Getting old | My family's "anti-communist and anti-Japanese" fighters

I have been hesitant to participate in this community event.

In response to this theme, the object I can play is very direct is my "anti-communist and anti-Japanese" father . But to be honest, I don't think I'm enough to be a son that he can be proud of, and I don't want to be unable to honor my father because I write from my point of view, and of course I can't distort the facts by spilling blood, so I can't get down. hand. I think, with the concept of a documentary, I will tell some stories of my life with my father from childhood to adulthood, to profile his life.

My father was born in the 20th year of the Republic of China (1931), and his hometown was Xiaogan, Hubei. Because I witnessed the eight-year war against Japan when I was growing up, I was instilled in me the concept of "hatred of the country and the family" when I was a child. I may also have a little bit of "anti-Japanese" DNA because of this. When my father was 18 years old (1949), he followed the Kuomintang to Taiwan. Later, he even participated in the "Gu Ningtou War" and "August 23 Artillery War", hence the name "Anti-Communist and Anti-Japanese".

After my father was discharged from the army, he had a short period of time to run a boat and work on an ocean-going cruise ship. Every time I go home, they bring us some rare treasures and tell us many interesting stories. Then I had to leave quietly in the middle of the night and go back to work on the boat, because my brother and I would be reluctant to cry . He has always instilled in us that we must study English well, and then we can run around the world and make world money. "Study English seriously and have a world view" can be regarded as a clear learning direction given to me by my father since I was a child. Later, my work experience that I often go abroad to participate in exhibitions has played a role in laying the foundation.

Because he didn't want to be separated from his family for a long time, Dad later chose the job arranged by the Retirement Association (Veterans Counseling Committee). Therefore, our family moved to the countryside of Tainan. One year, fried chicken became popular in Tainan City, and my father hoped that we could also eat it. Once after get off work, he took us directly into the city to eat fried chicken. Because he was wearing work clothes (father is mainly responsible for water, electricity and boiler maintenance in the factory) and ordered three full meals (father, brother & me), the clerk looked at my father and said contemptuously, "A set of meals costs 120 yuan! "Dad replied domineeringly: "Do you think I can't afford it?" Then he told my brother and me that "people are poor and ambitious." No matter how humble his job is, no matter how poor our family is, he will not let others look down on us. ! This moment is deeply imprinted in my mind!

When my high school entrance examination results were good, my father was happy and took the whole family to a Piano bar to eat steak. Back then, a steakhouse with a live piano show was very expensive. I am very grateful to my dad for bringing the whole family to share food in the name of celebration, and also teaching us western food etiquette. In his mind, even veterans, working-class children, can't be without seeing the world. His opportunity to educate us has always been cost-free.

During the summer vacation of my third year of high school, I received a notice of military medical examination. After the examination, I was told that I had black spots on my lungs, suspected tuberculosis , and I had to go to Chiayi Chronic Disease Control Center for re-examination. Dad knew he was in a panic and asked for leave to accompany me. On the way, I complained that he smoked cigarettes all his life, but it hurt me! Suspicious black spot. But it is also strange that my father quit smoking for a lifetime because of this, and quit once! I really admire my father's determination for the health of his family !

In those days, veterans who came to Taiwan with the Nationalist government would be issued with a so-called "Soldier's Land Grant Certificate" , which was intended to grant land to the veterans after they regained the mainland's territory. In 1990 , seeing that the counteroffensive was hopeless, the government decided to issue compensation instead. At that time, the whole family was overjoyed because of this certificate, which had never been used, and never thought that it would be a sum of cash once it was cashed, but there was no joy on Dad's face. It turned out that this represented the great dream of counter-offensive and rejuvenation that was advocated back then. It has been 40 years since the split between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, but the veterans still have unfulfilled emotions in their hearts, which shows the nostalgia that could not be erased in their hearts at that time and the success of the ideological education of the Kuomintang.

After retirement, my father has always maintained the good habit of getting up early and exercising. Relying on good health, I have never avoided eating and drinking. Later, I heard that Dad passed out in the park a few times, but after a slight fall, he pretended to be fine and went home. It wasn't until he stumbled and fell on the toilet at home that his lying body blocked the door. In a hurry, I knocked down the transom below and moved my father's body a little before I was able to push the door open and help him get up and freshen up. Later, he was sent to the doctor. The doctor said it was a minor stroke, but it seemed that my father was still active and decided to go home to recuperate.

Over the next week, Dad's incapacitation increased. Slowly I can't get out of bed, can't get up, can't eat, can't talk. By Saturday morning, my brother and I decided to call an ambulance. At that time, the ambulancemen had suspected that there was an emergency situation that needed to call an ambulance. When they arrived at the scene, they realized that the situation was not right, and my father was OHCA.

We are very grateful that Dad didn't put everyone's hearts and souls on the last journey of life, and he didn't torture himself. Only every time I think of him, I always ask myself whether I am a good son. Now my father's sleeping place is very close to my company. When I have free time, I often go around to see my father, hoping to spend more time with him, and I hope he can come and talk to me in my dreams, so that I can make up for it a little bit.

Once a colleague asked me why I often drink a cheap canned drink - Brown coffee, I replied: "This is my dad's favorite drink when he was alive." Dad's drinking in different time and space is the emotional connection between our father and son.

Attached is an edited image of my father's cherished medal certificate and old photo to remember my father!