Hangzhou is a beautiful city and a historical city. After the founding of New China, Hangzhou was another important home diplomatic platform besides Beijing and Shanghai. Premier Zhou accompanied foreign guests to Hangzhou many times to visit.
As early as during the War of Resistance Against Japan, Premier Zhou secretly rushed to Hangzhou to negotiate with the Kuomintang authorities on major issues of joint anti-Japanese war. After the founding of New China, Premier Zhou has been to Hangzhou more than 30 times.
Premier Zhou accompanied Pompidou to visit West Lake
On September 11, 1973, French President Pompidou, who was invited to visit China, arrived at Beijing Capital Airport , and Premier Zhou personally went to the airport to welcome him with illness.
On September 15, Premier Zhou accompanied Pompidou to Hangzhou, and the guests and hosts visited West Lake together.
Premier Zhou keenly discovered a large area of oil drifting on the West Lake. He said to the accompanying local leaders earnestly: "For our descendants, leave a picturesque West Lake. At the same time, in order to have more foreign guests to feast your eyes, we will not use motor boats in the West Lake in the future."
Local leaders agreed repeatedly: "Prime Minister, don't worry, we will implement the Prime Minister's instructions and protect the West Lake."
The West Lake tour ended at almost noon, and a person in charge of the central government accompanied Pompidou to have a meal. Premier Zhou ordered his secretary: "At noon today, I invite everyone to "Louwailou" for a simple meal."
"F Wailou " is a famous time-honored restaurant by the West Lake. It mainly sells famous dishes in Hangzhou and often receives leaders of the Party and the state.
Premier Zhou and the staff were chatting while walking, and soon arrived at the "Louwailou".
Premier Zhou shook hands and waiters with the person in charge of "Louwailou" and greeted each other, and then sat down at the dining table.
The waiter brought the dishes up, and Premier Zhou introduced to everyone one by one: "I haven't eaten my hometown dishes for a long time. This is the steamed pork with dried plums in Shaoxing, this is the West Lake Vinegar Fish , this is the oil-burned shrimp produced from West Lake..."
Everyone saw that Premier Zhou finally relaxed, and they all rushed to toast Premier Zhou, and Premier Zhou happily clinked glasses with everyone.
Health doctor Zhang Zuoliang quietly reminds everyone: "The Prime Minister is not in good health, don't toast again."
Premier Zhou smiled slightly after seeing it: "It's rare that everyone can relax for a while, don't let everyone be too restricted."
Premier Zhou took the initiative to clink glasses with everyone while talking.
1965 Premier Zhou finished his meal in Hangzhou
, and Premier Zhou ordered his secretary to go to check out. The accompanying provincial leaders stood up and said, "Prime Minister, don't pay, we will reimburse this meal by our local government."
Premier Zhou said seriously: "Today I treat everyone to dinner, how can you get reimbursed? Of course, I should pay the money for this meal."
Provincial leaders understand Premier Zhou's temper and dare not say anything else.
The hotel manager had to charge 10 yuan. When the secretary came back, Premier Zhou immediately said, "How can so many dishes cost ten yuan enough? You must charge enough for a hotel at the price." The manager of the
hotel had to charge another 5 yuan, but Premier Zhou was still unwilling to: "Paying for meals is the rule. The Prime Minister has to pay the same amount as ordinary customers for treating guests." The manager of the
hotel had no choice but to charge another 5 yuan. After counting the money for this meal, I charged a total of 20 yuan.
Premier Zhou shook hands with the chef again to express his gratitude, and then everyone left the "Louwailou" together.
After leaving "Louwailou", Premier Zhou was still uneasy and worried that he would not pay enough for lunch.
arrives at Hangzhou Jianqiao Airport . Premier Zhou ordered the secretary to leave another 10 yuan for the airport duty staff and ask them to hand it over to "Louwailou".
Just like that, Premier Zhou paid three times for a meal in "Louwailou", and paid a total of 30 yuan.
In that era, 30 yuan was not a small number, and the average working class earned more than 20 yuan a month.
This time it is the manager of "Louwailou" who is not at ease. He asked the accountant to calculate the meals for the day according to the price list, and the result was a total of 19.5 yuan.
"Louwailou" wrote a letter to Premier Zhou, which contained the menu of the menu, Premier Zhou's orders and a detailed report. The letter was sent to Premier Zhou's office in Beijing through the post office. They also sent the extra 10.5 yuan to the Prime Minister's office through the post office.
(Main reference materials: "The Last 600 Days of Zhou Enlai" by Gu Baozi)
(Pictures are from the Internet, please delete if infringement)
