After the funeral, the staff began to sort out her belongings. In her study, everyone found a black corner cabinet. Everyone around said that it was full of the lady's treasures, but no one knew what it was.
Open the cupboard, there are several books, including Selected Works of Mao Zedong signed by Chairman Mao. This is the first edition, which is very precious.
In addition, another piece of paper caught everyone's attention: it was a piece of paper opened at 16 with a crease in the middle, which was obviously folded in half by Soong Ching Ling for convenience of preservation. Looking at the paper, the staff were moved: it turned out that this was Premier Zhou's toast at the reception of the 25th anniversary of the National Day.
For seven years, she has kept it silently, just as she has cherished this friendship with the Prime Minister.
Let's put the clock back seven years ago. That was 1974, two years after Premier Zhou was diagnosed with cancer. On September 27th this year, Soong Ching Ling, 8 1 year-old, received a phone call from the Central Committee, hoping that she could attend the National Day reception on September 30th.
At this time, Soong Ching Ling rarely went out to receive visitors. Just last month, her facial nerves had serious problems, and now even her eyelids are swollen. Although the National Day reception is an important state banquet, according to her present situation, it should be postponed.
But in the end, she decided to attend, because she got an important message from the staff who called: the reception was unprecedented in scale and more than 4,500 people from home and abroad would attend. Through this information, Soong Ching Ling judged that Premier Zhou, who has been ill for many days, should also attend.
Since bladder cancer was diagnosed in 1972, Premier Zhou has had two major operations, but the physical problems do not seem to have been solved. How is he now? Can he attend such a big state banquet? In the next three days, Soong Ching Ling, who hasn't seen Premier Zhou for a long time, thought and thought.
On the evening of September 30th, the state banquet was held as scheduled. More than 4,500 people from all over the world attended, including senior coaches such as Ye Jianying and Nie, the main leaders of our Party at all levels, and heads of state or representatives from Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar.
On that day, Soong Ching Ling was arranged in the sixth seat on the right side of the guest seat. She arrived early and waited quietly. "Premier Zhou is coming", someone in the crowd suddenly shouted excitedly, and Soong Ching Ling looked down at the crowd.
76-year-old Premier Zhou still wears his favorite blue tunic suit. He has lost a lot of weight and his face is pale. The only constant is that his back is as straight as when he was young. So, it seems that he is still distinguished. When Premier Zhou came out, many people cried at the scene. They don't know whether this will be the last time that the Prime Minister will host a state banquet.
Next, Premier Zhou made a toast. His speech lasted for 4 minutes, during which he was interrupted by applause several times. Today, this precious video is still preserved.
After the toast, many people went to propose a toast to Premier Zhou. He had a few drinks with a smile. The staff on the side repeatedly urged the Prime Minister to go back to the hospital.
In fact, the medical team has regulations for Premier Zhou to attend the state banquet. One of them is that he can only toast a few cups, and there are people behind him to replace him. However, the Prime Minister did not comply. He also agreed to the rule that "you must leave early".
But everyone didn't want him to go, and they all gathered around, so that the staff had to ask everyone: The Prime Minister is in poor health! I hope you understand. ...
All this was seen by Soong Ching Ling who was sitting not far away. She really wanted to talk to the Prime Minister, but there were too many people that day, and her physical condition really didn't allow her to squeeze forward.
So, in the end, she could only silently take away a toast on the table, which was printed by the staff. They were afraid that Premier Zhou would not say too much that day, so they typed the text version in advance and put it on every banquet table for everyone to check.
A few days after the state banquet, Soong Ching Ling wrote in a letter to a Swiss friend: Although Zhou was emaciated after a long illness, his speech was wonderful.
Only one day after the letter was sent, Soong Ching Ling received a phone call from Deng, who said:
When Deng said this, Soong Ching Ling realized that Premier Zhou had seen her that day, and she told Deng about her situation when she went back. Soong Ching Ling replied with regret: "I wanted to interview, but my wish didn't come true." In a word, it tells an important reason why Soong Ching Ling attended the meeting when she was ill: to see Premier Zhou.
Deng's call obviously made her happier, and she insisted on attending the meeting. For these old friends, it may be a comfort to meet each other late and know that they are all well.
In fact, knowing Zhou Enlai has always been a lucky thing for Soong Ching Ling.
This is a passage that Soong Ching Ling recalled when she first met Premier Zhou in her later years.
1In the autumn of 924, 26-year-old Zhou Enlai returned from Europe and served as the director of the political department of Guangzhou Huangpu Military Academy. This year, Soong Ching Ling, five years older than him, was Sun Yat-sen's right-hand man.
At that time, Zhou Enlai invited Soong Ching Ling to give lectures at Whampoa Military Academy. As a talented woman who has fought alongside Mr. Sun for many years, she certainly has this qualification. In return, when Soong Ching Ling and He Xiangning hold a women's workshop, Zhou Enlai will also teach progressive young women. It was during this period that Soong Ching Ling saw Zhou Enlai's talent.
1April, 927 12 After the counter-revolutionary coup, Soong Ching Ling resolutely stood on the side of justice, protecting and rescuing many important comrades of our party, such as Chen Geng. Since then, she has continuously transported people and things to Yan' an through her own strength. Si Nuo, Bethune and others were able to reach Yan 'an smoothly, which was the result of Soong Ching Ling's mediation.
These things, one after another, made Zhou Enlai sincerely respect Soong Ching Ling. Zhou Enlai knew very well that Soong Ching Ling chose to stand on the side of Chiang Kai-shek, which meant that she also stood on the opposite side of the whole Song family. From then on, she will lose the dependence of her family.
Therefore, Zhou Enlai has been looking for opportunities to thank her personally. 1937 After the July 7th Incident, he finally found his chance. On this day, he, Lin and others are going to Lushan Mountain to negotiate with Chiang Kai-shek, and they are going to pay a visit.
The comrades of the Shanghai underground party told Soong Ching Ling the news in advance, and she was particularly happy. She has been writing to Zhou Enlai for the past few years. Zhou Enlai will tell her about Yan 'an, what materials are lacking and what kind of publicity is needed. As long as she can do it herself, she will find a way. It's just that the two have always been at opposite poles, and they have never met.
Therefore, Soong Ching Ling is looking forward to this meeting with Zhou Enlai. On the 29th, when Zhou Enlai and others drove to Moliere Road, Soong Ching Ling greeted them at the door early.
At this meeting, the two talked a lot about how countries can cooperate to resist Japan. Soong Ching Ling found that the young director of Whampoa Military Academy really grew up too much. It was this meeting that established their friendship for nearly 40 years in the future.
No matter how much Soong Ching Ling paid in War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression or during the War of Liberation, others may not know, but Premier Zhou and Chairman Mao know best. During this period, she even mortgaged her apartment in Shanghai and lent it to Chairman Mao with the pension given by the government.
So, in the spring of 1949, when the whole country was liberated immediately, Premier Zhou and Chairman Mao jointly wrote a letter inviting Soong Ching Ling to go north. At that time, Shanghai was not yet liberated, and Zhou Enlai was ready to send reliable comrades to give the secret letter to Soong Ching Ling via Hong Kong.
Zhou Enlai has always respected Soong Ching Ling's going north. Everyone with discerning eyes knows that Soong Ching Ling has great influence among many democratic groups. Therefore, she is a figure that our party must strive for. But even so, Zhou Enlai still told the messenger comrade:
First, it must be secret and not abrupt;
Second, we must completely agree with Mrs. Sun's opinion, and we can't force it.
Many people don't understand where Premier Zhou's diplomatic charm lies, and always feel that the only reason why he can convince people is that his speech is very good. I want to tell you that if you think so, you obviously underestimate Premier Zhou. What he admires most is always four words: sincerity and openness. The same is true of Soong Ching Ling's going north.
Soong Ching Ling was very happy to receive the secret letter, but she still said: "After a long period of consideration, it is better to make sure that this move is not as quiet as the rest. I want to meet liberation and meet you in Shanghai! "
There are objective reasons why Soong Ching Ling declined so politely. At that time, her welfare foundation was in Shanghai, and she herself needed medical treatment for many years because of high blood pressure. When she ventured north without ensuring safety, she really had great misgivings.
After the first failure, the plan to invite Soong Ching Ling to go north was shelved. Until June 1949, Zhou Enlai invited again. This time, the external environment has been very different. At this time, the overall situation has been set, and the preparatory meeting for the new CPPCC has been opened in Beiping. Shanghai has also been completely liberated, and our army has been able to ensure the safety of Soong Ching Ling's northward movement.
To this end, Deng was sent to Shanghai to convince them personally. At the same time, he also wrote a letter with Chairman Mao to show his sincerity. Among them, Zhou Enlai's letter reads as follows:
Just from the words, we can see Premier Zhou's respect for Soong Ching Ling. Two letters from him and the chairman obviously touched her. Later, Deng called her husband and told him that Soong Ching Ling was deeply moved. But at the same time, Deng also said that Soong Ching Ling "can't travel long distances because she is ill."
In fact, Soong Ching Ling was in poor health. At that time, the train from Shanghai to Peiping was not as fast as it is now, and her health really couldn't stand it. When Premier Zhou heard about it, he quickly responded. He instructed:
At the same time, Zhou Enlai personally arranged accommodation for Soong Ching Ling. He instructed Ceng Xianzhi, Deputy Secretary General of the Women's Federation, to secretly find a house for Soong Ching Ling in Beiping. After finding the house, he went to see it for himself. After he thought everything was all right, he called Deng: The house is ready.
Everything is ready. Soong Ching Ling, who has always been low-key, put forward three requirements, and the other two are very easy to realize. Nothing more than not holding a welcome party and letting her meet some old friends after going to Beijing. Only this last point is awkward. She suggested: Don't inform anyone in advance, and don't let anyone pick you up at the station.
From an objective point of view, Soong Ching Ling has made such a great contribution that it is obviously inappropriate not to meet him at the station. Then, the clever Zhou Enlai replied: Only people who meet at the station want you to call and tell me, so as not to be too abrupt.
This arrangement is really ingenious. It gives Soong Ching Ling the right to choose, which respects her and won't make her feel lonely when she gets off the train. In this way, on the afternoon of August 28th, Soong Ching Ling arrived in Peiping by special train. Chairman Mao and Premier Zhou personally greeted her with comrades.
Apart from the warm welcome from the comrades, Soong Ching Ling was moved by an enthusiastic arrangement made by Zhou Enlai: as soon as she got out of the station, a group of children gathered around with flowers.
These children are orphans in kindergarten. They can grow up healthily and go to school because overseas Chinese donated money in response to Soong Ching Ling's call. This arrangement is undoubtedly extremely important for Soong Ching Ling, who has no biological children and devoted her life to the welfare of children. Sure enough, Premier Zhou understood her.
Soong Ching Ling's concern for Premier Zhou is more reflected in daily life. Every time she returns to Beijing from Shanghai, she will bring him some small gifts.
Premier Zhou felt guilty about the number of deliveries, and said to her, "Don't bother!" Soong Ching Ling's answer to this is: "This is not trouble, but a great part of comfort in my life." Such an answer made Premier Zhou unable to refute any more.
The word "comfort" may just explain Soong Ching Ling's real thoughts. In her later years, Soong Ching Ling had no relatives around her, and her brothers and sisters had long regarded her as a rebel of the family and were unwilling to associate with her. For her, Zhou Enlai, who is five years younger than her, is a comrade and a relative who can be trusted completely.
It is precisely because of this that 1972 after the news of Premier Zhou's cancer came out, all her worries were written on her face. She wanted to see him often, but she never got a chance. That's why on 1974, she went to the 25th anniversary state banquet and silently collected the toast of the Prime Minister.
Soong Ching Ling couldn't see him, so she had to think of other ways to care for him. One day, at the age of 79, she didn't know where to hear that it was good to eat fresh fish, so she begged the staff to catch fish for Premier Zhou in the pond at home.
When the staff got off the net, they caught a big grass carp. She was so happy that she quickly asked the secretary to send it to Zhongnanhai at once. In the afternoon, she received a reply from the Prime Minister's Office: the fish was received, and Premier Zhou thanked her.
Soong Ching Ling is an intellectual woman. She knows what science is, but in the case of Premier Zhou's cancer, she is always willing to believe that eating better must be beneficial to him. Therefore, in the last days of the Prime Minister, she has been busy collecting pigeon eggs, because she heard that it was difficult for the Prime Minister to eat, so she could only barely eat pigeon eggs.
It's a pity that pigeon eggs at the beginning of Beijing 1 is hard to find. Soong Ching Ling keeps pigeons herself, so she can't lay a few eggs in winter. The people sent to the market said they couldn't buy it at all. She was in such a hurry that the staff rummaged through the pigeon house and barely got five pieces.
If she gets a treasure, she will empty a small box for gifts and then wrap these eggs in paper towels one by one. She didn't even trust the staff to send it, so she sent her adopted daughter Yongqing Sui. Before the departure of Yongqing Sui, a thousand words told him: Don't break. Yong Qingsui later recalled: I haven't seen her in such a hurry for many years.
Unfortunately, when Yongqing Sui arrived at the hospital, he didn't see Premier Zhou, and even Deng didn't have time to come out to see her. She had to give pigeon eggs to the guards, so she went home and reported to Soong Ching Ling.
For this abnormal phenomenon, Soong Ching Ling has been very nervous for the next few days. Three days later, she received the news of Premier Zhou's death. At that moment, she lost control.
Ill-ridden, she ignored the advice of people around her and went to the hospital with the help of her secretary to see the Prime Minister for the last time. In the farewell room, she couldn't stand still, and looked at her old friend who was only 60 kilograms thin and burst into tears.
For a long time after that, the secretary often saw her sitting alone and crying to herself: "The country lacks a good helper, a good helper!" "
A year later, an article written by Soong Ching Ling, Remembering Zhou Enlai, was published. She wrote: He was brave and good at fighting, diligent and persevering, and served the people enthusiastically all his life. ...
1981On May 29th, Soong Ching Ling also died of illness. Zhang Baocun's seven-year-old bread was found among her belongings. The wheel of history is rolling forward. Premier Zhou, who came to the stage to propose a toast in spite of illness, and Soong Ching Ling, who looked at her old friend from the audience, have all left us. But I believe that their great friendship will be remembered by the world.