary hero to deceive!" "
The news soon spread in the village. The villagers were even more convinced that Hou Lixiang was a liar. Some even proposed that he should be expelled from the village so that he would not continue to tarnish the reputation of the revolutionary martyrs.
In the face of the villagers' increasingly stern attitude, Hou Lixiang became increasingly silent. He no longer takes the initiative to tell people about his past, but often sits alone at the door of his house, looking into the distance in a daze.
The children in the village began to make up a slip of the tongue, and as soon as they saw Hou Lixiang, they sang: "Old man Hou, a big liar, says that he is a Red Army, but in fact he is a traitor!" These nursery rhymes are like a knife, which deeply pierced Hou Lixiang's heart.
Just when the villagers' dissatisfaction with Hou Lixiang reached its peak, an unexpected thing happened. A special notice suddenly came on the radio in the village: an important military district leader was coming. This news caused quite a stir in the village.
Villagers speculated about the purpose of the big man's trip. Some people said they came to inspect the work, and some said they came to visit the masses. However, no one would have thought that the arrival of this military leader would completely change the villagers' perception of Hou Lixiang.
In the face of the villagers' doubts and distrust, Hou Lixiang did not give up his efforts to prove his identity. He began to try to contact his former comrades, hoping to find someone who could testify for him.
Hou Lixiang's first thought was his old commander during the Red Army. He remembered that the old chief's surname was Li, and that he had saved his life on the battlefield. Hou Lixiang spent several days writing a long letter detailing the battles they had experienced together, hoping to evoke memories of each other. However, the letter was lost in the sea, and there was no news.
Hou Lixiang, who did not give up, thought of his old comrade-in-arms Wang Dayong again. They fought side by side and survived the difficult years of the Long March together. Hou Lixiang asked someone to find out that Wang Dayong might live in a small town in Hunan. He saved money for a few months, and finally embarked on a journey to find Wang Dayong.
However, when Hou Lixiang rushed to that town with great difficulty, he learned that Wang Dayong had died three years ago. Standing in front of Wang Dayong's tombstone, Hou Lixiang cried bitterly. Not only did he lose someone who could prove his identity, but he also lost an old friend who shared life and death.
After returning to the village, Hou Lixiang began to find another way. He decided to document his career in the Red Army by writing his memoirs. Every night, he would light a dim oil lamp and write down his memories with trembling hands.
From the experience of joining the army, to the hardships on the Long March, and then to the underground work later, Hou Lixiang poured his life into this memoir. He recorded in detail the time and place of each battle, and even some small details were not spared. For example, he still remembers the last words he said before a soldier named Xiao Li died in a certain battle.
The process of writing a memoir was not smooth. Due to his advanced age, Hou Lixiang's memories are often confused. Sometimes, he would spend days trying to recall a specific date or a person's name. But he never gave up and persisted in this work.
In addition to writing his memoirs, Hou Lixiang also began to organize the old objects he had kept. In his humble mud and straw room, there is an old leather trunk containing items that he has treasured for many years. Among them is a yellowed old photograph of a group of young men in military uniforms, with Hou Lixiang standing in the middle. Although the photograph has been blurred, Hou Lixiang firmly believes that it is an important proof of his identity.
There is also a worn-out red flag, which Hou Lixiang took from the enemy in one battle. There are still bullet marks and blood stains on the flag, witnessing the tragic battle. Hou Lixiang carefully tucked away the flag, hoping to use it to prove his identity one day.
Hou Lixiang also kept a watch. This was rewarded to him by his superiors when he was the head of the regiment. Although the watch can no longer move, the date engraved on the back of the dial and Hou Lixiang's name have become another proof of his identity.
In the process of sorting out these items, Hou Lixiang suddenly remembered an important detail. During a secret mission, he hid an important document in the wall of his old house in his hometown. If this document can be found, it may be able to prove his identity.
With this glimmer of hope, Hou Lixiang once again embarked on the road back to his hometown. However, when he arrived at the old house, he found that it had been reduced to ruins. The smoke of war had razed the place to the ground, and the documents he had been searching for had disappeared without a trace.
Although every effort ended in failure, Hou Lixiang did not give up. He continued to write his memoirs, sorting through old objects, hoping to prove his identity one day. In the dead of night, he prayed silently, hoping for a miracle.
Just when Hou Lixiang was about to lose all hope, an unexpected news came. Some people say that a high-ranking general of the military region is going to visit the village. This news gave Hou Lixiang a new hope, and he decided to seize this opportunity to prove his identity to the general.
In the summer of 1965, on a hot afternoon, there was a sudden commotion in the village. People walked out of their homes and gathered on the main road at the entrance of the village. In the distance, a military jeep was slowly approaching, kicking up clouds of dust.
The car stopped at the entrance of the village, and an old man in military uniform got out of the car. Although he was gray-haired, his eyes were still sharp and his steps were firm. The village party secretary hurriedly stepped forward to greet him and said respectfully: "Welcome to the chief's guidance!" "
The leader of the military region, named Li Guoqing, is a veteran general who has been on the battlefield for a long time. The purpose of his visit was to visit the grassroots and learn about the living conditions of veterans.
General Li, accompanied by the village party secretary, began to tour the village. He went into the homes of farmers and asked them about their living conditions; He went to the village primary school and talked to the children cordially. The villagers were attracted by the amiable old general and gathered around.
At this moment, there was a sudden commotion in the crowd. I saw an old man in ragged clothes squeezing through the crowd with great difficulty and running towards General Li. The villagers recognized it as Hou Lixiang and showed disdainful expressions.
"Captain Li! Captain Lee! Hou Lixiang shouted loudly, with a bit of excitement and choking in his voice.
The village party secretary hurriedly stepped forward to stop: "Old man Hou, don't mess around!" This is the head of the military region, not the head of the regiment Li you know! "
However, to everyone's surprise, General Lee's face suddenly showed a look of surprise and joy. He walked quickly to Hou Lixiang and carefully looked at the wrinkled old man.
"Old Hou? Is it really you? General Lee's voice trembled slightly.
Hou Lixiang nodded excitedly: "It's me, Head Li!" I'm Hou Lixiang! "
General Li grabbed Hou Lixiang's hand and said excitedly: "Old comrade-in-arms, we finally meet again!" "
This scene stunned everyone present. The village party secretary stammered and asked, "Chief, you... Do you know Old Man Hou? "
General Li turned around and said solemnly, "Acquaintance? We are old comrades-in-arms who share life and death! Comrade Hou Lixiang was once a regimental commander of the Fourth Front Army of our Red Army and a brave and fearless soldier! "
This news caused a huge sensation among the villagers like a bombshell. People looked at Hou Lixiang in disbelief, the old man they had always laughed at and disdained, turned out to be really a Red Army commander!
General Li continued: "In 1935, at the most difficult time of our Long March, it was Commander Hou who led his troops to break through the enemy's encirclement and open a way for us to survive. If it weren't for him, we might have fallen on the snowy mountain meadows. "
Hearing this, the faces of the villagers all showed a look of shame and admiration. They began to recall all kinds of disrespect to Hou Lixiang over the years, and their hearts were full of guilt.
General Li looked around and said solemnly: "Comrade Hou Lixiang has made tremendous contributions to the revolution. The reason why he has been incognito for so many years is because he has carried out a special secret mission. Now, it's time to do him justice. "
Next, General Li ordered the accompanying staff to immediately contact their superiors and request that Hou Lixiang be reissued with a discharge certificate and a relevant certificate of honor. He also announced on the spot that a grand commendation meeting would be held for Hou Lixiang.
The news quickly spread in the village. The villagers who once ridiculed and questioned Hou Lixiang now bowed their heads in shame. Some old people even ran to Hou Lixiang and apologized to him.
Hou Lixiang didn't blame anyone, he just stood there quietly with tears in his eyes. Years of grievances and pain have finally been released at this moment.
General Li patted Hou Lixiang on the shoulder and said, "Old comrade-in-arms, you have suffered. But please believe that the party and the people will never forget your merits. Starting today, you will regain the respect and honor you deserve. "
In this way, under the witness of General Li, Hou Lixiang's true identity was finally confirmed. This old man, who has been misunderstood for many years, is finally able to stand in the sun with his head held high and accept people's respect.
And this unexpected encounter also opened a new page in Hou Lixiang's life. The atmosphere began to change subtly, and people's attitudes towards Hou Lixiang changed from skepticism to respect. A belated commendation conference is in full swing.
A week after General Lee's departure, the atmosphere in the village changed dramatically. Hou Lixiang, who was once ridiculed and questioned, has now become the most respected person in the village. The villagers came to visit him one after another to apologize and pay tribute to him.
The village party secretary took the lead in organizing a village-wide meeting to formally apologize to Hou Lixiang. He stood on the steps of the village committee and said in a loud voice: "On behalf of the whole village, I apologize to Comrade Hou Lixiang. We have eyes that do not know Mount Tai, and it is really a shame for us to be so disrespectful to a revolutionary hero for many years. "
Hou Lixiang stood under the stage, facing the apology of the villagers, and just waved his hand gently. "You don't have to," he said. I have been incognito for so many years just to complete the task assigned to me by the organization. You don't know the truth, and it's normal for you to have doubts. "
Just then, a jeep with a military license plate drove into the village. Several staff members in military uniforms got out of the car, and they brought Hou Lixiang's discharge certificate and various honorary certificates.
The villagers gathered around and looked at the certificates with curiosity. Among them, there are many honors such as the "Victory Medal of the Red Army's Long March", "Victory Medal of the War of Resistance Against Japan", and "Victory Medal of the Liberation War". Each certificate bears witness to Hou Lixiang's heroic deeds and contributions to the country.
The staff also brought a special document, which was a description of Hou Lixiang's secret mission. It turned out that after the end of the Liberation War, Hou Lixiang was organized and arranged to carry out a special task: to hide his name and lurk in this remote village to monitor the activities of possible enemy elements.
This task was extremely arduous and required Hou Lixiang to give up all his honor and status and live as an ordinary peasant. In order not to reveal his identity, he could not even contact his family. This lurking is decades.
After hearing this explanation, the villagers fell silent. They finally understood why Hou Lixiang suddenly appeared in the village, why he was always alone, and why he often went out late at night.
The village party secretary said excitedly: "Comrade Hou Lixiang, you have made such a huge sacrifice for the revolutionary cause, but we still doubt you and laugh at you. We're so ashamed! "
Subsequently, under the arrangement of the superiors, the village held a grand commendation meeting for Hou Lixiang. Leaders from the county also made a special trip to attend. The meeting was held in the square at the entrance of the village, and the villagers spontaneously cut many big red flowers out of red paper to decorate the whole square with joy.
At the commendation meeting, the county magistrate personally wore the Medal of Honor for Hou Lixiang. When the golden medal was pinned to Hou Lixiang's chest, the audience burst into warm applause. Many old people shed tears of emotion, and they were proud to have such a hero in the township.
In his speech, the county magistrate said: "Comrade Hou Lixiang is an example for us to learn. Regardless of personal gains and losses, he has been silently dedicating himself for decades, embodying the lofty character of a Communist Party member. We should learn from his spirit and contribute to the building of our country. "
After the commendation meeting, the village also specially arranged a new house for Hou Lixiang. It was a small two-story brick building, much stronger than the mud and straw house he used to live in. The villagers also organized themselves to help Hou Lixiang move and clean up his new home.
Hou Lixiang's son immediately rushed back from the city after learning his father's true identity. The father and son, who have not seen each other for many years, hugged and cried, telling the feelings of longing for many years. The son knelt on the ground and kowtowed to his father three times, apologizing to his father for his incomprehension over the years.
Changes are also taking place in the township. People began to have more respect for veterans and veterans, and a veterans' home was set up in the village to organize regular activities to pass on the red spirit.
Hou Lixiang's deeds soon spread throughout the county. Many schools invited him to give a report on the story of the Red Army's Long March and his experience with secret missions. The children sat around Hou Lixiang and listened to him tell the thrilling battle stories, their eyes full of admiration.
In this way, Hou Lixiang, who was once unknown, finally gained the respect and honor he deserved. His deeds have become a spiritual wealth that inspires future generations, and his spirit of silent dedication regardless of personal gains and losses has also deeply affected everyone in the township.
It is often said that real gold is not afraid of fire. Hou Lixiang's experience is the best interpretation of this sentence. Despite years of misunderstanding and doubt, his loyalty and dedication were finally recognized. This seemingly ordinary old man has used his life to interpret what a real hero is.