Among Chairman Mao’s cousins, Mao Zelian is the one who cares the most.
Mao Zelian is the only one who has been staying in his hometown of Shaoshan for his whole life, and is also the person with the most difficult life situation, which has made Chairman Mao care about all his life.
Mao Zelian was born in 1913, 20 years younger than Chairman Mao. Therefore, when Chairman Mao participated in the revolution, Mao Zelian did not follow his cousin out for a revolution because he was young.
However, when Chairman Mao returned to his hometown to launch the revolution, the teenage Mao Zelian also actively participated, helping his cousin run around, keep a watch and deliver letters, and spare no effort.
When Chairman Mao was about to leave Shaoshan, Mao Zelian wanted to go with his cousin, but Chairman Mao thought he was too young and should go to school so that he could participate in the revolution better in the future, so he did not take him away.
Many years later, Mao Zelian recalled that he asked his cousin when he would come back. His cousin said: "If the revolution is not successful, I will not come back."
1929 was the low point of the revolution, and Hunan was also in a white horror. However, the 16-year-old Mao Zelian resolutely joined the Communist Party of China and wanted to make a revolution with his cousin.
However, Mao Ze even didn't know where his cousin was or where to find him, so he had to stay in his hometown and participate in the revolutionary movement in his hometown.
However, in this year, Mao Zelian encountered bad luck that affected his life.
Once, Mao Zelian went to send intelligence to the underground party. He met a reactionary on the road. In order not to be caught by them, Mao Zelian jumped off a cliff, but his left eye was scratched by a branch.
After Mao Zelian returned home, he wanted to find someone to treat him, but because he was Chairman Mao’s cousin, he was sensitive and no one dared to treat him. In addition, the task assigned by the organization was very heavy, so he missed the opportunity for treatment. Later, even his right eye was infected and his eyes were almost blind.
What makes it even worse is that due to the continuous encirclement of the reactionaries, several leaders who contacted Mao Zelian were killed one after another. As a result, no one can prove that Mao Zelian had joined the Communist Party, which has become his lifelong regret.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Mao Zelian once reported this to Chairman Mao. Chairman Mao comforted him and said: "It doesn't matter whether you are a party member or not. As long as you have contributed to the Chinese revolution, it is glorious and the people will not forget you."
In addition, the sufferings in life began to come to him one after another, because he was blind and his life was in trouble. His newlywed wife could not accept it, so she left him.
At that time, Mao Zelian's sister Mao Zejian had just died, and his brother Mao Zehua also disappeared. In addition, he was blind again. His old mother cried every day, which resulted in blindness.
Moreover, after the Mao family participated in the revolution one after another, they left behind several elderly, weak, sick and disabled people, such as Mao Zemin's daughter Mao Yuanzhi, Mao Zetan's son Mao Chuxiong, mother-in-law, Mao Zeqing's child bride, etc. The old and the young have to take care of Mao Ze alone. It is conceivable how difficult life is!
This is not over yet, because the Mao family has participated in the revolution, especially Chairman Mao’s special status, the reactionaries have retaliated against the Mao family who remained in Shaoshan, arresting and raiding people at any time. Mao Zelian had to take everyone to hide in the mountains for a long time and almost became a savage.
It’s hard to imagine how Mao Zelian survived it!
Fortunately, there is no way out, Mao Zelian's perseverance finally endured the victory of the Chinese revolution, and his hard days finally came to an end!
In 1949, when Hunan was liberated, when the 138th Division of the Fourth Field Army passed by Shaoshan, the division commander specially sent someone to Chairman Mao’s hometown to see if there were any relatives of the Mao family, and he ended up meeting Mao Zelian.
Soon, Mao Zelian and Chairman Mao’s cousin Li Ke were sent to Beijing and met his cousin who had been away for 22 years.
After seeing Mao Zelian, Chairman Mao hugged him in his arms excitedly and said repeatedly: "You have suffered in your hometown!"
Mao Zelian recalled his experience over the years and cried bitterly, unable to say a word.
After Chairman Mao learned that Mao Zelian's eyes were blind, he specifically asked Mao Anying to take him to the hospital for treatment. After examination, the doctor said that Mao Zelian's left eye had died and could only be removed, but his right eye could still restore some vision, but he could not see clearly.
However, this has already made Mao Zelian very satisfied.
When Mao Zelian left Beijing, Chairman Mao specifically reminded him: "I know if you have difficulties. I will try my best to help you, but don't bother the government after you go back. You are my relative, so I should give you a good start."
Mao Zelian kept in mind his cousin's teachings, farmed with peace of mind after returning, never made any demands to the government, and lived a poor and fulfilling life.
Moreover, the local government also introduced him to a wife Zhang Yulian, which brought Mao Zelian's life back on track.
However, in 1952, Mao Zelian injured his leg due to an accident and could only lie on the bed. The family's life was in trouble again.
After Chairman Mao learned about it, he often sent him money to help him solve his difficulties in life. According to statistics, Chairman Mao sent money to Mao Zelian for ten consecutive years, and it was not stopped until Mao Zelian was rated as a martyr and received subsidies.
Until Chairman Mao died, he called his daughters Li Min and Li Na and told them: "You have an uncle in your hometown, and life is very difficult. You should visit him frequently in the future."
On September 29, 1995, Mao Zelian died in his hometown at the age of 82.
(Reference: "Mao Zedong's Family Style" "Mao Zedong's Family Affairs") # Headline Creation Challenge #
