preface
Figure Chairman Mao
During the War of Resistance Against Japan, Chairman Mao was busy mobilizing the masses and leading the armed struggle, when he put life and death aside, and thought only of the revolution and the people, and like most comrades, it was almost only birthday.
After the founding of New China, as the living conditions became better and better, people wanted to wish Chairman Mao a happy birthday, but Chairman Mao had his own insistence: "If you don't do longevity, doing longevity will not make people live long, and doing a good job is the most important thing." ”
However, when Chairman Mao entered old age, he began to pay attention to his birthday, although he said that he never accepted other people's banquets, but he would also simply set up a few dishes on December 26 and invite some people to get together.
Chairman Mao's birthday, a simple gathering
As we all know, Chairman Mao never advocated making shou, but every day, the staff around him would always remind him and prepare a bowl of longevity noodles with full color and flavor for him to eat.
Figure Li Yinqiao and Chairman Mao
December 26, 1960, was Chairman Mao's 67th birthday, but when he was preparing to fall asleep in the morning, he turned over and couldn't sleep until the afternoon, and under such circumstances, Chairman Mao asked Li Yinqiao to tell his confidential secretary Gao Zhi: Tell everyone to sit together, eat and then rest.
So Ye Zilong, Wang Dongxing and other staff members came to Chairman Mao's office in the corridor where only a round table could be set up, and happily ate with him, there was no wine on the table, no meat, only a few simple vegetarian dishes, a plate of spicy seeds, a soup and a bowl of noodles specially rolled by the master.
During this period, Chairman Mao talked cordially with everyone and expressed his worries: "Today is my 67th birthday, you are all people around me, I invite you to come, everyone has a meal together, but now the people have suffered a disaster, the problem of food and clothing is difficult to solve, my heart is really uncomfortable..."
Figure Chairman Mao
In addition, Chairman Mao also talked about some things in the early years of the revolutionary struggle and asked the staff to be able to seriously read the works of Marxism and Leninism. ”
As soon as the words stopped, Chairman Mao suddenly raised his voice, looked at everyone and said, "Who of you is willing to go down?" ”
At this time, Gao Zhi, who was sitting next to Chairman Mao, said firmly: "I do." ”
Chairman Mao was very happy after hearing this, and gave a thumbs up: "Who else wants to go?" ”
Chairman Mao looked at the staff so actively that a happy smile instantly appeared on his face: "Well, you will go down tomorrow." ”
"Chairman, it should not be possible to go tomorrow, we still have to study and prepare well." Gao Zhi said.
Figure Chairman Mao
Chairman Mao nodded seriously: "Well, you should first go to Beijing to attend a two-week training course, prepare to go again, and then you must take turns in the future, and as for the other comrades, they will go back when you come back." ”
This is Chairman Mao's 67th birthday, simple and warm, and the staff also followed his instructions and brought back a lot of real situations after a period of investigation and research.
On December 26, 1962, chairman Mao's 69th birthday ( 70 years old ) , Chairman Mao valued this birthday and hosted a small family birthday banquet.
On that day, Chairman Mao simply prepared two tables of light meals at the Juxiang Bookstore, and in addition to his own relatives, he also specially invited four elderly people over the age of 80: Zhang Shizhao, Cheng Qian, Wang Jifan, and Ye Gongqiu, and three of them were his Fellow Hunan compatriots.
Figure Chairman Mao
Considering the advanced age of these friends, Chairman Mao specially told them when he sent an invitation that they could bring a child, and that Zhang Shizhao was carrying his daughter Zhang Hanzhi.
During this period, Chairman Mao was very happy, talking and laughing with the four old people, not only caring about their bodies, but also mentioning the work and life of the younger generations, when Chairman Mao learned that Zhang Hanzhi was teaching in the English Department of the Beijing Institute of Foreign Languages, he said humorously: "I am not old, I am a teacher." ”
After a while, Chairman Mao continued: "You come to be my English teacher, can you teach me?" ”
Zhang Hanzhi was obviously stunned after hearing this, and then replied: "My English level is low, and I dare not teach the chairman." ”
At this time, Chairman Mao laughed and said, "There is nothing to dare, my level is very low." ”
In this way, more than a week later, Zhang Hanzhi officially began to teach Chairman Mao English once a week, and his birthday can also be regarded as a full and warm life.
Figure Chairman Mao
Chen Yi Luo Ruiqing came uninvited, Chairman Mao: Want to knock me out
Fast forward to December 26, 1963, Chairman Mao's 70th birthday, but he did not intend to celebrate this birthday, and as usual, he devoted himself to work, according to the previous plan, he would go to the Great Hall of the People in the afternoon to meet, and discuss work with Deng Xiaoping, Zhou Enlai and other leaders, and simply eat a light meal in the evening
However, when Chairman Mao came to Room 118 of the Great Hall of the People, he saw that Comrades Chen Yi, Luo Ruiqing, and other comrades were already waiting at the scene, and at that time he was very confused and asked curiously: "I didn't ask you to come, why did you suddenly come without greeting, what are you here for?" Is there something going on? ”
At this time, everyone smiled and said, "Today is the chairman's 70th birthday, and we have all discussed it and decided to come and celebrate your birthday." ”
When Chairman Mao learned of the reason, he smiled and said, "The people I invited have not yet come, but you have come." ”
"If you want to come, come." He Long said so, and his words also caused everyone to laugh.
Figure Chen Yi and Chairman Mao
The time when the old friends get together is always incomparably warm, and the humorous Chairman Mao also joked with everyone: "I know, you are colluding to make a surprise attack on me, it seems that you want to knock me bamboo bars, play a sign for my birthday, and want me to spend a little tooth sacrifice, right?" If that's the case, it's okay to beat the teeth, but not in the name of wishing me a happy birthday. ”
Everyone listened to him say this and hurriedly said: "I just want to congratulate the chairman on his birthday." ”
In fact, Chairman Mao's birthday can be described as very satisfactory, and early in the morning his confidential secretary informed the staff: Chairman Mao will receive six or seven guests at the Yinian Hall, eat together and take photos to commemorate the occasion, and Wang Dongxing also specially explained:
"Today is the chairman's 70th birthday, there are guests coming, except for one of the president's distant relatives, the rest are very important non-party democrats, old friends and friends of the chairman. They are old, some may have limited mobility, your work must be thoughtful and meticulous, do a good job, and be sure to satisfy the guests and the chairman. Today your dinner standard is the same as that of the chairman and the guests, and I have informed the small kitchen to prepare, but there is a point that the table cannot be set up until the chairman and the guests have left the Yi Nian Hall. How's it going, full of dissatisfaction? ”
After hearing this, the staff was overjoyed and began the busy day.
Figure Chairman Mao
After 4 p.m., the guests arrived one after another, and Chairman Mao also came to the scene quickly, at that time he was very happy, and warmly shook hands with everyone one by one, constantly greeting, the atmosphere was relaxed and pleasant.
After three rounds of tea, it was time to eat, the staff began to serve wine, this time the meal is still very simple, there are only three kinds of wine, many guests are very confused, Chairman Mao's 70th birthday is so important, how to eat or some home cooking?
In fact, knowing the specific situation at that time, it can be understood that shortly after the three-year difficult period, the supply of grain and non-staple foods in many parts of the country was still relatively tight.
Under such circumstances, Chairman Mao has always led by example and survived difficulties with the common people, and the purpose of his birthday this time is not to set up a table to celebrate his birthday, but to hold a simple party on this grounds, to meet with everyone, to reminisce about the past, and to take a group photo as a souvenir.
Figure Chairman Mao
Chairman Mao used this most ordinary and natural form to express his thoughts for his relatives and friends, and also showed his great affection and righteousness.
At the end of the dinner, Chairman Mao began to take photos with everyone, and the staff around him also had a share, and the first person to go up was Wang Dongxing, but after he finished taking pictures, everyone also considered that Chairman Mao had been tired for several hours in a row, so they just took a big group photo together.
However, at this time, Chairman Mao smiled and said, "It doesn't matter, I have stood in Tiananmen Square for three or four hours, and today I am very happy with everyone. ”
After the group photo was over, the guests gradually dispersed, and Chairman Mao returned after a short rest in the hall.
Chairman Mao's last birthday, longevity noodles broken in the pot
On December 26, 1975, Chairman Mao's 82nd birthday, which was also his last birthday before his death, early this morning, his two daughters came to the swimming pool, and the staff around Chairman Mao who were also waiting in the pool, listening to the children's laughter, Chairman Mao felt particularly happy.
After everyone arrived, the kitchen quickly brought today's birthday feast to the table, although as usual, it was some simple home-cooked food, but Chairman Mao and others ate with relish, and longevity noodles were of course essential.
Figure Chairman Mao
Most of the longevity noodles on Chairman Mao's birthday were personally rolled by Tian Shubin, a pastry master in Zhongnanhai, who had been a pastry chef all his life, not only exquisitely skilled, but also made pasta, soft and delicious, which Chairman Mao liked very much.
Early this morning, Tian Shubin stood by the telephone, quietly waiting for the call of the swimming pool, and after a while the phone rang, and when Tian Shubin heard that the other party was Wu Liandeng, who was in charge of Chairman Mao's life affairs, he hurriedly said: "Today is the chairman's birthday, why are you calling now, I have been standing by." ”
After Wu Liandeng heard it, he immediately said, "Hurry up and come here." ”
At this time, Tian Shubin did not delay for a moment, and immediately took the pasta tools he had prepared long ago to the kitchen of the swimming pool, and in a short while, he rolled out Chairman Mao's longevity noodles, and the longevity noodles made by Tian Shubin were clearly rooted and evenly thick, often praised by Chairman Mao, and he had never lost his hand for so many years.
Figure Chairman Mao
But when Tian Shubin lowered the longevity noodles into the boiling pot, an unexpected situation occurred, and before he could stir them, they all broke in the pot, and one by one, none of them were complete.
Tian Shubin was a little overwhelmed when he saw it, looking at the pot of noodles, he couldn't help but burst into tears: "No, nothing like this has ever happened, I have never encountered this situation in my life, I am guilty, I am guilty." ”
Wu Liandeng was also very surprised to hear him say this, and immediately walked to the pot, looked at all the noodles that were broken inside, and sighed deeply, this was completely impossible to eat, for a moment he did not know how to be good, standing there silent, which made Master Tian on the side more anxious.
Soon, Wu Liandeng said loudly: "No matter what, we must let Chairman Mao eat this bowl of longevity noodles on time." ”
Chairman Mao and Wu Liandeng
After Master Tian heard this, he immediately said, "Now that it is time for dinner, even if I am skilled, I will not have time to make a new one." ”
"Then replace the hand-rolled noodles with noodles, even if this does not disappoint Chairman Mao, who will not be able to eat the longevity noodles he has been looking forward to." Wu Liandeng said emphatically.
At this time, Master Tian couldn't take care of so much, and immediately picked up the noodles and went down to the pot, and after a while the longevity noodles were ready, Chairman Mao looked at the fragrant noodles in front of him, was very happy, and kept praising Master Tian's craftsmanship for making progress again.
Figure Chairman Mao
Everyone thought that Chairman Mao did not eat the hand-rolled noodles that he expected in his heart, and there would be some regrets, but what they did not expect was that Chairman Mao did not find that it was just a bowl of ordinary noodles, and on this day he seemed to have a good appetite, not only ate a lot of dishes, but also drank some fat head fish soup: "Today's birthday was very happy, this fish soup is really delicious." ”
After Chairman Mao finished eating, many people invariably sent birthday gifts, some of which were sent by his relatives in his hometown in Hunan, in addition to some beautiful fireworks, there were many local specialties, Chairman Mao looked very happy, but also shared with the people around him.
Unconsciously, the day passed quickly, and in the evening, when Chairman Mao was lying on the bed preparing to rest, he turned over and over, without the slightest sleepiness, and under such circumstances, he called the staff around him and said with a smile: "Go and release the fireworks sent today." ”
Looking at the splendid fireworks outside the window, the corners of Chairman Mao's mouth rose slightly, and he couldn't help but think of a thousand thoughts, and the days of being accompanied by his family and friends made him cherish it extraordinarily.
Although Chairman Mao's birthday is not celebrated every year, and the laws are different, without exception, it is simple and simple, making a few simple home-cooked dishes, sitting with everyone and chatting, has made him feel particularly happy, such Chairman Mao will always live in our hearts.