Rebooting 60, let's go on a rampage with the orange cat!

In that turbulent era, small blast furnaces were everywhere in the city, with one smelting furnace every few dozen meters, belching out roaring flames, and the whole city was filled with the smell of sulfur.

Many organizations couldn't keep up with the demand for iron ore, so they mobilized everyone to donate ironware from their homes or even smash their spare iron pots to smelt in the furnace, and then eat in the canteen at their workplace or neighborhood committee.

If the stove wouldn't get hot enough, someone would bring blankets from home to wrap around it and keep it warm. The adults were working with boundless energy, and this lively scene filled the children with wonder and joy, making them as happy as if it were New Year's Day.

One evening, another batch of molten iron was ready in the street's iron smelting furnace. As the glowing red-hot molten iron flowed out, it illuminated the entire street. Children watched, jumped, and shouted with joy from a distance of more than two meters.

The molten iron, glowing red-hot, began to flow out, and many people excitedly rushed forward to watch.

Suddenly, one of the young men slipped and landed on the molten iron. A puff of smoke rose from beneath him, accompanied by a piercing scream; instantly, his legs became two blackened sticks. In a panic, some splashed water on him, others wrapped him in blankets, and the crowd rushed him to the hospital for emergency treatment. The scene was chaotic…

Shi Huai'an was so frightened that he turned around and ran home. He had nightmares all night, dreaming of a person with red eyes, engulfed in flames, howling like a monster.

……

In 1959, Huai'an was 8 years old and of school age. Seeing other slightly older children skipping and jumping to and from school every day with their schoolbags, Huai'an was extremely envious and clamored to go to school too.

On August 30, teachers from the Sixth Primary School went to the neighborhood committee and used several desks to form a long tabletop. Several young male and female teachers were there to register the school-age children who were lining up for enrollment.

Registering for the exam is also very simple; any school-aged child who is over 8 years old and can count from 1 to 10 is eligible.

Shi Huai'an excitedly counted to one hundred in one breath. The teachers nodded repeatedly and registered Shi Huai'an. Wang Xiuzhi paid two yuan in tuition and received the payment slip. They just waited for school to start on September 1st.

The tuition for first grade is 2 yuan per semester, but many students come from families with financial difficulties and have to pay in installments. Huai'an is an only child, and her family is relatively well-off.

A red banner beside the school gate reads: "Study hard and make progress every day." Inside the school, a thriving and vibrant scene unfolds.

The curriculum was relatively simple at the time, and the school offered a wide range of extracurricular activities. Although students didn't have much money, they would make their own toys to enrich their after-school activities. The school built simple ping-pong tables on the playground using cement bricks, and students would make their own ping-pong paddles from wooden boards at home to practice at school.

Toys were scarce in those days, and students, limited by their families' financial situation, would often make their own toys. For example, spinning tops. All they needed was a suitable piece of wood, which they would carefully carve into a certain shape with a knife. The boys would then use homemade whips to wrap the tops around themselves multiple times before suddenly releasing them to make them spin rapidly.

Some boys enjoy a sport called "rolling iron hoops." Usually, several boys use an iron hook to push the hoop forward at high speed, over various obstacles such as flat ground, puddles, stairs, and steep slopes. They maintain balance and direction, and control and adjust the speed to keep the hoop rolling stably in straight lines or curves, preventing it from falling over. Whoever's hoop falls over first loses.

Girls like to play games like jump rope, shuttlecock, beanbag toss, and hopscotch, and the shuttlecocks and beanbags are almost always homemade.

Wages were low back then, with most employees earning around 30 or 40 yuan a month. Prices were also low; candy cost one cent and popsicles a few cents.

Huai'an's favorite comic books were the little picture books. You could buy seven or eight for just one yuan. With seven or eight comic books in hand, his friends would flock to borrow or exchange them.

School days are always simple and beautiful, but during the three years of natural disasters, food was scarce and there was no food to eat; all the wild vegetables on the mountain were dug up.

Huai'an was better off as an only child, but there wasn't enough rice at the time. She often ate sweet potato porridge, taro porridge, potato porridge, and radish and vegetable porridge. Her adoptive parents would scoop out the vegetables and make thick porridge for Huai'an.

A family that can afford to eat pork belly once a month is considered relatively well-off; some large families only eat meat once a year, on New Year's Eve.

If the school organizes a spring outing, it's already considered a luxury for Huai'an to be able to bring a sweet potato and some biscuits.

Huai'an joined the Young Pioneers in the second grade, wore a red scarf, and was also selected for the school's girls' table tennis team.

However, fate always seems to throw cold water on you when you're happiest. For Huai'an, the hardships of life seemed to have just begun.

In 1962, my adoptive mother fell ill from overwork and developed uterine cancer, which Western medicine called uterine cancer. At that time, it was incurable.

Xiuzhi's condition worsened day by day. Knowing that she didn't have much time left, she was filled with worry and absent-mindedness.

Behind her back, Shi Renmei was also sighing and looking worried.

One day, Huai'an went to play at her neighbor's house and didn't return. Xiuzhi leaned against the headboard and said sadly to Shi Renmei, "I'm most worried about Huai'an. She's still so young..."

Shi Renmei placed a bowl of dark Chinese medicine by the bedside and, forcing herself to stay alert, comforted her: "You should relax. You're still young. Take your medicine and cooperate with the treatment. You'll get better. Don't worry too much."

“It’s no use. I’ve been to several hospitals, and one doctor said it’s probably only a year or two away from being cured. I can feel my health deteriorating day by day, but I’m worried about Huai’an. Do you think I should take her to her birth mother to explain things, so that she can have someone to take care of her in the future?” Xiuzhi coughed a few times and gasped for breath.

Shi Renmei sat on the edge of the bed, frowned, and gave a bitter smile: "They are your biological parents. Whether you tell them or not, it's the same. They will definitely take good care of Huai'an. Xiuzhi, don't you trust me?"

“No,” Xiuzhi sighed, “I know you’re a good man, good to me and good to the children. If I really go before you, of course I hope someone can take care of you. But Huai’an is still young and needs someone to take care of him, and you’re a grown man, so there are many things you can’t do in place of your mother. And Huai’an taking care of you in your old age will probably be more than ten years from now. In the gap of more than ten years, will you live alone? I also hope you live well and find someone who can cook you hot soup and meals, warm your bed and talk to you intimately. But Huai’an is young, so if you find someone, you must be able to accept Huai’an. As long as he is good to Huai’an, I can die in peace…”

Shi Renmei was stunned. He had never imagined what life would be like without Xiuzhi, and he was speechless for a moment.

Over the years, the two of them had relied on each other, enduring hardship and suffering, and he hadn't been able to give Xiuzhi a good life. He felt ashamed and said, "Xiuzhi, don't say that. You should take good care of yourself. What will I do if you leave? What will Huai'an do? It's all my fault for being so incompetent and making you suffer..."

Xiuzhi gently placed her hand on Shi Renmei's rough, large hand, and said with infinite sorrow, "It's not your fault. Everyone is having a hard time, but compared to the days of fighting and fleeing, it's much better now. At least our family is together and living a stable life, and Huai'an can still go to school... It's hard to say whether things in this world are good or bad. Look at how many high-ranking officials, landlords, and gentry were overthrown before. Even Huai'an's biological parents are having a hard time. I heard a few days ago that her biological father was labeled a rightist... I don't understand the ways of this world. I only know that it's good and stable to be with you... It's just that I'm not blessed enough to be with you until the end, and I won't be able to see Huai'an get married..."

After resting for a while, Xiuzhi continued, "I've been wondering what it would be like if our Man'er hadn't died? I'll be able to see him soon, but I wonder if he'll still recognize his mother..."

Shi Renmei shook her head painfully and grasped her hand in return: "Don't say anything, rest for a while."

"I'm afraid there are some things I'll regret not saying," Xiuzhi said. "I need you to promise me that after I'm gone, you'll make sure Huai'an gets a proper education; and if you remarry, you'll treat Huai'an well. Can you promise me that?"

Looking at Xiuzhi's tear-filled eyes, Shi Renmei said with heartache, "Why are you so silly, talking nonsense? You've ruined your health by worrying too much. I will take good care of Huai'an, we'll take good care of her together. You also have to promise me not to overthink things. I won't remarry. I'm already 62, I can't afford to go through any more trouble."

Xiuzhi gazed deeply at the man before her, saying nothing more. She knew in her heart that her husband was a good man, and also a man of great strength. She didn't believe he wouldn't marry, even though he treated Huai'an very well. But as the saying goes, with a stepmother comes a stepfather, and human nature can't withstand the test.

Her only worry was Huai'an...

One day, Wang Xiuzhi's usually kind face suddenly became somewhat solemn. She looked at Huai'an with a firm yet slightly mysterious gaze and said softly, "An'an, come with Mommy. Today, Mommy will take you to meet your relatives!"

"What is family recognition?" An'an looked up at her mother.

Looking at An'an's innocent face, Xiuzhi replied with a hint of bitterness, "It's to take you to meet your biological mother."

“You are my own mother, I don’t want anyone else.” An’an was a little confused.

Xiuzhi smiled and said, "Mom didn't spoil you for nothing..." Then she took An'an's little hand and walked out the door.

At that time, Huai'an was just an innocent child. She was confused and curious about her mother's sudden words and actions. But when she saw her mother's serious expression, she could only obediently nod and follow closely behind her mother.

The two first walked through familiar streets, then turned left and right into a narrow and secluded alley. The alley was like a maze, winding and complex, and Huai'an walked cautiously, afraid of losing his way. Finally, after much wandering, they arrived at a large, seemingly old but full-hearted courtyard house.

At this moment, Xiuzhi stopped and stood in front of one of the houses. The doorway of this house was spotless, clearly indicating that the owner was an extremely clean person.

Xiuzhi took a deep breath, then raised her voice and asked, "Sister Shuyi, are you home?"

As soon as she finished speaking, a clear and pleasant reply came from inside: "I'm home!" Then, accompanied by light footsteps, the door slowly opened. A slender, petite middle-aged woman stepped out. Although her face bore the marks of time, it still appeared shrewd and capable. She wore a slightly worn khaki Lenin suit and looked energetic, walking briskly towards Xiuzhi and her son.

She noticed that Xiuzhi and Huai'an looked a little surprised, but her face quickly regained its composure, and she forced a smile, saying, "Come in."

Huai'an was a little timid and just followed quietly behind his adoptive mother without making a sound.

The room was small but very tidy. A boy and a girl were doing their homework at the dining table. They were both a little older than Huai'an.

It was later learned that the boy was the fifth brother, Li Huaiyuan (13 years old). Hearing the noise, he looked up and glanced at Huai'an, then winked and made faces at Huai'an. The girl was the fourth sister, Li Huaizhen (15 years old). She just gave Huai'an a cold look, rolled her eyes at Li Huaiyuan, and then buried herself in her homework, as if she was not affected at all.

Huai'an was unfamiliar with all of this. In fact, she was usually a lively person, but for some reason, entering this family made her feel uneasy. There was a vague connection that made her restrained and even a little inferior. Perhaps this was the suppression of blood ties.

She lowered her head, fiddling with the hem of her clothes with her fingers, and listened quietly to her mother and He Shuyi talking.

A middle-aged man with a tired expression, wearing black-rimmed glasses, an old blue Zhongshan suit, black trousers and cloth shoes, stood up from his seat when he saw them come in, nodded kindly to Xiuzhi, and pointed to the stool next to him, saying repeatedly, "Sit, sit, sit down quickly."

Huai'an later learned that these were her biological father, Li Hanchen, and her biological mother, He Shuyi.

Li Hanchen had long since become a submissive, resigned person, the hardships of life having worn down his edges. If it weren't for his large family needing his continued support, he feared he would have already lost the will to live.

He Shuyi poured Xiuzhi a glass of water and then took out a peach shortbread from the room for Huai'an. Huai'an whispered a thank you. He Shuyi patted her head, sighed, and sat down beside her without saying anything. She looked at Xiuzhi and asked, "Xiuzhi, is something wrong?"

Xiuzhi hesitated for a moment, as if she had mustered up her courage, and said, "I came here today to bring Huai'an to meet her relatives, so that she will have someone to visit after I leave."

Mr. and Mrs. Ho were taken aback and exchanged a puzzled look.

"What? Gone?" He Shuyi didn't dare to think in that direction, as it seemed a bit impolite, so she asked hesitantly, "Where did you go?"

"The doctor said I only have about a year left..." Xiuzhi whispered a subtle hint, then steeled herself and pushed Huai'an again, saying, "An'an, quickly call Daddy and Mommy, these are your real mothers."

Huai'an froze, his mind went blank, he couldn't move his feet, and he couldn't understand his mother's words.

Li Huaiyuan jumped off the stool with a cry of surprise, ran to pull Huai'an, and shook her arm, saying, "What's wrong with you? Quickly call Dad and Mom, and also call me brother." He urged, "Call me brother, call me brother, I'm your fifth brother."

Li Huaizhen rested her chin on her hand, looking at Huai'an. She glanced at the peach shortbread in Huai'an's hand, snorted, and said disdainfully to Li Huaiyuan, "Idiot, what's the rush? We haven't even acknowledged our parents yet! We don't even have enough to eat ourselves, and now we have to add another mouth to feed. What's there to be happy about?"

Li Hanchen glared angrily at Li Huaizhen and said fiercely, "Don't talk nonsense."

He Shuyi understood, and neither refused nor agreed, but simply took Xiuzhi's hand and said, "Xiuzhi, come, let's go inside and talk."

The two went into the inner room to talk privately, leaving Huai'an sitting there. Although the room was full of relatives, she felt lonely and fearful.

Li Hanchen didn't force her to call him "Dad," and comforted her, "It's okay, An'an, eat first. Mom will be out soon."

Li Huaiyuan also stared at the peach shortbread and licked his lips, saying, "Eat it quickly, it's delicious."

Huai'an, clutching the pancake, suddenly felt unwell and cried out, "Mom, I want to go home; Mom, I want to go home!"

Xiuzhi hurriedly replied from the inner room, "Okay, right away. Sit down for a bit and play with your older brother and sister."

Then she tearfully said to He Shuyi, "I have no choice. How could I bear to give Huai'an to you? I cherish her like a treasure. Unfortunately, I am not blessed enough to stay with her for long. The rest of my life will depend on you. Otherwise, Huai'an will be all alone in this world. How can I rest easy?"