Emmett's Epoch of Endeavor Chapter 25

Don't lament the unfairness of the world. In the ten years of the Cultural Revolution, there was only one fair thing after all, and that was the earthquake. When there was news of an earthquake, the whole town would make a fuss. After the Tangshan earthquake on July 28, 1976, on August 6, we heard that Chengdu was already in turmoil, so how could we not make a fuss here? Officials and ordinary people, dictators and the oppressed, the "five red categories" and the "five black categories", rebels and conservatives, the so-called leftists and the so-called rightists, all became flustered and restless from that day on. Isn't this fair?

As of August 6, I had been unemployed for half a month (my salary in July was only 22.5 cents), and I was compiling English textbooks for Kunkun at home every day. At dusk, I always take Kun Kun and my cousin Yu Xunmian's two sons, Xuxu and Yangyang, to the shallow water of the Nian River at Luo's house outside the west gate to teach them how to swim. Even at dusk on August 6th, I even took them for a swim. It seems like I can still hold on. But at night, when I think of the dead body I saw by the river that evening, I associate it from drowning in the water to the collapse of the house and from the death of others to my own death, and I can no longer be stable. Writing in my diary that night, I complained that "Jie didn't come back to see me or my son." "If something bad happens, it will be the last time we see each other." Only then did I remember that my house has not yet taken earthquake prevention measures, and I'm afraid it won't work if it goes on like this. I said to Kun Kun: "Be alert when you go to sleep! If there is any noise, roll under the bed quickly!" He said: "It would be a pity if the house collapsed and destroyed our furniture!" The child's idea is indeed ridiculous. He thought that the house The earthquake only hit the furniture and not the people. No wonder he got very excited when talking about earthquakes in the past few days, it was thrilling and interesting.

The next day, I saw Yu Baikui, his nephew, his children and Teacher Duan moving beds from the house to the middle of the courtyard dam. There are several other families in the Yu family's compound who are also moving to the middle of the compound. I always feel that sleeping in the middle of the courtyard is like holding an exhibition, which is a bit indecent, so I don't want to move here. This night I put a plastic sheet under my bed so I could roll it in if necessary. He pinched his nose to soothe his eyes, which was considered as taking measures to prevent shocks.

A few days later, after being unemployed for twenty consecutive days, I started packing wooden boxes again, and I quickly went to work. This day is August 11th. I used to pull the sawhorse in the back yard of the wood furniture company, swinging the hammer and banging the hammer, and nailed boxes on my workbench. After working hard for a long time, I noticed that everyone in the carpentry workshops in the backyard had fled, and only Master Peng, who was making coffins in the side yard, was still there. He came over with a leaf tobacco bag in his mouth and said with a smile: "Hey! You are also a person who cares about money rather than life!" It turns out that the earthquake news has become more serious these days. The town revolutionary committee has already informed all residents (this is equal): there is a possibility of earthquakes on the 12th, 17th, and 21st. Don't I know there is danger, but people need to eat. I asked: "Master Peng, why don't you hide?" He grinned and said nonchalantly: "Living has a meaning. Death means nothing." Six years later, he realized his wish, but He died of illness rather than being beaten to death.

The next day was the 12th. I still went to work, but left Kunkun at home. Even if father and son are separated, one of them will survive and they will not die together. Late that night, I wrote the following diary.