In September 1973, the Office of the Premier of the State Council in Beijing received a letter from the "Louwailou" hotel in Hangzhou, including a list of dishes for the "Louwailou", an à la carte menu and a detailed report.
After reading the letter, the secretary of the prime minister's office learned that this was the checkout report of Premier Zhou inviting foreign guests to dinner at the Louwailou Hotel on the edge of the West Lake, and the report mentioned that Premier Zhou had paid three times after the meal, totaling 30 yuan.
And this obviously exceeded the cost of this meal, since Premier Zhou did not engage in special, then the hotel will not be special, the hotel manager made a calculation of the entire meal cost, made a report, and sent the overcharged 10 yuan 5 corners through the bank to Beijing, which is a conclusion for this meal, and premier Zhou at that time did not return to Beijing.
Many people may not understand, but it is just a meal, how is it so troublesome to settle an account, but also to make a report and send it to Beijing, and the excess money still has to go to the bank, is this too troublesome?
In fact, there is a story here, and the details of it make people can't help but cry.
In September 1973, French President Pompidou was invited to visit China, he was the first French head of state to visit China, and the first incumbent head of state of a Western European country to visit China.
Pompidou's visit to China was personally received by Premier Zhou and accompanied by him throughout the whole process.
On September 11, Premier Zhou went to the capital airport to greet Pompidou, and the two shook hands cordially, with a smile on their faces, but in addition to the laughter, there was also the fatigue that was inadvertently revealed.
This fatigue is not due to exertion, but to physical pain.
The then 62-year-old Pompidou fell ill shortly after becoming president of France in 1969, but he has always claimed to have the flu, but his flu is so frequent and severe that one has to wonder if he has a serious illness similar to cancer.
Because of his dizziness, headache, and nose bleeding from time to time, he was always exhausted in public, and by 1973 he was unable to preside over cabinet meetings because of the unbearable pain.
His illness was known only to a few of his cronies and family members, and in fact he suffered from a rare form of leukemia, while Premier Zhou suffered from bladder cancer.
Premier Zhou, then 75 years old, was diagnosed with bladder cancer in May 1972, and in March 1973, with Chairman Mao's approval, Premier Zhou underwent his first major surgery in a makeshift operating room on Yuquan Mountain, which was so successful that attending physician Wu Jieping burned the lesion with an electric burnt surgical device and stopped bleeding.
This is a stage victory, if the follow-up can cooperate with treatment, proper rest, it is very likely to be cured, but at that time Zhou Enlai had too much burden, not only could not rest, but also worked hard to support the crisis, and cancer tormented him all the time.
On September 11, 1973, French President Pompidou, who was suffering from leukemia, and Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai, who was suffering from bladder cancer, shook hands at the capital airport, and Zhou Enlai accompanied Pompidou for several days.
On the afternoon of 12 July, Chairman Mao met with Pompidou and extensively exchanged views on issues of common concern; by the morning of 13 July, Zhou Enlai and Pompidou held talks on a wide range of international issues, and the talks went smoothly.
On the 14th, Zhou Enlai reported his work arrangements to Chairman Mao and proposed to ask Ye Jianying to preside over his work instead of him when he was not in Beijing, and he accompanied Pompidou on an inspection trip to Datong, Hangzhou, and Shanghai.
Their first stop was Datong, after arriving in Datong, Zhou Enlai took Pompidou and his party to visit Huayan Temple and Jiulongbi, and then on the morning of the 15th, they went to visit the Yungang Grottoes in the southern foothills of Wuzhou Mountain in northwest Datong City.
Yungang Grottoes is one of the largest ancient grottoes in China, but because it has existed for thousands of years, Yungang Grottoes have not only experienced natural weathering, but also man-made destruction, so the interior of Yungang Grottoes has been damaged to varying degrees, and the protection and restoration of the state has always been there.
Especially after the founding of the Country, the state attaches great importance to the Yungang Grottoes. In 1955, a special management agency for the Yungang Grottoes was established, and the Yungang Grottoes began to be professionally repaired and protected.
In 1960, the Institute of Culture and Culture and the Beijing Institute of Geology formed a survey team to conduct large-scale geological survey, disease investigation and protection research on the Yungang Grottoes, and strive to carry out all-round repair and protection of the Yungang Grottoes, and then established the Yungang Grottoes Protection Committee.
It can be said that the state made great efforts to protect the Yungang Grottoes in the 1960s, but when Zhou Enlai took Pompidou and his party to the Yungang Grottoes, Zhou Enlai's mood was still very heavy, and there were still some damaged and weathered Buddha statues in front of him.
As the tour progressed, his brow furrowed. Zhou Enlai really couldn't look at it anymore, he asked the secretary to find the management cadres of the Yungang Grottoes and ask about the repair plan of the Yungang Grottoes, at that time the management unit formulated a plan, but formulated a ten-year plan, and repaired the Yungang Grottoes in ten years.
Zhou Enlai did not agree with this, he felt that this time was too long, so he communicated with the management unit and asked them to repair the Yungang Grottoes within three years.
After the communication, Zhou Enlai also informed the Chinese and foreign reporters accompanying him about this matter, and asked everyone to visit again after three years, when there will be a different Yungang Grotto.
Since then, the Yungang Grottoes have indeed carried out a large maintenance and protection project, that is, a three-year protection project from 1974 to 1976, the principle of the project is: "emergency reinforcement, elimination of dangerous situations, maintenance of the status quo, protection of cultural relics."
But by the time the Yungang Grottoes were repaired, Zhou Enlai had already died of illness, and Pompidou had already died, of course, this is the last word.
After visiting the Yungang Grottoes, Zhou Enlai took Pompidou and his party from Taiyuan Airport to Hangzhou by special plane, and when they went to Hangzhou, they were bound to go to the West Lake, and Zhou Enlai took Pompidou and his party to visit the West Lake.
What annoyed Zhou Enlai again was that the original beautiful West Lake actually floated a large amount of oil on the lake, which suddenly destroyed the beauty of the West Lake.
It is said that "there is heaven on the top, suzhou and Hangzhou on the bottom", the beauty of Hangzhou has a lot to do with the West Lake to a large extent, and now the large oil pollution has pulled down the beauty of Hangzhou, which is sad.
Zhou Enlai saw this situation and said to the local leaders accompanying him: "For the sake of our children and grandchildren, leave a picturesque West Lake." In order to let more foreign guests feast their eyes in this paradise-like lake and mountains, in the future, there will be no more motorized boats in the West Lake, can you do it? ”
The local leaders were also very sad to see such a West Lake, and at the same time they were more ashamed, and said to Premier Zhou that they would definitely protect the West Lake. After visiting the West Lake, it was also noon, and Premier Zhou invited Pompidou and his party to the famous long-established restaurant "Louwailou" by the West Lake to have lunch.
Louwailou often received party and state leaders, among which The famous dishes of Hangzhou were very famous, and Zhou Enlai had entertained guests here many times, and he asked the secretary to inform Louwailou in advance.
When Lou Wailou knew that Zhou Enlai was going to eat here, he was very excited, everyone rushed to work, the waiter went to clean the restaurant near the West Lake, and the manager and the chef discussed and prepared the menu.
According to Zhou Enlai's habits, there are steamed meat and moldy dried vegetables in Shaoxing. Although Zhou Enlai was born in Huai'an, Jiangsu Province, his ancestral home is Shaoxing, Jiangsu, and Shaoxing cuisine is his hometown cuisine for him, and every time he comes to louwailou, he must have several Shaoxing dishes. In addition, there are West Lake vinegar fish, fried prawns, called hanako chicken and so on.
Inside the building, everything is proceeding step by step, and the reception work is prepared in an orderly manner.
Zhou Enlai took Pompidou and his party along the West Lake to the outer building, and when they arrived at the outer building, after everyone sat down, the dishes were quickly served on a plate.
On each plate of dishes, Premier Zhou had to personally introduce them, and at the dinner table, everyone was very happy, and the sound of conversation, laughter, and cupping was continuous.
Although Zhang Zuoliang, a health doctor accompanying Premier Zhou, quietly advised everyone not to drink too much wine with the premier, Premier Zhou did not want to disappoint everyone, but still took the initiative to touch a glass with everyone and talk happily, especially the service staff of the outer building, Premier Zhou personally thanked them for completing this reception task well, and everyone ate very happily.
After the meal, Premier Zhou asked the secretary to check out, and every time he invited him to dinner, he took money to let the secretary check out, neither let others invite nor spend the state's money, let alone eat the meal and not give money.
When the provincial leaders who accompanied him saw Premier Zhou's secretary going to check out, he quickly stood up to stop him and said, "There is no need for the premier to pay, let us reimburse it!" ”
As soon as the words fell, the smile on Premier Zhou's face disappeared, and he said solemnly: "Today I invite everyone, how can this money be reimbursed by you?" Of course I pay for it. ”
Everyone knows Premier Zhou's temper and habits, so he will not say more, but the manager of the building outside the building refuses to charge more money, and Premier Zhou has come to dinner once, how can he not express it? Not a penny, he was very happy.
So the manager symbolically accepted the secretary ten yuan, more than refused to ask, the secretary could not come back and told Premier Zhou, where is Premier Zhou willing, invite guests to dinner, how can you let the restaurant bear the cost? This has never been his style, and honesty and honesty are his consistent style.
He immediately summoned a waiter and said to him, "How can these many dishes cost ten yuan?" Charge as much as you want. ”
The waiter did not dare to decide on his own, so he went to the manager, the manager agreed to collect another five yuan, Zhou Enlai heard it, angrily said to the manager: "Who invites guests to dinner who pays, the prime minister invites guests to dinner, but also pay the same as ordinary customers!" ”
The manager of the building outside the building was not good enough to continue to say anything, so he collected another ten yuan, which added up to twenty yuan. Premier Zhou felt that the price should be about the same, so he left with confidence.
After leaving the outer building, Premier Zhou and his party went to Hangzhou Jianqiao Airport to prepare to fly to Shanghai.
On the way to the airport, the more Premier Zhou thought about it, the more uneasy he felt, originally he thought that 20 yuan should be enough for the noon meal, but then he thought about it, it is likely that the actual cost exceeded 20 yuan, but it is not allowed to rush back to the time.
Therefore, after arriving at the airport, Premier Zhou took out ten yuan to hand it to the secretary, and asked the secretary to entrust the duty officer of the airport to find a suitable time to transfer it to the manager of the restaurant outside the building.
In the building outside the building, originally everyone was talking about Premier Zhou's payment twice, and everyone was very moved, touched by Premier Zhou's approachability, touched by Premier Zhou's honesty and honesty, and at the same time hurt the old man, although he showed a strong spirit, but everyone still saw his tiredness and pathology.
When the airport duty officer sent the ten yuan transferred by Premier Zhou to the outer building, everyone could not help but cry.
No one thought that Premier Zhou would pay three times in a row because of a meal, lest he "take advantage" and be treated specially, how could such a premier not be moved to tears?
The manager knew that this meal could not reach thirty yuan, and since Premier Zhou repeatedly asked to pay the same as the general customer, the manager could only do it according to Premier Zhou's request, and he asked the checkout staff in the store to calculate the specific cost of Premier Zhou's invitation according to the price on the menu.
After calculation, this meal cost a total of 19 yuan and 5 jiao, so that Premier Zhou also paid 10 yuan and 5 jiao, and this money must be found to Premier Zhou.
Moreover, the manager of the outer building has an extra eye, he is afraid to send this money directly to Premier Zhou, and Premier Zhou is likely to think that this money is not enough, thinking that he has taken advantage.
So the manager plans to write a letter explaining that the price list of dishes in the store, Premier Zhou's order menu are attached, and there is a special report, the accounts are written clearly, at a glance, it is settled according to ordinary customers.
After writing it, the manager sent the letter to the Premier's Office in Beijing, and the remaining 10 yuan and 5 dimes were remitted to the Prime Minister's Office through the bank.
When the manager was doing this, Premier Zhou accompanied Pompidou and his party to Shanghai, they had a visit in Shanghai, and on September 17, it rained lightly in Shanghai, and Pompidou and his party also reached the time to return to China, and they wanted to fly directly back to China in Shanghai.
After arriving at the airport, Premier Zhou and everyone got off the car to bid farewell to Pompidou, originally the staff prepared an umbrella for Premier Zhou, but in order to reflect the respect for foreign guests, Premier Zhou, who was suffering from cancer, refused to take an umbrella and rained off Pompidou.
It wasn't until after the plane took off that Premier Zhou took up his umbrella, but by this time, his body was already soaking wet.
During his days in China, Pompidou was deeply impressed by the charisma of Premier Zhou, who once said zhou Enlai was the most impressive of any world leader he had ever met.
Of course, why is Pompidou alone a foreign head of state who has been impressed by Premier Zhou's unparalleled character?
After bidding farewell to Pompidou, Premier Zhou did not return to Beijing immediately, but stayed in Shanghai for one night, and on the morning of the 18th, Premier Zhou took a cruise ship to tour the Huangpu River, he sat on a chair, his arm on the handlebar supported his upper body, looking into the distance.
His back was solemn and solemn, and his eyes were long and deep.
No one knew what he was thinking, but in this rare moment of leisure, facing this calm Huangpu River, his mood was not calm.
Today, he is dying of old age, old and sick, but more than forty years ago, he was prosperous and proud, determined to dedicate his life to the revolution.
He fought in Shanghai for several years, and in Shanghai, where the white terror shrouded him, he never feared, leading the armed uprising of the workers in Shanghai, leading the underground work of the party, creating the Central Special Branch, and fighting the enemy.
Gu Shunzhang's rebellion in 1931 dealt a great blow to the Central Special Branch and even the Party organization in Shanghai, but the 33-year-old Zhou Enlai was not afraid, he cleverly hid in Shanghai, and then properly arranged the adjustment of the Central Special Branch, the concealment and retreat of the Special Branch personnel, and properly arranged all the affairs of the Party organization, and only after the relevant affairs in Shanghai were handled did he leave Shanghai.
The years of fighting in Shanghai were brutal, and the party organization could only operate underground, but this did not overwhelm Zhou Enlai, who never succumbed to any difficulties, but became more and more courageous in the vietnam war, and thus became an important leader of the party.
During this period, his honest and capable father, Zhou Yineng, resigned from the north several times when he heard that he was in distress, and ran to Shanghai to cover Zhou Enlai and contribute to the revolution.
During this period, Zhou Enlai and Deng Yingchao had to find ways to hide at any time and anywhere, and work strongly under the white terror.
Later, the revolutionary situation improved, Zhou Enlai and Deng Yingchao left Shanghai, went to the Soviet Zone, saw the Long March, went to Yan'an, and fought for the revolution, and later, during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the War of Liberation, Zhou Enlai also went to Shanghai several times.
Shanghai is very special for Zhou Enlai, and after the founding of the People's Republic of China, Zhou Enlai was also very concerned about Shanghai and had high hopes.
Now that the white terror is long gone, and the spirited young man has become the premier of new China, when he goes to Shanghai again, Premier Zhou's mood is very unstable.
Those past years kept turning in his mind, his revolutionary ideals had been realized, but time had brought about physical changes, and he had grown old, sick, and cancerous.
Premier Zhou knows that he has cancer, knows that he does not have much time, he does not know how long he can hold out, but he knows that life has entered the countdown for him, he still has so much work to do, there are so many things and people that have not been arranged, and there are so many...
He needs too much time to be busy, and his body also needs too much time to recuperate, which is bound to be contradictory, he can only choose to be busy, and this means that the length of his life will be shortened.
This time when he came to Shanghai, he didn't know when he would come next, and he didn't know if there was a next time, he looked at the Huangpu River silently, maybe just saying goodbye.
He loves the land and water, loves the people here, loves the country and the people, so he is willing to do his best to make this country better and make the people happier.
Premier Zhou did not meditate too long on the cruise ship, his time was precious and could not be wasted. After the Sino-French joint announcement, Premier Zhou flew back to Beijing that night.
Pompidou's visit to China ended smoothly, premier Zhou completed this reception task perfectly, and what will be waiting for these two seriously ill elderly people?
Pompidou, who returned to the Elysee Palace, was even more seriously ill, and although he still said that he had a flu recurrence, the swelling of his face and the heaviness of his steps, as well as the exhaustion of his body, betrayed him, and newspapers were already speculating whether he had cancer.
However, Pompidou refused to disclose his true condition, and at a cabinet meeting in March 1974, he offered to recuperate and wait until mid-April to work.
The French people did not wait for him to finish recuperating and come out to work, but waited for the news of his death, and on April 2, 1974, French President Pompidou died of illness, only half a year after his visit to China.
When Pompidou died of illness, Premier Zhou's condition was not optimistic, in fact, a month after Pompidou's visit to China, Premier Zhou's cancer recurred and there was blood in the urine.
After completing Pompidou's reception mission, Premier Zhou received Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau, who was visiting China, and accompanied Trudeau on a visit to Luoyang, visiting the Longmen Grottoes, and shortly after returning to Beijing, at the end of October 1973, Premier Zhou began to urinate blood.
The blow of urine blood to Premier Zhou this time is huge, far more serious than when the blood in urine appeared for the first time, because this time blood in urine means that the cancer has recurred, which means that Premier Zhou's cancer has no possibility of being cured, which means that his life has really begun the countdown.
Even so, he could not stop, the country needed him, the people needed him, he had to race against time, repeatedly extending working hours.
This cancer elderly man in his 70s has worked much longer than a young adult, working fewer than ten hours a day, most of the time 14 to 18 hours, more than 18 hours, and sometimes even 24 hours continuously.
This kind of work intensity is difficult to do on any person, not to mention that Premier Zhou is still an old man with cancer, but he still insisted on persevering, but cancer tortured him even more severely.
On March 11, 1974, Premier Zhou underwent a comprehensive examination at the 305 Hospital and then underwent a second major operation, but because there was too much work that had not been completed, Premier Zhou only underwent electrocalysis surgery, not resection.
Soon, only a month after the operation, in April 1974, Premier Zhou's condition worsened again, and there was blood in the urine again, and the complication of urinary retention was also brought about.
The old man, tormented by pain, rolled on the couch, and then at the end of the month, Premier Zhou began to have hypoxia, and in early May, doctors found that the papillary cancer tissue had fallen off, which meant that the cancer had spread.
Time is not waiting for anyone, Premier Zhou must be hospitalized.
On May 29, after Premier Zhou accompanied Malaysian Prime Minister Razak to meet chairman Mao, he waited at the door of Chairman Mao's study and shook hands with Chairman Mao once, which was the last time Chairman Mao and Premier Zhou shook hands under the camera.
Time has never cared for anyone.
On June 1, 1974, Premier Zhou was admitted to the 305 Hospital of the People's Liberation Army, and since then, he has never left the hospital, and the last days of his life were spent in this hospital until 9:58 a.m. on January 8, 1976.