"One national flag, two portraits of Chairman Mao, 15 yaks, 11 acres of land, five yak wool woven bags, two hens, and an old abacus..." This is the commune property record assigned by the Jiefang People's Commune of Jiama District, Qiongjie County, Tibet Autonomous Region in 1981 (now Jinzhu Village, Jiama Township, Qiongjie County) when the family of member Ga Zhen was assigned to the family joint contract responsibility system. Although it is not much from the current perspective, it is of great significance to Gazhen. Gazhen is 54 years old and a native of Jinzhu Village. Over the past 40 years, with the progress of livelihood projects such as relocation in other places and the housing of farmers and herdsmen, they have moved their homes three times, from the cold and narrow valley to the warm and comfortable home now. During several moves and repairs, many very precious small items have been lost one after another. Only an old aluminum lunch box has always been regarded as a treasure by the family, because this lunch box carries a precious national flag and carries a national flag love that spans decades.
Gazhen (left) The family planted a five-star red flag in the center of the roof
According to Gazhen's recollection, in the production team of the People's Commune, children under the age of 16 were considered "non-labor" and could not participate in production labor. Even if they participated, they could only get 0.5 points. When Gazhen was 12 years old, she participated in farmland land reclamation with commune members. At that time, where there was a production team's labor, there would be a "five-star red flag" planted. The bitter cold wind blew the five-star red flag of the production team so that it would sway. The captain of the production team said to Ga Zhen: "Little girl, your task today is to grasp the flagpole. As long as the flagpole is straight, I will calculate one point in the afternoon."
That's it. At that time, Ga Zhen, who was still young but hard-working at the time, grabbed the flagpole with his trembling hands in the cold wind. The captain said, "This girl is really a good player to catch the flagpole." She was given a point. This was the first time the production team gave a point to the child, which made Gazhen and her family very happy. After returning home, my mother also rewarded Gazhen butter tsampa balls for eating. Gazhen, who was eating delicious food, thought it was a "gift of the five-star red flag", which opened up the child's special emotion for the five-star red flag.
For decades, the Gazhen family has treasured the national flag in this aluminum lunch box. Shortly after the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the People's Commune where Gazhen is also implemented a family contract responsibility system, allocating public production tools and land to farmers and herdsmen according to policies. The Jiefang People's Commune was also renamed Jinzhu Township (Cash Zhu Village, "Jinzhu" means "Jiefang" in Tibetan). A brand new five-star red flag fluttered on the roof of the township government. The five-star red flag was distributed to Gazhen's family. Gazhen's mother neatly stacked the five-star red flag with worn corners in the aluminum lunch box. For 40 years, the Gazhen family has inherited and treasured this five-star red flag from generation to generation, until today. Gazhen said: "I want to pass on this glorious history so that our next generation can let more people understand the true historical significance of this five-star red flag."
Gazhen (right) sisters stared at the flying five-star red flag
On January 19, 2009, the Second Session of the Ninth People's Congress of the Tibet Autonomous Region voted to set March 28 of each year as the liberation anniversary of the millions of serfs in Tibet. Since then, at 9 a.m. on March 28 every year, Gazhen's family put on festive clothes and "invited" the five-star red flag that had been treasured for 40 years to the roof of their house to hold a special flag-planting ceremony. Gazhen said, "When I was a child, I ate the first and most fragrant butter tsampa ball in my life because of this five-star red flag. When I grew up, my family lived a happy life that was more fragrant, stronger and sweeter than the butter tsampa ball under the guidance of this flag."
Under the care of the Party’s policies, the ranch run by Gazhen has 32 yaks and 16 sheep. The net profit in 2019 reached more than 60,000 yuan. The family has a 4G network and uses wifi. The eldest niece Gesanderji works in Lhasa, the second niece Wujin Zhuoga is a senior in Tianjin, and his nephew Gama Luosang is in his senior year in Shannan City. His family’s life is getting better and better.
Gazhen (right) sisters stroked the national flag that was regarded as a heirloom
Under the influence of Gazhen's family, every household in Jinzhu Village planted a five-star red flag on the roof, and the flying five-star red flag became a beautiful landscape on the streets and alleys. In this village with the national flag flying everywhere in the name of "liberation", farmers and herdsmen actively develop industries, improve their lives, beautify their homes, and build the village into a well-off demonstration village that is well-known far and wide.
Another year of the liberation anniversary of the millions of serfs in Tibet. The spring breeze blew across the snowy plateau, and the village was completely renewed. Gazhen looked at the five-star red flag that accompanied her growth affectionately: "I am already in my 50s. In the future, I want to pass on the task of collecting the five-star red flag to my eldest niece. I hope she can pass on this friendship and always remember the kindness of the five-star red flag in my heart!"
Family generations have inherited the precious national flag love
(text: Qu Jie)
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