Zhao Zhongfu's family in Anyang City, Henan Province has sent tens of thousands of scarves to border guard officers and soldiers for many years——
"Thousands of Needles and Thousands of Threads" Warm Border
Pulling the thread, rocking the cart, the wool slowly slips through the hand; crocheting, pulling, the scarves are gradually formed in the hand... A small farmyard in Xihonggou Village, Long'an District, Anyang City, Henan Province, 87 The year-old Zhao Zhongfu and his wife Zhang Emei were sitting in the warm sunshine in the spring and kept busy.
The sun shines on their gray hair, and the scene in front of them is like a slow motion in a movie, quiet and beautiful, with tenderness lingering around.
This warmth comes from a husband and wife who have been together for more than half a century, and from a family's deep concern for the frontier officers and soldiers for decades.
"There's not much we can do. The purpose of sending scarves to the border guard is to prevent the soldiers from freezing and not wanting to go home. Take good care of yourself and guard the frontier." Elder Zhao Zhongfu said with a smile, gently stroking his rough and broad palm. red scarf.
Over the years, Zhao Zhongfu's family has insisted on sending hand-knitted scarves to frontier officers and soldiers, connecting thousands of mountains and rivers with one stitch and one thread, weaving the feelings of home and country, and sending tens of thousands of scarves to the frontier warmed the hearts of frontier officers and soldiers.
Generations of relay
"The frontier is very cold, if you can weave one more piece, it is one piece"
There is a room in Zhao Zhongfu's house. One wall is full of colorful wool, and on the other side, more than ten large cardboard boxes full of scarves are neatly stacked.
These beautiful hand-woven scarves are not a commodity for sale, but a gift carefully prepared by the two old men for the border guards.
"This is my father's last wish, and it is also the common wish of the whole family." With the creaking sound of the spinning wheel, Zhao Zhongfu told us the reason why he insisted on sending scarves to border guard officers and soldiers for decades——
Zhao Zhongfu's father, Zhao Linnian, was an underground member of the Communist Party of China. During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, Zhao Zhongfu, who was under 10 years old, helped deliver letters many times as a small correspondent.
Although he did not know his father's true identity at the time, the seeds of loving the party and supporting the army took root in Zhao Zhongfu's heart.
During the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea, my father led the whole family to make cotton shoes for the volunteer soldiers from Anyang.
Zhao Zhongfu recalled: "At that time, my mother took a large family to make fried noodles, bake flat cakes, make cloth shoes, knit scarves, and then hand them over to the government to send to the front line..."
In 1966, when his father died, he left a sentence before his death, "To contribute to the country and support the border defense", which became a promise that Zhao Zhongfu kept to his life.
Since then, together with his mother and wife, he has tried every means to send supplies to the officers and soldiers stationed at the border.
When the harvest at home was bad, the family saved cotton from neighboring villages to make cotton cloth; when conditions at home were better, they would gather in the main room where the loom and spinning wheel were placed to weave, whenever they had time. After that, find the opportunity to give it to the officers and soldiers who need it.
"The territory of the motherland, no matter how difficult the place, must be guarded." In 2008, when they saw the pictures of border guard officers and soldiers standing guard against the wind and snow, Zhao Zhongfu and his wife decided to weave some scarves for the officers and soldiers of the border guard post to keep out the cold.
This weaving is ten years.
For more than ten years, Zhao Zhongfu and his wife broke down six spinning floats and sent tens of thousands of scarves.
Zhao Zhongfu calculated an account for the reporter: "A ball of wool is 3 yuan, a scarf uses nearly two balls of wool, and a carton is nearly 5 yuan, which can hold about 10 scarves, plus shipping costs, it costs about 20,000 yuan a year. "The old man said while gesticulating, his outstretched hands were full of wrinkles, each of which was a trace carved by the wind and frost of the years.
Counting pensions and old-age subsidies, Zhao Zhongfu and his wife earn a few hundred yuan a month, and all of their investment is not enough to cover the annual expenditure of 20,000 yuan. The remaining expenses are made up by farming and selling vegetables, family support and savings.
Under careful planning, the two old people have always lived a frugal and simple life.
"I'm getting older and my eyes are getting more and more blurry. Although I can't knit a few stitches a week now, we think that the frontier is very cold. If we can knit an extra stitch, it will make the officers and soldiers guarding the border wear warm clothes." Zhao Zhongfu He As the wife talks, her hands are still busy.
Whatever your heart desires, follow the past.
The two old people never thought of putting down their needles and thread, and weaving and sending scarves for border guards has become an indispensable part of their lives.
more people join
"The more the stories of the people around you, the more influential people will be"
In the era of inconvenient transportation, the scarves and cloth shoes made by the family will be brought to the northeast by someone on a special trip to be given to the officers and soldiers of the front line of the border defense.
"My mother and I were in the yard, she weaved, I hung up the thread, and led a red thread from one end of the yard to the other." Zhao Hongliang, the third son of Zhao Zhongfu, recalled that this became the most impressive image in the minds of the Zhao family's children.
The strong patriotic and military situation is like a "red line" that travels through time and space, leading Zhao Hongliang to grow up and become a talent.
Now working as a teacher at Hainan University, he has become the most effective helper for his parents, responsible for contacting and helping to deliver the scarf to the border post.
Zhao Hongliang also won the China Youth May Fourth Medal and the National Moral Model Nomination Award for donating to education, teaching and helping farmers.
"When I was a child, I knitted scarves with my family; when I grew up, I chose to be a border guard!" Last year, Zhao Changhe, the grandson of Zhao Zhongfu, took the initiative to apply for the application and became an armed police soldier stationed on the border.
From supporting national defense to devoting himself to national defense, from the Central Plains to the northwest frontier, the places that have been missed countless times have become Zhao Changhe's "second hometown".
Before leaving home, Zhao Changhe specially put a scarf in his luggage.
"Seeing the scarf is like seeing the grandparents in my hometown. It always reminds me that a country has a home. When we go to the border defense, we must protect our country." , In the blizzard of the frontier, he understood country and home, home and country.
The great love of the family and country is passed on in the family style, and it affects every member of the family like the spring breeze and the rain.
During New Years and festivals, the whole family sits together and knits scarves, which has become an unchanging "ceremony" for this big family of four generations.
"It's easy to talk empty words, but it's hard to do real things and do good things. It's even more difficult to persevere every day for more than ten years." Referring to the deeds of Zhao Zhongfu and his wife, Liu Zhiqiang, secretary of the party branch of Xihonggou Village, sighed with emotion.
In a small farmyard, two elderly people who are twilight, work at sunrise and rest at sunset.
Through Liu Zhiqiang's narration, a few words can outline their lives.
Day after day, with hard work, the two elderly people devoted their time and energy to the action of caring for the officers and soldiers of the border guards.
"In the past, no one in the village knew about Zhao Zhongfu's family weaving scarves. It was not until the media came to interview and report a few years ago that everyone knew that the model of supporting the army was by our side!" According to Liu Wenjun, a villager in Xihonggou Village, he appeared in the newspaper. After the TV show, the lives of Zhao Zhongfu and his wife have not changed much, but in this small isolated village, some changes are taking place.
"The more the stories of the people around you, the more influential people will be." Liu Zhiqiang said happily that after learning about the advanced deeds of the two elderly people, the village party branch organized a series of learning and education activities, and the villagers responded positively, and more and more people were infected and driven , The feelings of family and country are quietly planted.
The local post office sent hundreds of express cartons to Zhao Zhongfu's family for free, and some villagers joined the ranks of weaving scarves to help Zhao Zhongfu's family within their ability.
The atmosphere of respecting the soldiers in the nearby villages and towns is getting stronger and stronger, and the number of young people of school age who have signed up for the army has increased significantly...
It is understood that Xihonggou Village will also build a research and education base to attract more people to visit and study.
Child Soldier's Promise
"Guard every inch of the motherland"
"I still clearly remember that on February 27, 2021, the second day of the Lantern Festival, the company received a special package." Zhao Liang, a soldier from the Bayimuzha Frontier Defense Company of the Tacheng Military Sub-district in Xinjiang, recalled emotionally, "The three major The cardboard box, with the words 'Salute to the cutest person on the isolated island of Xuehai at the border of China', opened it and saw more than 30 scarves of different colors, and the comrades in arms felt warm in their hearts."
The Bayimuzha Frontier Defense Company is located in the northwestern border of the motherland. There are more than 200 days of strong winds here every year, the maximum wind force can reach 12, the minimum temperature in winter is about minus 30 degrees Celsius, and the mountain closure period lasts for more than half a year.
Generations of frontier officers and soldiers walked on the patrol road, facing the violent storm and snow, so that the five-star red flag fluttered high on the frontier line of the motherland.
It took Zhao Zhongfu and Zhang Emei several months to complete these three affectionate "love parcels", together with dozens of other boxes of scarves destined for different destinations.
The deeply moved officers and soldiers wrote a letter of thanks: "Grandpa and grandma, thank you for sending warmth and love to the officers and soldiers of the company. Although the winter is cold, the company is warm... Wearing the scarves woven by grandparents, our fighting spirit will be more full. , must guard every inch of the motherland."
Soon, a thank-you letter with the bright red fingerprints of the company officers and soldiers was delivered to Zhao Zhongfu. He carefully kept the letter in a box, and placed it in the center of the cabinet, along with countless letters from distant border guards.
"I don't want anything else to do this, just to make the frontier officers and soldiers warmer. I'm satisfied when I receive the scarf." With such a simple idea, Zhao Zhongfu used hand-knitted scarves to connect the army and the thousands of miles apart. civil.
These affectionate and colorful scarves are continuously sent to the border gates, warming and inspiring countless frontier officers and soldiers.
"The care from all walks of life is like a warm light on the patrol road, illuminating the way forward for us." Guo Yanlong, head of the Tianchi outpost of a frontier brigade of the Army in the Northern Theater Command, said emotionally after receiving the scarf.
At the beginning of this year, in order to ensure that the scarves were delivered to the officers and soldiers of the post before the Spring Festival, Zhao Hongliang contacted the Veterans Affairs Bureau where the post was located. Finally, on the Lunar New Year, special "heart-warming goods" were delivered to the Tianchi post.
"The years are quiet, and it is inseparable from the perennial perseverance of frontier officers and soldiers." The scarves were handed over to the officers and soldiers, Tian Ce, the head of the Department of Support and Care for the Military of the Veterans Affairs Bureau, said with emotion that the two elderly people used practical actions to reflect the people's commitment to the cause of national defense. With the support of our nation, national defense is closely related to each of us.
"What the old man gives is not only a scarf, but also the care and love of the people of the motherland for the border guards." The leader of the political work department of the brigade said that as a border guard in the new era, he must cherish this sincere love from the people and express the people's concern. Caring has turned into an inexhaustible driving force for loyalty and defense.
special gift special love
■ Our reporter Peng Bingjie correspondent Zheng Kangning
"The reply has been received, my parents and my mother are very happy, and they have been read to them several times..." On March 20, a long-awaited phone call made the officers and soldiers of the Baihaba Border Defense Company of the Xinjiang Altay Military Subdivision quite surprised. Grateful.
"It's been almost a month since the letter was sent, and everyone keeps it in mind every day, and finally received an answer on the day of the spring equinox." Instructor Liu Cong said with a smile.
Speaking of the story behind this letter, Liu Cong's thoughts returned to a month ago——
"The courier is here!" On that day, a special gift traveled over 4,000 kilometers across 3 provinces and was delivered to the Baihaba Frontier Defense Company.
Hearing the news, all the officers and soldiers of the company came to the club, all wanting to see this long-awaited mysterious package with their own eyes.
Before the Spring Festival, Liu Cong told everyone: Someone has prepared a New Year's gift for our company, and the express delivery is already on the way.
"Instructor, what kind of gift is it?" "Who sent it to us?" Facing the curious inquiries from the officers and soldiers, Liu Cong just smiled mysteriously.
The Baihaba Frontier Guard Company is stationed in the northwest frontier of the motherland. It is covered with snow and ice for 8 months every year. The officers and soldiers guard the long frontier line all year round.
Due to the long distance and heavy snow blocking the mountains, this special gift was finally delivered to the officers and soldiers after more than 20 days of ups and downs.
Although the waiting time seemed extraordinarily long, the enthusiasm of the officers and soldiers remained undiminished.
"This package was actually sent from Hainan!" Ma Zehua, a recruit sitting in the first row, said in surprise when he saw the information on the package slip.
Under the expectant gaze of the officers and soldiers of the whole company, Liu Cong carefully opened the cardboard box.
Red, blue, yellow... What catches the eye are colorful wool scarves, and the bright colors make people shine.
Liu Cong took out a scarf and gently stroked it and looked at it carefully. The stitches were fine and even, and a small card was tied at one end of the scarf with the words "For the lovely border guards" written on it.
"This gift actually came from Anyang, Henan. Elder Zhao Zhongfu and his wife Zhang Emei saw the story of us guarding the border on TV, and spent nearly two months knitting these scarves one by one, wanting us to wear them warmly and comfortably. New Year's Eve." Liu Cong said to everyone emotionally, "The old man doesn't know how to send it to us, so he will first send it to his son in Hainan, and then forward it to Xinjiang."
This "late" New Year's gift moved all the officers and soldiers of the company.
Everyone discussed on the spot and decided to reward these special gifts to the patrol pacesetters and training pacesetters who usually perform well.
"Unanimously approved!" As a patrol pacesetter, Sergeant Wang Zhiqiang was the first to get the scarf in the envious eyes of his comrades.
Wang Zhiqiang is a company correspondent, and has been stationed at Sentinel No. 3 for 9 consecutive years.
In April last year, he and his wife had just received their marriage license in their hometown in Anhui. When they learned that the company had important tasks, he took the initiative to apply for an early return before the wedding.
Wang Zhiqiang held a yellow scarf in both hands and told everyone with a smile: "I'm going to be a father this year, my wife likes yellow, I want to choose a yellow scarf for her, thank her for her understanding and dedication." The officers and soldiers were excited. Clap your hands and congratulate.
Sergeant Li Duo is Lianli's training pacesetter and has achieved excellent results in many competitions in competitions.
He got a red scarf as he wished and said happily: "This is the most precious gift I have received since I joined the army. Looking at it makes my heart warm!"
Seeing that everyone got their favorite scarves, the recruit Ma Zehua was very envious. He said, "I will train hard and patrol in the future, and strive to have a 'limited edition' scarf."
"Grandpa Zhao, Grandma Zhang, your caring and caring has given us great encouragement... We must turn this deep love into the inexhaustible driving force to take root in border defense and stick to the battle position." The officers and soldiers wrote back letters and sent them to two old people.
In the roaring cold wind, the officers and soldiers lined up neatly and solemnly saluted the distance: "We are at the border, please rest assured of the motherland and the people!"
Our reporter Peng Bingjie correspondent Wang Ruiquan