Chapter 489 Letter to the Chairman
"An'an, this bed sheet and quilt cover picture you drew is for the military clothing factory again? It's really beautiful."
After cleaning up the dishes, Lin's mother sat down next to Lin Anan. Seeing the beautiful design on the table, she couldn't help but praise it.
"Yes, Mom, have you forgotten? I have a side job as a designer for a clothing factory. I have to do my job well, and I get paid for it, so I don't lose anything."
Mother Lin said "tsk tsk~" several times and counted on her fingers, "My An An is really capable. He is a translator in the military district, can write books, and is also an external designer for a large company..."
Lin Anan's eyes curved with laughter. She casually put her arm around her mother's shoulders and shook her gently. "I'm awesome, right? I used to write press releases for publishing houses, songs for art troupes, and translated stage plays! Your good days are still ahead of you, wait and enjoy them."
“Hahahaha… yes, yes.”
Mother Lin really thinks everything is fine, except that her two children have settled down in the Northwest, which is too far away from Suzhou City. She will help them as much as possible, but she has to go back eventually.
The Chu family doesn't have any elders, so after I leave, An An will have to rely on herself for everything.
"An An, both you and Ming Zhou are paid well. You should let go of what you should let go of. Don't tire yourself out. Mom feels bad for you."
"Hmm?" Lin Anan glanced at her mother and immediately understood, "Mom, don't worry, I know what's going on. I can handle anything I can do without getting tired. I'll just handle it in my free time."
"Okay, as long as you know what's going on."
The mother and daughter were just thinking about chatting when someone suddenly knocked on the door in a hurry. "Translator Lin! Is Comrade Lin home?"
Lin Anan heard the voice of the political commissar of the 741st Regiment and stood up quickly, "Here I come."
As soon as I opened the door, I was met with the anxious face of Political Commissar Qin.
He was panting, obviously in a hurry to call someone, "Hurry! Go answer the phone!"
Without saying anything, Lin Anan hurriedly greeted Lin's mother, "Mom, I'll go take a call and be back soon."
Something big must have happened!
Political Commissar Qin came on a bicycle, and Lin Anan didn't act pretentiously. She just sat on the back seat and followed him.
When she arrived at the communications room of the 741st Regiment, Chu Mingzhou's phone was still on.
"Hey, Mingzhou."
Lin Anan hurriedly answered the phone.
Political Commissar Qin tactfully called out to the others to leave and closed the door.
There was a crackling sound of electricity on the other end of the phone. Chu Mingzhou's voice was unprecedentedly hoarse, and he even seemed to be crying, "An An..."
He only called her name and then paused. In the background, there were faint sobbing sounds and solemn military bugles.
Lin Anan's heart sank suddenly, and her hand holding the microphone clenched instantly: "Mingzhou, what happened?"
The incandescent light in the communications room was swaying overhead, reflecting the slogan "Follow the Party's Command" on the wall, which suddenly seemed particularly dazzling.
"Chairman..." Chu Mingzhou's voice was choked with sobs, and every word was heavy. "The chairman passed away in the early morning..."
Buzz——
Lin Anan just felt dizzy, the microphone slipped from her hand and hit the table with a harsh sound.
She staggered and weakened, then quickly held onto the table and picked up the microphone again with trembling hands.
"An'an? An'an, listen to me!" Chu Mingzhou was afraid that something might happen to her, and his voice came from the receiver anxiously, "The Central Committee notified that the entire army has entered a period of silence. I am in Kyoto now and need to participate in the funeral work. For the time being...for the time being, I can't go back."
Today is September 9th!
How could she have forgotten this?
How could I forget?
But...even if she remembers, what can she do?
Lin Anan's tears had already burst out: "I know. Mingzhou...you...you have to take care of yourself."
At this moment, any consolation seems pale. The great Chairman is the pride of the people and the faith of all soldiers. She knows very well what this news means to the entire country and to all soldiers.
"Mingzhou, you have to be well. We are waiting for you to come back home."
"Well, don't worry about me. I'll hang up first."
When I hung up the phone, the door of the communication room was gently pushed open.
Political Commissar Qin's eyes were red, and he held some black gauze in his hands. "Comrade Lin, these are for your family. The military region has notified us that the entire military region will observe a moment of silence from now on, and a memorial service will be held in the auditorium tomorrow morning."
His voice was choked with sobs, and he handed the black veil to Lin Anan, "Captain Chu...it is a soldier's honor that he can see the Chairman off for the last time in Kyoto."
"yes."
When Lin Anan walked out of the communications room, the northwest wind blew in with sand and dust.
On the playground, the soldiers who were originally training were now lined up in an orderly manner. Everyone had a serious expression and the brims of their military caps were pulled down very low, so that only their tightly pursed lips and red eyes could be seen.
The poplar trees in the distance rustled, as if they were crying silently.
When she got home, Lin's mother was standing at the door pacing anxiously. Seeing Lin An'an coming back, she hurried over to greet her, "An'an, is... is it true?"
In fact, when Lin's mother saw the black veil in Lin Anan's hand, she already had the answer in her heart. She couldn't believe it, and her heart was deeply ached.
"Mom..." Lin Anan's voice was hoarse.
Mother Lin hugged her tightly, trembling all over: "How could this happen..."
The old lady had experienced war and famine in her life, but at this moment she was like a lost child.
"I still remember in 1950 in Suzhou, when I heard Chairman Mao announce the founding of New China, your father held my hand and ran on the street with me, we were so happy!
We have a new life because of Comrade Chairman. Now that he is gone... we..."
In the yard, Tuanzi seemed to feel the sadness as well. He lay in the doghouse without moving, and even his tail stopped wagging.
Lin Zihuai rushed in on his bicycle, the chain still rattling, his eyes red from crying: "Sister! Is it true? The Chairman..."
Without waiting for Lin Anan to speak, the crying sounds coming from the military compound were the best answer.
Not only the Northwest Military Region, but the entire China was plunged into great grief.
"Mom, let's make the fireworks." Lin Anan handed over the black veil. She felt a little exhausted and didn't want to say anything.
Mother Lin held the person and said, "An An, take a breath first, I'll do it. I'll do more."
That night, even Chu Mingyu, who usually talked the most, was very quiet. He just sat there quietly, doing his handicrafts.
Du Juan and Chu Minglan followed Lin's mother to make fireworks, all of which were sewn by hand without even using a sewing machine.
After Lin Anan coaxed Zhuangzhuang to sleep, she took out a stack of brand new letter paper and picked up a pen...
Dear Chairman,
When I heard the news of your passing, the scenes engraved in my memory kept flashing through my mind, and the grief overwhelmed me like a tide.
It was you who led the people to overthrow oppression, enabled the people to stand up straight and have the confidence to be masters of their own destiny.
It was the land reform you proposed that enabled millions of farmers to own their own land for the first time.
It was you who led us to resist U.S. aggression and aid Korea and fought for the dignity and peace of New China.
You always put the people first in your heart and forget yourself.
I remember that during the Yan'an period, you wore clothes full of patches and worked with the people. You wrote "Serve the People" and made these five words the guide to action for all revolutionaries.
Now, people across the country are bidding farewell to you, and all soldiers will observe a solemn silence, which is our deepest remembrance of you.
You are gone, but the torch of thought you left behind illuminates every corner of this land; the seeds of hope you sowed have sprouted new shoots on the ruins.
We will always remember your teachings, protect the new China you created with your own hands, let the red flag fly forever, and let the people be happy forever.
May you rest in peace among the stars, looking at this land you love so much, and continue to write glory...
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