In 1919, when Deng Xiaoping was preparing to leave his motherland for a work-study program in France, he was faced with an unknown future.
And his father, Deng Shaochang, did not hesitate to sell off his property in order to pay for his son's expensive tuition fees to study abroad, scraping together three hundred yuan for him.
However, when Deng Xiaoping set out on his journey to France, Deng Xiaoping, who was under 16 years old, might not have imagined that this would be the final farewell to his father!
So, what kind of unknown and touching past events existed between Deng Xiaoping and his father, Deng Shaochang?
Under the circumstances at that time, why did Deng Shaochang go against everyone's advice, sell his property, and send his son to study in France? What kind of spiritual sustenance does this contain as a father?
1 Although he was from a distinguished family, his family was in decline.
Why did Deng Shaochang have to sell off his property after spending 300 yuan? Is the Deng family very poor? In fact, this is not the case.
For modern people, 300 yuan may be inconspicuous, but this is because we are fortunate to grow up in a great era.
You must know that the environment Deng Xiaoping lived in when he was a child was the poor and weak old China.
In the old China at that time, it was difficult for children of ordinary families to receive an ordinary education. Studying abroad was an unattainable dream. Even the thought of it was a luxury wish.
Specific to Deng Xiaoping, who was living in France at that time, if he wanted to study in France, his family would have to give him at least 300 silver dollars - which was quite difficult.
Therefore, when they learned that Deng Shaochang was going to send his son to study in France, most of his family members were opposed to it.
,300 silver dollars, this is not a small sum, it can sustain a large family for a long time. Besides, why do we have to send our children abroad?
However, in order for his son to study in France, Deng Shaochang gritted his teeth and sold his family's grain reserves for a fortune.
However, the difference in money was still too big, so Deng Shaochang had no choice but to look at the land - which he and his father had worked hard to save for decades. For traditional Chinese farmers, this was almost more valuable than their lifeblood.
After selling part of his property, he asked someone to borrow part of it, and after cobbling together, he was able to send the 300 yuan tuition fee to Deng Xiaoping.
The reason why it took so much trouble was because in the currency system at that time, silver dollars were too valuable: an ordinary 5 silver dollars could be exchanged for 500 kilograms of rice and a cow...
Converted in this way, 300 silver dollars means a huge amount of wealth to ordinary families. It is no wonder that Deng Xiaoping’s family is opposed to it.
Of course, in a fundamental sense, it was because China was too poor at that time. Ordinary Chinese people simply cannot afford this money.
Judging from the Deng family tree records, Deng Xiaoping was born in Paifang Village, Xiexing Township, Guang'an County, Sichuan Province. Speaking of which, the Deng family was considered a "prominent family" in Guang'an . How could they not get away with a mere 300 yuan?
According to family tree records, Deng Xiaoping's ancestors can be traced back to the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty, when the founding emperor Zhu Yuanzhang was in power.
Deng Hexuan, a native of Luling, Ji'an Prefecture, Jiangxi Province, went to Guang'an, Sichuan and took up the post of Wailang, a member of the Ministry of War. This was the fifth rank at that time, and he was the first ancestor of the Deng family in Guang'an.
During the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, the Deng family gave birth to a Deng Shimin , who reached the rank of Minister of Dali Temple. This is equivalent to the president of the Supreme People's Court, a proper senior official.
But in modern times, starting from Deng Xiaoping's great-grandfather, the population was not prosperous. By Deng Xiaoping's father, Deng Shaochang, it was a standard three-generation single pass.
Fortunately, this point began to change in Deng Shaochang's generation. Deng Shaochang and his wife Danshi had three boys and two girls, and the Deng family suddenly became lively.
With hard work and a quick mind, the Deng family gradually made some savings by relying on weaving, and then they bought a house.
In the 12th year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty, when Deng Shaochang was born, he was considered a small landowner with 40 acres of fertile land.
Deng Shaochang successively worked in the township league and the county league to find a job. Later, when he participated in the " Road Protection Movement", he also became the "big man in charge of the flag" of the "老公会".
When the 1911 Revolution broke out in 1911, the Northeast Sichuan uprising army took over Guang'an County. Deng Shaochang served as the commander of the new army training camp.
Although the Northeast Sichuan uprising army was demobilized after the establishment of the National Provisional Government, the experience during this period left an indelible mark on Deng Xiaoping and implanted the seeds of revolution in his young mind.
(The fuse of the Revolution of 1911 - the Road Protection Movement)
Although he made a lot of money as an official, Deng Shaochang was a chivalrous and courageous man and was unwilling to join the ranks of the "rural bandits" who brought disaster to his hometown. He was soon ostracized and harassed. blow.
Although many people openly supported the revolution at that time, in fact, how many people had their own agendas and even wanted to fish in troubled waters?
In order to avoid disaster, Deng Shaochang had to travel far away from home, and the Deng family fell into decline. Deng Xiaoping remembered that when he reached the age of going to school, his family could not even afford the tuition.
Under such circumstances, Tam even had to raise pigs herself to improve her family's living conditions. One can imagine that 300 yuan was a huge amount of money for Deng Shaochang!
The ancestors of the Deng family did once have glory, but Deng Shaochang's family was already in decline at that time, not to mention that it was in a precarious era, and life would not be easy for anyone.
It is not surprising that Deng Shaochang, who was in a desperate situation, found it difficult to come up with such a sum of money.
It can be said that without Deng Shaochang’s strong opposition back then, there would be no Deng Xiaoping in the future. Among the great Chinese people of the 20th century, there may be one less shining name.
2 Teaching by words and deeds, a father's love is more than 300 yuan.
Against all opinions, Deng Shaochang would rather sell his property than send his son to study abroad. At that time, many relatives and friends were angry about this.
In terms of an invisible future and education, three hundred yuan in that era was enough for an ordinary family to have enough food and clothing for half a lifetime.
(Deng Xiaoping’s former residence in Guang’an)
This is what makes Deng Xiaoping’s father, Deng Shaochang, unique.
When Deng Xiaoping's younger brother Deng Ken talked about his feelings for his father, he used a very complicated and even inconsistent sentence to describe him: He is a man of the old society with advanced ideas.
When Deng Xiaoping recalled his father, he also called him a " Progressive Party man". This is enough to show that Deng Xiaoping's father, Deng Shaochang, had much more enlightened ideas than most Chinese people at that time.
Although it was already the Republic of China at that time, for the vast majority of Chinese people, especially those in the mainland, their ideas were still quite conservative, and they would not even dare to think about going abroad.
But for Deng Shaochang, this seemed to have no impact. On the contrary, he still welcomed it.
Because his family’s conditions were pretty good when he was born, Deng Shaochang had more opportunities to receive education than many of his peers.
While studying at the Chengdu School of Political Science and Law, Deng Shaochang received a new type of education. When the opportunity came, he did have the intention to send his son to France.
In Deng Shaochang’s eyes, studying in Europe is also a new type of education, but of course the starting point is higher.
Secondly, Deng Shaochang transformed his love for his son into deliberate cultivation of Deng Xiaoping.
Deng Shaochang had great expectations for his eldest son Deng Xiaoping. When he was just born, he even gave him a name like "Deng Xiansheng". Later, his private school teacher thought it was too "thrilling", so he changed it to "Deng Xixian".
Just from the name, it is enough to see how much Deng Shaochang values his son.
When Deng Shaochang participated in the revolution, he brought his eldest son Deng Xixian to the military camp and asked him to receive revolutionary influence together. Deng Xiaoping was only 7 years old at that time.
Again, and more importantly, the potential shown by Deng Xiaoping under the words and deeds of his parents made Deng Shaochang willing to give everything to him.
Deng Xiaoping's intelligence and studiousness from an early age made his parents feel particularly pleased.
The young Deng Xiaoping quickly memorized enlightenment books such as " Three Character Classic " and "Hundred Family Surnames". His beautiful calligraphy in calligraphy was especially impressive.
Deng Xiaoping’s mother, Dan, was a kind-hearted person who never wanted to see others suffer. There was a time when a tenant in the family wanted to go out and start his own business, so he made a fuss about quitting the tenant.
The tenant went out to make a living, experienced severe beatings from society, and had no choice but to beg to come to the house with a shy face. Without saying a word, Dan immediately vacated the room and resettled them.
(Deng Xiaoping’s biological mother, Danshi)
Deng Xiaoping, who grew up in such a family, naturally inherited his mother’s kindness to others.
Once Deng Shaochang suddenly discovered that his family was missing 5 silver dollars - according to the price at that time, it was enough to buy 500 kilograms of rice, which was considered a large sum of money.
Deng Shaochang was furious. After thinking about it, he felt that this must be the work of a "family thief", so he called the whole family together.
However, before he could say anything, Deng Xiaoping took the initiative to "confess", saying that he had secretly taken the money and was willing to accept the beating.
Deng Shaochang was so angry that he immediately beat Deng Xiaoping severely without saying anything. After his anger subsided, Deng Shaochang came back to his senses. He suddenly thought that his son had been very frugal in food and clothing since he was a child. Could it be for no reason this time?
After asking his son, Deng Shaochang found out that the sister of one of Deng Xiaoping's classmates had a high fever and needed money for treatment.
If there is no money, it is very likely that this classmate’s little sister will die. After much deliberation, Deng Xiaoping secretly took silver dollars from his father and asked his classmates to use them to treat his sister.
Although like most Chinese parents at that time, Deng Shaochang had his own authority at home, and his children's education had always been dominated by beatings and scoldings.
(Deng Xiaoping with his family)
But this does not mean that Deng Shaochang is an unreasonable person. On the contrary, he was very public-minded and righteous, and often spoke up for the poor. This was also the main reason why he was later retaliated by the "rural bandits".
After learning the truth from Deng Xiaoping, Deng Shaochang was angry and painful. He couldn't help but ask, why didn't you defend yourself when I beat you just now?
What he didn't expect was that Deng Xiaoping's words shocked him - he told his father that no matter what, it was wrong to take the family's money, and he should naturally be punished.
Deng Shaochang, who had mixed feelings, began to realize that there was indeed something unique in Deng Xiaoping that was worthy of his careful cultivation.
Therefore, although Deng Shaochang traveled between Chongqing and Guang'an and was displaced all day long, he placed his strong feelings for his family and country on his son Deng Xiaoping, and he was always particularly concerned about his education.
For Deng Xiaoping, if a mother’s love is as deep as the ocean, then a father’s love is as deep as a mountain.
At this moment, an opportunity for Deng Xiaoping to change his destiny appeared...
3. Sending his children to study abroad and never seeing each other
The year Deng Xiaoping graduated from the county Guang'an Middle School , he was only 14 age. Where should he be sent next to receive a better education has become a question that Deng Shaochang has been thinking about.
While in Chongqing, Deng Shaochang accidentally learned that Mr. Wu Yuzhang, a great educator, was establishing a preparatory school for studying in France. He felt that this might be a great opportunity for his son to further his education.
(former site of Chongqing Work-Study Preparatory School for Studying in France)
So he asked Deng Xiaoping for his opinion and asked him if he was willing to go to this school.
After receiving his father's letter, Deng Xiaoping felt that this was a good way out, both for himself and to serve the country in the future.
Because my father stated in the letter that after one year at this school, he can go to France to study abroad after graduation.
In the minds of young people at that time, studying abroad was so important, because it was almost the only hope they could think of to get out of the stagnant water!
Deng Shaochang and his son both had a very positive attitude toward the upcoming work-study program in France, but Deng Xiaoping's mother, Dan, was opposed to this matter.
She has been with her son day and night for 15 years, and now she is about to send him across the ocean to France, a country she has never heard of. How can she not be worried?
Danshi vaguely felt that if she let her son go this time, she would never have the chance to see him again in this life.
However, Deng Shaochang showed a particularly determined attitude in this matter. Despite the opposition of his family, he still defied all opinions and decided to send his son to France.
Deng Xiaoping was particularly ambitious and successfully admitted to the preparatory school for studying abroad. But then he realized that studying in France was not an easy matter.
Although his father was usually serious in speech, this time his almost bankrupt support made Deng Xiaoping feel that his father had placed revolutionary ideals on him: new knowledge, new world, and new life.
("National Gazette" report on Chongqing Preparatory School for Studying in France)
After Deng Xiaoping arrived in France on the "Intrepon", he quickly met a group of like-minded comrades such as Zhou Enlai and Nie Rongzhen, and became the famous "Mimeograph Doctor" ".
In 1922, Deng Xiaoping joined the "Young Communist Party of China in Europe" when he was only 18 years old.
From then on, Deng Xiaoping began to embark on his magnificent revolutionary life, and began to closely link all his energy with the liberation cause of the Chinese working people.
After returning to China, Deng Xiaoping had the opportunity to find his family. However, considering the safety of his family, Deng Xiaoping chose the revolutionary cause first and buried his longing for his family deeply in his heart.
However, his father Deng Shaochang, who had high hopes for him, will never see all this. Because he never saw his son again during his lifetime.
Zhu Ziqing 's "Back View" depicts the back of an old father leaving in a hurry, making people feel the father's love. It is so deep, never spoken, but it is so great that it makes people cry!
When Deng Xiaoping embarked on his journey to France, his father, Deng Shaochang, stood behind him and silently waved goodbye. He did not leave his son with a figure worthy of lifelong memories.
More than a hundred years later, it is difficult for us to imagine the complicated emotions Deng Shaochang had when he sent his son away - perhaps, for him, he would give everything he had and do his best to send his son to a brighter future. place, he is enough.
As for whether Deng Shaochang would never see his son again for the rest of his life, had he ever thought about it?
In reality, Deng Xiaoping’s father, Deng Shaochang, had a more lonely ending.
After his son went to France, Deng Shaochang in Guang'an could only rely on some progressive magazines and letters sent by Deng Xiaoping to keep in touch. Regrettably, these things were not preserved during that turbulent era.
In 1936, Deng Shaochang, who was a heroic and courageous man, was killed for revenge in Nanchong on his way back to Guang'an from Chongqing. In this year, Deng Xiaoping was busy serving the Chinese revolutionary army with impeccable care.
At this time, he arrived in northern Shaanxi with the Central Red Army after the Long March . In May of this year, he served as the deputy director of the Political Department of the First Red Army, and later as the director of the Political Department.
It was not until 1945 that Deng Xiaoping learned from his younger brother who came to visit him from all the way that his father had passed away. From then on, they were separated forever. The last face of Deng Xiaoping and his father was the unclear back...
4. Leaving home at a young age, he turned out to be timid about his hometown.
From his birth in 1904 to his departure in 1919, Guang'an was always the nostalgia in Deng Xiaoping's heart. It not only contained his carefree childhood memories, but also carried the parents' love for their children. Endless love...
In 1927, the 23-year-old Deng Xiaoping returned to China. His first stop was to sow the revolutionary fire in Xi'an. Later, he went to Wuhan to serve as the Secretary of the Central Committee and actively participated in the preparations for the " August 7th Conference".
It is worth mentioning that it was from that period that Deng Xiaoping no longer used his original name "Deng Xixian" but changed his name to "Deng Xiaoping".
During the revolutionary war years, Deng Xiaoping was still facing the test of survival at any time. At that time, he did not have the conditions to return to his hometown.
After the founding of New China, Deng Xiaoping took power in Chongqing and governed the southwest for three years. At this time, it was only about 150 kilometers away from Guang'an. It can be said that it was very close. But what is strange is that Deng Xiaoping did not go home. Seen.
Not only did he not return to his hometown for three years in power, until Deng Xiaoping passed away, he never returned to his hometown of Guang'an, which haunted him.
People are not grass and trees, and how can they be ruthless? Why didn’t Deng Xiaoping return to his hometown in glory when he was old?
That is because one of the most important characteristics that made Deng Xiaoping loved by the people was his special down-to-earth attitude and his willingness to show his ordinary and ordinary side to the people.
Deng Xiaoping attaches great importance to family. In Zhuo Lin's eyes, he is a good husband who is not romantic but sincere.
Even in difficult times, Deng Xiaoping would still work hard to protect the whole family. For the disabled Deng Pufang, Deng Xiaoping, who never asked for help, wrote a rare letter to Chairman Mao asking for help in his son's treatment.
During the decentralization of Nanchang , in his letters to Wang Dongxing, he rarely talked about his requirements, but he made no secret of his love for his family.
Deng Xiaoping, who has resigned, unexpectedly talked about family issues when talking to people during his southern tour, emphasizing many times that "family is a good thing."
Deng Xiaoping had longed for a life after retirement many times. His greatest hope was, " Live a real civilian life. "
What's more, it is even more incredible for many people to have such a flesh-and-blood and charismatic politician like Deng Xiaoping.
In 1986, Deng Xiaoping talked about this when he met his relatives in Chengdu. The old man, who was over eighty years old, was very moved. Why didn't he miss his hometown? But he gave the reason for not returning to his hometown. The main reason was "fear" and the fear of the memories his hometown would bring to him.
This is not only the "cowardice of being close to home" of a man who has been away from home for many years, but also the sentiments of the people in high places, which prevent him from disturbing the local area.
Of course, in the heart of this old man, he may also be afraid of seeing things, missing others, and being sad!
After the founding of New China, from the 1950s to the 1980s, Deng Xiaoping returned to Sichuan nine times due to work reasons, but he never returned to his hometown of Guang'an.
On February 19, 1997, on the eve of Hong Kong's return, a great heart stopped beating - he could not wait until the " Hong Kong return to " that he personally advocated.
From the time he left his hometown in 1919 to his death in 1997, Deng Xiaoping never set foot in Guang'an again in 78 years.
After retiring, Deng Xiaoping declined many requests from foreign dignitaries to meet. He hoped to be at home with his family. For Deng Xiaoping, who had seen the highest mountains, family was his peaceful haven.
Perhaps, never being able to meet his father was a regret that Deng Xiaoping could only bury deep in his heart and never touch.
Many years after his death, people can still remember what he said: I am the son of the Chinese people, and I deeply love my motherland and people.
