1990s: Spring Water Family

Chapter 27: Filming a Documentary, My Grandmother's Past
My maternal grandmother's ancestral home was in Shanxi. Not long after she married my maternal grandfather, he was brought from his hometown by my great-grandfather to work in Jinan as an apprentice.

Back then, transportation was inconvenient, and going home was not easy. After my grandfather passed away, he could only go home a handful of times in the ten years he was away, all in order to make a living.

My maternal grandmother lived alone in her mother-in-law's house, enduring ten years of hardship as if she were a widow. Her mother-in-law complained that her daughter-in-law hadn't had children and often berated her.

Grandma felt wronged and had no one to confide in. Overworked, she fell ill and never recovered.

Her in-laws disliked her, didn't want to treat her illness, and wanted to divorce her. Fortunately, her maternal grandfather still had feelings for her maternal grandmother and didn't agree.

When the maternal grandmother's biological father heard about this, he disregarded all objections and took his daughter back to her parents' home, selling his family property to pay for her medical treatment.

It took two years of traditional Chinese medicine to cure my grandmother's illness.

During this period, which coincided with the Anti-Japanese War, Japanese soldiers entered the village to rob it. My great-grandfather hid my grandmother in the cellar, which saved her from the disaster.

-

"That was close!"

The interview began, and Grandma recounted her experiences before Liberation. Li Yan listened intently, holding the microphone and exclaiming, "Grandma, your personal experiences are even more fascinating than those depicted in TV dramas!"

"There's more to come!"

Lin Xiyu had heard her grandmother tell the story many times. Although the content was the same, she was still very interested every time she listened and never got tired of it.

"The most dangerous time for my grandmother was actually during the liberation of Jinan."

My cousin got excited and started gesturing to describe the scene, stealing the spotlight: "A shell landed in the kitchen and smashed all the pots. Grandma was right in front of the stove. Luckily it was a dud and didn't explode, otherwise we wouldn't have been born."

"Hahaha."

Director Du and the others were amused by her witty remarks.

"We really have to thank that it was a dud."

The grandmother looked at her granddaughter with doting eyes and sighed sincerely, "Otherwise, how could we have such a wonderful life now, surrounded by children and grandchildren, enjoying each other's company?"

"Grandma, you're destined for good fortune in your later years; you'll enjoy happiness in your old age," Li Yan said eloquently, deliberately trying to make her grandmother happy.

"Yes, it's called 'Old Age Blessing'."

Grandma was delighted to hear this, and her wrinkles spread out like chrysanthemums as she smiled.

"My grandmother suffered a lot when she was young."

Lin Xiyu sat obediently beside her grandmother. Looking at her full head of silver hair, she couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache. She reached out and tucked a stray silver strand behind her ear.

Grandma smiled with satisfaction and patted her hand affectionately.

"old lady."

Watching the close interaction between the grandmother and granddaughter, Li Yan seized the opportunity to ask, "Could you tell us more about things after Liberation?"

"Okay."

Grandma was in a good mood and was unusually talkative.

From the time when Lin Xiyu's great-grandfather exhausted his family fortune to support the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, to when her maternal grandfather suffered a stroke during the Cultural Revolution, she had to shoulder heavy responsibilities and work hard in a plastics factory.

A woman with bound feet, supporting her family and raising three children on her frail shoulders.

Decades of trials and tribulations, and several eras of change.

Grandma spoke calmly, as if the suffering she had endured was nothing at all.

Li Yan and the others listened with rapt attention, unable to help but immerse themselves in the story and imagine the thrilling events that had transpired.

"Mom has really suffered."

The aunt felt heartbroken as she listened, and her eyes involuntarily reddened: "Before Dad passed away, he suffered a stroke and became delirious. He was always arguing with Mom, complaining that she was always out and never came home. Actually, Mom was working at the No. 14 Plastic Factory at that time. After pulling a cart all day, both her legs would be swollen. Once, her toes were even worn out and bled a lot."

(End of this chapter)