Preface
In November 1962, Old Mrs. Yang died in Changsha, Hunan. After the news reached Beijing, Mao Zedong immediately wrote a letter to instruct:
"Send 500 yuan as a burial fee, and can be buried with Comrade Yang Kaihui, my dear wife. You and I are the same family, and we are not distinguished from each other..."
Picture丨Mao Zedong
The daughter of the old lady Yang - Yang Kaihui
Old Mrs. Yang was originally named Xiang Zhenxi. When she was 18 years old, she married a young man named Yang Changji.
At that time, Yang Changji was depressed because he failed many times. Xiang Zhenxi not only did not dislike him, but instead took charge of all the affairs of the family, allowing him to calm down and consider his future prospects.
Under his wife's kind words, Yang Changji no longer focused on scientific research. He found a job as a private school teacher in the village. Unexpectedly, the choice of made him shine in the education industry.
898, Xiang Zhenxi gave birth to his son Yang Kaizhi and three years later gave birth to his daughter Yang Kaihui. In addition to adding more laughter and joy to the child's birth, the financial pressure of the family also comes. In order to help Yang Changji reduce the burden, Xiang Zhenxi began to learn spinning and weaving, making money while taking care of the family. Xiang Zhenxi's life was extremely fulfilling.
Picture丨Yang Changji
And her words and deeds are also affecting the two children bit by bit. When Yang Kaihui was 5 years old, Hunan suffered a flood, and many begging victims came to Bancang.
Xiang Zhenxi always provides part of his small amount of food to help those victims who cannot survive, hoping that his weak power can help the other party.
One night, Xiang Zhenxi's family was having a meal when they suddenly heard someone knocking on the door, and then there was a faint begging. The little Yang Kaihui hugged her mother tightly: "Mom, I'm afraid."
Xiang Zhenxi touched the child's head: "Don't be afraid, go open the door with mom."
Yang Kaihui followed Xiang Zhenxi and watched her mother open the door. A pair of pale and thin mothers and sons kneeled outside the door. The woman begged Xiang Zhenxi to give the child some food in a weak voice.
Xiang Zhenxi quickly helped the woman into the house. Yang Kaihui also imitated her mother and pulled the boy into the house. Then, Xiang Zhenxi gave the mother and son two big bowls of rice, and the mother and son were so moved that they kept crying.
At that time, there was an elderly man living in Bancang's yard. The old man had asthma and his life was very difficult. Xiang Zhenxi sympathized with him very much and sent some rice and flour from time to time. The old man was so moved that he said to everyone: "Kaihui's mother is really good to us poor people."
Picture丨Yang Kaihui
903, after analyzing the situation and future, Yang Changji decided to go to Japan to study . Originally, Xiang Zhenxi didn't want her husband to leave his hometown, but she didn't want to drag him down, so she could only personally pack her husband's luggage under the dim kerosene lamp. After Yang Changji left, Xiang Zhenxi worked hard to raise two children. Yang Changji often sent letters to his family, encouraging his wife and daughter to abandon the prejudice of the times and go to school.
So, Xiang Zhenxi, who is already 40 years old, enters the school with his daughter.
913, Yang Changji returned from studying. Xiang Zhenxi, who had suffered a lot of hardships, no longer wanted to leave her husband, so Xiang Zhenxi followed him wherever Yang Changji went. After learning culture in school, she would help Yang Changji organize the book case. In her husband's circle of students' homework, Xiang Zhenxi saw the names of several students, Cai Hesen and Mao Zedong.
pic丨Cai Hesen
Yang Kaihui married Mao Zedong
At that time, Mao Zedong was 21 years old and was a student of Hong Kong's No. 1 Normal School in Hunan Province. As one of Yang Changji's favorite and most respected students, he often goes to the Yang family to discuss the general trend of the world with his mentor.
has been around for a long time, and he met Xiang Zhenxi and Yang Kaihui, the daughter of the Yang family. However, at that time, Yang Kaihui was still a 13-year-old little sister. The most common thing she did was to sit aside and listen quietly while her father was talking with the students.
918, Yang Changji and his family moved to Beijing. Just so happened that Mao Zedong graduated from No. 1 Normal School.So, Yang Changji invited his two favorite disciples, Mao Zedong and Cai Hesen, to Beijing. He arranged for Mao Zedong to go to Peking University Library as an assistant, and recommended him to Li Dazhao. Under the influence of Li Dazhao, Mao Zedong became a staunch Marxist.
In addition, Mao Zedong's love also blossomed and bears fruit. He met Yang Kaihui again, and in the shortest time, he tacitly collided with the spark of love.
919, Mao Zedong returned to Changsha because his mother was seriously ill. The two communicated with each other. After nine months of long-distance relationship, in December, their mother recovered and Mao Zedong went to Beijing again. Unexpectedly, Yang Changji was already sick and hospitalized when Mao Zedong came to Beijing this time. When he was ill, he also wrote a letter to his old friend Zhang Shizhao who was stranded in Shanghai, recommending Mao Zedong and Cai Hesen to him:
"...2 From the domestic talents, there is a great future. If you don't say that you have to save the country, you will have to pay attention to two sons first."
920 On January 17, , Yang Changji, who was under 50, died of illness unfortunately. Mao Zedong and Yang Kaihui and Yang Kaizhi, brothers and sisters, were guarding their mentors. Xiang Zhenxi cried and she burst into tears. She really didn't expect that her husband would leave so early and throw all the burden to herself.
htmlIn July, Mao Zedong returned to Changsha to teach. In addition to being a good teacher, Mao Zedong also ambitiously opened the cultural book club . In order to support her son-in-law, Xiang Zhenxi took out the small amount of money left at home and provided funding for Mao Zedong's activities.At the same time, Yang Kaihui and his family moved back to Changsha. In the winter of this year, Mao Zedong and Yang Kaihui got married to . They did not hold a wedding or dowry. Yang Kaihui moved to the teacher's dormitory to live with Mao Zedong with some simple luggage.
Picture丨Yang Kaihui
Yang Kaihui feels very happy about her marriage with Mao Zedong. She once wrote in her memoir:
"Unexpectedly, I also have such luck. I have gotten a lover, and I love him very much. From what I heard about him, read many things, and read many articles and diaries, I fell in love with him... If he dies one day, I must die with him. If he is caught and killed, I must share this fate with him."
In October 1922, Yang Kaihui gave birth to her eldest son Mao Anying . She began to have an unspeakable concern and attachment to her husband who has been running around for many years.
She began to complain that her husband didn't care about his family and herself. She hoped that this man who looked all about revolutionary career could give her some gentleness.
In April 1923, after Mao Zedong arranged the work in Hunan, he prepared to go to Shanghai secretly to work at the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.
Yang Kaihui was reluctant to leave her husband's journey, so she proposed to go with her husband. Mao Zedong disagreed and the two had an argument.
Before leaving, the stubborn Yang Kaihui did not go to see Mao Zedong off. Mao Zedong left home alone in the smudge of the pond in early spring.
Picture丨Mao Zedong
Half a year later, Mao Zedong decided to return to Changsha by the Central Committee. On November 13, the second son Mao Anying was born.
Mao Zedong only lived at home for three months, and then hurried to Shanghai. This time, he wrote the lyrics " He Xinlang·Brother Friends " to his wife:
"...... After seeing the surging clouds and mist, I am my close friend in the world. Do God know that if someone is sick?... By cutting off the thread of sorrow and hatred. It is like the collapse of Kunlun, and it is like a typhoon sweeping the world. Heavy wings and clouds are mixed with the clouds."
In June 1924, Yang Kaihui took his mother and son to Shanghai to reunite with Mao Zedong. Their family lives in an old house in Shikumen, and lives with Cai Hesen and Xiang Jingyu.
In addition to taking on housework, Yang Kaihui also helped Mao Zedong sort out materials and give lectures at workers' night school. The family reunited in Shanghai for half a year. Later, Mao Zedong became ill after overwork and returned to Changsha to recuperate. In December, the family returned to Changsha.
After spending the Spring Festival at Xiang Zhenxi's home, Yang Kaihui took her two sons to go back to Shaoshan . In mid-June, the Shaoshan branch of the Communist Party of China was established at Mao Zedong's home.
Picture丨The days after the Autumn Harvest Uprising
, Yang Kaihui followed Mao Zedong around, traveling all over the world. It was not until 1926, after the Northern Expedition began, that Yang Kaihui returned to Changsha.
On August 31, 1927, Mao Zedong took a train to Anyuan to deploy an armed uprising. The couple said goodbye in a hurry as usual, thinking that this was just an ordinary outing, but they didn't expect it to be their farewell.
On September 9, the Autumn Harvest Uprising broke out. Later, Mao Zedong brought the team to Jinggangshan .
He tried to write a letter to Yang Kaihui in code, although the letter was only delivered to Yang Kaihui in 1928, fortunately, Yang Kaihui knew that her husband was not dead.
In August 1930, Qingxiang Commander He Jian of Hunan Province offered a reward of 1,000 yuan Ocean to arrest "Mao Zedong's Wife Yang Family " . It was this summer that the Red Army twice invaded Changsha, but the time was short and the two had no chance to reunite.
The local party organization went to find Yang Kaihui and persuaded her to leave here to find Mao Zedong. Yang Kaihui replied: "Runzhi didn't let me go, I can't leave my position."
pic丨He Jian
On October 14, Yang Kaihui was arrested and imprisoned, and 8-year-old Mao Anying was also arrested.
At the beginning, He Jian instructed the prison guards to torture Yang Kaihui and wanted her to surrender, but Yang Kaihui only said one thing: "If you want to fight, you will fight, kill you if you want to kill, it is impossible to make me surrender."
Later, the underground party organizations in Changsha and people from all walks of life stood up to plead for her, and there were even many well-known figures willing to bail Yang Kaihui.
Under pressure from all walks of life, He Jian made a new request: as long as Yang Kaihui is willing to break off from Mao Zedong in the newspaper, she can be let go.
Yang Kaihui rejected this condition. She said: "Even if the sea is gone, I will not break away from Mao Zedong."
On November 14, 1930, Yang Kaihui was executed at the age of 29.
Yang Kaihui may have realized her sacrifice for a long time. When her aunt went to visit the prison, Yang Kaihui said to her:
"How can the Communist Party be able to kill? The victory of the revolution belongs to us after all. Please help tell my mother, let her not be sad, and help me take care of several children..."
Picture丨Mao Anying's three brothers
Mao Zedong's care for his mother-in-law
Although Yang Kaihui has guessed her mother's sadness, she must have never expected that her mother fainted on the spot after learning the news of her sacrifice.
Moreover, her death did not bring stable life to the mother and children. The Kuomintang reactionaries wanted to eradicate the roots and search for Mao Zedong's children everywhere.
has no choice but to pick up Xiang Zhenxi and the children to Shanghai. Subsequently, the children were sent to Datong Kindergarten, and Xiang Zhenxi returned to Hunan shortly afterwards.
Xiang Zhenxi thought that with the protection of underground party organizations, the child was much safer than being around an old woman. Unexpectedly, the Datong Kindergarten was destroyed and the child was left on the streets. It was not until 1936 that he was sent to the Soviet Union.
In fact, after returning to Hunan, Xiang Zhenxi lost news about her grandson. She was alone in the yard, muttering about the names of her children and daughter Yang Kaihui.
pic丨Xiang Zhenxi
In August 1949, Changsha was peacefully liberated, and Xiang Zhenxi finally waited for this day. She couldn't wait to inquire about her son-in-law and grandson.
Then, Yang Kaizhi asked someone to send a telegram to Mao Zedong, informing the situation at home. Mao Zedong immediately called back:
"I am very happy to know that the old man is still alive. An Ying and An Qing are both in Beiping , An Qing is still studying. An Ying may return to Hunan to work. They miss their grandmother very much."
9, Wang Jiaxiang's wife Zhu Zhongli returned to Hunan to visit her relatives. Mao Zedong specifically asked her to bring a fur coat to Xiang Zhenxi, and there was a letter:
"Old Mrs. Yang: Hello.Now, please send me Miss Zhu to visit you..."
In addition, Zhu Zhongli also told Mao Zedong's oral message: "The Chairman said that he wants to pick you up to Beijing and he will take care of you personally. "
Xiang Zhenxi can't speak Mandarin . She told Zhu Zhongli in a strong accent: "I won't go, I've been to Nanjing and Beijing, enough. "
Picture丨Wang Jiaxiang and Zhu Zhongli
On May 25, 1950, on Xiang Zhenxi's 80th birthday, Mao Zedong was busy with work and specially sent Mao Anying back to his hometown to celebrate his grandmother's birthday.
Mao Anying stood in front of Xiang Zhenxi and shouted openly: "Grandma, are you okay? "
Xiang Zhenxi suddenly recognized her grandson whom she hadn't seen for a long time. She trembledly stretched out her hand and touched the child's cheek: "Anying, it's you, you are finally back, how is your father's health? Where is your brother? "
" They are all very good, grandma doesn't have to worry. ”
nodded at Zhenxi with confidence: “Don’t think your father is a big shot, also has an ordinary heart, he cares about me. "
Before leaving, Mao Anying asked his grandmother if he had any requirements. Xiang Zhenxi said he wanted 100,000 yuan old coins (equivalent to 10 yuan). Because she, an old lady, lived a difficult life, and relatives and neighbors helped a lot, Xiang Zhenxi wanted to pay it back as soon as possible.
Picture丨Martyman Yang Kaihui's Tomb
960 On May 25, 1960, Mao Zedong heard that Yang Kaihui was Her cousin Yang Kaiying wanted to go back to her hometown to celebrate the old lady's birthday, so she wrote a trust to her to transfer the birthday gift. A month later, Mao Anying and Shao Hua got married. During that time, he was in poor health, so he lived in Dalian for recuperation. It was not until 1962 that his health recovered a little, and Mao Anying returned to Beijing.
Seeing his son and daughter-in-law, Mao Zedong said to them: "The new daughter-in-law should always recognize the house and take it back for her grandmother and relatives to see it." "
So, Mao Anying took Shao Hua back to his hometown in Changsha to visit Xiang Zhenxi, who was already 90 years old. Xiang Zhenxi happily held Mao Anying's hand and praised Shao Hua.
This was the last time she saw her grandson, because in November of this year, Xiang Zhenxi passed away.
The old man was kind and generous all his life. On the day of the burial, many people rushed to her and sent her for the last journey.
After Mao Zedong learned of the bad news, he immediately wrote a letter instructing Yang Kaizhi:
"Send 500 yuan as a burial fee, and can be buried with Comrade Yang Kaihui, my dear wife. You and I are both one family, and we are not distinguished from each other. I hope you will be mournful and follow the changes. ”
