I and Xiao Jun have gone through 50 years of wind and rain

Author: Wang Defen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: At 18, Wang Defen left her warm family and spent 50 years accompanying Xiao Jun: from Lanzhou to Xi'an, then a short stay in Chengdu, heading to Chongqing and finally arriving in Yan'an; passing through Zhangjiakou, Qiqihar, and returning to Harbin; going to Jiamusi, Fuyuerji, and returning to Shenyang before being sent to Fushun and finally settling in Beijing. In this half-century of married life, they faced storms and hardships! The blows from politics, economy, spirit, illness, natural disasters, and human misfortunes did not break the faith and will of this generation of revolutionary couple: "to seek the independence of the motherland, the liberation of the nation, the uplifting of the people, and to establish and realize a social system where no one exploits or oppresses another!" They also did not abandon their responsibility to human society—raising our eight siblings with hardship and toil. Family gatherings during festivals were a spectacular sight: "over twenty people, two large tables!"! My mother originally wanted to publish a collection of letters between her and Xiao Jun to commemorate their bond. I understand my mother's wish and value the passionate, utterly devoted love and fervor of my father! Although some friends were surprised and astonished to see the scattered "love letters" my mother had published, and thought it was truly rare and amusing—after 50 years of wandering east and west, through fire and sword, hardship and disaster, so much material, manuscripts, and even the lives of two younger sisters were lost, yet this batch of "love letters" miraculously remained intact and was recovered. It must be said to be "divine will"! The truth of history is worth cherishing. Who hasn’t experienced youth? Who hasn’t had the romance and fantasies of youth? I hold this "history" in deep respect.