The Ups and Downs of the Commoners Page #6

This non-fiction novel tells the life of ordinary commoners in the middle of the 20th century in China, from the series of movements such as "Land Reform", "Great Leap Forward", "Cultural Revolution" and "Educated Youth Going to the Countryside" to the early days of Reform and Opening-up. The book has four volumes, and was published by Hong Kong Chinese International Publishing House in 2015. The protagonist of this book, Fang Zhengben, was born into a bankrupt family of landowners. Their family has lived in Taiqing Town for generations. When he was six years old, he left Taiqing Town with his parents and came to Longyun Mountain, where the mountains overlap. From then on, he began an unusual life: their family hard work, but they couldn't eat enough; he yearned for reading, but he has dropped out of school three times before graduating from junior high school; he is diligent and studious, with excellent grades, but the door of colleges is

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At this time, Fang Xinwen and Wang Qihui talked about the move out.    Fang Xinwen said, "When I was a teacher in Shaanxi, I heard that the Land Reform was about fighting the landowner and dividing his land, and asking the landowner to go to the countryside.    I don't know what's going on here, we are not landowners, but they insist we move to the countryside!"    Wang Qihui said, "It's your fault.    If Zhang Yuting had asked you go to the pond to hold the mud groups, you can go honestly, maybe wouldn't have today such that."  Fang Xinwen was very unconvinced and retorted: "He clearly said 'voluntary labor'.    Since it is voluntary labor, one should volunteer. We are not landowners or rich peasants, why should he force me to go?"     "He is the village chief," Wang Qihui said, "You refuted him, Will he give you to a good result?" Fang Xinwen said: "When he becomes a village head, if he wants me to die, do I have to die too? Who knows what he said to the Land Reform Team! The ancients said, if want determine a man is sin, how can worry about finding no reason! If Without this matter, he also would find other reasons. You see, the eighth young brother have always been honest and obedient. This time, he also been made into a 'Layabout' and be expelled to the countryside." "Oh, how could the arm twist the thigh? How can a man stand under a low eave without bending his head? We had better bear with such things in future!" After finishing the sentence, Wang Qihuei comforted herself and said, "actually also It doesn't matter, we are not the only family to be moved to the countryside this time, four or five families from Fang clan alone will go to the countryside. Half the street houses in Taiqing Town will be vacated. They can make a living, so can we." At this time, Wang Qihui looked at the problem too simply, she did not think of the， front waiting for them, how many difficulties and obstacles in the end!
Fang Xingwen's parents operated several estates when they were alive, and later established a distillery. In the Republic of China, they were the first two-man pedal iron cotton gin to purchased from outside the province, for the development of the family created a brilliant achievement. But when he had inherited the family business, he losing money, and by a few years, don't have much left. Apart from a dozen houses facing the street and some daily necessities, there were few items of value. The family is now supporting themselves by starting a small business, so it doesn't seem particularly unacceptable to talk about going to the countryside to divide up fields and grow crops, even if it's for being forced to. Signs of unhappiness were barely visible from his and his wife's faces.
The breeze was blowing gently. They rested for a while in the shade of the trees and felt very cool. The four of them wanted to continue bathing in the breeze on the ridge, but they heard a series of copper bells jingling on the hillside ahead. A few moments later, a horse team for carrying goods went up the mountain. They brought agricultural products from rural areas to Chengdu and from Chengdu carrying along with a small quantity of cloth, cigarettes, matches and other foreign goods, back to the countryside. As soon as they reached the top of the hill, they founding a place to tie their horses and wanted to rest under a tree. The ridge was immediately crowded. Wang Qihui saw this and suggested: "Let's go!" Fang Zhengqing and Fang Zhengben lifted up their square stool, start walking down the mountains.
How could they know how heavy this step they took towards Xiaguan Mountain was! Since then, they seem to have entered the gate of death, and they had been locked in this valley for more than thirty years, had weathered all the vicissitudes and tribulations, so had an extraordinary experience, which few people can imagine. No wonder the place has been described with this:
Shangguan Mountain, Xiaguan Mountain,
Like two gates of death.
The mountain is high, the slope is steep, and road is long,
It is not easy to get into the mountain, and difficult to get out.
If anyone wants to cross the mountain,
It is the celestial immortal being who can pass.
They went down Xiaguan Mountain and opposite direction to the flowing water of Qingxi River, and followed the rough road and go walk towards the mountains. On the left side of the road was the mountain, overgrown with weeds and trees. In the crop fields below the mountain, from time to time they could see farmers working in twos and threes. As the family drew near, the farmers stopped their work and stared curiously at them. On the right of the road is the river, separated the river looking across, except for the mountains, is also the mountains. Before the rainy season, the water of river is so shallow that the bottom can be seen clearly.
Further on, there is a stone bridge with two holes. The bridge was made of four huge strips of stone. Each stone is about 3m long, 60cm wide and 40cm thick. Two pieces joined together, built on three solid stone piers. Not far upstream from the stone bridge, there was a barrage dam made of stones, beside which two farmers were filling to the fields with water with dragon-bone carts. Cross the bridge, climb up a steep slope, is on the Shangguan Mountain. On the hill is a stone archway memorial gate, said to be built in memory of a hero who killed the tiger.
Legend has it that many years ago, the Longyun Mountain is ancient trees towering, there are often fierce tigers descending the mountain and injuring people. A local Taoism cultivator surnamed Kan was very courageous and insightful. He volunteered to eliminate disasters for the people, go to the mountain and killed some tigers, but once in a fight with the tiger unfortunately was killed by the tiger, and tiger eat his head and hands. People did not forget the merits of the hero, repaired his body with glutinous rice flour, held a grand funeral, and raised funds to build this stone archway to commemorate him.
There is also a Pistacia chinensis tree on the Shangguan Mountain. The family rested under the tree for a while and continued on their way.
The farther they go, the steeper the mountain. They saw cliffs on both sides, and the road was excavated in between these cliffs of half-mountain. The grotesque rocks on the broken cliff were grinning. There are old shrubs growing among the strange rocks, like monsters with open big mouth and waving claws, seem like will to devour them. Looking up at the sky, all can see is a narrow river of clouds. This section of the valley is called Laolong Valley. The most dangerous place is Laolong Pool in Laolong Valley. Standing on the road, looking down Laolong Pool, the Qingxi River already in the hill foot, when looking down, it makes people dizzy. Though it was a fine, sunny day, but here was still cold and the foggy, not suitable stay for a long time.

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