In the early morning of December 13, 2012, during a hospital visit in Xinhua County, Hunan Province, I met an elderly man whose eyes were still shining despite the scars of time and the wrinkles on his face.
Although the air was deeply chilled by the cold winter sky during the day, the room was filled with warmth. The old man was dressed in a yellowed gray suit, which he had reserved for the photoshoot, and the new black leather shoes, which were given by kind hands, were even more solemn and unique.
The simple old man said humbly'I haven't had time to serve the country, but it has only increased the worries of the party and the **. 'Between his words, the reporter keenly captured a pair of hands covered with traces of time, and the calluses told the wordless dedication.
I visited this hospital today not only because I am concerned about the plight of the elderly, but also because of the extraordinary history behind his identity. He was once a loyal guard of the guard, and that special experience, like his cocooned hands, silently demonstrated his bravery and dedication. "
Born in 1927 in Xiatuan Village, Fengjia Town, Xinhua County, Hunan Province, Feng Xiaotong was rooted in a peasant family that was exploited and oppressed. In that old society, the peasants lived like thin ice, relying only on meager farming to feed themselves, and were forced to pay most of the harvest to the landlords, and the hardships of life made their situation even worse.
It was on the verge of such hunger and food and clothing that Feng Xiaotong grew up tenacity, and the anger in his heart came from what he saw with his own eyes the cruel oppression of the landlords. At that time, the flame of revolution was ignited in Hunan, and the Red Army and the revolutionary cause had a deep attraction to him, and the ideal of expelling the exploiters and liberating the people was like a seed germinating in his heart.
Although the young Feng Xiaotong shouldered the burden of the family and failed to put on the battle robe early, after the founding of New China, the People's Liberation Army leveled the local tyrants and inferior gentry and brought justice to the people at the bottom, which deeply touched him.
He knew very well that it was the most heroic People's Liberation Army that helped him realize his wishes, and his heart was full of awe and gratitude. At this moment, he vowed to join the army and protect the country as a member of the People's Liberation Army.
Soon, fate favored him, and the opportunity to serve the Motherland came to him, and he seized it without hesitation.
In the beacon years of 1950, in response to the great call of the United States, countless heroic volunteer soldiers crossed the Yalu River like an iron stream and rushed to North Korea to fight a decisive battle to resist US aggression and aid Korea.
Among them, Feng Xiaotong followed the steps of his revolutionary predecessors with a fiery patriotic heart, resolutely joined the army, and became a proud volunteer soldier. In those three years of war, he fought side by side with his comrades-in-arms, sharing life and death, and repeatedly performed miraculous feats.
Although his battlefield experience is slightly immature compared with the veterans of the Anti-Japanese War and the War of Liberation, his fearlessness and tenacity have made him show his heroic qualities again and again in the artillery fire.
In the flames of resisting US aggression and aiding Korea, Feng Xiaotong realized the limitations of his own experience and decided to find another way. He firmly believes that if you want to surpass the veteran in marksmanship, you can only persevere in sharpening it.
So, regardless of wind or rain, he turned the short gap between actual combat and the battlefield into a moment to improve his marksmanship. In just one year, he became a sharpshooter feared by his enemies with his unparalleled precision.
At the same time, he did not neglect the cultivation of combat skills, and his natural strong physique and height advantage made his combat training more effective.
From a simple farmer to a heroic fighter, the volunteer soldier Feng Xiaotong grew up in the war. In 1953, when the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea came to an end, he reluctantly bid farewell to the front line and dreamed of returning to the pastoral life.
However, after returning to China, he unexpectedly received a special mission from the top, and a new journey awaits him.
In 1953, Feng Xiaotong was ready to go, thinking that he was about to end his military career, but he ushered in a turning point under the call of the chief. "Xiaotong, do you want to start a new chapter in Beijing? "
The chief's question made Bong Hyo feel puzzled. A chance to stay in the army? The chief bowed slightly, and his answer ignited Bong Hyo-tong's enthusiasm. Without hesitation, he made a firm commitment that he would give his all no matter what the order was.
Please do not rush to rejoice, the chief solemnly reminds that this task is of great importance and there is no room for error. In the face of such an admonition, Feng Xiaotong was full of curiosity in his heart, what kind of heavy responsibility will attract attention?
As a soldier, he knows that it is his duty to carry out orders, and it is his mission and honor to complete the mission entrusted by his superiors. Therefore, he responded firmly:'Mission accomplished! '"Unexpectedly, this mysterious task turned out to be to send him to become the personal guard of ***, which is undoubtedly a great honor and responsibility.
In July 1953, the brave and fearless Feng Xiaotong was selected to Beijing because of his outstanding battlefield performance and outstanding physique, and became an elite member of the armed police of the ** headquarters.
Subsequently, he was honored to be transferred to the ** Guard Regiment and became the personal bodyguard of the great leader***. When he stepped into Zhongnanhai and witnessed it with his own eyes, Feng Xiaotong's heart was surging, as if his heart was about to overflow his chest.
Because of his admiration for ***, it has long been deeply rooted in the depths of his soul. Insight into their nervousness, ** with fatherly care, take the initiative to ease the atmosphere, and talk to them cordially.
After a light-hearted homely conversation, the tension dissipated, and the atmosphere of the scene suddenly became lively.
In the next five years, as a loyal member of the guard, Bong Hyo-tong devoted himself to the protection work of *** and jointly guarded the safety of the leader. A leisurely walk in the courtyard, ** keenly insight into Feng Xiaotong's educational background, earnestly encouraged him to say that knowledge is the key to open the door of wisdom, read more and read, not only can understand the true meaning of life, but also better serve the people, and contribute to the development of New China.
Deeply inspired, Feng Xiaotong carried the book presented by ***, regarded it as a motto, and was determined to practice the leader's teachings with practical actions.
In those days, after working day and night, Feng Xiao would hold the books given by ***, study them word by word, and master the commonly used Chinese characters in life with perseverance.
When he presented his first article with a sense of accomplishment, the sincere praise of ** was as warm as a spring breeze. That night, his joy turned into a poem: "The wild geese soar in the sky and clouds, leading us to turn the world upside down."
The pines and cypresses stand tall in winter and summer, and the leader's teachings are remembered in my heart. Looking back on his later years, Feng Xiaotong fondly recalled that the years spent with *** were the happiest chapters of his life.
For five years, he devoted himself to the rigorous training of the guard regiment, repeatedly participated in the competition, and won"First-class marksman"、"Technologically elite"with"Guard-guarding expert"The honor has been imprinted with extraordinary brilliance.
In 1958, the 31-year-old Feng Xiaotong retired with honor, returned to his hometown, and devoted himself to the revitalization of his hometown. Due to the secret struggle of the situation, the fact that he was a member of the guard regiment needed to be closely guarded, and he was tight-lipped about it and never took the initiative to mention it.
It wasn't until 2005 that his wife suddenly fell seriously ill and his family was facing huge medical pressure.
Returning to his homeland, Bong Hyo-tong kept in mind the teachings of the chairman and integrated diligence and perseverance into every moment of his life. Whether in his daily life or in his profession, he is fully committed and has no regrets.
Living deep in the mountains of Hunan, the poverty situation in his hometown has not changed with the passage of time, and the period between 1960 and 1980 became the stage when Feng Xiaotong's family faced the greatest challenge.
Although he made ends meet as a martial arts instructor in the county, his meager income barely makes ends meet.
Despite the severe challenges of life, Bong Hyo-tong, who lost his job, has tasted the gifts of the mountains and the hardships of life with his perseverance. But he has always maintained a deep respect for the country, never asked for assistance from **, and his silent perseverance is like a hard rock.
On September 9, 1976, the death of ** was like a thunderbolt from the blue, and Feng Xiaotong, who had entered middle age, cried alone in the bed in the silent night, tears like rain, soaking half of the sheets.
With the change of the times, the confidentiality regulations of ** no longer seem to be a constraint, but he chooses to be silent, because in his heart, the former identity is unspeakable pride.
Despite his extraordinary qualities, Bong Hyo-tong remained silent, avoiding unnecessary official attention from his past status as a security guard. Based on the principle of loyalty, he resolutely did not let *** be ashamed, and chose to dedicate himself silently in ordinary life.
For fifty years, he lived a simple and simple life in the mountains, working at sunrise and resting at sunset, like an unknown guardian, guarding his secrets and honor.
During his lifetime, he and his wife raised four golden flowers and a pearl in their palms. The outside world may have expected him to enjoy family fun in his twilight years, however, life has not shown mercy to his subordinates, and the cruelty of fate has tested his tenacity.
In Bong Hyo-tong's family history, it is full of endless bitterness. When his youngest daughter was 16 years old, the family was cheated on at their doorstep and eventually lost her forever in distant Hainan, and sadly, they were not even able to see their daughter off due to financial hardship.
Then, his son died tragically in 2004, leaving only his eldest daughter, Bong Qingling, alone. In 2005, Feng Qingling suffered a serious illness again, and she spent more than 10,000 yuan of her savings but still failed to stop the invasion of the disease.
In desperation, Bong Hyo-tong held on to the last hope and sent a letter of help to the local **, which mentioned his special status as a *** guard, so as to seek assistance.
The local ** showed swift and deep concern for Bong Xiaotong's plight, immediately dispatched personnel to conduct field visits, and actively coordinated with local charities to generously pay for his medical expenses.
What's more intimate is that they have opened a subsistence allowance policy for Fengxiaotong's family, injecting a living allowance of 510 yuan per month. The 78-year-old man was deeply touched by this assistance, and he firmly stated that even if he was old, he would unswervingly save money to repay this selfless kindness.
In the early morning of November 17, 2013, the bell rang at 6 o'clock in Beijing, Feng Xiaotong, with the assistance of **, traveled through time and space, returned to the capital after 55 years, and affectionately set foot in Tiananmen Square and the *** Memorial Hall.
Looking at the magnificent portrait of the chairman, the tears in the old man's eyes flashed with the memory of history. "The magnificence of the square surpasses that of 50 years ago, and the grandeur and beauty of Chang'an Avenue are even greater than ever. ”
He was overwhelmed with emotion and witnessed the bustling crowd. When entering the memorial hall of the *** memorial hall, the 86-year-old Feng Xiaotong was stirred in his heart, and the irrepressible emotional outburst he looked at the body of the chairman and cried out silently, "** That voice is full of endless admiration and emotion."
In Tiananmen Square, Feng Xiaotong affectionately saluted the five-star red flag, a scene that deeply touched the guards guarding the guards, who stepped forward one after another to support and comfort the old man like a relative.
Under the care of everyone, Elder Feng's mood slowly calmed down, and he solemnly bowed three times to the portrait of the chairman, and then gave a special salute to a soldier. Although the years have passed, Feng Xiaotong has always kept in mind the teachings of ***, and when he accompanied his family to leave, the admiration was still the same.
He practiced his admiration for the veteran soldier with practical actions, and his perseverance was like steel throughout his life. It is a firm belief in great soldiers and heroes, and a spiritual model that we should all admire and emulate.