Chapter 176 He Yeba two

Some comrades reminded me that this year is the 90th birthday of Mr. Ye Shengtao and the 80th birthday of Comrade Ba Jin. I think I should take advantage of this time to write a few words to congratulate them. I remember that when Mr. Ye read my "Mr. Ye Shengtao I Admire" written in the spring of 1982, he laughed and said: "The first time we met was not in Beijing after liberation, but in Chongqing before liberation." It turns out that when I lived in Jialu in Chongqing in the early 1940s, Mr. Ye wanted to publish my anthology for Kaiming Bookstore He once came to see me.His old man's memory is much better than mine!

Ye Lao is a person who cares about the younger generation very much.After I met Mr. Ye, I haven’t paid a visit to his home because: firstly, I often see him in public places, and secondly, I’m afraid that visiting at home will affect his rest.But in the spring of the year before last, when I was hospitalized due to illness, Mr. Ye went to the hospital to see me. By chance, I had been discharged from the hospital and returned home. Mr. Ye and Comrade Zhishan came to visit me at my home in the western suburbs.When I was lying on the bed and saw Mr. Ye, who was bearded and haired like silver by accident, walk into my bedroom, sit by my bed, and kindly condolences to me, I felt endless gratitude and shame in my heart!

Mr. Ye is also a very humble old man. Whenever I give him a book or write a letter, he will reply in person.Recently, his eyesight has been bad, and his writing has become bigger and bigger. I knew that the old man must have had a hard time, so I had to tell Comrade Zhishan, saying: Mr. Ye does not need to reply to letters in the future. OK. Ba Jin and I—forgive me for not calling him "Ba Lao", because he is a few years younger than me, and I have always regarded him as a younger brother—have known each other since the early 1930s.Over the decades, we have gotten to know each other better.After liberation, we also participated in a visiting group going abroad together.We have been to the Soviet Union, Japan, Egypt... There are more conversations on planes and in foreign hotels.In my recollection, there are many scenes worth describing.The last opportunity to go abroad together was the visit to Japan in the spring of 1980. My daughter Wu Qing and his daughter Xiaolin both participated in that trip. Xiaolin called me "aunt" and Wu Qing called him "uncle" ", as if we were brothers and sisters—but not long after returning from Japan, I was so sick that I "stayed at home".

Recently, Ba Jin was admitted to the hospital due to illness.The day before yesterday, he came with a "long" letter, which filled a 300-character manuscript paper—his daughter said in the letter: "Dad wrote you a long letter. For him, it has been a long time. I’ve written such a long letter”——he said in the letter: “I received the letter, and I’m still in the hospital for treatment. I am happy with you... I am still optimistic. I still say that I am proud to be a Chinese writer. Yasushi Inoue came to the hospital three times a year and asked me to participate in the conference in Tokyo. I couldn't refuse... Now the ward is dedicated to this You can rest assured that you are striving for the goal, I still have great ambitions!"

Ye Lao's handwriting got bigger and bigger, while Ba Jin's handwriting got smaller and smaller. I was equally happy when I got letters in big and small letters. A few days ago, an editor of the "Literary News" said: Ye Lao said that when spring came soon, when the crabapple flowers in their yard were in bloom, he would invite me to enjoy the flowers.I must break the example of "staying at home" and go to Ye Lao's house, which I have never been to, to meet Ye Lao and watch the crabapple flowers he planted.January 16, 1984