At the end of 1949, according to the People's Liberation Army soldiers, Kunming would soon usher in liberation, and Liu Wendian, who was teaching at Yunnan University at the time, received a letter from Hu Shi from the United States.
Hu Shi wrote in the letter that he had obtained an entry visa for him in the United States and hoped that he could take his family to settle in the United States.
However, Liu Wendian refused, saying: "I am Chinese, why should I leave my motherland?" ”
On February 20, 1950, when the People's Liberation Army entered Kunming, Liu Wendian sighed to his wife Zhang Junqiu: "The Future China will no longer be the China of the past, but it is a blessing for our nation, a blessing for the people, and a great joy in life!" ”
Liu Wendian was a revolutionary youth in his early years, joined the League, and also served as Sun Yat-sen's secretary, and later devoted himself to the academic circles and became a famous master of traditional Chinese studies, successively teaching at Peking University, Tsinghua University, Southwest United University, and Yunnan University.
There was once media rumor that after the founding of New China, Premier Zhou specially approved two people to continue to smoke opium, one was Long Yun, the "King of Yunnan", and the other was Liu Wendian, the reason is that these two people had the habit of smoking opium before the founding of the Country, and after the founding of the Country, they could not change it, and Premier Zhou specially approved two people to have this privilege.
In fact, Liu Wendian did have the habit of smoking opium before the founding of the People's Republic of China, but after the founding of the Country, he felt that the social outlook was renewed, coupled with the country's anti-smoking regulations, Liu Wendian resolutely quit this vice.
Later, Liu Wendian said: "In the old society, I was cornered and forced to smoke opium, and after liberation, under the leadership of the Communist Party, the socialist country was thriving, in a good mood, and there was not enough good life, who would be willing to commit suicide by taking drugs?" ...... I am today, I am not the me of yesterday, I am reborn! ”
His second son, Liu Pingzhang, also recalled that his father's process of quitting smoking was very painful, but his father did not flinch, and it took only half a month to quit smoking, which showed amazing perseverance and admiration!
In many anecdotal allusions, Liu Wendian is portrayed as a "combative" person, such as kicking Chiang Kai-shek, reprimanding Shen Congwen, scolding Lu Xun, etc. In fact, these are one-sided words, at least incomplete, the real Liu Wendian, in fact, is very kind and sincere, and there is no shelf that refuses to be thousands of miles away.
Ma Xingrong, who studied in the Chinese Department of Yunnan University, once went to Liu Wendian's house to ask questions, and Liu Wendian actually asked his wife to bring out the very precious Longjing tea at that time to entertain him, which made him very popular, so he was flattered, because he was just an ordinary student at that time, and he did not expect that Liu Wendian would invite him to drink such precious Longjing tea!
Lei Guowei, who also graduated from the department of Chinese of Yunnan University, recalled that when he first went to college, several new students went to Visit Liu Wendian's home together, and Liu Wendian warmly greeted everyone to take their seats, and also took out his own pickled buckwheat silk to entertain everyone, leaving a deep impression on Lei Guowei and others.
In fact, this is a real Liu Wendian, hospitable, treating students without any shelf, and treating them equally.
In 1956, when Yunnan University was evaluating his title, Liu Wendian was rated as a national first-class professor (liberal arts), which was not only the only first-class professor at Yunnan University, but even in Yunnan Province, he was the only one.
In addition, Liu Wendian was also elected as a member of the first and second national committees of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and when he went to Beijing for a meeting, he was personally received by Chairman Mao, Premier Zhou, and others.
When Chairman Mao saw him, he shook his hand and asked him, "What have you been studying lately?" ”
Liu Wendian replied excitedly: "I was recently studying Du Shi, and after studying Du Shi, I am ready to study Bai Juyi again. ”
After hearing this, Chairman Mao smiled and said, "Very good! ”
Although this meeting was very short, Liu Wendian was still excited, and later said excitedly: "I am very lucky and honored to catch up with this great era, and I am willing to dedicate the rest of my life and dedicate my full strength to fight for the socialization of the country!" ”
Unfortunately, Liu Wendian died of cerebral hemorrhage on July 15, 1958, at the age of 69 due to overwork and criticism.
After Liu Wendian's death, his wife Zhang Junqiu sent his ashes back to his hometown of Huaining County, Anhui Province, according to his will, fulfilling his last wish to return to the roots of his leaves.
In addition, liu Wendian's precious cultural relics collected during his lifetime, such as Qing manuscripts, porcelain calligraphy and paintings, ancient inscriptions, etc., were also donated to the Anhui Provincial Museum, which can be regarded as the last force he dedicated to the cultural cause of his hometown.
(References: "Crazy Liu Wendian", "Fragments of the Republic of China Literati")