Author: Li Xingyi 李星儀
He always appears quiet and expressionless, yet through his unique and profound actions he silently conveys everything he wants to tell us. Using a pair of hands that are rough yet full of warmth, he built for us a stable home filled with deep affection. This person is the super-invincible Iron Grandpa in my heart.
My grandpa has six brothers. Although he is the third among them, he is the most responsible and the gentlest one. His brothers all love bringing him back to their mountain hometown or to vacation cabins to enjoy the embrace of nature. Even though Grandpa rarely speaks and usually just sits quietly listening, everyone feels that without him, going out together would lose its meaning. Grandpa’s presence brings an invisible yet deeply reassuring strength to his family and friends.
Grandpa’s last job was working as a building janitor. Sometimes Grandma would bring me and Grandpa’s lunchbox to visit him. I personally witnessed how Grandpa cleaned the entire office building until it was spotless. The exterior walls, glass windows, and automatic doors were wiped until there was not a speck of dust left. The vast area of nearly a hundred ping, both indoors and outdoors, was no challenge for him at all. Grandpa also acted as a repairman. Whenever appliances broke down or malfunctioned, he would take them to his personal little storage room to fix them. Grandpa originally wanted to keep working until his body could no longer handle it, but the family truly did not want him to live such a tiring life and felt deeply sorry for him. After repeated persuasion and communication, he finally agreed to retire and step down from his duties.
Although Grandpa eats a lot every day, eats three meals regularly, and even loves drinking alcohol and eating fatty meat without restraint, ever since I can remember, his body has always been extremely thin, so thin it almost feels like there is only bone left. Even now, at eighty-one years old, his figure remains the same after retirement. Grandpa has always loved riding his bicycle to the vegetable garden to grow vegetables and raise fish. After retiring, he goes out before dawn every day and only returns home in the afternoon. The basket on his bicycle is always full, overflowing with organic, pesticide-free fruits and vegetables that he planted with his own hands.
When Grandpa drinks alcohol, he becomes like a Transformer. The normally quiet man suddenly opens up, expressing everything he has been thinking and all the words of care he has for us. He becomes very eager to interact with us, even holding our hands, looking us earnestly in the eyes, and telling us stories of his glorious past. Grandpa values table manners very much and believes that having many people together is what makes things lively. He thinks that mealtime is the best opportunity for a family to deepen their bonds. There should be delicious food, good wine, and everyone sharing stories from their lives. He taught us to never use our phones during meals, to listen attentively and talk sincerely, and to wait until all relatives and friends had arrived before starting to eat. As a result, the dining table at home has always been like a large banquet round table, filled with dishes made from the vegetables Grandpa worked so hard to grow, along with his favourite drinks. Every gathering is cherished, and without realizing it, meals stretch longer and there is rarely any food left over. This small dining habit deeply influenced both my father and me. Now, whenever my father has a day off, he loves inviting relatives and friends over to eat together. He also brings Grandpa along to meet and chat with his own friends. Even though I am now very busy with school and work, because of the dining habits I developed since childhood, I will overcome all difficulties to return home and eat with my family. I also take the initiative to share everything happening in my life, and our family bonds remain close and harmonious.
In the past, Grandpa was also a “master scavenger.” He would go around residential areas to see if there were any discarded appliances or furniture that others no longer wanted. He once picked up adult and children’s bicycles, slides, sofas, toys, and more. Several storage rooms in the house have been completely filled by him. By giving discarded items new life and reusing resources, I came to understand how he supported the family through thrift and diligence. My father often says that the family’s finances were saved bit by bit by Grandpa. Even now, whenever something at home is missing or suddenly breaks, the first reaction is always to go back and ask Grandpa for help, just like he is an all-powerful Doraemon.
I’ve given Grandpa a nickname: the modern-day primitive man. No matter how advanced technology becomes or how fast information develops, these new things have nothing to do with Grandpa. To this day, he not only does not know how to use any technological products, but even things that seem completely ordinary to us, taking public transportation or shopping at department stores; are things he has never done. His daily life revolves entirely around farming or visiting nearby friends to chat. In his younger years, he even had the habit of running marathons and won many trophies, making him an outstanding athlete. Because of this, the days I spent with Grandpa as a child never felt boring, even without technology. He took us to do all kinds of physical activities, made traditional folk toys, and taught us how early agricultural life worked. We learned many skills and never felt bored at all.
Looking back, the time I spent most closely with Grandpa was before I entered junior high school. Later, because there were too many people in the house and not enough rooms, we moved out. Grandpa’s room used to be my toy room and the battlefield for endless games of hide-and-seek. It was filled with all kinds of dolls and play-house toys. I also loved collecting adults’ handbags to use as props. The wardrobe and storage rooms were my favourite hiding places. Often, I would fall asleep while playing in Grandpa’s room. The room carried a scent that belonged only to Grandpa, far from unpleasant, it instead gave me a sense of stability and warmth. Living at Grandpa’s house was filled with simple yet joyful childhood memories.
Growing up under the influence of Grandpa’s values, I also learned to cherish and care for things. As an adult, I donate unused clothes and books to nearby libraries and the children of relatives and friends. Many appliances, even after being used for many years, I am reluctant to replace; even when they break, I repair them until they truly cannot be fixed anymore. I also try my best to keep the house clean, cleaning as thoroughly as Grandpa did. Floors, windows, and even ceilings are included in my monthly cleaning routine. Friends have even commented that the floors in my house are always shiny and dust-free. Grandpa took us into nature from a young age, letting us visit his farmland, climb mountains, and cross streams. As a result, I have grown into someone who deeply loves outdoor activities. Whenever I have time off, I plan trips to the beach or mountain streams. In my free time, I also help Grandpa harvest crops in the fields. My family often jokes that I am like a wild child who never grew up.
Although my Iron Grandpa doesn’t talk much, he possesses unyielding action and a strong sense of responsibility. Unaffected by technological progress, he has always protected his family in the simplest ways. Because of him, I began to value family cohesion and the moments of gathering together. Slowly, I started inviting everyone to travel and dine together. In the past, Grandpa took me everywhere to play; now, I take over his way of nurturing family bonds, bringing Grandpa to visit different places. This year, I even took him to Matsu, returning with him to the place where he once served in the military, to relive his memories. I hope that within the limited span of life, I can give him richer love and experiences. In the future, I will continue to learn from Grandpa’s spirit and attitude, carrying them firmly in my heart.
他看似總是沉默寡言又面無表情，卻默默用獨特和深刻的行動去組織想傳遞
給我們的話語，利用一雙雖然粗糙卻充滿溫度的雙手，為我們建立一個安定又濃
厚情感的家，這個人就是我心中超級無敵的鋼鐵阿公。
我的阿公共有六個兄弟，雖然他排行老三，卻是其中最負有責任感和最和善
的一位，兄弟們都很喜歡帶著他一起回山上老家或是去渡假小屋享受大自然的懷
抱，儘管阿公幾乎不太愛說話靜靜地待在旁邊聆聽，大家卻認為少了他就失去了
出門的意義，阿公的存在能帶給身邊親朋好友一股無形卻令人十分安心的力量。
阿公最後一份工作是在大樓當清潔員，有時候阿嬤會帶著我和中午的便當去
探望阿公，我直接目睹到阿公將整棟辦公大樓打掃的清潔溜溜，外牆和玻璃窗戶
與自動門都被擦拭到毫無灰塵，室內外將近百坪的遼闊面積都不是阿公的對手。
阿公還會充當修理工，一些電器壞掉或是故障運作不良阿公都會帶去他專屬的小
倉庫進行修復，原先阿公還想繼續工作到身體無法負荷為止，但是家人實在不希
望他過得那麼勞累又很心疼他，經過不斷的勸說溝通才願意退休卸下職務。
我的阿公雖然每日都吃得很多也幾乎準時照三餐吃，甚至還很愛飲酒與吃肥
肉毫不忌口，然而，從我有印象以來身材都是非常消瘦甚至感覺就只有骨頭的重
量，到現在八十一歲即使退休後體型還是維持一樣。阿公從以前就很喜歡騎著腳
踏車去菜園種菜、養魚，退休後每日天未亮就出門直到下午才回家，車上的菜籃
總是收穫滿滿全都是他親手種的有機無農藥蔬果。
我的阿公遇到酒精就像變形金剛一樣，從不愛說話的他會突然大開金口，開
始將心中所想表達或是關心我們的話都在這時ㄧㄧ說出來，也變得很喜歡與我們
互動甚至還會拉著我們的手、認真地看著我們的眼睛講起他過去輝煌的故事。阿
公很重視餐桌禮儀又覺得人多就是熱鬧，他認為吃飯的時光是一家子增進感情最
好的方法，應該有美味的佳餚配上好酒互相說著生活發生的故事，養成我們吃飯
時不使用手機、認真傾聽和聊天談話，而且要等所有親朋好友都到位後才會開席，
所以從小家中的餐桌都像宴會廳的大圓桌一樣，並且上方都擺滿了阿公辛苦種植
的菜所製作出的料理和喜愛的酒，每一次的團聚大家都會很珍惜相伴的時刻，不
知不覺就拉長了用餐時間也不太會有剩餘的飯菜。一個小小的吃飯習慣也深刻影
響到父親和我，現在的父親只要一放假就喜歡相約親朋好友來家中一起來吃飯，
他還會帶著阿公和自己的朋友互相認識聊天談心，雖然現今我因為課業和工作都
很繁忙，但是因為從小養成的用餐習慣和模式，所以我也會排除一切萬難都想回
家與家人相聚吃飯，還會主動講起自己生活發生的大小事，家人的感情也都很密
切融洽。
阿公以前還是「拾荒達人」到處去看看住宅附近放廢棄物的地方是否有別人
不需要的電器、家具，曾經還撿過大人或是小孩腳踏車、溜滑梯、沙發、玩具等
等，家中的好幾個倉庫都已被他塞得滿滿的。透過撿回來的廢棄物賦予新的生命，
將商品進行資源利用的方式，了解到他是如何靠著勤儉持家去養活子女，我的父
親總說家中的經濟都是靠阿公一筆筆省出來的，現在有時候家裡缺少了東西或是
臨時壞了，第一時間就會回去找阿公求救，就像是無所不能的小叮噹一樣。
我都給阿公一個外號是現代版的原始人，不論科技再怎麼發達、資訊再怎麼進步，
對阿公來說這些新奇的事物都與他無關，到目前為止阿公不僅不會使用任何科技
產品，連搭乘交通運輸或是到商店百貨購物對我們來說平凡到不行的行為他都不
會去做，他平時的生活都專注在種田身上或是去附近朋友家話家常。而他早年甚
至還有跑馬拉松的習慣，拿過不少比賽的獎盃還是非常厲害的運動健將，所以小
時候和阿公相處的日子完全不會想使用任何科技產品，阿公會帶著我們做許多運
動、製作一些古早的童玩玩具、教授早期農業生活的知識運用，完全不無聊又學
習到許多技能。回想起來我和阿公相處最密切的時光在上國中前，之後由於家中
人口太多房間不足就搬了出來，從前阿公的房間一直都是我的玩具間和躲貓貓大
戰之處，擺滿了各式各樣的洋娃娃或是扮家家酒的玩具，我還很喜歡蒐集大人的
包包拿來當道具，而衣櫃和倉庫更是我經常躲藏之處，時常玩一玩就在阿公房間
睡著，房見裡有專屬於阿公的味道不但不覺得難聞，反而帶給我穩定又溫暖的力
量，住在阿公家時充滿了童年快樂又純樸的回憶。
從小經過他這些理念的薰陶，讓我也感染到惜物愛物的精神，長大後用不到
衣物的和書本都會捐贈給住家附近的圖書館和親朋好友的小孩，很多電器產品雖
然已經使用多年卻也不忍心換掉，就算壞了也會修到不能再修才會淘汰。家裡整
潔我也會努力維持乾淨，像阿公那麼認真打掃一樣，地板和窗戶甚至連天花板也
都是每個月清理的範圍，曾經朋友還說在我家的地板總是光亮又無灰塵的。阿公
從小帶著我們接觸大自然和參觀他的農田，也帶著我們去爬山涉水，現在的我也
變成非常熱愛戶外活動，只要一放假就會規劃去海邊玩水或是山中溪邊遊玩，空
閒時會去農田幫忙阿公採收，家人都說我像是長不大的野孩子。
我的鋼鐵阿公雖然平時話語不多，卻有著堅韌不拔的行動力和責任心，不受
外界科技進步影響，始終用最樸實的方式守護著家人，我開始會重視家庭的凝聚
力和家人團聚的時刻，慢慢會邀請大家一起出遊聚餐，從前阿公帶著我到處玩，
現在換我用他傳下來的方式經營家人的情感，帶著阿公去各地遊覽，今年還帶他
去馬祖旅遊，去他曾經當兵的故鄉回憶過往，希望在有限的生命裡帶給他更豐富
的愛和體驗，在往後我也會學習努力延續阿公的精神和態度並銘記於心中。