Ma Junwu (right), an employee of the 185th Regiment of the 10th Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, is on patrol (photo taken on April 9). Xinhua News Agency reporter Hu Huhu, photo
Xinhua News Agency, Urumqi, April 27 Title: Flowing Jiehe River Water, Persistent Husband and Wife Whistle – The Story of the "Jiehe Husband and Wife" 30 Years of Guarding the River
Xinhua News Agency reporters Zhang Yan, He Jun, Hu Huhu, Zhang Xiaocheng
In the early spring morning, the red flag in front of the military outpost is covered with sunshine and shakes in the wind. The Arakbek River beside the outpost is murmuring and meanders along the border between China and Kazakhstan. Two watchtowers, one old and one new, stand among the poplar trees, which continue to witness the 30-year border defense of Ma Junwu and his wife.
Ma Junwu climbed the sentry tower, climbed high and overlooked the smoke, traces and tree shadows on the Sino-Kazakh border. "My family lives at the end of the road, and the boundary monument is behind the house. Crops are planted on the border of the boundary river, and sheep and cattle are herded on the border." This is the most vivid portrayal of his life.
Ma Junwu (right), an employee of the 185th Regiment of the 10th Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, is on patrol (photo taken on April 9). Xinhua News Agency reporter Hu Huhu, photo
A promise that hasn’t been fulfilled in 30 years
"As soon as I heard it, I knew the water was big." Ma Junwu told his own experience. The source of the story is the Arakbek River, which he has guarded all year round.
The military outpost is located on the border of China and Kazakhstan, the 185th Regiment of the 10th Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. There are few people here, only the Arakbek River sobs at four o’clock.
In April 1988, the Zhongsu Arakbek River suffered a snowmelt flood, which diverted the course of the flood and washed away the Sandeke Longkou, which was irrigated by 185 groups, and the natural ditch of Karasu flowed into the Irtysh River.
Ma Junwu said of the year: "According to the practice of international law at that time, the border between China and the Soviet Union was located in the center of the border river. If the border river is allowed to be diverted, 55.5 square kilometers of territory east of the border river and west of the natural gully will be lost. Then we have really become sinners through the ages."
The land is sacred, and it is the responsibility to defend the land. The brothers of the 185th regiment fought side by side and finally brought the flood back to its old way. The 19-year-old Ma Junwu also experienced the baptism of fighting the flood, and he made up his mind to protect the water here in the future.
From then on, a wisp of solitary smoke rose from the desert in the northwestern part of the motherland, and in the adobe house post on the bank of the Arakbek River, there was a young man’s figure. Ma Junwu patrolled along the border river during the day, slept with the sound of water at night, and at the same time he distributed water to the Longkou of the Sandke River to ensure downstream agricultural irrigation. Originally the post had the same name as the Longkou, and it was also called the Sandke Post, and everyone called it the military post.
In early 1992, Ma Junwu was introduced to his wife Zhang Zhengmei. Zhang Zhengmei bluntly said that he didn’t like him at first sight: "The big eyes and double eyelids are good, but they are not tall." The pony also did not say a word, just working hard. It was still the father-in-law who made a final decision: "This guy is practical and willing to work, and he is married!" From then on, the military post became a husband and wife post. In the lonely desert, there were short laughter from parents and whispers of firewood, rice, oil and salt.
After getting married, Ma Junwu and Zhang Zhengmei had planned to return to the regiment headquarters, and his mother had already bought an old house in the city. Unexpectedly, there would be floods in the spring of the next year. From March and April to May and June, the flood peak would be busy again. When it came time to distribute water to farmers, it was really impossible to leave.
The floods in the Arakbek River have been repeated, and the words Ma Junwu said to his wife "let’s go next year" have not been fulfilled for 30 years.
Ma Junwu said that he had never thought of staying here for so long, and no one had ever asked him to stay for so long, but more than 30 years had passed without realizing it. Zhang Zhengmei knew the reason, she said: "He is too serious about his work, he always says that when he leaves, others have to come again."
Ma Junwu, an employee of the 185th Regiment of the 10th Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, rides a motorcycle in the management and protection area (photo taken on April 9). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Hu Huhu
Eat ice and swallow snow water in winter, and apply diesel to repel mosquitoes in summer
The mountains and rivers are depressed, and the natural environment around the military and military outposts is harsh. Liu Jin’an, director of the Party Building Office of the 185th Regiment, said with a smile: "I am scared to death by floods in spring, bitten by mosquitoes in summer, blown to death by wind and sand in autumn, and frozen to death by ice and snow in winter."
Accompanying Ma Junwu and Zhang Zhengmei are only the shadows of poplar trees, the flowing patterns of yellow sand, the folds of snow-capped mountains, and the sound of water in the world river.
He was really bored and panicked, so Ma Junwu ran to the Gobi Desert and roared twice. After listening to his own echo, it was like having a conversation with someone else.
Zhang Zhengmei smiled and said, "Here, we didn’t quarrel."
As soon as winter began, the couple bought cabbage, potatoes, radishes and flour for the first half of the year and put them in the vegetable cellar. After more than 20 kilometers on the patrol side road, Ma Junwu brought steamed buns, ate two mouthfuls when he was hungry, and drank a few mouthfuls of river water when he was thirsty. In winter, the steamed buns were frozen hard, and Ma Junwu swallowed a mouthful of snow hard, his mouth full of ice ballast.
"Summer is the hardest, there are mosquitoes at night and bites during the day, and they work shifts." Ma Junwu said with a smile that there are more than 1,700 mosquitoes per cubic meter outside the post in summer, and four dogs have been bitten to death in more than 30 years. He made a homemade mosquito repellent that he had to apply every 15 minutes outdoors. "Lysol water, diesel oil, mosquito repellent, peppermint oil, toilet water, whatever you can use, just like making that cocktail, shaking it when you use it." After marrying, Zhang Zhengmei never wore a skirt.
Every year in May and June, the couple would order newspapers and magazines without hesitation. In the early days, the annual salary of 600 yuan would cost one or two hundred yuan on newspapers and periodicals. "Story Club", "Marriage and Family"… Zhang Zhengmei talked about these publications as a treasure.
The newspaper subscription cost money, but it only cost his eyes. Ma Junwu recalled, "I usually light horse lanterns. In winter, the kerosene lamp smokes my nose black.
Later, the couple had a Nokia phone, but the mobile phone had to be dialed fixed, "just nail it and hang it on the door frame, and this is where the signal can be received," Zhang Zhengmei said.
Ma Junwu, an employee of the 185th Regiment of the 10th Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, observes the management and protection area on the watchtower (photo taken on April 9). Xinhua News Agency reporter Hu Huhu, photo
I only do one thing in my life, I will defend my motherland
Life is hard, but Ma Junwu is always optimistic. He said to Zhang Zhengmei: "Conditions will gradually improve."
Year after year, the working and living environment has undergone tremendous changes without realizing it.
In 2006, the couple bid farewell to the adobe house, moved into a new outpost, planted flowers and ate fresh vegetables;
In 2008, the new 20-meter watchtower was completed, allowing the side-guarding couple to take it to the next level and see farther;
In 2010, a cement road was opened in front of the military outpost.
In 2017, the outpost was equipped with a new batch of border guards, and the dependence of two people became the support of a group of people…
Ma Junwu exclaimed: "This is all the party’s policy!" On July 1, 2010, on the party’s birthday, Ma Junwu joined the Communist Party of China. On July 1, 2013, Zhang Zhengmei also became a member. In front of the party flag, Ma Junwu solemnly wore the party emblem for Zhang Zhengmei.
Nowadays, the Baisha Lake Scenic Area located in the territory of the 185 Regiment is rated as a national 5A-level scenic spot. The snow-capped mountains reflect the blue lake water, and the desert writes the pride of guarding the border. The 185 Regiment has created a beautiful business card of red tourism, welcoming more tourists. Ma Junwu has become a commentator on border defense knowledge obligations.
"Look, this is China, this is a foreign country." In the memorial hall built behind Ma Junwu’s house, the story of Ma Junwu’s husband and wife’s post has also become an important chapter. He often carries his young grandson into it, so that the children can feel the red temperament from an early age. The colorful lights in the glass passage at his feet mark the boundary between China and Kazakhstan, and Ma Junwu steps on the clearly marked map, which is like a miniature picture of his 33-year border defense career.
Observe the dam water conditions, check forest vegetation, maintain signs and facilities, and discourage illegal activities along the border. In the past 30 years, Ma Junwu and his wife have guarded the area without a foreign-related incident.
Every morning, Ma Junwu and Zhang Zhengmei raise the national flag in a simple but grand ceremony, with the party emblem on their chests shining in the red of the national flag in the morning light. "With this flag, no matter how far the patrol goes, you can find your way," Ma Junwu said.
Puzzle photo: The picture above shows Ma Junwu and his wife Zhang Zhengmei on patrol more than a decade ago (remade photo, taken on April 10); the picture below shows Ma Junwu and his wife Zhang Zhengmei holding their grandson in front of the post (taken on April 9). Xinhua News Agency reporter Hu Huhu, photo
