Chapter 215
The Lin family specially borrowed a car from the company. I heard that it was to pick up Taiwanese compatriots who came back to visit relatives. The leader approved it without saying a word.
The car stopped at the gate of the courtyard, surrounded by neighbors. The 90-year-old grandmother of the Lin family walked out with the support of her children and grandchildren.
When he saw two men in their sixties getting off the bus, his originally cloudy eyes suddenly lit up.
"Waiter!"
"mother!"
A man dropped the luggage in his hand, walked forward and knelt down in front of her. When he looked up again, his face was covered with tears.
The old lady cried out, "Xiaoer! Mother has finally waited for you!"
Another man also hugged his brother tightly. Everyone present was moved and wiped away tears.
The visit can last for a month, and not only did they come back themselves, they also brought their eldest son back to recognize their ancestors.
In the following time, they returned to their hometown accompanied by their relatives to visit the graves, and wandered around to feel the changes in their motherland.
He generously satisfied the curiosity of the curious neighbors, and Su Miao was able to squat under the big tree and listen to their stories.
Lin Yongmao and Lin Yongchang are cousins who have been close since childhood. At the age of seventeen, they left home together to join the Anti-Japanese War. Later, they moved to Taiwan with Chiang Kai-shek's old army. In these decades, there has been no day that they did not miss their relatives.
Even though they have been away from home for forty years, their accents have not changed. When they hear the familiar local accent, they are happy to speak more.
Lin Yongmao, Mrs. Lin's second son, sighed and said, "We were told they would be back the following year. We were held at gunpoint and executed on the spot if we didn't go!"
A neighbor asked, "I heard that it wasn't just you soldiers who were there, but that they also conscripted men? Even children were taken away?"
"Well, it's not just the past. In 1950 and 1951, many able-bodied men were also captured. In several villages in Fujian, all the men between the ages of 17 and 55 were captured in one night.
Later, when the number of people they arrested didn't meet the requirements, they also arrested young boys and old men. Some were caught on their way home from school, and some were caught while fishing at sea. In short, as long as they were male, they wanted to take them away!
What Lin Yongchang regretted most when he came back to visit his relatives this time was his parents, who had passed away one after another 8 years ago. His younger brother said that his parents had been talking about him before they left.
His younger brother, Lin Yongwang, comforted him, saying, "Brother, although Mom and Dad didn't live to see you return, they were still here when they received your letter! They're so relieved to know you're living safely in Taiwan and have a family."
It turned out that in 1977, Lin Yongchang asked a friend in Singapore to send a letter to his family, and attached photos of himself, Lin Yongmao, and his family.
As early as the Special Period, the Lin family was criticized and moved out of their ancestral home because of the relationship between the two of them. The letter was passed around for half a year before it reached them through layers of relatives.
His father was already seriously ill at the time, and he closed his eyes peacefully after reading the letter. Two years later, his mother also passed away, but did not wait for his second letter.
"Brother, I asked you to reply to my letter, preferably with photos attached. Why didn't you reply?"
Lin Yongwang said in surprise, "Yes! We replied. We were still in our hometown at the time and even went to town to take photos. We printed two copies, and that's the one I showed you last night!"
"I...I didn't receive it!"
Lin Yongmao said: "Maybe the postal inspection detained the letter. We didn't receive a reply at the time, so we were all a little disheartened and didn't know what was going on. Two years later, we heard that the war had broken out here, and we became even more worried."
Su Miao asked curiously, "How did the two grandfathers get in touch with their family again?"
Lin Yongmao said happily: "A group of veterans organized an association to promote the return of people from other provinces to visit their hometowns. Some veterans' families still lived in the original place. After we got in touch with them, they enthusiastically helped us run around and ask around, and that's how we found our home."
The neighbors also asked them what Taiwan’s current attitude towards the mainland was, why they were suddenly asked to come back, and whether HUIGUI was about to begin?
The two were silent for a while, and then said one word: difficult!
Lin Yongmao said: "Over the years, everyone who went with us wanted to come back, but they were all under strict control. Even so, there were many cases where they successfully returned home. Some military pilots risked their lives to fly back, and one captain even landed directly with the passengers in Guangzhou. You have no idea how envious and happy we were every time we heard such news!"
Lin Yongchang couldn't hide his excitement. "In recent years, veterans have become increasingly eager to return home. In April and May of this year, thousands of us old men gathered and took to the streets, wearing slogans like 'Homesick' on our shirts and holding banners. Oh! Mine read: 'Forty Years Apart from My Family, a White-Haired Mother Longs for Her Son to Return.'"
This time they came back with bags that filled up the trunk. In fact, clothes were only a small part of the luggage they brought. Most of them were gifts they carefully selected for their families.
Considering the current limited economic development in the mainland, they all brought some practical small appliances.
For example, hair dryers, rice cookers, and several exquisite watches. These things are still relatively expensive in the mainland, but they have become popular among ordinary families in Taiwan.
After retiring from the army, Lin Yongmao and Lin Yongchang opened a small restaurant together. The business has been good. They have the ability and the desire to help their family.
As they took out their belongings one by one, Lin Yongmao said in frustration, "If we had known that transportation in the mainland was so developed now, with planes, trains, and cars, we would have just brought back a refrigerator."
Lin Yongchang said, "Oh, who would have thought? I've been seeing the fake flyers they put out. Now that I've come back, I know for sure they've been lying. At this rate, in a few years, they might even surpass them."
Lin Yongmao took Mrs. Lin's hand and said, "Mom! I heard that the department store here already sells home appliances. Tomorrow I will go buy you a TV, a refrigerator, and a washing machine."
The family members shook their heads and refused.
Lin Yongmao's nephew said, "Uncle! Don't spend money. Those appliances are too expensive. We are not used to using them. This is how we usually get by."
"Hey~ Technology is developing. Besides having enough food and clothing, we also need to improve our lives! Don't worry about money. I've worked hard over there for so many years just to be able to return home in glory one day!"
The next day, the Lin family became busy again. Because they sold so many appliances at once, the manager of the department store even asked the warehouse to deliver the goods to their door. The neighbors looked at the appliances with envy and couldn't help but sigh, wishing they had such a wealthy relative.
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