(Everyday Life of Taipei in the 1970s 台北生活的日常)
《Ajun’s difficulties》
Ming’er is the fourth child in the family. If heaven could shed tears, this child was really born at the wrong time.
Ming’er’s arrival brought no joy to the family. In a household on the verge of collapse, under the care of a mother who was not herself, he neither received the nourishment of breast milk nor benefited from the crucial early years of language development. Lacking the chance to learn during his golden years, he was labeled a slow learner. When he started school at seven, he was a blank slate in many areas and was placed in a special education class.
This felt like a knife to Ajun’s heart, causing immense pain. Where did it all begin?
Ajun believed his child was not inherently slow; it was the environment and his mother that were to blame. The many hardships clouded any clear conclusions. All he could do was hope that through gradual education, his child would slowly become enlightened.
Ajun was exhausted!
Due to ignorance and constant arguments with Ahua, another daughter, Zhen’er, was born in 1975. With this new arrival, Ajun hoped Ahua might change, but things only got more chaotic. Ahua had insufficient breast milk, so the child had to be supplemented with formula.
At that time, Japan led in technology, and Taiwan imported expensive Meiji formula. For his child, Ajun had to bear the financial burden of his ignorance. The unending pressure made him regret his actions. Fortunately, Taiwan's economy was booming, and Ajun’s income barely sufficed.
The most dangerous thing is hope. In 1976, another daughter, Hua’er, was accidentally born.
Ajun’s regret was short-lived. His mother, not wanting to see him suffer, advised him to give the child away during Ahua’s pregnancy.
Everyone had an opinion, each claiming to be an expert. They said Ahua’s sterilization was the root cause of her problems. Perhaps reversing it and having another child would help. There was no science, and medicine was underdeveloped. Winning the gamble would bring color to life; losing would mean resigning to fate.
In the countryside, rumors spread quickly. With everyone gossiping, Ahua’s condition deteriorated, and she became unrecognizable. Who would dare adopt the child she bore?!
Ahua and her mother-in-law had never gotten along, and Ahua’s condition worsened their relationship, bringing it to a freezing point.
Ajun’s pride drove him forward. Supported by Yan’er and Jue’er, the family found some happiness despite the hardships. The children’s laughter was Ajun’s greatest motivation.
Time is the best healer. The children grew up and started earning. During festivals, Ahua received red envelopes from the children. She meticulously recorded the amounts with a pencil on the wall of her room, carving numbers into the wall. No one knew what it meant.
Of course, this led to frequent scoldings from Ajun. The couple lived together for half their lives without a day of peace. It seemed that this constant strife was what life was all about.
《阿俊的苦衷》
明兒排行老四。如果上天有眼淚，這個孩子真的出生時間不對。
明兒的到來，沒有添丁的喜悅。在搖搖欲墜的家庭，處在一個魂不附體的母親下，既吃不到母乳的滋養，也錯過牙牙學語黃金期。被錯過學習黃金期的孩子，被認定高一等憨喜兒。7歲入學接受國民教育，許多方面一片白紙，結果被歸類至啟智班。
這打擊在阿俊心臟，就像插一把刀，痛徹心扉。一切的源頭，從何說起呢？
自己的孩子不是傻，是環境，是媽媽。有太多的苦，淹滅掉結論。只能讓孩子透過在學教育，循序漸進，一點點啟蒙吧！
阿俊已經累了！
由於無知的產物因素，阿花吵吵鬧鬧下，又誕生出五女真兒，民國 64 年 (1975 年) 生。這女兒的到來，阿俊期待阿花有否改變？反而是亂上加亂。阿花奶水不足，孩子必須藉喝牛奶補足。
當下日本技術領先，台灣有進口明治奶粉 (很貴)。為了孩子咬著牙，阿俊必須為自己的無知付起代價。無止盡的壓力，阿俊也後悔了。還好當下台灣經濟起飛，阿俊的收入勉強過關。
人最怕就是希望。民國65年 (1976 年) 不小心又生一女華兒。
阿俊的後悔是短暫。阿俊的母親不忍阿俊受苦，阿花有孕期間，就訓誡阿俊必須把這孩子送人養。
眾說紛紜個個是大夫。阿花結紮是病因根源。解開輸卵管生個孩子，也許就好了。沒有科學，醫學又不發達。賭贏了，人生變彩色；輸了，萬般皆是命。
鄉下唯一發達的就是風聲。捕風捉影阿花已是瘋瘋癲癲，不成人樣了。生出來的孩子誰敢領養？！
本來婆媳就沒交集，阿花變了樣，更加劇婆媳間降至冰點。
自尊，帶給阿俊勇往直前。加上燕兒、爵兒一路扶持，一家子不歡也樂。因為孩子成長的笑聲，就是阿俊最大動力。
時間就是最好的良藥。孩子大了，也有收入。隨著節日，阿花多少也收到孩子孝敬的紅包。誰給多少，阿花都會用鉛筆一筆一筆記載金額。房間牆壁刻印出阿花數字計算！無人知曉意義何在。
當然又是阿俊斥聲連連。兩夫妻生活半輩子，沒有一天寧靜。好像這樣才叫生活。