In 1912, Fu Peiyuan was born among the rice paddies of the south. As his grandfather lay dying, he held Fu's hand and said, “Someday, give the people a better life.” Fu remembered those words and left home to join the army at fourteen.
In 1915, Lin Jingqiu was born beneath a begonia tree in the northern city. Her grandfather taught her, “A scholar must have backbone.” She remembered those words and, at twenty-two, transmigrated through a hail of bullets to find him.
From Beiguan Bridge to the frozen lake, from black hair to white. A bullet casing held a secret for seventy-five years. He fought all his life; she spent a lifetime waiting for someone.
“Our generation fought the wars so the next generation wouldn't have to.”
