At the beginning, he took his seven younger siblings to join Yi Zhonghai.

Yi Zhonghai also talked about his experiences since 1938.

He was 28 years old at that time.

Because his family had been tenant farmers for generations, they were so poor that the whole family had to share their trousers.

So they haven't been able to arrange a marriage for a long time.

He only found a marriage partner the year the Huayuankou dike breached.

They were planning to get married after the autumn harvest.

Unexpectedly, a man-made disaster struck.

Fortunately, he was a very good swimmer.

So they didn't drown immediately.

Luckily, he managed to cling to a piece of wood and survive.

But the floodwaters rushed too fast.

He couldn't control himself.

He drifted along with the flood for three days and two nights before falling into a coma.

When I woke up again, I had drifted to Fuyang.

He went back after the floodwaters receded.

However, everything they went was flooded.

But there was no one left in the village where the Yi family lived.

How could there possibly still be people there?

Huayuankou – Zhongmu County – Weishi County, Tongxu County…

Weishi County was at the forefront of the flood's impact and was also the area where the flood was most rapid.

In other places, the water is so deep that you can see the rooftops.

The towns ahead had their houses completely destroyed by the flood.

Left with no other choice, he could only join the fleeing groups heading north to find a way to survive.

He went back after the Japanese surrendered.

But they still couldn't find any of the villagers from back then.

I went back once after liberation.

But still, nothing was gained.

After that, he completely gave up hope of finding it.

I never expected that fate would favor those who are destined for hardship.

Then suddenly I received a call from my closest younger brother.

God knows how happy he was.

"Dingya, my older brother works as a mid-level fitter in a steel rolling mill. Ever since our army entered the city and liberated Beijing, our workers' pay has improved a lot."

"My older brother's monthly salary, including overtime pay, is 60 yuan, and he also owns three rooms in Beijing."

"My house is the east wing of the central courtyard of a four-section courtyard house. Before I came, I had already arranged with your sister-in-law to have someone build a kang (heated brick bed) for you so you can move in when you get back."

"Hua Ya and the others are still young, so we can manage, but it won't be enough when they grow up. But don't worry, your older brother has some savings, so we can buy a few more rooms, and that will be enough for them."

Yi Zhonghai lay on the bed, a satisfied smile and endless anticipation on his face, rambling on about the arrangements.

"Brother, I'm very grateful for the arrangements you made, but do your wife and the others have any objections? We're doing quite well here."

Yi Zhongding felt he was being a bit too pretentious.

But these are questions that any normal person would ask.

He can't possibly be a prophet, can he?

"Dingya, hey... let me be frank, brother. Right now, it's just me and your sister-in-law at home. We met when we were fleeing famine. Our bodies were ruined by the flood, and neither of us can have children."

"We had already accepted it before you called, but we are sorry to our ancestors. Of the three unfilial acts, the greatest is to have no descendants."

"People in the courtyard often curse us as having no descendants, we all know that, but there's nothing we can do. Your sister-in-law cries day and night, and we take those terribly bitter medicines one packet at a time."

"So do you know what the phone call was for? For us, it was the piece of wood that kept me from drowning back then, it was our lifeline."

"If we take you back and raise you to adulthood, no one will dare to call us childless. I, Yi Zhonghai, have eight younger brothers and sisters. Who has more family members than us? Who has more power than us?"

"Your sister-in-law thinks so too, so Dingya, you don't need to think about anything or be afraid of anything. Your brother and sister-in-law will do their best to raise you."

Upon hearing this, Yi Zhonghai sat up in bed, gripping his younger brother's shoulders tightly with both hands, his eyes filled with tears, his emotions both intense and resolute.

"Then we'll go to the capital with our elder brother. Don't worry, with us here, no one will dare to bully our family again. The kindness of raising us is greater than the kindness of giving birth to us. You raised us when we were young, and we will take care of you when you are old."

"We will never forget your kindness and support for the rest of your life, sister-in-law."

Yi Zhongding immediately expressed his opinion.

He knew that the man in front of him had spent his entire life planning for his retirement.

"Hey, hey, big brother is content, content, haha, go to sleep."

"Get up tomorrow and pack your things. Take me to meet your parents. I want to thank them for leaving the Yi family with such a precious bloodline."

Hot tears streamed down Yi Zhonghai's honest face.

The next day.

Yi Zhongding, along with his younger siblings and Yi Zhonghai, arrived at their parents' graves.

Then I said goodbye to them.

He then said goodbye to the villagers.

They asked them to help look after their parents' graves.

The burial was just completed, and it was a traditional earthen burial.

There's no way to move the grave.

It will take at least three years.

The worship ceremony is over.

The group then returned home and began packing their things.

The township head sent someone to Yi Zhonghai's house to summon him over.

Yi Zhongding originally wanted to go along, but was refused.

"Come, sit down, Brother Yi, have a cup of tea first."

The township head poured a cup of tea, placed it on the table, and looked the person in front of him up and down.

"Oh, thank you, Township Head. My brother told me that you've taken good care of them these past two years. I don't have much prepared, but these are some snacks and two cartons of cigarettes I brought from the capital. Please accept them."

Yi Zhonghai took the tea and put it down, then took out a few things from his bag.

"I don't want it. You take it back for the children. I heard you're going to take Dingya and the others to live in the capital. That's going to be very expensive."

"Did your family all agree? After all, with so many children, this is quite a burden."

The township head glanced at the items, waved his hand, and said...

"To be honest, I don't have any children. It's just my wife and me at home. She doesn't mind at all and is very happy. We're currently cleaning the house and waiting to welcome them."

"The expenses are indeed high, but it's not a big problem. I'm a mid-level fitter, and my income can support them."

Yi Zhonghai put down his things, opened a package of pastries, and said.

"Brother Yi, I'm sorry, I was too talkative."

"I treat Ding Yazi and the others as my own nephews and nieces, so there are some things I still need to clarify."

The township head didn't even glance at the snacks, and spoke frankly.

"Of course, of course, it's a blessing for the child, you say."

Yi Zhonghai nodded with a simple smile, picked up a pastry, and handed it over.

"Dingya will graduate from junior high next year. He has excellent grades, and he's a very smart kid. He'll definitely get into university. What are your plans?"

The township head took the snacks, held them in his hand, and continued to ask questions.

"I will continue to provide the funds. To be honest, I am planning to go to his school and get transfer certificates for him and Hua Yazi."

"Not only those two, but also the remaining six children, as long as they can go to school, I will definitely support them."

"They are my closest younger siblings. I only hope they are doing well and I will not hold them back."

Yi Zhonghai quickly patted his chest and assured him.

"They are the families of martyrs, and the township committee will give each of them a monthly allowance of 5 yuan, which will ease your burden."

"Moreover, there is a high-ranking official who keeps an eye on them. If I go to Beijing for a meeting, I will also visit them."

"I hope you can raise them well so that I can have an explanation for their parents."

The township head said meaningfully.