(Foreign friends and the CCP) Louis Alley: Shandan, Gansu, the happiest years of life

  China News Service, Lanzhou, May 18th, title: Louis Alley: Gansu Shandan, the happiest years of life

  Author Ding Si Ai Qinglong

  "Do you want to drink tea or coffee?" In front of the visitors, Wang Zigang, the old curator of the 80-year-old Alley Donated Cultural Relics Exhibition Hall, greeted everyone cheerfully.

As Louis Alley's "year-old friendship" in his later years in China, whether it is living, eating, dressing, or dealing with people, the northwestern old man is deeply engraved with the "Alley Mark" on his body.

He said, "Elder Ai is like a father and a friend to me."

In early May, Wang Zigang, the 80-year-old old curator of the Museum of Relics Donated by Ai Li, read "Autobiography of Ai Li" at his home in Zhangye, Gansu.

As Louis Alley's "wonderful friendship" in his later years in China, whether it is living, eating, dressing, or dealing with people, the northwestern old man is deeply imprinted with the "Alley Mark" on his body.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Gao Zhan

  Louis Alley, a New Zealander, came to China in 1927 and died in Beijing in 1987. He lived and worked in China for 60 years and made important contributions to China’s revolution and construction. He is known as one of China’s top ten international friends. One.

  During the War of Resistance Against Japan, he actively participated in and initiated the organization of the industrial cooperative movement, becoming a unique force for unemployed workers and refugees to save themselves and support the War of Resistance.

  In the 1940s, Alley and the British journalist George Hok founded the first Beili Technical School in Northwest China in Shuangshipu, Fengxian County, Shaanxi Province.

Named Peili, which means "training talents for the dawn of China".

At the end of 1943, the school moved to Shandan County, Gansu Province. At one time, it had grown to a scale of nearly 600 people, with about 20 majors for students to practice and production, recruit poor children, and arrange employment for farmers.

In early May, people visited the Ai Li Memorial Hall in Shandan County, Zhangye City, Gansu Province.

Louis Alley, a New Zealander, came to China in 1927 and died in Beijing in 1987. He lived and worked in China for 60 years and made important contributions to China’s revolution and construction. He is known as one of China’s top ten international friends. One.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Gao Zhan

  Alley has lived with the local people for nearly 10 years, and Shandan is regarded as his "second hometown".

He wrote in his autobiography, "The most satisfying period of my life was undoubtedly the days when I was with rural youth in Shandan, Gansu."

  Walking into Shandan, you can see the marks left by Ai Li everywhere. The main street of the new urban area is named Ai Li Avenue, Ai Li International Hotel, Ai Li Memorial Hall... Ai Li has become a local cultural symbol and business card.

  "White shirt with long sleeves, a thin sweater on the outside, and a pair of wide shorts are particularly eye-catching." In 1973, after settled in Beijing, Ai Li revisited Shandan for the third time. At that time, he taught at Shandan No. 1 Middle School and served as a school receptionist. Wang Zigang, a member of the group, saw this kind old man up close for the first time.

That year, Wang Zigang was 32 years old and Ai Li was 76 years old, and the two did not communicate directly.

  "It was drizzling that day, and someone opened an umbrella for him. Elder Ai refused to say,'Long Shou Mountain wears a hat and a hat, and heavy rain can afford bubbles. There is no cloud on the mountain, without a hat and hat, it won't be big.'" Wang Zigang said, "I didn't expect Elder Ai to be so familiar with everything about Shandan."

In early May, aerial photography was located at Baili Vocational College in Shandan County, Zhangye City, Gansu Province.

In the 1940s, Louis Alley and the British journalist George Hok founded the first Beili Technical School in Northwest China in Shuangshipu, Fengxian County, Shaanxi Province.

Named Peili, which means "training talents for the dawn of China".

At the end of 1943, the school moved to Shandan County, Gansu Province. At one time, it had grown to a scale of nearly 600 people, with about 20 majors for students to practice and produce.

(Drone photo) Photo by China News Agency reporter Gao Zhan

  In 1979, Alley visited Shandan again. Wang Zigang, then the curator of Shandan County Cultural Center, accompanied Alley on the tour.

"Reading, photography, and researching cultural relics are Ai Lao's hobbies. He is obsessed with China's splendid history and culture, and he knows every family. When I introduced him, he listened with great gusto, and also told more about the discovery and protection of the Siba culture. And naming etc." Wang Zigang recalled.

  "When Ai Lao saw the tools he had used during his work at Shandan Peili Technical School on display in the museum, his eyes were shining and he was extremely happy." Wang Zigang said, what made him even more unexpected, On March 14, 1980, he received a letter from Elder Ai to donate all the precious historical relics he collected in China to his hometown of Shandan in China.

  Alley wrote in his autobiography, “When I visited in 1979, the work of Shandan Cultural Center left a deep impression on me.” He also said, “Shandan is far away from the city, and the people there are not easy to see. , The cultural relics should be sent to Shandan."

  "When I arrived in Beijing, Elder Ai took me to see his collection of cultural relics and said,'This is yours, this is also yours. I can now return to the original owner.'" Wang Zigang said movedly, "Before leaving, Mr. Ai gave me 50 yuan (RMB, the same below). I refused. Mr. Ai's secretary Li Jianping also helped me. Mr. Ai said angrily to the secretary that you don’t understand, it’s very bitter..."

  The concept of "helping the poor in China" has been throughout Alley's life.

"Especially for the poor children in China." Wang Zigang said that during his time in Shandan, Ai Li often bought a large amount of cod liver oil to nourish a large number of malnourished children, take care of the children's daily life, and teach them knowledge and skills.

  "Elder Ai is still a baby. He went to the street to take a lot of fruit candies. When the children saw him, they rushed up and surrounded him. He kissed this face and touched the head again. He slapped his ass and didn't dislike these poor babies at all. On the contrary, he felt that it was his pleasure to make friends with these children." Wang Zigang recalled.

  Ai Li gave the most love to Shandan. In his later years, he proposed to build the Ai Li Donated Cultural Relics Exhibition Hall, build the Baili Library, and rebuild the Shandan Baili School. All three things were done in Shandan.

Wang Zigang became an important executor and contact person in this.

  More than 3,700 cultural relics were picked up by Wang Zigang from Beijing to Shandan.

In 1982, 85-year-old Alley came from Beijing to participate in the opening ceremony of Alley’s Donated Cultural Relics Exhibition Hall.

He said happily, "Revisiting Shandan is the most liking thing for me, because I always regard the years spent here as the happiest time in my life."

In early May, Wang Zigang, the 80-year-old old curator of the Alley Donated Cultural Relics Exhibition Hall, read the correspondence with Louis Alley in the last century at his home in Zhangye, Gansu.

As Louis Alley's "wonderful friendship" in his later years in China, whether it is living, eating, dressing, or dealing with people, the northwestern old man is deeply imprinted with the "Alley Mark" on his body.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Gao Zhan

  Through a letter, caring about the development of modern Chinese ceramics, Shandan vocational education, ecological environment construction, etc., have become the most talked topics of this pair of old friends in the past years.

On the day of the interview, Wang Zigang held the letter in his hand and read it seriously, sometimes with a serious expression, and sometimes with a smile when he read some trivial things.

  Alley was unmarried all his life, but adopted many Chinese children.

Alley’s secretary Li Jianping said in an interview with the media that Alley had little savings.

The monthly salary is 800 yuan. After deducting the living expenses, the remaining money is not to buy books for the Shandan Peili Library, or to fund the construction of the school.

At the time of his death, the bank deposits were only 3,400 yuan.

  In 1987, the restored and reconstructed Shandan Peili Agriculture, Forestry and Animal Husbandry School in Gansu opened.

In 1994, it was renamed Shandan Peili School of Gansu Province.

In 2020, Gansu officially announced the establishment of the Peili Vocational College based on the school, aiming to cultivate more technical talents in different categories and continue the "Aili love".

In early May, a teacher was teaching students in the Peili Vocational College in Shandan County, Zhangye City, Gansu.

In the 1940s, Louis Alley and the British journalist George Hok founded the first Beili Technical School in Northwest China in Shuangshipu, Fengxian County, Shaanxi Province.

Named Peili, which means "training talents for the dawn of China".

At the end of 1943, the school moved to Shandan County, Gansu Province. At one time, it had grown to a scale of nearly 600 people, with about 20 majors for students to practice and produce.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Gao Zhan

  Peng Dongjun, Dean of Peili Vocational College, said in an interview with a reporter from China News Agency, “Alley’s ideas on where to come from and where to go are very advanced. He encourages young people to come from the countryside and return to the countryside after they have learned their skills. , To build a hometown, which coincides with the current modern vocational education concept."

  "Ailao is a bridge between Shandan and overseas to carry out cultural and educational exchanges." Peng Dongjun said that through Ai Lao's "matchmaking", Gansu Shandan and New Zealand educational organizations have maintained close exchanges and interactions. Many New Zealand foreign teachers are in the school. Engaged in applied English teaching, which is also rare in vocational schools nationwide.

  Chinese President Xi Jinping commented: “Alley and the Chinese people are in the same boat, working and living in China for 60 years, and they have built a bridge of friendship between the Chinese people and the people of New Zealand.”

  In 1988, in accordance with his will, half of Alley's ashes were scattered on the Saba Beach in Shandan where he worked and lived, and the other half was buried in the Alley and Heke Cemetery on the banks of the Shandan River.

  Today, Alley is still watching his beloved land in the northwest, witnessing the changes and growth of this small Silk Road city every day, and quietly continuing the role of "bridge builder".

(Finish)