The picture shows Li Ying (first from left in the second row) with her grandfather, grandmother, parents and brother. Photo courtesy of Cangzhou Municipal Civilization Office
Grandpa has been away from us for 23 years, but the familiar melodies of the red songs he taught me to sing still echo in my ears.
My grandfather was Li Jie, born in 1921, joined the revolution and joined the Party in 1938. He was active in the Jilu Border Region, fighting side by side with Comrade Lü Qi, who was then the director of the "Joint Salvation Congress of Cultural Circles in Southern Hebei", composing drum lyrics and songs for the War of Resistance, awakening the people's patriotic consciousness, always being loyal to the party and loving the people infinitely.
After the founding of New China, my grandfather has been engaged in education work for a long time, restraining himself with the standards of party members everywhere, pouring all his efforts into teaching and educating people, working hard and complaining, working hard, and being rated as "excellent teacher" many times. He himself lived frugally, but generously funded poor students and never spoke up. He often talks about ideals and life with students, and is regarded by students as a confidant who has nothing to say. Until now, whenever I mention my grandfather's name to my friends, many people will respectfully say, "That was my high school teacher."
When I was a child, my grandfather often said that people can eat with porridge and a meal, and they should spend money and energy on more meaningful places. Under the education and influence of my grandfather, my father was strict with himself, as a medical worker, he always put the health of the people in the first place, took root in the grassroots for a long time, worked steadily, and served the masses wholeheartedly. In 2005, after his father retired as the director of jinzhuang township health center in Dongguang County, he continued to exert his residual enthusiasm for medical careers. My younger brother also adhered to the spirit of struggle of his grandfather's rigorous and hard work, was proactive in his work, had the courage to innovate, and forgot his scientific research, and won the honorary title of "Excellent Scientific and Technological Worker" at the municipal level in 2021.
After leaving retirement, my grandfather often told me about those glorious years. I have seen the densely packed manuscripts composed by my grandfather, and those notes are like beating hearts, flying to the hearts of the toiling masses with a sonorous melody. Grandpa also taught me to sing these songs, and the solemn expression he sang with the stirring tunes brought me back to that beacon era. I sighed and said, "It's not easy for you!" Grandpa said solemnly, "Child, you must remember that the road to the light is tortuous and long. ”
The picture shows Li Ying (third from left) taking a group photo with her parents (first from left, second from left), husband (first from right) and other family members. Photo courtesy of Cangzhou Municipal Civilization Office
Under the influence of my grandfather, I also set strict demands on myself everywhere in my work, worked hard and forged ahead, was rated as an "advanced worker" many times, and joined the Communist Party of China in 2017. In my spare time, I love to write, published several articles and published my own portfolio, and joined the Provincial Writers Association in 2021. I like to read red books and have written a lot of book reviews. In 2020, a literary friend from my hometown contacted me through these articles and enthusiastically helped me contact a cousin who had been away for many years and had lost his voice.
This cousin was also an officer, and after contacting him, he learned that he had always admired his grandfather, and he had heard his grandfather talk about his combat experience when he was very young, and those twisting revolutionary stories helped him plant a military dream and a heart to serve the country. My cousin joined the army in 1978, at first he was not accustomed to the harsh environment and strict training of the army, he wrote a letter to his grandfather to complain, and his grandfather replied to him in a serious tone: "There are no towering trees growing in the greenhouse, and how can it grow without wind and rain?" Grandpa's words made his uncle have an epiphany, he never complained about bitterness and tiredness, practiced solidly, bravely moved forward, and constantly refined himself in his 21-year travel career. After changing careers, due to his excellent work performance, he was awarded the title of "Public Security Grassroots Pacesetter" by the Shandong Provincial Public Security Department and "Excellent Communist Party Member" by the Party Committee of Shengli Oilfield.
After listening to my uncle's story, joy and pride stirred in my heart and also flowed on my face. The uncle said that these experiences are not worthy of pride, whether in the army or in the local public security departments, we must resolutely obey the party's command and go all out to be qualified soldiers who are loyal to the party and love the people and fulfill their responsibilities. Uncle's unashamed and impatient posture is not exactly the spirit that Grandpa insisted on at that time?
In 2021, I had the honor to participate in the collection and editing of the book "Centennial Monument" of the Dongguang CPPCC. In the process of searching for information on martyrs and interviewing veterans of the War of Resistance, my soul was strongly shaken and educated. When writing that scene of the battle, the melody of the anti-Japanese song composed by my grandfather became a powerful driving force for my creation.
Zhengrong years and centuries of road, prosperous Chinese thousands of generations of spring. Grandpa's patriotic feelings of patriotism and love for the party have deeply influenced our two generations. This year is the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, and if Grandpa knows about it, he will surely be pleased that future generations will inherit the red gene.
"The best memorial is to stick to it", Grandpa's firm revolutionary will and dedication of the spirit of struggle will always be our pure family style, which will be passed on from generation to generation.
(The author is the vice president of Cangzhou Dongguang County Maternal and Child Health Hospital)
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