The Transformation from "Xiao Liu" to "Lao Liu"
2024-08-19
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The Transformation from "Xiao Liu" to "Lao Liu"
During my youth, I was used to being called "Xiao". From the time I joined the army at the age of 15 to the time I retired at the age of 32, people called me "Xiao Liu". Even the "new recruits" who joined the army later than me called me "Xiao Liu" because I was indeed younger than them. At the age of 17, I became a confidential clerk. According to the regulations of the army, confidential clerks enjoy the political treatment of cadres. Although I was still a soldier, I could participate in the cadre meetings of the regiment and borrow documents transmitted to cadres above the platoon level. The section chief Li Yongchun loved me very much and simply transferred my food relationship to the cadre kitchen on this ground. I also enjoyed the treatment of cadres in my life. Except for the cooks, I was the only soldier who wore two pockets and ate in the cadre cafeteria. I was the youngest diners. At the age of 18, I was promoted to the confidential staff of the regiment headquarters. According to the old staff of my colleagues, the youngest "staff" was a company-level cadre. I "jumped over the stove and onto the kang", and was directly promoted to a company-level cadre from a platoon-level cadre, becoming the youngest company-level cadre in the whole regiment. When I was 23 years old, I was appointed as the deputy chief of the confidentiality section of the regiment headquarters (in charge of work). A year later, I was appointed as the chief (at the battalion level), becoming the youngest battalion level cadre in the Jinan Military Region Air Force at that time. People still called me "Xiao Liu".
The turning point happened after I was discharged from the army, when I was less than 33 years old. Most of the people in the department were young people who had just graduated from college. Out of respect for me, it was natural for them to call me "Lao Liu". Those who were older than me had less years of work experience than me. Although I did not have a position at the time, I enjoyed a regular salary. It was obviously inappropriate to call me "Xiao Liu", so they all followed the trend and called me "Lao Liu".
The change of address from young to old is the accumulation of qualifications and age, and has nothing to do with personal conduct and position. After becoming the chief economist, people's address to me changed. Many people, including the director, began to call me "Old Liu". I was not used to it. I was only in my 50s and could not reach the realm of being highly respected. I was not qualified to be called "old". Later, I realized that this "old" has indescribable feelings. Some are respectful, referring to the "old" of old comrades; some are praises, recognizing your work ability and professional level, referring to the "old" of old experts; some are ridicules, referring to the "old" of not making progress. There is a senior director in the department, Feng Zhouan. When I worked in the Department of Agriculture, he was the director of the Provincial Agricultural Committee and a well-known "Three Rural Issues" expert in the province. After the institutional reform, the Agricultural Committee and the Department of Agriculture were merged, and he became the director of the Economic Management Department. I assisted the department leaders in taking charge of the Economic Management Department. The chief economist is a "freak" with no visible and tangible functions. His position is a member of the administrative leadership team of the department, and his position is at the level of a director. It is very awkward to work and I am easily teased by senior directors. Once, there was a meeting in the department. The department leaders sat on the rostrum, and I was arranged to sit at the edge of the rostrum. Brother Feng started to tease me from the audience and sent me a text message: "Move in." I then replied to him: "Come up and sit down." I fought wits and courage for nearly three years, and won the respect of the old directors, and some even became friends.
A few days ago, I heard another change in the way I was addressed. I went to a snack bar to buy breakfast. The waiter greeted me with a smile and asked me enthusiastically, "Old man, what do you want to buy?" I was surprised. Did the "old man" refer to me? I went home and looked in the mirror. My hair was gray, my eyebrows were covered with frost, and my face was mottled... Time is a killing knife, and every knife makes people old. After a few knives, the youthful "Xiao Liu" became a devastated "old man". My appearance has to pay for the years. I have to accept it even if I don't like it. "The beauty is honest and trustworthy", and the eyes of the masses are sharp! This address is acceptable, and those "nicknames" that are not said to your face should also be accepted: "Old thing", "Old man", "Old man", "Old guy"... These are all common addresses for people of my age.
After 60 years old is an important node in life. The sunset is approaching the horizon and the colorful life is coming to an end. There is no longer a long time to come in the dictionary of the rest of your life. The only thing that can be dominated is: do not regret yesterday, do not gamble on tomorrow, cherish today, and live healthily every day.
About the author: Liu Tongli, born in November 1955, joined the army in November 1970, and retired in November 1987. He served as director and chief economist of the Provincial Department of Agriculture, deputy director of the Provincial Party Committee's Agricultural and Industrial Office, deputy head of the Agricultural Economics Division of the Provincial Agricultural and Rural Expert Advisory Group, and cooperative tutor of Shandong University. He retired in November 2014.
One Point Photography by Zhong Fusheng
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