Approaching behind the "child of the country": Three thousand orphans enter the grasslands of Inner Mongolia unimpeded

(Interview between NPC and CPPCC) Behind "Children of the Country": Three thousand orphans enter the grasslands of Inner Mongolia unimpeded

　　China News Service, Beijing, March 10th. Title: Approaching behind the "child of the country": Three thousand orphans enter the grasslands of Inner Mongolia unimpeded

　　China News Agency reporter Li Aiping and Xing Chong

　　This year, the National People's Congress, when participating in the deliberations of the Inner Mongolia delegation at the Fourth Session of the 13th National People's Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping mentioned the story of "three thousand orphans entering Inner Mongolia".

Through the years of Jiazi, Shi Hai has a deep understanding of the touching past of ethnic unity on the northern grasslands, so it is more concerned by the outside world.

　　Du Mingyan, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and the deputy mayor of Zhalantun City, Inner Mongolia, told a reporter from China News Agency that in the era of extreme shortage of materials, the grassland mothers accepted three thousand orphans with great love and broad mind, and wrote a song of national unity and progress.

"This is the herdsman's most pure and true feelings to interpret the human story of'nourishing kindness is greater than raising kindness'."

"The Child of the Country"

　　The Mongolian female writer Sarentoya once recorded this past in a book called "Children of the Country".

In the interview, she still couldn't hide her emotions, "These three thousand orphans are a greater responsibility for every supporter, because they have adopted'children of the country'."

　　In the early 1960s, New China suffered severe natural disasters and the country was short of food supplies. In dozens of orphanages in Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and other places, a large number of orphans faced the threat of insufficient food.

The party committee and government of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region took the initiative to invite more than 3,000 southern orphans to the prairie.

　　"One by one, live one, raise one, strengthen one".

After three years of "life migration" from Jiangnan to Saibei, a total of more than 3,000 orphans were sent to Inner Mongolia to be raised.

　　Today, in the archives of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, historical materials about the orphans going north in 1960 are preserved.

The reporter saw in the archives that among the product names listed in the "Schedule of Purchase Fees for Children's Equipment Moved in 1960", there are small wooden beds, small blankets, small tables, potties, bathtubs, pillows... which also specifically mentioned that there are 4500 diapers.

　　Sarentoya said that in fact, the lives of herdsmen in Inner Mongolia were not well-off, but when they heard the news, they rode horses and drove their carts to the nursery to apply for the adoption of orphans. Some herders even adopted them all at once. Five or six children.

"This is a transmission of love, from the common soul and love of mankind."

"Own Child"

　　Du Guima, an old man born in 1942, was 19 when she was "dependent on each other" with 28 children out of more than 3,000 orphans. At that time, she was unmarried and gave birth to the orphans and became the common Eji (ie mother) of the orphans.

　　Inner Mongolia Siziwangqi Banner Committee Propaganda Minister Duan Yali told reporters that Duguima is a herder from Siziwangqi Naomgengsumu. Because of his studies and serious work, he was selected as a childcare worker in Siziwangqi Nursery.

"When I first received the assignment, Du Guima had no feelings, she had no experience, there was still an elderly aunt at home who needed to take care of, and the sheep in the pasture also counted on her to take care of her."

　　Duan Yali said, but Du Guima, whose parents died young, knew how pitiful the lamb was when she lost her mother, so she told her aunt to take care of her body, entrust her flock to the production team, and resolutely assume the task of caring for the orphans.

After training, she began to take care of 28 orphans, the youngest of whom was only full moon, and the oldest was only 6 years old.

　　Duguima once said that I have suffered from childhood and experienced the suffering of orphans firsthand, so I can't give up.

When a child fell ill at night, Du Guima rode a horse, risking being surrounded by prairie wolves, rushing for dozens of miles in the freezing cold wind to seek a doctor.

Under her care, none of the 28 orphans became disabled due to illness, and none of them died prematurely.

　　In the spring and summer of 1961, local herder families without children in Inner Mongolia adopted orphans one after another.

When each family comes to adopt, Guima must introduce one by one the physical condition, personality and habits, explain the methods of raising, and matters needing attention.

Every time a child is given out, Duguima will ask the adoptive family to prepare new clothes, and the child will go to the new family after putting on the new clothes.

　　When the child started a new life, Duguima suffered 28 partings from mother and child.

"Du Guima was the first Eji after these children came to the grassland. The feelings between them are difficult for others to understand. Until today, whenever I think of the scene at that time, Guima will tear her eyes." Duan Yali said.

　　In 2019, 77-year-old Du Guima was awarded the national honorary title of "People's Model" in Beijing.

She has said more than once that children are the hope of the grassland and the hope of the country.

"The story of national unity cannot be forgotten"

　　"In addition to being grateful, I don't know what else to say to Duguima Eji or to the people of the grassland."

　　Sun Baowei, 61 years old this year, is the youngest of the 28 orphans Du Guima took care of.

When interviewed by a reporter from China News Agency, he choked with emotion several times.

　　Sun Baowei was taken from Shanghai to the Inner Mongolian steppe shortly after his birth. After being taken care of by Duguima, a young couple from Hebei Province adopted him.

Regarding the history of "three thousand orphans entering Inner Mongolia", Sun Baowei, who was too young at that time, did not have much memory. He only gradually understood this history when he grew up. After taking a job, he went to visit Duguima.

　　"Eji knew I was coming and waited from a distance. When I saw me, my hands were shaking with joy." Sun Baowei said, as soon as he entered the house, Eji was busy making milk tea and making handles. After making the meat, cut the meat into strips with a knife and feed it to his mouth, and treat him like a child, for fear that he won't be able to eat it.

　　Sun Baowei said that every time he recalled this experience, he would cry unconsciously.

"To be honest, it was the grassland of Inner Mongolia that saved my life. I must be thankful to the enthusiastic people on the grassland to be able to live today."

　　Time flows through the green grassland, and despite the wind and rain, the heavy historical footprint will not be worn away.

Horse-horse spurs, rain or shine, as long as the people watch and help each other, they can overcome all kinds of hardships.

　　Wang Xiaohong, deputy to the National People's Congress and director of the Academic Affairs Office of Inner Mongolia Horqin Vocational College of Art, believes that this period of witnessing the Chinese nation's family history is a valuable resource for guiding the new era of youth to learn history and increase credit.

　　Today, Sun Baowei also has his own grandson, "I will tell my grandson the story of myself as three thousand orphans. This history must not be forgotten, and the story of national unity must not be forgotten." (End)