Li Yousheng

Author’s Note: Scholars often say that communism and Christianity share similar doctrines. The European religious revolutions gave rise to the two major sects of Christianity and Catholicism, paving the way for the later capitalist modernization of the secular world; all three coexist to this day. China’s Cultural Revolution was a revolution against Soviet fundamentalist communism, paving the way for China’s later reform and opening up. Man-made secondary societies can take countless forms; there’s no need to deny each other. The West has no intention of condemning religious believers, and we have even less reason to condemn the innocent and carefree youth of forty or fifty years ago: leaving the innocent smiles of infants to remain forever.

I. The construction site of Shui Diao Ge Tou Ganhe and Li XX

After graduating from medical school in 1970, most of us were assigned to work in remote mountainous areas of Southwest and Northwest China. I spent a year doing manual labor in a place called Ganhe, north of Anshun City in Guizhou Province, building a medium-sized hospital in the wilderness. The Ganhe construction site was located on the north bank of a lake called Honghu, surrounded by several mountains. The mountains in Guizhou are not very high, similar to those in Guilin, Guangxi. They are limestone terrain, and perhaps due to the climate, vegetation grows in the crevices of the rocks, but not tall trees. While I was working on the construction site, surrounded by piles of building materials, I received a poem in the style of “Shuidiao Getou” from my classmate Li XX. I immediately composed a poem in response to him while still working. Later, another classmate, Huang XX, learned of this and also wrote a poem, which I attached below. I changed the metrical pattern of the first few lines, thinking it would better convey the ups and downs of the emotions.

The rippling waters of Honghu Lake

Surrounded by several Cangshan Mountains,

Lifting up ten miles of clouds,

Adding a new look to a place.

Construction workers enjoy reading the Water Melody.

Meaning: to the southern and northern barbarians

What does it mean to have no connection with the ancients?

The wild geese travel far and wide, enduring hardship.

Soaring through several layers of heaven.

Looking back,

Sorrowful longing stretches to the horizon.

Sorrowful blue sky.

Scholars spent their years together.

The vast sea discusses extraordinary men.

An will pour out his passionate heart.

Scattered on barren mountains and scattered rocks,

Warmth melts away the frost and cold.

Grass sprouts on the edge after rain.

Verdant greenery covers the plateau.

II. Original lyrics by Li XX: Water Melody

Intending to visit Qinghai Lake

Flying across the Sun and Moon Mountains.

The Tang Palace’s extraordinary splendor is laughable.

Two tears washed away her beautiful face.

He deliberately seeks out the northern winds and border grasses.

This is my hometown and homeland.

Vast and ancient, yet without connection.

I am delighted to see the mountains at noon.

The blue sea meets the azure sky.

Red erupted,

From the dream,

A new era begins.

They are everywhere in China.

A man of extraordinary ambition and good character.

Delighted to ride the east wind, it flew away.

Sprinkled on remote hills and barren mountains,

Unyielding spirit defies frost and cold.

Snowflakes welcome the arrival of spring.

Flowers bloom all over the plains.

III. Lyrics by Huang XX: Water Melody

The vast Gobi Desert,

It stretches to the Tianshan Mountains.

I love seeing the snow and ice.

The afterglow of the setting sun paints her face red.

Watching the sails battle the waves at dawn,

The city walls rose even higher.

The mirage is out of reach.

Listen to the roar of the iron oxen.

The ancient plains have been transformed into a new world.

For the people,

Slay the jackals,

They went to Khotan.

With the rising sun in one’s heart,

Hardship is nothing to talk about.

Transformed into a sturdy pine tree of the Tianshan Mountains.

Rooted in the northern border region,

Unyielding spirit defies the bitter cold.

Waiting for the spring breeze to cross to the west,

Flowers bloom all over the plains.

IV. Farewell Message from Chen XX

In 1963, when I graduated from high school, I gave a book to my close classmate, Chen XX. On the title page, I casually inscribed the following poem, which, as readers will know, was not a carefully crafted piece. Fifty-two years later, I have copied it below, word for word, to reflect the mood and state of mind at the time, and perhaps it has sociological significance. At that time, the political tendencies leading up to the Cultural Revolution were already evident, and students were among the first to be affected. Compared to today’s young people, there is a world of difference. This shows that the human heart is a product of its time, which is what the author’s two-tiered social theory refers to: humans are products of social culture, that is, products made by humanity itself, but not by a few individuals, but by the collective creation of hundreds of millions of people.

How many times have the locust flowers bloomed outside the window?

The sound of bells tolled frequently in my ears. (Note)

Six years of friendship have forged a deep bond between classmates.

The cuckoo sings in the clear sky, urging us to return home.

Memories of the past come like threads of silk.

Just like what happened in last night’s dream:

How much affection the spring breeze and willows convey!

The setting sun casts its rays through the window, illuminating the sound of reading.

Walking slowly along the oblique path in the field,

He spoke softly, holding a book in his hand.

Enjoying the Mid-Autumn Moon from the Window

Under the bed, one can hear all the affairs of the world;

In the vast expanse of silver,

Where snowflakes fall, clouds begin to form.

Now I’m leaving.

How many times will we meet?

The east wind and spring rain bring forth lush flowers.

Have you not heard:

Unconcerned about children’s tears;

Don’t sigh:

The wind howls, stirring up strong emotions of parting;

Do you not see:

Eagles spread their wings across the vast sky;

Don’t you see:

A thousand miles of spring sunshine, ten thousand horses galloping.

say what,

Friends are as close as neighbors, even if they are far apart.

How decadent and uncompetitive he is.

Only wish:

The Yangtze River is nowhere to be seen rolling away.

But then one sees the Yellow River appearing on the horizon;

The east wind has not yet brought the dragon back to the sea.

But then the young phoenix soared into the sky again.

Do you remember?

He once boasted:

I’d rather be a daredevil on the mountaintop.

Unwilling to be born into a greenhouse of happiness;

There are no ambitious people among the great ranks.

A woman who is tender and affectionate is not a true man.

Zhi’er traveled 1,000 miles on the marathon.

Parting has its own sorrows;

Even if it is a day of eternal farewell,

But after class, we will not meet again.

What difference does distance make between us?

We speak out for socialism.

Those who used to ride bamboo horses together,

Who knows how many heroes will emerge in the future?

Unwilling to fly through the air like wild geese and swans.

May good news follow the spring breeze;

Unwilling to be a so-called noble person,

May this heroic spirit last forever.

(Note: At that time, each class at the school lasted about fifty minutes, followed by a ten-minute break. A bell was rung at the beginning and end of each class as a signal.)

author By Dr. You-Sheng Li

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