Colorful years

Grandma and Grandpa got married during the turbulent Republican era, like a touch of warmth in a chaotic world. Although it began with hardship, it also planted a deep emotional foundation in each other's hearts.

However, the dawn of peace did not bring them the long-lasting reunion and tranquility they had hoped for. Instead, the seeds of discord were quietly sown amidst the trivialities and changes of life.

In the spring of 1952, as the wheels of time slowly rolled into their sixties, Grandpa and Grandma, who had been partners for many years, also had to face the sense of powerlessness brought by the passing years.

The tailor shop, a place that embodies their youth and sweat, has now become a burden they can no longer bear.

Whenever the night was deep and quiet, and the lights were dim, Grandpa would always gaze at the large wooden table where he used to cut wood, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

He knew that the tide of the times was rolling forward, and the wave of public-private partnerships was unstoppable.

So, on a sunny spring afternoon, Grandpa made a decision that would affect the fate of the whole family—to donate the tailor shop to the town government free of charge.

For Grandpa, this decision was a bold move in response to national policy and in line with the trend of the times; but for Grandma, it was a bolt from the blue, something she could not accept.

Tailor shops were not only the mainstay of their livelihood, but also a place where they could find solace and emotional support.

With the disappearance of the tailor shop, the family's economic lifeline seemed to be cut off overnight, and their lives instantly fell into hardship.

They had to rely on the few acres of paddy fields they were allocated during the land reform to make a living, but the land was barren and the harvest was limited, which was simply not enough to support this large family.

Grandma's dissatisfaction with Grandpa deepened day by day. She felt that he was too rash and did not think about the future of the family.

Grandpa, however, insisted on his own opinion, believing that joint public-private ownership was a major national policy and that individuals should unconditionally obey it.

The differences between the two grew larger and larger, and their relationship gradually developed cracks.

This crack, like the cold wind in winter, silently erodes the warmth of this family.

After losing the tailor shop, the family's financial situation deteriorated. Although Grandpa was old, he had never tried physical labor and found himself unable to handle farm work.

My two aunts have long since married and moved far away, and are busy making a living on their own, unable to provide any substantial help to the family.

Zhang Zhongyuan, the fourth son, was serving in the military, making it even more difficult for him to intervene.

The fifth son, Zhang Hou, suffers from asthma and is frail and sickly, making him completely unable to shoulder the burden of the family.

Only two daughters-in-law remained in the family, barely managing to keep up with the farm work and raise two young children.

Their strength is limited, and they always seem unable to handle the work in the fields.

In this predicament, Grandma missed her fourth son, Zhang Zhong, who was working as a clerk in the army, even more.

She wrote three letters to Zhang Zhong, filled with a mother's deep affection for her son and her helplessness regarding the family's current situation.

She hoped that Zhang Zhong could retire from the army and return to his hometown to help his family through their difficulties.

After receiving the letter from home, Zhang Zhong was filled with conflict and struggle.

He loved military life and longed to make a difference in the army; but as a filial son, he could not ignore his mother's expectations and his family's difficulties.

After three days of careful consideration, Zhang Zhong finally made a difficult decision—to retire from the army and return to his hometown.

Upon returning to his hometown, Zhang Zhong found that the town's credit union had just been established and urgently needed to hire an accountant.

With his year of private schooling and modern education in the military, he was undoubtedly the most educated among his peers.

In addition, his status as a veteran made him the top choice for the credit union to recruit.

However, Grandma had other plans. She knew that Uncle Zhang Hou was in poor health and unable to handle the heavy physical labor in the countryside; while Zhang Zhong was strong and healthy and could handle any job with ease.

So, Grandma persuaded Zhang Zhong to give his job opening at the credit union to his younger brother, Zhang Hou.

This decision was undoubtedly a huge sacrifice for Zhang Zhong.

However, knowing his grandmother's good intentions and his younger brother's predicament, he ultimately agreed to his grandmother's request without hesitation.

In this way, Zhang Hou successfully entered the credit union as an accountant, while Zhang Zhong took on the role of production team leader.

This seemingly ordinary decision has inadvertently altered the fate of two families.

Zhang Hou's job at the credit union was relatively easy and stable, and he earned more than 20 yuan a month, which was equivalent to half a year's income from working in the production team.

This allowed him to live a relatively decent life despite his poor health.

As the production team leader, Zhang Zhong needs to put in more effort and hard work to lead his fellow villagers to prosperity.

He knew the weight of his responsibility and dared not slack off in the slightest. He went out early and returned late every day, working tirelessly in the fields and sharing meals, lodging, and labor with the villagers.

Under his leadership, the production team's grain output increased year by year, and the villagers' living standards gradually improved.

However, as time went on, the income gap between the two brothers accelerated the process of them dividing the family property.

Zhang Hou lived a relatively comfortable life thanks to his salary from the credit union;

Although Zhang Zhong won the respect and love of his fellow villagers, his family still had a heavy burden.

He not only had to take care of his elderly parents and raise his young children, but also had to manage the work of the production team, which often left him feeling overwhelmed.

Soon, the brothers' decision to divide the family property was put on the agenda.