The Second Grandma's Old House

Grandma Luo Man lived through two centuries. She lived to the venerable age of 106.

Grandma was born into a wealthy family in town, but the family fell into decline during the turmoil of war. During the fervent rallies and propaganda campaigns of the War of Resistance, she happened to meet her future husband, Zhou Zhihao, a young man from the mountains who was studying at a teacher-training school in the county seat.

Luo Man had grown to hate the town life of that chaotic era, when no one knew what the next day might bring.

Her two older brothers, both officers in the Nationalist army, died fighting the Japanese, and bandits killed her father.

With all hope gone, Grandma resolutely followed Zhou Zhihao to a remote mountain village and married him.

Grandma’s cousin was a member of the underground Communist Party.

After arriving in Yong’an Village, Grandma did her best to fit in with the locals and learned to do farm work she had never done before.

Grandma lived a peaceful, comfortable life in Yong’an Village.

She taught herself midwifery and delivered babies for the women of Bao’an Village, becoming a well-known midwife.

Zhou Zhihao narrowly escaped death and fled to Taiwan, where he endured hardship. Thanks to his abilities, he was promoted to principal of Cheng Tian Junior High School in Chiayi. After Taiwan allowed veterans to visit their families, he returned home for a visit.

Luo Man and Zhou Zhihao were reunited. After reform and opening-up began, Yong’an Village fell further and further behind the outside world because of its isolation. Its deep-rooted poverty could not be shaken off, and the young women left for distant places. In pursuit of meager profits, people planted jute and ruined the water. Zhou Zhihao brought Luo Man a sum of money to make up for what she had lost. He worked with the county government to reclaim the old family home. While restoring it, they discovered Kainan’s belongings. Zhou Zhihao suffered a mishap, and Luo Man fell ill, so she raised the next generation. With government support, a road was finally built to Yong’an Village.

The village’s green hills and clear waters returned. Luo Man often traveled elsewhere, like a migratory bird, but always came back to live in Yong’an Village, where she eventually died of old age.