The location of the cemetery of more than 4,000 heroic spirits has been kept for nearly 30 years since he was discharged from the army
Veterans patrol more than 20,000 steps every day to guard the tombs of the martyrs
The Jiufeng Mountain Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery has more than 40 acres of land, 82 cemeteries, and more than 4,000 tombstones of heroic spirits. Wang Shengyong, a 51-year-old retired soldier, makes inspections in the morning and afternoon, and walks more than 20,000 steps a day.
From his discharge from the army in 1993 to the present, he has been guarding it for nearly 30 years, and he is the person who has guarded the tomb of the martyrs for the longest time in Wuhan.
On September 29, the cemetery was green with green pines and cypresses, and the sun was warm. From Leifeng Square to Heroes Square, Wang Shengyong climbed up the stairs, patrolled line by line, and then walked down slowly, scanning the surroundings with keen eyes.
He is most concerned about fire danger, whether there is smoke and sparks; whether there is any damage to the cemetery due to the broken branches of trees; whether there are safety hazards in the facilities and equipment of the cemetery.
The Jiufeng Mountain Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery is where more than 4,000 martyrs and ancestors died during the Great Revolution, the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the War of Liberation and the Peaceful Era.
"There is a story behind every tombstone. I regard more than 4,000 heroic spirits as friends, and protect them all my life, so that their spirits will be passed on forever." Wang Shengyong said.
Walk more than 20,000 steps daily
He is "the most walkable person" in the cemetery
In 1993, after retiring from the army, Wang Shengyong came to the Jiufeng Mountain Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery and became a cemetery guard.
At that time, he was a 22-year-old boy and lived in the cemetery with a single bed and some daily necessities.
The first career in life, Wang Shengyong's choice is his life.
He explained that being familiar with, loving and admiring this place is a natural choice.
Wang Shengyong's home is in Tuqiao Village, Huashan Street, Hongshan District, near the cemetery. When he was in elementary school, the school came here to carry out educational activities every year, and he developed a feeling of reverence for the heroes.
When he became a soldier in the army, his reverence for the heroes became even stronger.
Visiting the cemetery and investigating hidden dangers is only part of Wang Shengyong's work. In addition, he must also provide services to the relatives of the martyrs.
In recent years, I have also led my colleagues to work together.
"Wechat steps, Wang Shengyong's daily steps are more than 20,000, and he is always the first, and no one has surpassed him in the circle of friends for many years." Liu Qi, deputy director of the office of the Cemetery Management Office, said that Wang Shengyong was "the most able to walk" among his colleagues. He insisted on guarding the tomb for nearly 30 years, "diligence, conscientiousness, and never complaining".
The reporter saw that in the past three days, Wang Shengyong's WeChat steps were between 21,000 and 26,000 steps.
Wan Xiang, a post-95 guy from the Cemetery Business Section, is also a veteran. He regards Wang Shengyong as his master. "He never asked us to do it, but to show us."
When he first entered the industry, Wang Shengyong taught him how to observe the condition of the cemetery, how to think about his family, and communicate well in advance.
Around the Qingming Festival every year, it is the busiest period for the cemetery.
Wan Xiang got up early in the morning and saw the step count on WeChat. Wang Shengyong had walked five or six thousand steps. He had been patrolling the cemetery for a long time. walk".
At the end of the day, Wang Shengyong's WeChat steps were as high as 30,000 to 40,000 steps.
Wanxiang recently participated in the "Telling Stories Around You" speech, telling the story of Wang Shengyong.
During the 2020 Qingming Festival, Wang Shengyong was unwell, but he insisted on finishing the busiest stage of the cemetery, and only took a rare leave, saying that he was going out to visit his comrades.
Ten days later, when Wang Shengyong came back, his colleagues found out that he went to the hospital for surgery because of a kidney cyst.
"It's not a big deal, I don't want to trouble everyone."
Memorize the location of the cemetery of more than 4,000 heroic spirits
Thousands of sacrifices have never been rejected
After guarding the tomb for nearly 30 years, Wang Shengyong memorized the location of the tomb of more than 4,000 heroic spirits.
"They all came out," he said.
"Wang Shengyong is our 'living map' and 'living dictionary'. Sometimes the children of martyrs don't remember the location of the tombstone. As long as the name on the tombstone is mentioned, he will point out the exact location." Wang Zhixiang, deputy director of the cemetery management office, said.
The reporter saw the deed card of Gao Jiancheng, a "flood-fighting hero" in 1998. Under the guidance of Wang Shengyong, the reporter soon came to a cemetery in Area A. The five-pointed star above the cemetery was bright and golden.
"This was just replaced during the August 1st sacrifice this year."
After passing a cemetery, Wang Shengyong introduced that the martyr Xu Huizhi was one of the oldest martyrs in the cemetery.
The reporter saw the record on the deed card that Xu Huizhi was born in 1901, a first-phase student of the Whampoa Military Academy, joined the Communist Party of China in 1924, served as the mayor of Hankou Special City, and died in Taiwan in 1951 for the great cause of the reunification of the motherland.
"It is the heart that guards the tombs. Heroes and martyrs have given their precious lives, and serving their relatives should be sincere and heart-for-heart." Wang Shengyong said.
Folks have the custom of offering sacrifices to sweeping during the New Year's Eve.
Late last year on New Year's Eve, several relatives of the martyrs came from out of town to perform the ritual sweep. Wang Shengyong, who was on the night shift, opened the door, turned on the street lights, and accompanied his family members to complete the ritual sweep.
Due to various reasons, the family members of some martyrs could not come to the cemetery to perform sacrifice sweeps, and they entrusted Wang Shengyong to perform sacrifice sweeps on their behalf.
Over the years, Wang Shengyong has offered sacrifices to heroes and martyrs more than 1,000 times.
On the Mid-Autumn Festival that just passed, he and his wife Liu Hongxia performed sacrifices on behalf of a mother who sacrificed a girl.
This girl gave her 19-year-old life to save others in a traffic accident.
In the past, on important days such as the Spring Festival, Tomb-sweeping Day, and the child's birthday, the girl's parents would come to offer sacrifices.
In the past few years, the girl's father died, and her mother was not in good health and could not come to the cemetery.
Wang Shengyong and his wife were entrusted by their relatives to perform sacrifice sweeps on their behalf.
"Every time I stand in front of the girl's tombstone and tell her mother's thoughts on behalf of her mother, I can't help crying." When Liu Hongxia spoke, tears flashed in her eyes, "The girl left so young in order to save others, who wouldn't Heartache, not to mention her mother."
Wang Shengyong doesn't surf the Internet much, and Liu Hongxia's mobile phone has WeChat and more than 10 mobile phone numbers of more than 30 relatives of heroic martyrs added.
Whenever relatives offered to act as a sacrificial sweeper, she and Wang Shengyong "never refused", scrubbing tombstones, placing flower baskets, tying red ribbons, and speaking their hearts out on their behalf.
Don't forget their sacrifices
Willing to protect the heroic spirit with a lifetime
There are two duty rooms in the cemetery, one is used by colleagues in turn according to the duty situation, and the other is dedicated to Wang Shengyong, because he almost lives in the cemetery.
"Wang Shengyong is now living a two-point and one-line life, either in the cemetery or at the old mother's house to take care of the elderly." Wang Zhixiang introduced.
In 1995, after Wang Shengyong married Liu Hongxia, he took his wife to guard the tomb.
Even during the festivals, the whole family comes to the cemetery to clean the tombstones of the heroes.
His son graduated from college and has a job. Under his father's education since childhood, he helped to do some things within his power, such as cleaning and scrubbing monuments.
"Our whole family supports him very much, and guarding the tomb has become our family's business," Liu Hongxia said.
During the Spring Festival, Tomb-sweeping Day, Martyrs' Remembrance Day, National Day and other holidays, when others rest, Wang Shengyong is busy.
According to reports, general tomb guards will resign after a few years. Wang Shengyong has been guarding the tomb for nearly 30 years and has never left. He is the longest tomb guard in Wuhan.
"Actually, every job should be done well. I don't think my job is any different from other people's. Maybe I am more persistent, and I hope to do one line of work and do it exclusively." Wang Shengyong said.
The crowd dispersed, and most of the time the cemetery was quiet and deserted.
However, Wang Shengyong said that he was never lonely and was always full.
"There are more than 4,000 heroic spirits in the cemetery. I can say a word a day, and I can't finish it in a year."
Wang Shengyong is steady, quick in his work, not much talker, and has a distinctive bald head. Many relatives of heroic martyrs who he does not know know him.
Seeing each other every year, many relatives will make a special trip to see Wang Shengyong after the sacrifice and sweep, "You are still here" and feel that he is very kind.
"The heroic dedication and sacrifice, we can't forget them." At this time, Wang Shengyong felt the value of protection even more.
"If I can choose again, I will still come here to guard the tomb." 51-year-old Wang Shengyong said that if necessary, he would like to guard the heroic spirits who are sleeping here forever.
Reporter Liu Ruiche Tang Yu