Wu Runmei pointed at herself in the old photos and told the young people about shaking hands with Chairman Mao.
September 13, 1958, 64 years ago today, a fiery red "torrent" gushed out from the mouth of Wuhan Iron and Steel No. 1 furnace. More than 3,000 people in the audience suddenly heard applause and cheers shook the sky. Chairman Mao Zedong climbed to the stove, stood on the platform, and watched the birth of the first furnace of molten iron throughout the process.
"Chairman Mao smiled happily and kindly, applauded with everyone present, and waved to everyone one by one." Wu Runmei, who was standing behind Mao Zedong at the time, has now retired for many years. On September 10, 2022, Wu Runmei said in an interview with Yangtze River Daily reporter: "My mind is blank. When they see the iron, I stare at Chairman Mao, not knowing that I was smiling so ruthlessly at that time. "Wu Runmei took out the photos she had collected throughout her life of taking photos with Chairman Mao, stroked them over and over again, and laughed heartily as she talked.
For Wu Runmei, who had been with Chairman Mao and accompanied him throughout the whole process, September 13, 1958 was the highlight of the new China and her. This "behemoth" with a "human help from Soviet experts and more than 200 factories in 18 provinces and cities" was built in the "five miles of deserted mountains" in Wuhan, with a capacity of 1,386 cubic meters, and produces more than 2,000 tons of iron a day, which is more than at that time The average daily output of the No. 4 blast furnace of the British Wils Company, known as the "HTM3, the largest blast furnace of in Western Europe", is 500 tons higher. The first iron of New China made the European and American countries, which once publicly predicted that "it is simply a 'fairy'", speechless, and made countless builders very inspired and joyful. "I was one of the thousands of builders at that time, and was the first female blast furnace welder in China. I was extremely glorious at this moment." Over the past 64 years, Wu Runmei has recalled and told the scenes at that time countless times, and she always burst into tears.
The first to shake hands with Chairman Mao, and was inspired throughout his life
"Chairman Mao shook hands with us builders one by one that day, and I was the first to shake hands with him. The Chairman's hand was warm and powerful, with a firm and kind look, and has always been Look at me." On September 11, 1958, Wu Runmei received a notice in advance, asking her not to leave the construction site casually. She guessed that Chairman Mao was coming. Thinking of seeing Chairman Mao with her own eyes soon, she was so excited that she didn't sleep all night.
On September 13, Wuhan Iron and Steel No. 1 blast furnace successfully released iron. Chairman Mao personally visited the iron ceremony and shook hands with the builders one by one. "Chairman Mao is very tall. He walked up to me and asked me in a very strong Hunan accent, 'How old are you?' I immediately answered twice '22! 22!' I was so excited that I said everything in an instant If she didn't come out, she could only answer the chairman over and over again. "
According to Wu Runmei's recollection, she was the only one who accompanied the front-line builders who shook hands on that day. Mao Zedong climbed onto the blast furnace platform, and only a few staff members surrounded him. Wu Runmei was one of them and the only lesbian. Chairman Mao smiled and waved to everyone on the scene, thanked the Soviet experts, and greeted the builders in all aspects of design, construction, production, etc. around him. Before leaving, the Chairman kept waving to everyone and never let go for a long time.
"I deeply feel that Chairman Mao has deep feelings for us working class." Wu Runmei still remembers the scene 64 years ago and has been inspired throughout her life.
"Work without conditions, and labor without compensation" is the common spirit of that era
Wu Runmei was a native of Wuhan, and she had a "female general" who "does not let the beards" and was very cool. In 1956, she was only 20 years old and signed up for the No. 1 blast furnace welding work. After three rigorous examinations, she entered the Wuhan Iron and Steel construction site as she wished. Electric welding is a hard job, especially at altitudes above 70 meters, which is a huge test for ordinary young and strong gay men. The quality supervisor at that time was very worried about Wu Runmei, the female welder. "When I was working, the quality inspector stared at me intently, and every piece had to be checked. He also took the things I welded to cut them open to check the cross-section to see if they were qualified. No matter how he inspected, I met the standards. ."Wu Runmei's eyes flashed when she talked about her experience of becoming a female welder in No. 1 furnace, "It's liberated, it's the new China! Participate in revolutionary work, equality for men and women , gay men can do it, and lesbians can do it. "
Wu Runmei participated in the construction of Wuhan Iron and Steel's blast furnaces one, two, three and four. According to her, when welding furnace No. 4, other female welders had already joined the production team.
The midsummer of Wuhan is scorching, and Wuhan Iron and Steel is welded During the No. 1 blast furnace, Wu Runmei had to wear thick protective clothing every day, climb up to the blast furnace more than 70 meters high, and wear a mask to do her work. She brought two steamed buns and didn't dare to drink too much water, and the male welder wanted to She weld as much as she could, and she would not be able to finish the task of working on duty. After the No. 1 blast furnace was completed, Wu Runmei was "reborn" - she lost 30 kilograms of weight, and her originally neat short hair could already tie two braids. Until now, there are still some scars left in her work on her two arms.
"Work is not conditional, and labor is not reimbursed" is the spirit of the builders in the early stage of the construction of New China. "Work is not conditional, but creates it without conditions. The conditions must be done! I am not the only one. Everyone is very enthusiastic and very motivated. "Wu Runmei said: "In order to build a new China, everyone is working hard. "
witnessed the great changes in the country, "If you are younger, you still want to participate in the construction"
Although Wu Runmei is nearly 90 years old, she is smart in her ears and eyes and has a strong spirit. She witnessed the great changes in the new China. When she recalled the scene when she first arrived in Qingshan, she sighed Wan Qian. When I first started working, everyone lived in the factory. In the shed, the entire Qingshan District is deserted, and there is only one No. 6 bus. I went back to the home of Hanyang from the factory, took a boat and a bus, and went around for most of the day. Later, I got married and had children, and I was divided into " "Tube Building ", everyone is crowded with each other, the corridor is very narrow, the kitchen and bathroom are shared, which is really harder than now.
In 2007, Wu Runmei and her family moved into a newly built residential building. The community property services were complete, the living environment was clean and comfortable, and the transportation was convenient. Her family also built a brand new community hospital, , for Residents, especially the elderly, provide health protection. Wu Runmei, whose grandson is now pursuing a doctorate degree, is often invited to participate in the activities of the unit’s party organization to exchange ideas with young people. She encourages the younger generation to " do cleverly" - to inherit and endure hardships Spirituality, we must also learn and master the new science and technology and actively innovate.
Wu Runmei was young, and China was in the early stage of construction, with backward development and arduous conditions. She said: "In just a few decades, our country is really in many It has achieved catching up, which is really exciting. If I were younger, I would still want to continue to participate in the construction. "
" In the 66th year of the Party, it was my greatest honor."
Wu Runmei treasured her photo with Chairman Mao and the commemorative medal and certificate of "Glorious in the 50th Years of the Party". This is her "proof of honor" throughout her life. She said, "I can study, work, be received by Chairman Mao, and live a happy life now. All of this is given by the Communist Party of China. Becoming a Communist Party member is my greatest honor. "
Wu Runmei, who had just graduated from Huangshi Technical School in 1954, was assigned to an administrative position. But she insisted on registering to the front line of construction and became a female welder of No. 1 blast furnace. In 1964, due to marriage and pregnancy, she was adjusted to the rear. . A year after giving birth to her eldest daughter, she took the initiative to apply to the organization to return to the front line. She did not withdraw from the front line until she was elected as the chairman of the union of her unit in 1976 and her physical condition was no longer suitable for high-intensity operations. Entering administration After her position, she first started to build a grassroots party organization. During her tenure as the full-time deputy secretary of the factory branch of Yiye, she still insisted that "I can't do it myself, but I can accompany the workers and masters."
" Chairman Mao had met me, the party Trust me. Throughout my life, I have always strictly demanded myself. "Wu Runmei said that she is a Communist Party member and she should be dedicated and pioneer no matter when and where she is at.
[Source: Yangtze River Daily]
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