On January 8, 1976, Premier Zhou passed away. When the hearse passed Chang'an Avenue, millions of people in Beijing stood on both sides of the Ten Mile Long Street in the cold wind to bid farewell to the Prime Minister.
Sixteen years later, a similar scene repeated itself. Hundreds of thousands of cadres and masses, with tears in their eyes, jointly bid farewell to a great woman. She is the wife of Premier Zhou-the eldest sister of Deng Yingchao.
When the staff was about to leave West Flower Hall with Deng Yingchao's urn, a female soldier in a general uniform burst into tears.
She pressed her cheek tightly to the urn and kissed the urn. Crying and said: "Mother Deng, let me kiss you again." She is Nie Shuai's daughter Nie Li.
Nie Li and Nie Rongzhen
The time before Deng Yingchao's death
On February 4, 1904, Deng Yingchao was born in Nanning , Guangxi, nicknamed Wenshu. His father, Deng Tingzhong, was a scholar in the Guangxu period, with outstanding military strength, and worked in Nanning Zhentai. Mother Yang Zhende is a Chinese medicine doctor. When Deng Yingchao was seven years old, his father was exiled and died in Xinjiang.
Her mother took her to Tianjin, where she worked as a doctor in a school, and did four part-time tutoring at the same time, so she barely managed to maintain the life of the mother and daughter. The young Deng Yingchao had a taste of the life of displacement and poverty.
Under the influence of her mother, Deng Yingchao has been exposed to revolutionary ideas since she was a child, and she became an active member of various school movements before she was 15 years old.
Deng Yingchao
After the outbreak of the May Fourth Movement, Deng Yingchao took to the streets to participate in demonstrations and protests, joined the student progress organization-" awakening society ", and embarked on the road of revolution.
In the "Kue Wushe", Deng Yingchao not only met Li Dazhao and other revolutionary pioneers,I got in touch with new ideas, improved my consciousness, and got to know my future life partner, Zhou Enlai, the student leader of Nankai University .
Soon, Deng Yingchao became a Chinese teacher in the primary school attached to the Beijing Normal School. Zhou Enlai went to France to study abroad, and the two people kept communicating with each other. Zhou Enlai instilled advanced revolutionary ideas to Deng Yingchao in his letters and expressed his love for her.
Deng Yingchao was also attracted by Zhou Enlai's character and talent. The two swan geese passed on the book, and gradually knew each other in love.
Deng Yingchao and Zhou Enlai
In 1925, Deng Yingchao joined the Communist Party and was wanted because of his identity. At this time, Zhou Enlai returned to China as the director of the political department of Whampoa Military Academy . Deng Yingchao went south to Guangzhou to reunite with her lover.
On August 8, Deng Yingchao and Zhou Enlai got married in Guangzhou. Since then, these two outstanding leaders have shared the same revolutionary ideals, and have gone hand in hand for more than 50 springs and autumns.
After marriage, Deng Yingchao actively devoted himself to the cause of revolution, and experienced almost all revolutionary periods such as the White Terror, the Long March of the Red Army, the War of Resistance against Japan, the Liberation War and so on. In addition to actively doing the secretarial work arranged by the Party Central Committee, she is also Zhou Enlai's right-hand man in secret work.
Deng Yingchao
After the outbreak of the War of Resistance Against Japan, Deng Yingchao devoted his energy to women's movement, united front and other work, becoming a famous social activist in our country and a pioneer of the women's movement for women's liberation and national unity Great contribution made by the front. Everyone respectfully calls her "Sister Deng".
After the founding of New China,In addition to working on women and children, Deng Yingchao basically retreated to the second line and quietly served as Premier Zhou’s internal helper in the Xihua Hall. Their husband and wife cooperate with each other tacitly and support each other. They are model couples in everyone's mind.
On January 8, 1976, Premier Zhou became ill due to overwork and died of bladder cancer . Deng Yingchao managed the funeral in accordance with her husband's last wish. The ashes of Premier Zhou were scattered on the land of the motherland. At that time, the box containing the ashes did not use precious materials such as marble, nanmu , and was just an ordinary wooden box.
Deng Yingchao carefully preserved it. After the death of Premier Zhou, Deng Yingchao used his remaining heat to assume the main leadership positions of the National People's Congress and the CPPCC .
Deng Yingchao
In 1988, the 84-year-old Deng Yingchao stepped down as chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. At this time, her body was weakening day by day, and she was hospitalized several times due to colds and pneumonia.
At the end of July 1991, Deng Yingchao was sent to the Beijing Hospital again due to a high fever. Secretary Zhao Wei had no idea, and secretly asked the doctor: "Is the condition a little serious?"
Doctor replied: "Everyone must be prepared for the possibility of not going out this time." Zhao Wei My heart suddenly became heavy. She returned to the Xihua Hall and arranged and arranged the staff so that everyone could be mentally prepared.
After an expert operation, Deng Yingchao's condition improved, and she was able to speak soberly with the central leaders who came to visit. However, within a few days, Deng Yingchao developed kidney failure and fell into a coma. The doctors thought that the situation was not good, so Zhao Wei was prepared to arrange funeral affairs.
Deng Yingchao
Deng Yingchao stubbornly recovered from the rescue,Zhao Wei, who had been with him to take care of her, suddenly heard Deng Yingchao gently calling her name, and couldn't help crying with joy.
Deng Yingchao seemed to be recovering well. Not only did she meet with leaders at all levels including the Prince and his wife of Sihanouk, Sihanouk, and his wife of , she also personally wrote to all teachers and students of Beijing First Experimental Primary School A letter congratulating the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the school, encouraging children to study hard and build a new China.
The 1992 Spring Festival coincided with Deng Yingchao's 88th birthday. The staff and medical staff are ready to surprise her and have a lively and festive birthday for her.
After careful arrangement, Zhao Wei pushes Deng Yingchao to the next room. The central leaders and staff, as well as their children, gathered to stand and applaud to congratulate her on the joy of 米寿.
Deng Yingchao
The room is filled with sincere blessings and greetings. Although Deng Yingchao was low-key and didn't love birthdays all his life, this lively and joyous atmosphere made the elderly very happy. This was also Deng Yingchao's last birthday. Beginning in July, Deng Yingchao began to experience symptoms of dyspnea and increased heart rate.
She has a foreboding that time is running out, so she called Zhao Wei, the secretary who had been with her for 27 years, to the hospital bed and said goodbye to Zhao Wei. The two have been together for many years and have been in love with their mother and daughter. With tears in his eyes, Zhao Wei began to arrange funeral affairs.
On the morning of July 11, 1992, Deng Yingchao stopped his heartbeat and breathing. After a great life, he passed away peacefully. Zhao Wei kissed Deng Yingchao on the forehead and bid Deng Yingchao his final farewell.
Zhao Wei kisses Deng Yingchao's forehead
Deng Yingchao's funeral arrangements after his death
As early as ten years ago, Deng Yingchao set about arranging his own affairs. She wrote to the central government and made a will, put forward seven requirements for cremation of the body, no ashes, no house handover, no memorial service, and no care for relatives. . Later, supplements were made and detailed arrangements were made for materials including books, photos, and documents.
After Deng Yingchao's death, regarding the conduct of the funeral, taking into account the voice of the broad masses of cadres and the masses, the central government did not completely follow the low-key and simple wishes of her will.
The central government immediately issued an obituary in the "People's Daily", announced its will, and decided to set up a mourning hall in the West Flower Hall for the masses to come to express their condolences.
At the same time, a farewell ceremony for the remains was held at Babaoshan ; in addition, in response to the needs of the Japanese people for condolences, a mourning hall was set up in the Chinese Embassy in Japan.
Deng Yingchao's mourning hall
After the funeral arrangements were finalized, Zhao Wei returned to the Xihua Hall to pick up clothes for Deng Yingchao to change. This is a black gabardine suit from the 1960s. Back then, Deng Yingchao wore it to bid farewell to Premier Zhou. During her lifetime, she told Zhao Wei that she must wear this suit after her death.
The staff were shocked when they found out the clothes. Although the appearance is fairly tidy, the lining is all patched with various fabrics, and there is still a hole in the waistband that can't be repaired. Someone suggested: "The clothes are too torn to wear, so why do you have to change your eldest sister into new clothes?"
Zhao Wei said: "This is something that Sister Deng repeatedly confessed. She liked it very much during her lifetime. This suit. Besides, she thinks that wearing new clothes is a waste of cremation." Everyone was so touched that they used needles and threads to patch up the broken places overnight and put Deng Yingchao in this suit.
Deng Yingchao farewell ceremony
On the morning of July 17, 1992,National leaders came to the farewell room of the hospital and held a ceremony to bid farewell to Deng Yingchao. Libing carried the coffin, Zhao Wei and others escorted to the side, boarded the hearse and drove to Babaoshan.
When the hearse drove up Chang'an Avenue, from Dongdan to Babaoshan, hundreds of thousands of people from all walks of life stood on both sides of the street to bid farewell to this great and respectable old man under the scorching sun.
After arriving at Babaoshan, the crowds came to express their condolences in an endless stream and had to change the two teams into four.
Until five o'clock in the afternoon, the cremation of the remains can't be delayed any longer. The staff tried their best to persuade everyone to leave.
The crowd present
According to Deng Yingchao's last wish, the cremated ashes were put into the ashes used by Premier Zhou before. This ordinary urn has been kept by Deng Yingchao for 16 years. She thought that although she could not share the tomb with her husband, she would share an urn with him.
Zhao Wei was overwhelmed with sorrow and was weak. With the support of the guard Gao Zhenpu, he took the urn back to the Western Flower Hall.
When she said affectionately: "Sister, let's go home!" All the people present were crying.
That night, everyone did not go home, and silently accompanied their beloved Sister Deng in the Xihua Hall for the last night.
Zhao Wei holding Deng Yingchao's urn
On July 18th, the representative of Zhou Enlai's hometown of Huai'an, Zhou Bingde, Zhou's relatives, and others came to the West Flower Hall early in the morning. They stood together with Libing on the portrait. side. Various wreaths and flower baskets filled the hall and yard.
The flower basket reads "Mourning to Comrade Deng Yingchao", "Mother Deng forever", "Sister Deng rest in peace" and other words.
Among them, the flower basket on the left side of the mourning hall is eye-catching. It was sent by the couples of Zhang Xueliang and Zhao Yidi in Taiwan by their niece. The ribbon of the flower basket reads "Sister Deng Yingchao Through the Ages", expressing their admiration for Zhou Enlai and Deng Yingchao.
Deng Yingchao farewell ceremony
According to Deng Yingchao's last wish, just after the "first seven", her ashes will be scattered to Haihe in Tianjin, her second hometown, where she spent her teenage years , Embarked on the road of revolution, but also met a lover who stayed with him all his life.
In the morning, with the sound of painful sorrow, the central leadership, staff, relatives, and soldiers of the Guard Corps said their final farewell to Deng Yingchao.
Zhao Wei took the urn and walked around the West Flower Hall, and let Deng Yingchao take another look at the courtyard where he had lived for more than 40 years.
Zhao Wei holding Deng Yingchao's urn
Zhao Wei holding the urn was about to get on the car, Nie Shuai's daughter Nie Li ran over, she burst into tears, stroking the urn , Crying and said: "Mother Deng, let me kiss you again!" Seeing this scene, everyone cried.
When the convoy drove into Tianjin, more than 100,000 Tianjin citizens also came to see off.
At 12:15, the "Xinhaimen" and all the ships on Haihe sounded their sirens. In the sound of the sirens, Zhao Wei and Gao Zhenpu scattered Deng Yingchao's ashes into Haihe.
The ashes of Premier Zhou were divided into four parts, and one part was also scattered in Haihe. Deng Yingchao and her lover finally met at the place where they first met.
Zhao Weiyang scatters ashes
Nie Li and other younger generations’ affection for Deng’s mother
Deng Yingchao and Zhou Enlai became pregnant soon after they got married.Due to the crisis at the time, Deng Yingchao knocked out the child. After the second pregnancy, the baby could not be saved when she was born. Since then, Deng Yingchao and Zhou Enlai have no children of their own, but this has not affected the feelings between them in the slightest.
Zhou Enlai once said that he treats the children of China as his own children. Deng Yingchao has also been fighting for the cause of women and children all his life. They practiced a kind of great love with practical actions. Nie Li and others respected them so much, it is not surprising that they called Deng Yingchao "Deng's mother".
During the War of Resistance Against Japan, hundreds of people were scattered in the flames of war. Many children lost their parents and were displaced. Deng Yingchao cooperated with Song Meiling . After seven years, he founded 53 wartime childcare clubs and adopted nearly 30,000 children.
Deng Yingchao and children
Deng Yingchao once wrote an article in Xinhua Daily: "Not only should children be relieved, but children should also be cultivated with a spirit of perseverance, so that they will become masters of building a new China in the future."
Many of these children later became national pillars. For example, the founder of nuclear power in my country, Peng Shilu, the first chief designer of nuclear submarines, Liu Taihang, the son of Marshal Liu Bocheng, and Du Mingxin, the master of contemporary music, all came out of the nursery. These children called Deng Yingchao as "Mother Deng".
Although Nie Li did not grow up in a nursery school, she and Deng Yingchao also have a deep relationship and a deep relationship. Nie Li's father, Marshal Nie Rongzhen, and Zhou Enlai had known each other early in France, and he followed and assisted Zhou Enlai all his life.
Nie Rongzhen
During the Nanchang Uprising,Zhou Enlai was the former party secretary, and Nie Rongzhen was a member of the military commission, and brought in a division of the Kuomintang during the uprising; during the white terror, Zhou Enlai was the founder of teke, and Nie Rongzhen was in charge of the specific work; after the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Zhou Enlai Served as Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Nie Rongzhen, responsible for national defense science and technology.
They respected each other, cooperated closely, and forged a profound revolutionary friendship. When Zhou Enlai passed away, Nie Rongzhen cried uncommonly.
Nie Li was born in 1930. When he was five months old, Deng Yingchao made a special trip to visit him. She loves this white and fat little girl very much. Humming a nursery rhyme, he pushed Xiao Nie Li to walk around the room. I accidentally knocked over the toilet in the corner, and the urine flowed along the crack in the wooden floor to the Buddhist altar enshrined by the landlord downstairs.
Nie Li
Although Deng Yingchao went downstairs to apologize, but the landlord’s wife was reluctant. Finally, I bought a lot of incense candles and firecrackers, and bowed and apologized in front of the shrine.
Zhou Enlai later heard about it and laughed loudly: "You are so courageous, that you have drenched little Nie Li's urine on the head of the Buddha."
Nie Rongzhen is in charge of defending, rescuing, and hoeing in Tecco. Work. In danger at all times. In 1934, Nie Li and his mother were arrested for betrayal by a traitor and tortured in prison.
Nie Rongzhen
After taking the opportunity to escape, his mother placed Nie Li in a farmer's house. The young Nie Li has lived through an extremely difficult 10 years of life. She has been a long-term worker in a landlord’s family and a child worker in a spinning mill, and she has suffered all the hardships.
After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, Zhou Enlai arranged for personnel to look for Nie Li, and the 15-year-old Nie Li was reunited with his parents.
From then on,Nie Li has also become a frequent visitor at Deng Yingchao's home, and the relationship is naturally very close. The name "Mother Deng" has also been inherited.
Deng Yingchao (first from left) Zhou Enlai (first from right)
After returning home, Nie has been engaged in national defense science and technology, and has made outstanding contributions to naval weapons and military computer .
In 1982, he served as the deputy director of of the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense of . In 1993, he was awarded the rank of lieutenant general. Become the first female lieutenant general in the world.
Her husband, Ding Henggao, is even better. He is a top expert in the field of submarines and missiles, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and a general rank. They kept in mind the entrustment of Deng Yingchao and other predecessors, and continued to fight for the road of revival of the strong army of our country.
Ding Henggao
Deng Yingchao is not only the wife of Premier Zhou, but she herself is an excellent proletarian revolutionary. She pursued the truth all her life, did not change her true colors, and dedicated her life to the cause of Chinese revolution and construction.
After her death, she can receive spontaneous farewell mourning from her younger generations and the people. This is the highest affirmation and evaluation of her life. Her outstanding performance and glorious performance will eventually be recorded in the annals of history and will be missed by everyone.
References
Zhao Wei, "The Years in the Western Flower Hall: My 37 Years with Zhou Enlai and Deng Yingchao", Social Science Archives, June 1, 2009;
Jin Feng, "The Biography of Deng Yingchao", People's Publishing House Society, 1993;
Nie Li, "Founding Generals and Their Children", Contemporary World Publishing House, January 1999.
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