China News Network Tianjin, April 4 Question: Zhou Bingde remembers Zhou Enlai's family style: The premier's niece cannot be superior

Authors: Sun Lingling, Zhou Yaqiang

"My uncle did not leave us any property, but he left us the most precious family style. For so many years, I have been demanding of myself and the people around me. Zhou Bingde said.

On April 4, Zhou Bingde, former vice president of China News Service and niece of Premier Zhou Enlai, was invited to attend the 22th International Symposium on Zhou Enlai Research of Nankai University, and was a guest at the "Public Energy Forum" to tell the story of Zhou Enlai's family style with the theme of "inheriting the red family style and carrying forward the revolutionary spirit", encouraging Nankai students to carry forward the spirit of Nankai and the spirit of Zhou Enlai, and be determined to read and serve the country.

Zhou Bingde is the eldest daughter of Zhou Enlai's brother Zhou Enshou, who lived with Zhou Enlai and Deng Yingchao in the Zhongnanhai West Flower Hall at the age of 12, and in the common life of more than ten years, she was taught by Zhou Enlai and deeply understood the importance of family style.

Zhou Enlai's education of the revolutionary concept of love for his juniors shocked Zhou Bingde. In her early 20s, Zhou Enlai told her her love story. He believed that when two people came together, they must have a common ideal pursuit, and even wrote in his love letter to Deng Yingchao: "May the two of us, like the two of them (Liebknecht and Luxemburg), go to the guillotine together in the future." ”

"This is not a revolutionary manifesto, this is a love letter, children! When Zhou Enlai was young, he was so determined to dedicate himself to the communist cause he pursued. Zhou Bingde said emotionally. It is precisely because of their common ambition that Zhou Enlai and Deng Yingchao faced all kinds of difficulties and dangers and stormy waves on the road of revolution in the next 51 years, and they always froze each other until death.

In Zhou Bingde's memories, Zhou Enlai has always been close to the masses and integrated into the masses. In March 1966, when a major earthquake struck Xingtai, Zhou Enlai came to the earthquake area to visit the affected people regardless of the risk of aftershocks and cheered everyone on. When mobilizing speeches, Zhou Enlai deliberately turned his direction so that the people would not be blown by the wind. He said: "Is it reasonable for the masses to face the wind, or is it reasonable for a few of us to face the wind?" "This detail deeply touched everyone present." This is how my uncle thought about the masses everywhere. Zhou Bingde said.

Although he is already the premier of a major country, Zhou Enlai has always maintained a hard and simple style of life. Once went abroad to participate in a foreign affairs event, Zhou Enlai only brought an old shirt that had been repeatedly sewn countless times. When the wife of an ambassador saw it, she was so distressed that she almost burst into tears, so she bought three shirts at her own expense, but Premier Zhou refused, believing that the money was needed more for national construction. When going out to participate in activities, Zhou Enlai never engages in special activities, only eating ordinary meals; Usually eating is also a meat, a vegetarian soup, even the rice grains that fall on the table cannot be wasted.

Zhou Bingde recalled that Zhou Enlai always adhered to the principle of distinguishing between public and private in his work, and was strict with relatives and lenient with those who neglected them. Whether it was the characterization of his wife's rank or the treatment of his brother, he believed that it should be lowered, because "as a member of the Communist Party, you must work for the welfare of the people of the whole country, not for the personal interests of the Zhou family."

Zhou Enlai's family style is strict, and he is no exception to the children at home. Once at six or seven o'clock in the morning, Zhou Bingde went to the courtyard to sit and read, and was seen by Zhou Enlai, who had just finished work and was ready to rest. He walked up to Zhou Bingde and asked very seriously, "Didn't you see so many uncles cleaning the yard, how can you read here alone?" "The scene at that time impressed Zhou Bingde." Since childhood, my uncle taught us that you are ordinary students, and when you grow up, you are ordinary workers, even the niece of the prime minister, you cannot be superior. ”

Zhou Enlai also often stressed to his family that we must not forget the martyrs who died for the revolution, and we must put the interests of the country and the people first, and "for them (revolutionary martyrs), we must also make more contributions to the construction of New China." Zhou Enlai's teachings deeply influenced Zhou Bingde and her siblings. After growing up, they all chose to work at the grassroots level in accordance with Zhou Enlai's expectations and build the country down-to-earth.

At the age of 13, he set the ideal of "studying for the rise of China", at the age of 16, he firmly aspired to "be a public servant for 19,<> compatriots", and at the age of <>, he encouraged the young princes to "meet when China takes off in the world". In the suffering old China, young Zhou Enlai firmly foresaw that China would take off one day. Together with revolutionaries of the older generation and tens of thousands of Communist Party members and people with lofty ideals, he also went forward and worked tirelessly to build a bright new China. It is gratifying that today's China is taking off as he wishes! Zhou Bingde said emotionally.

Zhou Enlai's excellent family style and revolutionary spirit deeply inspired the Nankai students at the scene. Everyone expressed that they should take Senior Zhou Enlai as their life example, uphold the spirit of the school motto of "public energy is new", establish the aspiration of strengthening the country, cultivate the ability to serve the country, and contribute youth strength to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. (End)