Centenarian veteran recalls wartime experiences

Centenarian Li Fuyuan, a 101-year-old veteran of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), clearly recalls the flames of war from eight decades ago. Currently residing in Ningxiang, Hunan province, the veteran remains clear-minded and bright-eyed despite his age.

In 1943, as war ravaged the countryside, then 20-year-old Li donned a military uniform and enlisted in the artillery unit of the Nationalist army.

The Battle of Changsha-Hengyang in 1944 is seared into Li's memory. It was a grueling, seven-day, life-or-death tug-of-war fought against Japanese forces amidst the towering mountains of Hunan.

"Those seven days and nights were truly arduous, trekking through mountains and wading through rivers," recounted the veteran. His hand motions and voice retained the urgency of those times.

"We maneuvered through pathless mountains, thick with bushes and large trees," he said. Later that year, in July, Li advanced southward with his unit. During one fierce engagement, a bullet whistled through his uniform, narrowly missing his body. The bullet hole in his military jacket became a permanent testament to his brush with death.

When the Japanese flag finally fell over Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, the streets echoed with victory cheers upon news of Japan's surrender. Li and his comrades raised their rifles high above their heads, jumping and shouting in unrestrained jubilation.

After 1949, this war veteran turned his efforts towards building New China. On August 16, 1959, Li joined the Communist Party of China to contribute his strength to the nation's development.

Today, the centenarian veteran frequently sits by his doorway, sharing his stories with younger generations. He often says, "You are now blessed by the nation's peace and prosperity; cherish the life you have today!"

As the 80th anniversary of the victory approaches, Li expresses his heartfelt wish: "May the motherland grow ever stronger and more prosperous, and may the living standards of the people continuously rise."

Zhu Youfang contributed to the story.