In the 1970s, the commander of the Inner Mongolia Military Region accepted an invitation from his old comrades-in-arms to eat at a restaurant. After the two met, the old comrade-in-arms said: "I know you are frugal, today you will order casually." The commander directly ordered a cup of Maotai, but when he checked out, the waiter said to the commander: "You have to pay." ”
The commander of this life of hardship and simplicity was named You Taizhong, a native of Xinyang, Henan, whose parents were ordinary local farmers. When You Taizhong was born, he was in an era of warlord chaos, and the people were displaced. The same was true of the You Taizhong family, who ate and did not eat and suffered.
Corrupt officials and warlords loot the people's fat and people's anointing, and bullies and inferior gentry set harsh taxes and miscellaneous taxes, all like mountains, bending the backbone of the low-level people. You Taizhong wanted to save the people from water and fire, but there was nothing he could do but suffer in silence. At the age of 13, his fate ushered in a turning point, and the Red Army came to the Xinyang area.
You Taizhong saw that the Red Army was "fighting local tyrants and dividing up the land" and sincerely made decisions for the poor and poor, so he chose to join the Red Army. You Taizhong embarked on the bright road of revolution, he fought in blood on the battlefield, conquered the south and fought for decades, and finally became a famous general of our army.
After the founding of New China, You Taizhong participated in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea and defend his family and defend the country, and was awarded the rank of major general for his merits. In the 1970s, You Taizhong accepted the organization's appointment as the commander of the Inner Mongolia Military Region, guarding one side and benefiting the masses on the other side. In order to change the face of poverty in the pastoral areas of Inner Mongolia, You Taizhong sprinkled all his efforts on the hot land of Inner Mongolia.
His monthly salary is relatively high, but he is not willing to spend a penny, strict requirements for himself and his family, to practice the arduous and simple revolutionary tradition. He donated the money he had saved to herders in poor areas so that their children could study and improve the living conditions in their homes.
Sometimes, when the staff around them have difficulties, You Taizhong will always lend a helping hand. He solved problems for the staff, sent charcoal in the snow, and carefully took care of the comrades around him. Among his comrades-in-arms, everyone knows that You Taizhong is simple and simple, the clothes on his body are patched with patches, and the furniture in his home has not been changed for decades.
Once, when You Taizhong was on a business trip to Beijing, an old comrade-in-arms came to visit him. The old comrade-in-arms saw that You Taizhong was wearing an old military uniform and the tip of his shoes was worn white, and proposed: "Old You, it is not easy for you to come to Beijing once, I invite you to have a meal." We all know that you are always frugal, this time I invite you, you just order. ”
You Taizhong listened, smiled and said, "Don't regret it, I want to 'eat poor' you." The two comrades changed into civilian clothes and chatted as they came to a small restaurant. The waiter brought the menu, and the old comrade-in-arms handed the menu to You Taizhong and asked him to order. You Taizhong looked at the menu and only asked the waiter, "Do you have Moutai wine here?" ”
It turned out that General You Taizhong loved to taste wine, especially Maotai. It's just that he is too frugal, usually reluctant to buy Maotai, the old comrade-in-arms invited guests, he ordered a cup of Moutai. After the general finished ordering the wine, he directly handed the menu to his old comrade-in-arms and said: "You order the dish, there is this cup of Maotai, I eat everything." ”
The old comrade-in-arms listened and said, "You old You, well, then I will order it." In a few moments, a few simple small dishes were served, and the two comrades-in-arms chatted and drank fine wine. While eating, the guard of the old comrade-in-arms came to him and said, "The troops have an urgent matter to find the chief."
The old comrade-in-arms said, "Old You, the troops have an urgent matter, and I can't accompany you anymore." I settle the account, you eat slowly, I go back first. ”
General You Taizhong replied, "If the troops are in trouble, you should be busy first, so don't worry about me." The old comrade-in-arms left in a jeep, leaving You Taizhong alone, drinking alone. Half an hour later, the meal was finished, and You Taizhong was ready to go back to the guest house to rest. Suddenly, the waiter stopped him and said, "The cashier is not careful, he forgot to collect the wine money in front, you pay for it." ”
You Taizhong originally wanted to drink the wine of his old comrade-in-arms, but he did not expect that the cashier would not be careful and confiscate the old comrade-in-arms' wine money. This is good, You Taizhong had to pay 3 yuan for wine, and his heart hurt for several days.