军人丈夫牺牲后，大义军嫂代夫做了37年家中“长子”
A Soldier's Wife with a Great Sense of Righteousness Has Taken Her Husband's Role as the “Eldest Son” in the Family for 37 Years
王丽珠捧起结婚照 Wang Lizhu showing her wedding photo
王丽珠给婆婆按摩 Wang Lizhu massaging her mother-in-law
王丽珠照顾生病的婆婆 Wang Lizhu taking care of her sick mother-in-law
楚天都市报极目新闻记者 陈勇 张盼
通讯员 胡擎宇
翻译 张慧敏 黄伟韬 卫拉（湖北大学）
Jimu News
Reporters: Chen Yong, Zhang Pan
Correspondent: Hu Qingyu
Translators: Zhang Huimin, Huang Weitao, Lisa M.K (Hubei University)
玉，历来被人们用来形容矢志不渝的爱情，最能经得起时间的考验。
Jade, which is traditionally used to describe unswerving love, can withstand the test of time the most.
4000多年前，在天门石家河一带，新石器时代的人们，用精湛的技艺，制作出代表史前玉作巅峰的玉器，“中华第一凤”惊艳了世人。
Over 4,000 years ago, in the area of Shijiahe, Tianmen City, Hubei Province, people of the Neolithic period, with exquisite skills, produced a jade artifact representing the pinnacle of prehistoric jade work, the “First Chinese Phoenix”, which has impressed the world.
1985年6月，入伍7年的天门石家河镇军人陈石军，在新疆和田和布公路的施工中献出了宝贵的生命。彼时，他和妻子王丽珠结婚只有一年半，孩子还没有满周岁，家中还有父母和4个弟弟妹妹。
In June 1985, Chen Shijun, a soldier from Shijiahe Town, Tianmen City, Hubei Province, who had been in the army for seven years, sacrificed his precious life in the construction of Hebu Highway in Hotan City, Xinjiang. At that time, he and his wife Wang Lizhu had only been married for one and a half years, and their child was not yet one year old. He was survived by his parents and four younger siblings who needed to be looked after at home.
“投我以木瓜，报之以琼琚（意为‘玉’）。匪报也，永以为好也。”为了“我是军人的妻子”这7个字，王丽珠强忍悲痛，毅然承担起照顾一家老小的责任。
An old Chinese saying goes: “If you throw a papaya to me, l will give you a white jade in return as a symbol of friendship.” To repay the favor of being an army wife, Wang Lizhu endured her grief and took up the responsibility of taking care of her family.
新婚不久丈夫就长眠天山脚下
Soon After Their Marriage, the Husband Was Buried at the Foot of Tianshan Mountain
12月10日，在天门市石家河镇马溪社区，极目新闻记者见到了已经年过六旬的王丽珠。她1997年盖的房子至今都没有装修，门口就是静静流淌的石家河。
On December 10, 2022, in Maxi Community, Shijiahe Town, Tianmen City, Jimu reporters met Wang Lizhu, who is already over 60 years old. The house she built in 1997 has not been furnished till date, and right at her doorway is the quietly flowing Shijiahe River.
岁月，在王丽珠的身上刻下了深深的印记，当年的青丝已成白发。当年，作为军人的妻子，她曾青春靓丽，前路繁花似锦。
The years have wrinkled her skin, and turned her hair from black to white. Back then, as a soldier's wife, she was young and beautiful and had a bright future.
陈石军和王丽珠定的是娃娃亲。虽然早早定下婚约，但在那个年代，两人几乎没有来往。
Chen Shijun and Wang Lizhu were betrothed when they were kids. Although the marriage was long set, in those days, the two barely had contact with each other.
1978年，陈石军参军。在送兵的时候，17岁的王丽珠才和陈石军说话。
In 1978, Chen Shijun joined the army. As he was about to set off, 17-year-old Wang Lizhu finally spoke with him for the very first time.
1983年年末，陈石军和王丽珠结婚了。婚后，王丽珠随同已经回到部队的丈夫到新疆度蜜月，度过了一段快乐甜蜜的军旅生活。
At the end of 1983, Chen Shijun and Wang Lizhu got married. After that, Wang Lizhu and her husband, who had been assigned into a local army in Xinjiang, went on their honeymoon. And there they spent a happy and sweet time as he served in the military.
在军营里，为了不让王丽珠这个探亲的军嫂孤单寂寞，部队首长让她与战士们一起参加学习考试，闲暇时，王丽珠和战士们一起包饺子、唱歌、学跳新疆舞。
In the barracks, in order not to let Wang Lizhu the visiting military wife feel lonely, the army commander let her study with the soldiers. During their free time, Wang Lizhu joined the soldiers in activities like making dumplings, singing and learning Xinjiang dance.
在王丽珠的记忆里，这5个多月的军旅生活，是她人生中最幸福的时光。
In Wang Lizhu's memory, the five months of military life were the happiest time in her life.
没多久，王丽珠怀孕了，她和一名京山籍战友的妻子一起，结伴回到了湖北老家，在村小学当起了民办教师。
Not long after, Wang Lizhu got pregnant, and so she returned to her hometown in Hubei Province with the wife of a comrade from Jingshan. She later worked as a teacher in a local private elementary school.
这之后，陈石军回过两次天门，一次是孩子出生百天时回来探亲，还有一次则是回家过春节。两次加起来，陪伴王丽珠的时间不到50天。
Since then, Chen Shijun returned to Tianmen twice, the first time was to celebrate 100 days of his child's birth, and the second time for the Spring Festival. Two times combined, the new couple only accompanied each other for 50 days.
让人撕心裂肺的消息，在事发一个多月后才传来。时隔37年，那天的场景，甚至天气，王丽珠都记得清清楚楚。
The gut-wrenching news came around one month after the incident. Even after 37 years, Wang Lizhu still remembered the scene of that day, even the weather.
“1985年8月3日，太阳很大，火辣辣的。”王丽珠带着未满周岁的儿子回娘家看望父母。村小学一位老师慌慌张张地来到王丽珠娘家，让她赶紧回家：“部队来人了。”
On August 3, 1985, the weather was very hot. Wang Lizhu took her less than one-year-old son home to visit her parents. A teacher from the elementary school rushed to Lizhu's mother's home and told her to immediately return home, and said “Some people from the army are at your house now.”
王丽珠立即有了不好的预感。果然，回到家，部队的同志们告诉王丽珠，6月20日，陈石军在新疆和田和布公路的施工中，不幸牺牲。
Wang Lizhu immediately had a bad feeling. Sure enough, after she returned home, comrades from the army told Wang Lizhu that Chen Shijun unfortunately died in constructing Hebu highway in Hotan, Xinjiang on June 20, 1985.
王丽珠两眼一黑，昏倒过去。
Wang Lizhu fainted upon hearing the news.
替夫担责当起家中“长子”
Wang Lizhu Becomes the “Eldest Son” and Shoulders the Responsibilities of Her Late Husband
王丽珠醒来的时候，已经躺在了天门市人民医院的病房。孩子嗷嗷待哺的哭声，让她只得强忍悲痛，爬起来给孩子喂奶。
When she woke up, Wang Lizhu was already lying in the ward of Tianmen People's Hospital. The crying of her baby waiting to be fed forced her to endure her grief and get up to feed the baby.
除了孩子，整个家庭的情况，也容不得她继续悲痛下去。陈石军是家里的长子，他有两个弟弟和两个妹妹，最小的弟弟，还在读小学四年级。
Apart from having a child, the situation of the whole family did not allow for her to continue to grieve. Chen Shijun was the eldest son of the family with two younger brothers and two younger sisters. The youngest brother was still in the fourth grade of elementary school.
那段时间，王丽珠感觉陈石军的父母对待她，仿佛对待客人一般，异常的好又仿佛有点隔膜。从一家人的目光中，王丽珠明白了，他们认为陈石军走了，她也迟早会离开陈家，变成外人。
During that time, Wang Lizhu felt that Chen Shijun's parents treated her as if she were a guest, unusually nice and a bit alienated. From the eyes of the family, Wang Lizhu understood that they thought that since Chen Shijun was gone, she would leave sooner or later and became an outsider.
王丽珠知道，那是陈家人最脆弱、最伤感的时候。她对公公婆婆弟弟妹妹说：“陈石军走了，我现在不是陈家的儿媳妇，而是陈家的长子。陈家是我的家，爸妈是我的父母，弟妹是我的弟妹，请你们放心，我一步也不会离开陈家。”
Wang Lizhu knew that it was the most vulnerable and saddest time for the Chen family. She said to her father-in-law, mother-in-law, late husband's younger brothers and sisters: “Chen Shijun is gone. I am no longer the daughter-in-law of the Chen family, but the eldest son of the Chen family. The Chen family is my home, you are now my parents, and you my younger siblings. Please be assured that I will never leave.”
在王丽珠的抚慰下，一家人坚强了起来，生活重新走上正轨。在部队和当地政府的关怀下，王丽珠被安排进了粮食部门工作，她开始一边上班，一边带孩子，只要有时间，就会去陈家看望父母，照顾弟妹。
With Wang Lizhu's comfort, the family became stronger and their life was back on track. With the care of the army and local government, Wang Lizhu was assigned to work in the food department. She began to work while taking care of her child. Whenever she had time, she would go to Chen's house to visit “her” parents and take care of “her” younger siblings.
陈石军的大弟弟要结婚了，婆婆让王丽珠回家帮忙。而王丽珠第一时间想到的是房子，家里的兄弟姐妹多，房子很紧张。她找到婆婆：“我现在在单位有房子住，把我的房间让出来给弟弟结婚。”
When Chen Shijun's first younger brother was about to get married, her mother-in-law asked Wang Lizhu to come home to help with preparations. The house was the first thing that occurred to Wang Lizhu. With many brothers and sisters in the family, the rooms were not sufficient. She told her mother-in-law: “I can live in the dormitory at my workplace, so I will give up my house for my younger brother to live in after getting married.”
婆婆十分感动，但坚决不同意。几天后，王丽珠偷偷地把自己的东西搬到了单位的宿舍，把房子腾给了弟弟。后来，两个弟弟外出打工，她就把公婆接到自己家里住，这一住就是8年，老人的衣服被子，她亲自洗洗晒晒；老人头痛脑热，她来回奔走问医拿药。37年来，无论是弟妹还是公婆，王丽珠从没有跟他们红过一次脸，起过一次争执。
Her mother-in-law was very moved, but she resolutely turned down Wang Lizhu's proposal. A few days later, Wang Lizhu secretly moved her things to the dormitory of her workplace and gave the house to her younger brother. Later, when the two younger brothers went out to work, she took her parents-in-law to live in her house and eight years down the line they still live together. She washed their clothes and quilts by herself. When they were unwell, she ran back and forth consulting with the doctor and collecting medicine. In the past 37 years, Wang Lizhu has never quarreled with her siblings or parents-in-law.
婆婆心疼她，王丽珠外出工作回来时，给她备好可口的饭菜，晚上提前暖好被子，一起睡觉。
Her mother-in-law loves her dearly. When Wang Lizhu comes back from work, she prepares delicious food for her, warms the quilt in advance and goes to bed together with her.
去年，公公去世，她强忍悲痛，操办丧葬。近年来，为了多挣点生活费，王丽珠又来到城区打零工。“做零工时间灵活，随时可以回家照顾老人。”
Last year, when her father-in-law died, she forced herself to endure the grief and arranged a funeral. In recent years, in order to earn more money, Wang Lizhu came to the city to work as a part-time worker. She said “I can go home to take care of the elderly in my family at any time because I have flexible working hours.”
“我这个姐姐，比亲姐都要亲。”陈石军的大妹陈银娥已经习惯叫王丽珠姐姐，而不是嫂子。陈银娥说：“我这个亲生女儿，都没有姐姐对妈妈这么好！”如今，83岁的婆婆因年迈有慢性病，但耳聪目明，她逢人就说：“儿子走了，但老天爷对我不薄。有了王丽珠，我们这个家才没有散！”
“This sister is closer to me than my own sister.” Chen Yin'e, Chen Shijun's first young sister, is used to calling Wang Lizhu her sister instead of her sister-in-law. Chen Yin'e said, “I am not as good as Wang Lizhu in terms of taking care of my mother!” Now, the 83-year-old mother-in-law has chronic diseases due to her old age, but she has good ears and eyes. She says to everyone, “My son has left, but God is not unkind to me. With Wang Lizhu, our family has not been separated!”
儿子大学毕业她才赴疆扫墓
She Only Went to Xinjiang When Her Son Graduated from University
陈石军走后，抚养好孩子成了王丽珠最大的责任。
After Chen Shijun left, it became Wang Lizhu's biggest responsibility to raise her child well.
一边工作一边带孩子，个中艰辛只有她自己能够体会。儿子一天天长大，老住在宿舍也不是办法，王丽珠开始谋划着盖房子。
Working and raising a child at the same time, the hardships of which only she can understand. As her son grew up day by day, living in the dormitory was not an option, so Wang Lizhu started planning to build a house.
从筹划到预算，从备料到施工，足足用了两年的时间。公公白天在家种田，晚上来镇上帮她看管财物，坚持跑了一个寒暑。
From planning to budgeting, from material preparation to construction, it took two years. Her father-in-law was at home farming during the day and came to town at night to help her look after her belongings for one year.
1997年，房子盖好了，虽然没有钱装修，但好歹有了一个自己的家。正在王丽珠准备好好工作赚钱还债时，粮食部门改制，她下岗了。
In 1997, the house was built. Although there was no money to further furnish it, at least they had a home of their own. When Wang Lizhu was ready to earn money to pay off her debts, it turned out that the food department she was working in had been restructured, resulting in her being laid off.
此时，儿子正在中考。为了不影响儿子的情绪，王丽珠擦干眼泪想办法，她在菜市场卖过鸡蛋，还坚持打两份工，含辛茹苦地让儿子读完了高中。
At that moment, her son was preparing for the high school entrance examination. In order to avoid disturbing her son's emotional state, Wang Lizhu wiped away her tears and tried to find a solution. She sold eggs in the vegetable market and insisted on working two jobs to get her son through high school arduously.
高考后，争气的儿子考上了武汉科技大学。孩子读大学是陈石军生前的愿望，拿着儿子的录取通知书，家里一贫如洗的王丽珠犯了难。她站在窗前望着遥远的新疆方向：“你儿子考上大学了，你为什么还躺在天山不回来帮我呢？”
After the college entrance examination, her son worked hard to get enrolled at Wuhan University of Science and Technology. Chen Shijun's wish before his death was for his child to go to college, but when holding her son's admission notice, Wang Lizhu felt frustrated because the whole family was nearly penniless. She stood in front of the window looking in the direction of distant Xinjiang and muttered: “Your son has been admitted to college, why are you still lying in Tianshan and not coming back to help me?”
为了赚钱给儿子读书，王丽珠跟随儿子来到武汉，就在离儿子大学不远的一所大学厨房里打工。后来，以前粮管所的同事在苏州做生意，要找一个人煮饭，王丽珠又收拾了行李直奔苏州。
In order to make money for her son's studies, Wang Lizhu moved with her son to Wuhan and worked in the kitchen of a university not far from her son's university. Later, her former colleague from Staple Food Control Offices, now doing business in Suzhou wanted to find a cook, so Wang Lizhu packed up her bags and immediately left for Suzhou.
就这样一路艰辛一路行，儿子终于大学毕业了。去新疆看望陈石军，这才被提上议事日程。
After all the hardships, her son finally graduated from college. A visit to her husband in Xinjiang was put on the agenda.
因为经济条件不允许，王丽珠无法带上儿子，只能一个人前往新疆。
Wang Lizhu could not take her son with her because of insufficient funds, so she had to go to Xinjiang alone.
2005年6月的一天，王丽珠从武昌坐火车到乌鲁木齐，又马不停蹄地坐27个小时大巴车到达和田，陈石军的战友到车站迎接她。第二天，战友带着她来到陈石军的墓前，王丽珠这才发现，丈夫墓碑上雕刻的名字是“陈士军”。
One day in June 2005, Wang Lizhu took a train from Wuchang to Urumqi, and then took a 27-hour bus ride to Hotan, where she was greeted by Chen Shijun's comrades at the station. The next day, the comrades took her to Chen Shijun's grave, and only then did Wang Lizhu realize that the second word of Chen's name on the tombstone was wrong.
王丽珠跪在墓碑前大声哭喊：“陈石军，你的妻子看你来了！儿子已经大学毕业。请你原谅我，我来迟了，让你孤独寂寞了20年。”
Wang Lizhu knelt before the tombstone and cried out loudly: “Chen Shijun, I have come to see you! Our son has graduated from college. Please forgive me for being late and leaving you alone for twenty years.”
王丽珠带来了陈石军爸妈为他做的糯米糕，带来了儿子给父亲写的信，还带来了老屋里的一抔黄土和门前枣树上的几片叶子：“陈石军，儿子大学毕业了，圆了你的大学梦！”
Wang Lizhu brought glutinous rice cakes Chen Shijun's parents made for him, the letter his son wrote to him, and a pile of loess from the old house and a few leaves from the date tree in front of the door at their house. She said, “Chen Shijun, now our son has graduated from college and fulfilled your dream of going to college!”
（图片由天门市委宣传部提供
Photos Provided by Publicity Department of Tianmen Municipal Committee）