China News Service, Hangzhou, September 23 (Reporter Lin Bo) "Our pastoralists call our mother "Eji" and thank my "Eji" for raising me." Speaking of our "grassland mother" At that time, "the child of the country" Zhang Bin was grateful.
"Prairie Mother" photographed by Sarentoya.
Photo courtesy of Sarentoya
In 1960, Zhang Bin, who had just turned three years old, was sent to a grassland herder family in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and became a member of the story of "Three Thousand Orphans Entering Inner Mongolia".
In 1960, there was a great famine in China, and the Jiangnan area was severely affected. Many parents were unable to raise their children and sent them to a nursery in Shanghai. Suddenly, a large number of children became homeless orphans.
With more and more abandoned babies, nursery schools are also facing tremendous pressure for rescue.
After learning of this situation, Premier Zhou Enlai reached a consensus with Chairman Ulanhu of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to send more than 3,000 orphans from Shanghai to the grasslands of Inner Mongolia to be raised by herdsmen. These children who came to Inner Mongolia were affectionately called "children of the country." .
"Prairie Mother" photographed by Sarentoya.
Photo courtesy of Sarentoya
In that special age, behind the "three thousand orphans entering Inner Mongolia" was the true dedication of the "grassland mothers" for half a century. They used great love to interpret a historical story that transcended blood, region and nation.
"There is a sister who is 7 years older than me. We are getting along well and take care of me." In Zhang Bin's memory, his "Eji" is a mother who doesn't speak much but loves him very much. Happiness, love has never been lacking in these years."
In this way, Zhang Bin had a home, a new mother and the Mongolian name "Bangrihu".
"Prairie Mother" photographed by Sarentoya.
Photo courtesy of Sarentoya
"One after another, live one; live one, strengthen one." This was the promise of the "grassland mother" to the "child of the country" at that time.
Zhang Bin recalled that at that time, there was no school in front of his home in the pastoral area. He had to go to a school more than 20 kilometers away. Walk back by yourself."
Recalling the experience of going to school for the first time, Zhang Bin bluntly said that he did not understand the hardship of "Eji" walking back alone when he was young. It's easy to get lost.'Eji' walks home by relying on the signs of the telephone poles. But she never tells me these things, she always silently loves us children."
"I was about 10 years old and helped'Abba' herding sheep. In the beginning, it was our siblings and brothers. When I was older, we went to herding sheep by myself." Zhang Bin still remembers the life in the pastoral area as a child. When I went home, I participated in cutting grass, digging stones, digging wells, and pulling soil. Although it was hard work, it is a precious memory in retrospect."
Regarding his life experience, Zhang Bin bluntly said that he already knew it, and this was also a tacit agreement between him and "Eji".
"When I was in school, many people in my class called me the'Shanghai Orphan', so I also knew about it. But I didn't say'Eji', I didn't ask." Zhang Bin said that he and "Eji" The two maintain this tacit understanding, everyone understands it in their hearts, but this does not affect the relationship between mother and child, "She is my mother, I am her child, she loves me, and I love her, it's that simple."
With "Eji" full of love, Zhang Bin walked out of the small sky in the pastoral area, working and getting married in the city, until now he retires and takes his grandson.
"Prairie Mother" photographed by Sarentoya.
Photo courtesy of Sarentoya
During the National Day holiday in 2008, Zhang Bin took the old "Eji" who was very old to Beijing. "Eji is very yearning for the capital. He took her to Beijing and saw Tiananmen Square. She was very happy."
Now, Zhang Bin’s old "Eji" is 88 years old. "She is in good health. I am now living in Hohhot. I will go back to visit her with my sister every month. The old man has no wish, but hopes that we will go smoothly. "
For more than 60 years, the gentle and firm "grassland mother" has carried the weight of life, weaving a warm harbor for three thousand children, and writing the great love that transcends the nation, the region, and the blood.
"The more I understand, the more I want to share this story with more people." Sarentoya, born in 1953, is the former vice chairman and secretary-general of the Inner Mongolia Film Association, a national first-level writer, and a story about "Prairie Mother". The earliest witness and recorder, her works-the long novel "Quiet Emin River" and the long reportage "Children of the Country" tell the moving story of "three thousand orphans entering Inner Mongolia".
"My father is a writer. He told me this story when I was six or seven years old, and he left a deep impression on me." Sarentoya told reporters that he was in the grassland at that time. The father who was walking on the road told her the story of the "Shanghai Orphan" coming to the grassland. "He told me that if you are interested, you can learn about it yourself in the future."
As Sarentoya grew up, there were also "children from the south" in her circle of friends.
In 1998, Sarentoya began to visit pastoral areas and recorded the stories of "grassland mothers" one by one.
"In our nomadic culture, all lives are the same, and the herders treat life equally." Sarentoya explained that there is no word "orphan" in the hearts of herders because they think this word is a kind of child Hurt, "They are more willing to call it'children'. This is the love of herdsmen for their children."
In an interview, Sarentoya asked an old "Eji" if her child was a "Shanghai orphan", but the old "Eji" told her that this was a "child of the country."
"She told me,'This is the child that the party and the government believe in us, and only give it to us to raise.' In the words, apart from the love for the child, there is also a responsibility." Sarentoya bluntly said that she has interviewed many "Grassland". "Mothers", but they are like "collusion", calling these children "children of the country", not asking about the past, but talking about the present.
Sarentoya once asked a "Eji", you love these children so much, what if their biological parents or relatives come to look for the children?
"That's great, maybe they can go back to the city, maybe they have brothers, sisters and other relatives, so many people love them. How long can we live, after we go, they will have relatives." Sarento Ya always remembered the answer of this "grassland mother", "They are so innocent, and they are completely considered from the perspective of the child."
In Sarentoya’s pen, there are many more stories about "grassland mothers" and "children of the country", "I am moved by them, and I am proud of them."
Undoubtedly, the story of the "Prairie Mother" is a vivid testimony of national unity and mutual assistance. On the vast Inner Mongolian steppe, each "Eji" interprets some touching stories about the world.
At the 2021 7th Mercy and Filial Piety Cultural Festival held in Hangzhou on September 22, "Prairie Mother" was awarded the 2021 Merciful Filial Person/Group.
The 7th Mercy and Filial Piety Culture Festival in 2021 is hosted by China News Service and Hangzhou Lingyin Temple, and is hosted by Hangzhou Lingyin Temple, China News Service Zhejiang Branch, Zhejiang Overseas Friendship Association, Zhejiang Returned Overseas Chinese Association and Zhejiang National League Entrepreneur Association It was organized and supported by China News Weekly, China Philanthropist Magazine and Hangzhou Yunlin Charity Foundation.
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