Chapter 105 remember one most memorable thing
Today, Teacher Wang gave us a composition topic, which is "Remember One of the Most Unforgettable Things".After reading the topic, the students all held their heads and thought about it.As for me, don't think too much!There is one of the most unforgettable things that has been lingering in my mind for two months.Before I fell asleep at night, or just after waking up in the morning, this incident unfolded before my eyes with vivid clarity like a painting.I seem to feel that the air I breathe in through my nose is still so cold and fresh, the moonlight above my head is still so clear and bright, the hand that my father holds me is still so hot, and my mother falls on my face Tears are still so cold!I often say to my parents: "I will never forget what happened that night..." My mother held me tightly in her arms and said, "Son, it's good if you can remember this thing forever! "
What is this thing? Two months ago, on the night of January 13, my parents took me to the Monument to the People’s Heroes in Tiananmen Square to express condolences and swear an oath to Grandpa Zhou—our beloved Premier Zhou. things.
I have to start talking about the morning of January 9, 1976 - this morning, I woke up at six o'clock as usual. I was rubbing my eyes when I suddenly heard my mother crying on her bed , cried very sadly.Dad sat on the edge of the bed, lowered his head and sighed.I didn't know what happened, so I quickly put on my padded jacket and ran to my mother's bed. My father pushed me to my mother's side. I hugged my mother's head, pulled the handkerchief from her face, and asked, "Mom What's the matter with you?" At this time, my mother couldn't help crying, choked up and said: "My child, Grandpa Zhou, our beloved Premier Zhou has passed away!"
Speaking of which, my name "Zhang Yu" has a deep relationship with the beloved Premier Zhou!In August 1966, on the day my mother gave birth to me—that was the early stage of the "Cultural Revolution", my father sent my mother to the maternity hospital this morning, and he rode his bicycle to work I went to the university in the western suburbs of my hometown.Just in time for the respected and beloved Premier Zhou to preside over the university's ten-thousand-thousand meeting.At this time, it was raining heavily, and Premier Zhou stood in the heavy rain, sincerely and firmly repeating to the tens of thousands of people not to point the spearhead of the struggle at the people.At this time, the excitement of the crowd reached its peak, and they all said that the Prime Minister supported us in this way, and we must follow the Prime Minister's teachings!
The meeting ended, and my father rode to the maternity hospital in the heavy rain with great excitement and without a raincoat.At this time, Grandma Li, who lived across the door from us, was holding me, who had just been born, sitting beside my mother's bed.Dad smiled and poked my face with a cold finger, then sat down on a low stool next to the bed dripping with water, and excitedly told my mother and Grandma Li about the situation of today’s Ten Thousand People’s Congress, and Premier Zhou’s speech to the masses. speech.Dad said: "It's the first time in my life that I stand so close to the Prime Minister! I will never forget this day." At this time, Grandma Li suddenly smiled and said: "This boy has no name yet, just Call him 'Zhang Yu' to commemorate your unforgettable day."Mom also nodded and smiled.Dad thought for a while and said with a smile, "I heard that the Prime Minister also has another name, which was 'Xiangyu' when he was studying in Japan. Bar."
Today, in the days when the news of the Prime Minister's death came, none of us had breakfast.This day was the most uncomfortable day since I was born. Wherever I went, I saw red eyes and heard sobbing.Teacher Wang, Grandma Li at the opposite door, auntie the conductor on the tram, the uncle of the People’s Liberation Army on the bus, and the uncle postman delivering the newspaper, all had tears in their eyes and angry expressions on their faces.I feel that Grandpa Zhou has passed away.Everything has changed!The cold weather at the number nine is getting colder, the sky is cloudy, and there is a strong north wind blowing!I felt so uncomfortable that I couldn't breathe, so I clenched my fist and hit my chest, hoping to breathe better!
Having said that, on this day, Dad hurriedly rode on the bike and went to the university where he worked.My mother also hurried to work in the paper flower factory where she worked. She told me to add coal and cover the fire, and don't forget to lock the door when going to school.
I put my schoolbag on my back and locked the door. When I turned around, I ran into Grandma Li who came out with a vegetable basket and sister Xiaotong from the opposite door. Their eyes were also red.Sister Xiaotong took my hand, and we didn't say a word.As she walked, Grandma Li said as if she was speaking to us, and also as if she was speaking to herself: "I am also seventy-eight years old. It is meaningless to live like this. It is better to let me die." It’s everyone’s luck to give Premier Zhou and his old man a few more years of life!” As he spoke, he walked slowly towards the non-staple food store alone.She has never been so unable to walk. We stood and looked at her back for a long time.My sister Xiaotong and I arrived at the school.The campus is extremely quiet today, and there is no sound of running and laughing!When I entered the classroom, all the classmates had already come, lying on the desk in threes and fives, talking quietly.As soon as I sat down, they all said softly to me: "Zhang Yu, do you know? Premier Zhou has passed away!" At this time, Teacher Wang came in, and we all hurried back to our seats.Teacher Wang looked at us with tearful caressing eyes, as if to praise us for the good order in the classroom today.She didn't speak.I thought, if she spoke, she would definitely cry in front of us... In the evening, my father came back from the western suburbs with a terribly gloomy face.At this time, my mother was taking down the photo of our family group photo from the wall, and replaced it with a photo of Grandpa Zhou, and took out three black gauzes, put them on for herself and me, and handed one to Dad.Dad smiled wryly and said, "I can only wear it at home, not in our university." Mom looked at Dad and said loudly, "Why? Who is not allowed to wear it? If I were you, I would wear it!" Dad looked at his mother and didn't speak for a long time.Mom sighed and picked up the scissors to make white flowers.
The air in the room was unbearably stuffy, so I ran to sister Xiaotong's house across the door.Uncle Li has come back from the factory, and he is angrily talking to Grandma Li.On the wall of their home, a large photo of Grandpa Zhou has been hung, and there is a black gauze ribbon tied with bows on the photo.Sister Xiaotong waved to me from the kitchen and said, "Xiaoyu, you also brought black gauze, have you made white flowers yet?" I said, "Mom is making it... Dad said they are not allowed to wear it in college, Do you think it’s strange?” Sister Xiaotong said in a low voice, “Didn’t you see my father was angry? They didn’t allow the workers to hold a memorial service in the factory, and they said it was because they didn’t allow it, and they were protesting!” She called "Father and grandma are eating, come on." Xiaotong's elder sister didn't have a mother when she was ten years old, and she grew up with her grandma.My mother always praises her for her ability, study, housework, everything.
On January 10th, my mother came back at two o'clock in the middle of the night. My mother said that she and the workers and aunts of their paper flower factory were weeping while making wreaths and paper flowers. All the paper flowers, I was almost poured with tears.Later, my mother suggested: Today is the day when everyone bids farewell to the body of Premier Zhou. Let us all go to Beijing Hospital.After today, I will never see Premier Zhou's kind face again.After they got off work, they rushed away without even eating.However, under the streetlights in front of the Beijing Hospital, there were already people standing there demanding to see Premier Zhou’s face for the last time. The staff of the funeral committee were also trying to dissuade everyone. Those who asked and those who dissuaded were all crying together... Finally, my mother said: "Let's try again tomorrow!"
At noon on January 11th, we had a hasty lunch. My father and mother took me; Grandma Li and Uncle Li took sister Xiaotong to the gate of the Working People's Cultural Palace.I looked up and saw that from the Beijing Hotel to the Jinshui Bridge in front of Tiananmen Square, this ten-mile-long Chang'an Avenue was lined with several layers of human walls endlessly!
This dense human wall built by hundreds of thousands of people made no sound at all. In the bitter north wind, hundreds of thousands of sour eyes stared at the straight street with the city committee building in the south... ... Time passed so slowly, the north wind was blowing behind me, I shrank my neck from the cold, and my mother put on the cotton monkey hat for me from behind.Grandma Li's legs were sore from standing, so she ran to the locust tree behind the human wall to lean against for a while, but she hurried back to stand again soon.
The sky was getting dark gradually, and I was stomping my numb feet lightly when I suddenly felt that my mother was pinching my shoulders.Looking up, Grandpa Zhou's hearse is coming!After several cars drove by slowly, a large hearse with black and yellow hanging banners and a huge black flower on it slowly drove over!At this time, as if there was a silent order, men, women, old and young all straightened up for a while, and took off their hats and scarves—I also Hastily pushed back the cotton cap on his head—hundreds of thousands of people couldn't help crying, but they didn't bother to wipe the cold tears on their faces, I'm afraid it would take a few seconds to wipe the tears. , I missed the last and most precious time when I could see Grandpa Zhou's hearse.Although the hearse was driving very slowly, it had already passed the Jinshui Bridge at this time.Ah!I want to run with the hearse, even to the horizon!Mom gently held me down from behind.But I heard many people chasing the hearse on the sidewalk behind the human wall... The night fell, and the north wind blew louder.Everyone was still looking at the west direction of the hearse with tears in their eyes, standing quietly, reluctant to leave... When we got home, the cold semi-circular moon was already hanging on the leafless treetops.We and Grandma Li's family didn't speak, we went back to our own homes, warmed up some food randomly, and fell asleep after eating.
The next evening, when my mother was cooking and I was doing my homework, my father came back from the western suburbs, took out a white paper wreath from his handbag, the size of a rice cooker lid, put it on the table, and walked to to the kitchen.I saw this small wreath, but there was a wide strip of white paper with dense words written on it. I ran over to look at it, and only remembered that it said:
Zhaha in school! ...Put all our love, all our hatred, all our nostalgia, all our anger on this little wreath.Dear Premier Zhou, you can understand us. ... While I was still looking at the university workers, peasants and soldiers students, my father and mother came in with food.Mom said: "Child, go to bed after eating..." I said: "It's too early, I can't sleep."
Dad said: "You will fall asleep. If you fall asleep, we will take you to the Monument to the People's Heroes in Tiananmen Square tonight..."
I hurriedly finished a bowl of rice and got into the bed... I was sleeping soundly when I suddenly felt someone pushing me. When I opened my eyes, my parents had already put on their cotton coats and were standing in front of my bed.The mercury-like moonlight shining in from the window made the white flower on their coats so dazzlingly white!Dad was still carrying the little wreath in his hand.I quickly got dressed and put on the cotton monkey.Mom also turned up my cotton monkey collar.When we walked out of the door, Grandma Li and Uncle Li from the opposite door also pulled sister Xiaotong out.Walking out of the street gate, under the cold and bright street lights, there is no pedestrians on the ground.Mom and Dad held my gloved hands tightly on both sides and walked quickly.We walked to the edge of Tiananmen Square, ho!What a sea of flowers, I have never seen such a great and magnificent scene!Under the moonlight, the middle of the square and around the Monument to the People's Heroes were filled with densely packed wreaths of various sizes, all of which were hung with white paper strips with large and small characters written on them.These wreaths cover several floors of white marble railings!Dad walked over and put the small wreath in his hand in the middle of the two big wreaths. He took off his hat, and we all bowed respectfully and stood silently for a while. meeting.I raised my head, Grandma Li and the others had already moved forward, and we followed the long queue to the south of the monument.On both sides of the advancing team, several miles long silent and strong human walls are lined up. In the condensed north wind, they stand solemnly opposite each other, watching the groups of wreath-delivering people. Amidst the sound of orderly footsteps, Walk slowly.
Under the moonlight, tens of thousands of people standing and walking have crystal tears on their faces... We walked to the south of the monument and looked up at the big golden characters written by Grandpa last week on the monument. In the middle of the line, stood facing north.Mom untied her turban, and Dad took off her hat. Together they raised their clenched fists and swore an oath to our respected and beloved Grandpa Zhou.The north wind blew thousands and thousands of wreaths rattling.
Amidst the many swearing-in, I couldn't hear what my parents said, so I pushed back my cotton hat and raised my hands.I said softly: "Dear Grandpa Zhou, I solemnly swear to you that I am determined to follow your example all my life, be a selfless and fearless person, and I will always be your good boy." , Speaking of this, I couldn't help crying.My mother looked down at me, wiped my face with the wet handkerchief in her hand, took my hand, and we walked together to the small pine tree in the south of the monument.
These two rows of small pine trees have almost become flower trees, and each branch is covered with brilliant white paper flowers.The three of us also picked off the white flowers on the skirts and tied them to the branches at the bottom.The flow of people is like the back wave pushing the front wave, pushing us to the east of the monument.
Turning to the north, from the west side of the square, the rolling stream of people is still following the direction when we came, and walking south... The sky is still shining with mercury-like moonlight, and the ground is uniform like a night march. With the sound of footsteps, the north wind played solemn military music for us on countless wreaths... We reluctantly walked out of the square, faced the new wind, and returned home.It was three o'clock in the morning when we went to bed!
In the next few days, everyone was listless and seemed to be holding their breath. Wherever I went, I felt uncomfortable... Grandpa Zhou, we can't live without you!
On the night of the 17th, just after dinner, I wanted to sleep.Pa sat by the fire, flipping through the newspaper, and said to Ma:
"There are more foreign news and reports mourning the Prime Minister than in our own newspapers. Why can't we hear our own voice?!" Mom shook her head, then lowered her head to mend my torn gloves.Generally, mothers always talk a lot, but these days, mothers are also terribly dull.I just sat on the bed and took off my cotton shoes when sister Xiaotong opened the door and came in, saying: "Last night, there was a documentary in memory of Premier Zhou on TV, and there will be another one tonight. Xiaoyu is all over." I was so eager to say, I put on my shoes and left, and my parents also walked over.
Grandma Li had already set up a few small stools in front of the TV, and we all sat down.
Uncle Li was sitting in the back room reading a book by himself under the lamp, and ignored us.The documentary was screened, and the screen flashed the words "The great proletarian revolutionary of the Chinese people, the outstanding communist fighter Comrade Zhou Enlai is immortal!"... The scene of people saying goodbye to the body of the prime minister appeared, and we all held our breaths!The beloved Grandpa Zhou was quietly lying on his back under a large party flag, and there was a small wreath at his feet... At this time, Grandma Li pinched her mother's shoulders and said with a sob: "Auntie, look, The Prime Minister is so skinny, he has broken his heart for us!" Mom stared at the screen with tears in her eyes, but did not answer.At this time we saw our beloved Commander-in-Chief Zhu come in, supported by two people, I really can't describe the grief on his old man's face!He raised his hand and gave a very solemn military salute to his old comrades who had lived and died together for decades.At this time, I couldn't help but shed tears.Just as we were seeing national leaders coming up to bid farewell to Grandpa Zhou’s body, Uncle Li suddenly came out of the back room angrily, and turned off the TV with a bang!I was about to ask why, my parents shook their heads at me.Sister Xiaotong didn't speak.Grandma Li stood up, sighed and said:
"You young people, don't be too discouraged. Don't forget that Premier Zhou has passed away, and Chairman Mao is still alive. I hope he will live a long and healthy life..." She turned her head and said to sister Xiaotong: "You children go to bed first. go!"
I returned home slowly, turned on the light out of boredom, and when I was making the bed, I turned around and saw Dad’s notebook open on the table, with a few short lines written on it, like poetry, when I went to read it, It says:
The people, and only the people, are the driving force behind the creation of world history. ——Chairman Mao listened to thunder in a silent place. ——Lu Xun Will spring be far away? —What do these words mean, Shelley?Lu Xun, I know who it is, the greatest and most heroic standard-bearer of the new Chinese cultural army praised by Chairman Mao.Teacher Wang told us about his "A Little Thing", and I myself have read "The True Story of Ah Q" written by him.But who was that Shelley?
I took off my clothes, lay down, and turned off the lamp beside the bed... What a bright moonlight!This moonlight has been shining on my bed, and on the big portraits of Chairman Mao and Grandpa Zhou hanging on the wall next to the bed!Looking at these two hanging portraits, I remembered the many stories my mother, father, Teacher Wang, Uncle Li, and many uncles and aunts told me about Grandpa Zhou’s lifelong revolution in the past few days. In Tianjin, in Japan, in France, in Nanchang, on the Long March, in Yan'an, in Chongqing, until he was in Beijing... I have seen him many times in newspapers and on TV. He is so respectable and lovely. The image of you will always be embedded in my heart, and will always guide and inspire me to move forward... I thought about it, and found that my pillow was wet, I wiped my tears with the back of my hand, turned over, and I remembered Grandma Li said: "Don't forget, Chairman Mao is still alive... I hope he will live a long and healthy life!" I looked up at the hanging portraits of Chairman Mao and Grandpa Zhou in the moonlight, and I felt comforted I closed my eyes.
The moonlight still shines on my face, I close my eyes, and the eyes are still bright!
Go to sleep, I will sleep in the light, I will dream of a glorious tomorrow!
March 10, 1976 Zhang Yu (this article was originally published in the second issue of "Children's Literature Series", China Children's Publishing House