My name is Meng Fanle, I am eighty-five years old.
When I was 26 years old, I fought the most brutal battle of my life at Nantianmen. In the end, I became a deserter for the last time in my life, along with my regiment commander.
It’s great to be alive. Being alive is an extremely happy thing. I feel this way from the bottom of my heart.
Later we joined a group of young people, all of whom looked as young as little bookworms and were living their lives.
My regiment commander and I followed them to Yan'an, the place covered with yellow earth. We found a good place for the veterinarian and also met his son Jie Toad. That guy looked very much like me, but he was much younger than me. He was also one of them.
I don't know what kind of answer my team leader was looking for by coming here, among this group of people. I don't even know if he found his answer in the end.
I just watched as a pair of human eyes slowly grew out of his ghost-like body. They were brighter than before, just like the stars in the sky. I was really jealous.
After all the wars were over, we returned to Zenda, a place we were destined to stay away from for the rest of our lives.
We use up our limited lives by having children, reproducing, eating, sleeping, chatting and gossiping.
After Ayi retired, he insisted on living with us. He even found a place very close to us and played his songs on his gramophone all day long. It was so annoying that it made my teeth ache. I really don't know why anyone would like such a tune?
At the age of eighty-five, I live my life in Zenda like an ordinary person. I have two children, and my children have children. Perhaps at this day in my life, I have finally achieved what my father hoped for when he gave me this name: to get rid of worries.
My children have grown up and have their own things to do. My wife died of illness a few years ago, and I only have one little grandson to stay with me.
I watched the brat who climbed up the tree and threw pears into Milong's yard and onto Milong's granddaughter. I don't know from whom he learned this bad behavior. He always remembered to eat but not to be punished and liked to provoke the queen flower of Milong's family.
In the end, Milong didn't give birth to the son he wanted, but he gave Lei Baoer three younger sisters. They all looked and behaved like that guy. His family was the most lively among the neighbors, and there were new things happening every day.
I listened to the crying of the girl in the next yard and the scolding of Milong, and laughed secretly, then pulled my grandson away quickly. I had something important to do today, a very important thing, but I didn't have time to watch Milong show off his old turtle fist.
Milong's legs were getting lame, and he had to run away quickly when that guy came to his house and knocked on the door.
I held the naughty little guy in one hand and walked nimbly. His mother had put a lot of effort into giving birth to him. He weighed only three or four pounds when he was born, not even as heavy as a few pears. He was sick every few days. I said to take him back. He couldn't find his home and needed to be called back.
And this little guy has been with me until now.
I turned an alley and came to a wooden door. I just stretched out my hand to knock on the door, but before I could knock, a pretty little girl with two ponytails stuck her head out from the other side of the door. When she saw me, her eyes lit up and she greeted me. This was the daughter that Dashan adopted a few years ago, and now she lived with Si La Si La.
"Oh, Grandpa Meng, you're finally here! My grandpa has been waiting for you for a long time. If you don't come soon, he'll go look for you!"
Before I could say anything, a very energetic shout came from the other end of the room.
"You damn cripple, you're only three meters away, why are you here so late?"
I had no choice but to let my grandson play with the older sister in front of him first. Then I sighed and said, "I'll be there soon." Then I walked into the room. A very thin old man was sitting on a stool looking at me.
I walked up to him and saw him put on those patched leather boots he had dug out from somewhere, saying,
"Hey, my great commander, what are your instructions?"
Si La Si La is dressed very neatly today. Although he usually dresses very decently, he looks a bit more human today. Gou Rou retired gloriously when he was 20 years old, just like them now.
Birth, aging, sickness and death are things that every life must experience. There is nothing wrong with it.
Si La Si La has been suffering from Alzheimer's disease since last year. Except for a few people, he doesn't recognize anyone else. Fortunately, this guy still recognizes himself and the "he" he often mentions.
I don't know who the person my team leader keeps talking about is. Sometimes I think there is something wrong with my brain. If such a person really existed, I would definitely remember him. But such a person has never appeared, never.
"Adjutant, my good adjutant, hurry up, we have to hurry today, right? If we go too late, he will be waiting anxiously."
I couldn't stand his pitiful look, so I just hung all the medals on his clothes from the table next to him without saying a word.
The medals are shiny and you can tell they are often wiped. You can tell their owner takes good care of them. But I know that he never cares about these things. At least I didn’t see how happy he was when he got these medals. I just don’t know why this guy treasures these things so much.
We are going to Nantianmen today, and this is the third time we have gone this month.
Si La Si La was not very keen on going there before, but since he got Alzheimer's disease, he would go to see Nan Tianmen from time to time. He didn't know if it was because he had become completely stupid, so he was not afraid of anything. Whether they like it or not, they can now see Nan Tianmen at all times.
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