Prose about those vicissitudes of life but standing tall figures

Fuluo Town, Zhaoping County has a unique geographical environment and beautiful natural scenery. In this harmonious land, many long-lived people have emerged. What's the secret to their longevity? With curiosity and respect, we visited six centenarians here.

Qiu Aifang: Chivalrous and over 100 years old

Qiu Aifang lives in Shoujia Group 2, Fulo Village, Fulo Town, which is very close to the town government seat. She was the first centenarian we interviewed. Before going to her house, we made preparations, bought fruits and other things, and even brought a piece of pork to the elderly family to express our deepest care for the elderly.

To get to Qiu Aifang’s home, you have to pass through a small river. The gurgling river water was crystal clear, and the fish could clearly be seen swimming freely. After passing the ancient stone bridge, a not-so-flat path stretches forward in a winding way. There are bamboo fences on both sides of the road. In winter, vegetables grow green and vigorous in the fields. The village where the old man lives is relatively large, with a wide open space in front of the house, surrounded by mountains, and a trickle of water flowing around the village. It is really a good place for self-cultivation. The house is built on the mountain, surrounded by neighboring houses, which are very close to each other. The house where the elderly live is larger. It is a traditional courtyard house, consisting of a gatehouse, a patio, a main house and a side house. We feel that the living environment for the elderly is quite good. In terms of Feng Shui, which is relatively particular in rural areas, it is very Feng Shui-like. No wonder there are centenarians here.

When we arrived at her door, we saw an old man in his 70s busy on the ground in front of the gatehouse, moving slowly and leisurely. Sitting on a bench in the gatehouse was a rickety old man. When we stepped forward to inquire, we learned that the two old people outside the door were the son and daughter-in-law of Qiu Aifang. After we explained our intention, the two old men enthusiastically poured tea for us and kept saying polite words. Qiu Aifang was very old. There was a crutch beside her. Her back was so hunched that she almost shrank into a ball. But the old man was in good spirits and looked good, and he didn't look at all depressed. Although the face is covered with scattered wrinkles, which are the marks left by the vicissitudes of history, it is like an ancient pine, with strands of silver hanging down from the edge of the tightly wrapped hat. Despite his age, She was well-dressed and very clean. Although the unforgiving years gradually eroded her body without exception, the old man had good eyesight, but his hearing was not very good. When speaking to her, he had to stick to her ears and repeat loudly several times. Only she can hear the content of our speech clearly, but the old man's thinking is quick, he can talk happily with us fluently and clearly, and he often looks at us and smiles.

With the intermittent memories of Qiu Aifang and the supplements of her son and daughter-in-law, we have a preliminary understanding of the old man's life. The old woman is 104 years old this year, which can be said to be a cross-century old woman. She was born in Baiyi Village, Fulo Town, and has never gone to school. At the age of 24, she married into her current home and has lived with her loyal and honest husband Zhong Guifang for 80 years. In 1930, Qiu Guifang and her husband Zhong Guifang gave birth to their only son. The couple was loving and harmonious. They supported each other during those difficult years and respected each other as guests. The old man has lived in the county for 13 years, raising grandchildren and great-grandchildren for his son, and helping with housework within his ability. Now, the old man has 3 male grandchildren, 4 granddaughters, 2 male grandsons, and 3 female grandsons. The next generation also has descendants, but we really don’t remember them very clearly. It can really be said that they are full of children and grandchildren. According to the old man, their grandchildren come back to visit her at least twice a year and care about her life. They always bring her delicious food every time they come back. The old man has a very good relationship with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She will let the children eat her food. She is very satisfied when she can see the children happy. This may be the family happiness of the old man.

Nowadays, the old woman can no longer eat hard rice. She said that her stomach will become clogged whenever she eats. Therefore, her children only let her boil porridge or cook noodles for her to eat. The old man is never picky about food, and all dishes suit his appetite, but he does not eat blindly.

The old man is very enthusiastic, eager to help others, and often helps her neighbors. Therefore, the neighbors like to visit her house and chat with her. What impressed my neighbor the most was that one year, a neighbor’s child was unwell. In that special era, it was good for everyone to have enough to eat, but at this critical time, the neighbor’s child had to see a doctor. But I really can't afford that much money, so I can only look at this and resign myself to fate. After Qiu Aifang found out, after discussing with her husband, she did not hesitate to use her family's little savings to help her neighbors overcome the difficulties. Although she did not have enough food and clothing, she saved a life after all. Nowadays, during the holidays, the neighbor often comes to visit the old man. I have lived a stormy life for decades, but I have to accept the reality of the passage of time. Because Qiu Aifang's legs and feet have developed problems in the past few years, it is inconvenient for her to go out and visit, and she has lost many opportunities to communicate with her neighbors. However, in the words of her neighbors, because of her accumulated virtues and kindness, people remember her, so Neighbors often come over to chat with her to make her life more fulfilling.

"Far relatives are not as good as close neighbors." The beautiful traditional Chinese virtues continue to be good stories one after another, allowing our elderly to spend their old age happily in harmonious neighborhood relationships, and to persevere in the filial piety of their children and grandchildren. Desire for life.

Qiu Guixian: I live a long life because I can’t stay angry all night long

Qiu Guixian is one of the 6 most healthy and talkative elderly people we interviewed. She gave us the impression that she is talkative. , clear thinking, enthusiastic and cheerful, and will not stay angry overnight. She also told us frankly and seriously: "The reason why I live a long life is probably because I can't stay angry all night. What is there to be angry about in this life? If I can live a good life, then I will be very satisfied and satisfied." ”

Qiu Guixian was born on the ninth day of September in the early year of Wu. People say that if you are born on the Double Ninth Festival, your longevity will also be on the Double Ninth Festival. She herself said that her life was good. When she was 19 years old, she married Xu Peizong, an old man who was younger than her. She remembered that her husband treated her well. The two lived together for more than half a century. They gave birth to a son the same year they got married. Now her son is 78 years old. Now that she has children and grandchildren, and an increasingly prosperous life, she is full of hope for life.

Qiu Guixian and his wife have read books and are considered somewhat educated people in the mountains. She can still recite parts of "The Beginning of Man", especially the part about housekeeping. The couple sometimes quarreled. In the past, when they were poor, they also quarreled over not having rice to put into the pot. But they were not violent when they quarreled, and it was fine the next day. A typical couple quarreled at the bedside and at the end of the bed. They never held grudges. . Qiu Guixian said: "As a human being, you should not be too angry. Isn't there a song of harmony? When you are angry, the harmony of a family will be destroyed. If the family is not harmonious, it will not make money. Only when the family is harmonious can everything be prosperous." "We really didn't expect that the old man would teach the neighbors and us who were sitting here a lesson on the spot, but he really made sense and we were in awe of the old man.

Qiu Guixian has one son and two daughters. His son Xu Jiade is 65 years old and has five sons. The eldest daughter Xu Huizhen is 78 years old. In the early years, she often visited the elderly at their homes. She values ​​her fifth grandson very much. He was a soldier before and now he has bought a house in Nanning. He often calls to greet the old man. As soon as he calls back, the old man becomes very energetic. She also clearly understands She tells us that thinking about her children and grandchildren became a dominant habit in her life. Qiu Guixian said, what do you think about your children when you get old? We also want them to be well, and if they are well, I can live a comfortable life.

The old man has no teeth and is not picky about food. He only needs vegetables and porridge. His life can be said to be simple. He eats a bowl of semi-hot rice every day and eats less for lunch. He eats normally and does not smoke. I don’t drink, I don’t have any bad habits. But he loves to eat fruits, especially bananas, and his children and grandchildren often buy some nutritional supplements for the elderly. Since 2007, the old man still goes to the mountains to collect firewood, looks after his grandson at home, does some housework, and washes dishes and clothes. He insists on washing his own clothes because he is afraid that others will not wash them clean. Many times, Qiu Guixian will even get the small river in front of the house. While cleaning.

Now she likes to walk to her neighbors' houses every day to relax. She can also help the family dry millet and chop firewood. She is very friendly to people and shares whatever food she has with her children. She is very welcoming to her neighbors when they come home. From this point of view, the fine traditions of diligence, frugality, generosity and kindness that have been possessed by Chinese working women for thousands of years embodied in the elderly are worth mentioning.

Qiu Yuzhong: All illnesses, big or small, will not prevent me from living a long life

The Chicken Feet Group in Dengdong Village, Fuluo Town, where old man Qiu Yuzhong lives, is surrounded by tall pine trees, like guards. , no matter in spring, summer, autumn or winter, they protect this rice field and this small village. This green life also ensures the cleanliness of the blue sky. When you come here, you will feel like "there are mountains and rivers with no way out, and there are villages with dark willows and bright flowers" and "picking chrysanthemums under the eastern fence, and leisurely seeing the southern mountains".

Looking around, there are only seven or eight households in the village, and a few households build their houses close to the mountains. The widest straight-line distance between the two mountains is only two to three hundred meters, and there is a small stream in the middle. It flows quietly. There are several small vegetable gardens surrounded by bamboo slices on the edge of the stream. Several small rice fields are stacked in front of the house, which makes it quite pastoral.

Qiu Yuzhong was born on June 23rd of the Renzi year. He is still a hundred years old, but his legs and feet are still strong. We found that Qiu Yuzhong’s home was very clean, the TV cabinet was spotless, two sofas were placed on both sides of the hall, and the newly added furniture looked refreshing. This can be considered a wealthy home,

The old man’s memory and thinking are still very clear, but his eyes can’t see clearly and his ears are a bit deaf, but he can communicate with us normally. The old man said: "I have been sick a lot in my life, and the treatment has cost me a lot of money. I have burdened my children with them, and they have been so tired that I have not been able to enjoy a good life. Now I have children and grandchildren in my care. Today.”

Through conversation, we learned that the old man was born in Sanhe Village not far away. When he was a child, he attended a private school for three years, but his studies were quickly interrupted because bandits often appeared nearby. Yes, it’s really a pity. The old man had been married twice, but the first marriage was not happy and did not last long. Having said this, he was silent for a moment, with tears that were not easily noticed in his eyes, feeling helpless for his poverty. It also makes us feel the pain and sadness he feels about the past. When the old man was 44 years old, he got married to a woman who had lost her husband, but the woman had already passed away.

During the chat, the old man’s adopted son hurried back and chatted with us for a while. From this, we learned that what Qiu Yuzhong’s adopted son said was consistent with what he himself told. Therefore, we feel that Qiu Yuzhong's memory is not bad. It takes a certain amount of courage to keep this bitter life experience in his heart for so long. We think that old man Qiu Yuzhong is also happy. He met such an adopted son, which added countless joys to his later life.

Wang Suying: Spend the Spring and Autumn Period without Disease or Disaster

Wang Suying, an old man who lives in Hengsha Group, Zhennan Village, Fulo Town, is no longer thinking clearly. The family said that the old man was still very sober in 2007. He could also go to the homes of his children and grandchildren to have dinner, and he often watched the highway bridge construction. In order to take pictures of the old man, we asked her family to help her out. The old man's family is very filial to her, especially the eldest daughter-in-law who lives with her. She is very kind to her. The old man kept wiping his tears during the photo-taking process. The old man's family told us that his eldest daughter-in-law served her from beginning to end, no matter how troublesome or trivial it was, she never complained.

The old man rarely got sick in his life. His family said that he had never taken a pack of antipyretic powder and was extremely healthy. However, when he got old, he had to scrape several times a month, and occasionally I also drank some tonic wine brought back by my children and grandchildren. The old man is never picky about food, and he eats all kinds of food, including meatballs, eggs, fish, etc.

The old man has 7 male grandsons, 4 female grandsons, 9 great male grandsons, and 4 great female grandsons. All male grandsons are married, two female grandsons are also married, and two The son is working as a farmer at home, and the grandson has become a young adult. The eldest male grandson is named He Jude. He once went to high school and is now engaged in the gem business in Wuzhou. The other male grandsons no longer work in farming because of the land acquisition for the expressway, and are mainly engaged in Driving a car, opening a shop, doing business, etc. to make money, the income is also good. The old man's family has been divided into several households. When the old man is in good health, he often visits the homes of the younger generations and often teaches his children and grandchildren to strive for success. The children and grandchildren are also very filial. It will make the elderly sad and disappointed.

According to the old man’s family, the old man has an irritable temper. He likes to nag and is strict with his family members. He has also quarreled with his neighbors, but he does not hold grudges and does not like to talk about his problems with others. However, he likes to interfere in the affairs of the juniors, and sometimes he likes to curse, but the juniors don't care because they all know that this is for their own good. After quarreling with a neighbor, he would often and proactively go to the neighbor's house to truly admit his mistakes and apologize to others. This would not affect the relationship between neighbors. Therefore, the neighbor also said that although the old man has a temper, it is not that difficult. People to get along with. Wang Suying's life was open-minded and upright. At the end of the interview, we guessed that maybe it was because of her open-mindedness that the old man lived so long.

Zheng Jingui: He only drank mountain spring water throughout his life

Zheng Jingui, born on January 3, 1908, has just celebrated his 100th birthday and now lives in Niujiao Village, Fulo Town. There are 20 households with 120 people in the Dachongnao Group in Niujiao Village, 16 kilometers away from the town government seat. Most of the villagers belong to the Yao ethnic group, and they have inherited many things left by the Yao people. Zheng Jingui's home is not in the depths of Dayao Mountain. A narrow and rugged mountain road winds its way up the mountain. When you walk into the deep mountain, you can see it through the dense jungle. Several homes in the valley. A clear stream gurgled along the mountain. The mountains, water, and people's houses, the feelings, the scenery, and the artistic conception were just like the "small bridges and flowing water and people's houses" described by Ma Zhiyuan, which seemed quiet and remote.

At around 4 o'clock in the afternoon that day, our group finally arrived at the home of Zheng Jingui after an arduous journey. The people in the mountains are generous, honest, and hospitable. As soon as we arrived, the host welcomed us into the house and made us delicious oil tea. The old man came out and sat down in front of the house. We carefully looked at the centenarian in front of us. Although his movements were a little slow, his eyes were still alert and he looked energetic. He looked curiously at these uninvited guests who suddenly appeared in front of him. I heard that the old man’s foot was broken when he was young. His legs and feet are not very agile and he doesn’t move much. He usually goes to bed after eating a full meal. His ears no longer have the sensitive hearing they used to have. Talking to people is very troublesome, but the old man’s energy is still there. Yes, I can still take care of myself. In the early years, people could even make their own money by weaving dustpans, bamboo baskets, baskets, fish clams, etc. Now he eats half a bowl of rice with every meal, ranging from two to three meals a day. Because I am old and my teeth are not very good, I have to boil some rice and chop the meat into mince, and eat the same food as my family.

Zheng Jingui’s family told us that the old man never drank boiled water or tea in his life. He only drank mountain water flowing from the mountains. After hearing what they said, we also came to their water tank containing mountain spring water, picked up the water ladle and took a big sip. We felt that the water in the mountain was different. The neighbor who was interviewed by us that day also told us that this mountain spring water, especially in the hot summer, when you are tired from work, you can take a handful of mountain spring water and hold it in your mouth, it will be sweet in your heart, and no part of your body will feel uncomfortable. This feeling is really a pleasure! According to neighbors, drinking Shanchong water here can strengthen your body and strengthen your bones even if you are not sick. This may be the case for Zheng Jingui. The old man seldom gets sick and never takes injections or medicines. Maybe it has something to do with his liking to drink Shanchong water.

The old man’s life experience was very rough. His biological father's surname was Huang, and he lived in Cangwu County. Because his family was poor, his parents cruelly gave him up for adoption as soon as he was born. When he was 17 years old, he came to the Zheng family as a son-in-law and "married" Li Meiqi as his husband. His wife was loyal and honest. She was born in Shuikou Town, He County. It can be said that the family came from all over the world.

The old man's father-in-law had a bad temper, and the old man was honest and dull. The village looked down upon men of different surnames, especially men who barged in on the door upside down. They were considered incompetent, so he was often ridiculed, teased, humiliated and even beaten by his father-in-law. Sometimes his head was broken. Don't dare to say anything. When I was young and middle-aged, I had to work harder. I had to farm, go up the mountain to plant trees, grow anise, raise fish, raise pigs, and help others saw boards to exchange money. Although I was tired all year round, I was often half hungry and half full.

The old man has raised 7 girls in his life, the oldest is over 80 years old and the youngest is 55 years old. They were all born in Niujiao Village. Due to the custom of men marrying women in the Yao ethnic area, the old man’s daughters have Married away to Cangwu and other counties, their grandparents and grandchildren have been together for several generations. Despite this, they are very filial to the elderly and will come to visit the elderly from time to time to buy them daily necessities and so on. Although there are several generations of great-grandchildren, they seem to be cordial and harmonious. Especially during the holidays, when the daughters go home to visit the old man, it really makes the old man feel how filial the girls are and how lucky they are to have many.

54 years of widowhood and a century of family love

The old man I want to talk about here is Yan Ruiying.

The old man’s house is built at the foot of the mountain. It is very small, with only one floor. It is surrounded by a fence and has a small yard of less than 10 square meters. It has only one living room and one room, and the living room is also used as a room. The old man was sitting opposite the door, warming himself by the fire. He was mentally exhausted, his body seemed to be weak, and his clothes were not neatly dressed, but his face revealed a very peaceful expression, and he seemed to be emptied of all things in the world. There is a crutch beside the old man. It can be seen that walking is no longer convenient. However, the old man's eyesight and hearing are not bad, and his memory is not bad, so he can communicate with us face to face. We later learned that the old man lived with his youngest son. His son's house was destroyed by the flood, and the house he lives in now was built with government funding. My son had been a soldier before and was unmarried. Now he is also included in the five guarantees.

Through talking with the old man, the old man remembered two things very deeply. First, in the 1950s, her loving husband was eaten by a tiger. At that time, she was still carrying a baby in her belly. When she talked about this, tears were about to overflow from the corners of her eyes. Her husband's name is Qiu Jizhou. He was born in Ge'e, Zhennan. He went to school. He is a very nice person, honest and kind. The masses elected him as a brigade cadre. The old man remembers that she was about 19 years old when she got married, but the night of her wedding was a young year, that is, On December 23, I gave birth to my first child when I was 20 years old. The death of her husband was a great blow to the old man, but he still gave birth to a descendant of the Qiu family. In order to abide by the thousands of years of Chinese women's ethics, he refused to remarry, and sincerely raised his son and sent him to school to read and read. , so far, she has been a widow for half a century.

The second thing that the old man still remembers deeply is the "6.21" flood in 2005. The old man still remembers the situation at that time: at dawn, the water flooded to the door. What we couldn't imagine was that the old man's door was at least fifty or sixty meters away from the river, and the drop would be more than ten meters. She said it was small The son carried her up the mountain to escape the flood. Not long after she left, all her belongings were washed away by the water and nothing could be recovered. Her son also told the situation at that time and found that the water was flooding. The first thing he wanted to do was to save her. The old man was rescued. People come first, and if things are lost, they can be replaced. We have seen and heard many such touching stories in our lives. This story of saving our mother should be the continuation of the fine traditions of our Chinese nation. We think it is this kind of filial piety from children and grandchildren that makes the elderly live longer.

The first half of Yan Ruiying’s life was not happy, it should be said that it was sad and sad. She had one brother and one brother. The eldest brother passed away when he was 60 years old, and the younger brother also passed away when he was 20 or 30 years old. For Yan Ruiying, the sadness of losing her husband in early life and losing her son in middle age is self-evident.

We met the old man’s three sons. The old man’s son Qiu Zongxiang said he had one sister and three brothers, but neighbors said there were actually nine sons, and the whereabouts of the rest are unknown. Qiu Zongming, 64 years old this year, served as a soldier in 1963 and went to the Vietnam battlefield. , is now a household with five guarantees, and his youngest son Qiu Zongxiang also served in the military in Zhuhai. At that time, the old man traveled far and visited Zhuhai once. He said he felt very happy, and one of his sons adopted him to Beituo Yangtze. Now only the eldest son's family situation is slightly better, and he has two very young great-great-grandchildren. The two little guys will occasionally come over and call their mother-in-law a few times. A lot of the time, the children play by themselves because it is not convenient to move around. The elderly stay at home deserted most of the time, but while their children and grandchildren go out to work to earn money, they often go home to visit the elderly during the New Year and bring delicious food back to them, so that the elderly can enjoy the joy of their old age.

We learned from our neighbors that the old man has a good temper and has never quarreled with others or scolded his neighbors or children. It is better for neighbors to live in harmony. She can still take care of the children of her neighbors at ordinary times. She is physically strong and has the ability and diligence of a Chinese working woman. When she is 80 years old, she can still walk dozens of kilometers. When she is 100 years old, she can still visit people nearby. When she is 100 years old, she can still do needlework. Mend clothes, light a fire to cook. I can feed chickens and pigs, go up the mountain to get some firewood, go down to the river to do laundry and pick up some water, and I can also do some housework. I have never been to the hospital, but I have stomach problems and have been sick several times. I was seen by the village doctor. He mainly took some herbal medicine and used less western medicine. The old man eats very casually and eats whatever the family eats. Usually, ordinary people drink salt, oil, vinegar, MSG, tea, and Shangjiang water, which is no different from ordinary people.