China News Service, Changsha, May 23, title: Recalling Yuan Longping, the "Father of Hybrid Rice": dedicated, optimistic, diligent and kind

　　Author Tang Xiaoqing Liu Man

　　Yuan Longping, "Father of Hybrid Rice", academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and winner of the "Medal of the Republic", died at the age of 91 in Changsha, Hunan at 13:07 on May 22.

The reporter interviewed people, scientific researchers, and agricultural workers who had been with Yuan Longping, and recalled every bit of his work and life.

　　Anjiang Agricultural School (now Huaihua Vocational and Technical College), located in Anjiang Town, Huaihua, Hunan, is the birthplace of hybrid rice in China. Yuan Longping has been engaged in teaching and hybrid rice research for 37 years.

Shu Xinghua, a 35-year-old from Huaihua Xupu who graduated here, was encouraged by Yuan Longping to return to his hometown to start a business and lead the villagers to develop sugar oranges and become rich.

Data map: Yuan Longping.

Photo by Yu Fangping sent by China News Agency Photo source: CNSPHOTO

　　"Our rock sugar orange brand'Xingmeng Orange' was bestowed by Academician Yuan Longping. It is a home for'Prospering the farmers and benefiting the people, dreaming of China'." Shu Xinghua was very sad to learn the news of the academician's death.

"It's too sudden and very sad." Shu Xinghua has visited Yuan Longping in Changsha many times.

　　"It was 2014. He was in good spirits and talkative. As long as he talked about agricultural research, he was full of energy." Shu Xinghua still remembers Yuan Longping's encouragement to him: in his youth, he must establish aspirations for life, and then persist for a long time and make unremitting efforts. You can definitely contribute to the country, contribute to the progress of the times, and make your life worthwhile.

　　"He said, our generation is doing agriculture to get enough food. Now you have to find ways to make people eat well when you do agriculture. You have to start doing agriculture for ten years, and you must persist for at least ten years before you can make achievements. Teacher Yuan will give it back. I asked the words "Where there is aspiration, everything can be achieved"." Yuan Longping's encouragement made Shu Xinghua persevere and has become "the leader of the country's rural youth getting rich."

　　Every year, Yuan Longping returns to Anjiang Agricultural School once or twice to visit old colleagues and friends, encourage students at the opening ceremony, and take photos with them.

"He cares about his old colleagues very much, and always asks for warmth when meeting. Teacher Yuan is amiable and selfless. I will always remember his encouragement and carry forward his hard-working and down-to-earth agricultural scientific research spirit." Shu Xinghua told reporters, a teacher of Huaihua Vocational and Technical College. After learning of the bad news about Yuan Longping's death, Sheng was extremely sad, and spontaneously gathered on campus, sang "Farewell", and expressed his endless miss for Yuan Longping by silent mourning, offering flower baskets, and lighting candles.

　　Deng Wensheng, a first-level lawyer of Hunan Zhongsheng Law Firm, is the perennial legal counsel of Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

In his impression, Yuan Longping was cheerful, kind, optimistic, and amiable.

"I saw him for the first time when he came back from the National Congress of the People's Republic of China. He wore a Tang suit and waited for me in the office that day. After I went in, I offered him a cigarette. Unexpectedly, Teacher Yuan took the initiative to give me the cigarette and said heartily, I want to share good things with everyone, and smile like a kid and say that I want to take pictures together." Hearing the news of Yuan Longping's death, Deng Wensheng was shocked, "His voice and smile have been haunting my mind, always thinking that this is not true."

　　Yuan Longping in life is a real and lovely person. He likes to play volleyball, swimming, and tap dancing. Even when his granddaughter was young, he didn't know that his grandfather was a great scientist. He always thought that grandfather was an old man watching the weather forecast.

Whenever it’s the wedding anniversary or his wife’s birthday, Yuan Longping remembers to buy souvenirs such as necklaces or rings for his wife.

　　Cao Xiaoping, who gave Yuan Longping a haircut for 18 years, has a deep memory.

Cao Xiaoping has opened a barber shop near the Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences for more than ten years. Since 2003, Yuan Longping has been her most loyal customer, and has named her shop.

Yuan Longping attended some important events and came here to get a haircut.

In Cao Xiaoping's shop, there is still a picture of Yuan Longping having a haircut.

　　"His hairstyle is the round and flat head that we have reached a consensus. It hasn't changed for so many years. When he is in good health, he will come alone. When he is not in good health, he will be accompanied by an assistant. He shouted enthusiastically when he saw me from afar. Xiao Cao, kind and dear, like a family member, without a bit of air. Always thank you after you cut your hair." Cao Xiaoping said that during the haircut, Yuan Longping would ask her "is the business in the shop good" and "how is my daughter's performance?" I will inform her of the achievements of hybrid rice. When I am happy, I will say "thank you" and "very satisfied" in English, and translate it to her. I also often praise myself as a "handsome guy" and an "old handsome guy". "Senior handsome guy."

　　In November last year, a few days before Yuan Longping went to Sanya, Hainan, Yuan Longping came to have a haircut again.

"We made an appointment that the next haircut would be a month later, but after he returned from Sanya, he went directly to the hospital, and never received a call from him." Cao Xiaoping even planned to go to Sanya to give Yuan Longping a haircut at his own expense.

　　"The original shampoo bed was too broken. I recently changed it to a new one. I didn't expect that I would never get a haircut for him again. My wish is to get his hair cut again." Recalling his experience with Yuan Longping, Cao Xiaoping burst into tears. Next, "He is gone, I still can't accept this news, I want to keep this exclusive position for him forever."

　　Fang Zhihui, a researcher at the Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, is a student of Yuan Longping.

In his impression, Yuan Longping is very frugal and plainly dressed. He is satisfied with eating a meat dish and a green vegetable. Sometimes he even goes to the kitchen to stir fry and noodles.

"He was very rigorous in his work and was a stubborn scientist. He was a kind and loving old man in his life. He was very good at playing the violin and was as cute as a child when he played mahjong." Fang Zhihui recalled, When Dr. Ge Xin Kusi, who is well-known in the international rice genetics and breeding community, visited Changsha, Yuan Longping personally went to book a room and determine the recipe.

　　During the international promotion of hybrid rice, Fang Zhihui and his team also deeply felt Yuan Longping's noble sentiment and selfless dedication to benefit the world with his hard work and sweat.

"From Pakistan to Madagascar, from the chairmanship project, the prime minister's fund project to the cooperation project between enterprises, as long as it is related to the overseas development of hybrid rice, he is responsive and willing to meet guests with great enthusiasm." Fang Zhihui said, mentor When he was in poor health, he still insisted on researching hybrid rice. “Before he went to Sanya, he also said that he would finish a few experiments and get results. He was very confident at that time.” (End)