As the saying goes, women are weak, and mothers are strong. I believe that there is no mother in the world who does not love her child. But when national interests conflict with private family matters, how do you choose?
In CCTV, there is a famous female anchor, who has stood in the press for 28 years with her excellent professional quality and strong psychological quality, and has become a benchmark in the industry.
As a pathfinder for the first live broadcast of CCTV's ace column "News Network", she has done her love and dedication to the extreme in her work, and even in order not to delay the normal live broadcast, even her son fell down the building and did not have time to visit.
It is precisely because of her great love of putting the interests of the country and the people before her personal interests that she has achieved zero mistakes since she served as the female anchor of "News Network" for 18 years, making her the "first mouth of CCTV" recognized by the people.
And this female anchor of virtue and art is Li Ruiying, a famous host of CCTV.
2014 was Li Ruiying's 28th year of news hosting, and it was also the year she decided to leave the anchor position of CCTV's "News Network" and apply for retirement.
It is reasonable to say that an anchor who has experienced decades of hosting career and decides to move from the front of the stage to the backstage is a matter of reproach. However, for Li Ruiying's retirement, the reaction from the outside world is not positive.
Before, because of Li Ruiying's son, many people had a lot of criticism of her, thinking that she was an impersonal, cold-blooded and ruthless mother;
As soon as the news that Li Ruiying was going to retire was exposed, the famous war correspondent Shui Junyi even criticized her in the program "Kefan Audiovisual", accusing her of retreating behind the scenes at less than 60 years old, which clearly opened a very "bad" head for the hosting industry.
After Li Ruiying retired in 2006, he chose to use his professional knowledge to open a training course, which caused public anger and made him completely fall into the public opinion of "making money for gold".
From the "first mouth of CCTV" in the past to the "gold girl" who spread the word of mouth, is Li Ruiying's behavior really so unbearable? And the "son incident" that she has been criticized by the outside world, is there any hidden plot in it?
Mistakenly hit and bumped, embarked on the road of news hosting
When it comes to why Li Ruiying will embark on the road of news hosting, it has to be described as a "mistaken hit". Li Ruiying, who came from a military family, actually did not have a clear plan for his future career until the 18-year-old college entrance examination.
Although Li Ruiying's ancestral home is in Puyang, Henan, because of her father, she grew up in the compound of Beijing and is a veritable high-ranking cadre's child.
Her father was an officer and was very strict in his tutoring. In order to exercise her daughter's tenacious willpower, since Li Ruiying was a child, her father has trained her as a man.
Whether it is academics or personality, it is necessary to be the best. These factors also laid a solid foundation for Li Ruiying to be able to "pass five levels and cut six generals" later, and get entry tickets in CCTV, which is full of talents.
Because of his parents' overly strict discipline, Li Ruiying has almost no so-called rebellious period. At home, her every word and deed was controlled by her father, and she did not dare to make the slightest mistake; at school, she was a good student with good character and excellent learning in the eyes of the teacher, and a good class worker who was helpful around her classmates.
However, the excessive protection and interference of adults with Li Ruiying has made Li Ruiying, who has always been a "well-behaved woman", often come up with some strange ideas.
For a long time, when Li Ruiying saw the salesman in the convenience store, he thought of the nearly full score on his math paper, and couldn't help but think that maybe when he grew up, he should become a cashier. As everyone knows, according to her grades, going to be a cashier is a bit "overkill".
Of course, Li Ruiying's parents will certainly not support their daughter's "whimsical idea". In order to create a better cultural atmosphere for her, her parents often bought Li Ruiying a variety of reading books, both ancient and modern, Chinese and foreign.
The influence of the sea of books has made Li Ruiying's literary heritage deeper, and he can quote the scriptures at any time.
What is more interesting is that when he is tired of reading, Li Ruiying also likes to recite these poems. Because he grew up in Beijing, Li Ruiying's Mandarin is very standard.
Every time she recites the article with emotion, it always gives people a feeling of spring breeze. And this innate sense of language also saved Li Ruiying a lot of effort in learning broadcast hosting later.
Fast forward to 1979. This year, Li Ruiying was 18 years old and was a serious college student.
Graduation is imminent, and students are running for their own future, afraid of taking the wrong road at the first crossroads of life. However, at this time, Li Ruiying seemed a little confused.
Indeed, as far as grades are concerned, as long as there are no accidents, Li Ruiying wants to go to a good university.
However, for the planning of life, such as which university to enter, what major to study, or even what job to do after graduation, Li Ruiying, who has been growing up under the wings of adults, has no clue at all.
And just when Li Ruiying was extremely hesitant about her future, fate dragged Li Ruiying in the dark and led her to the destined harbor - the broadcast host.
At that time, Li Ruiying did not have any concept of broadcast host, but only because her friend needed a companion, she vaguely accompanied her to the gate of the Beijing Broadcasting Institute.
When watching his friend rush into the registration point in line, Li Ruiying was happy and wandering in his heart. She was happy that her friend at least had the direction she wanted to work towards. It seems that the same age does not have any plan for life.
Just when Li Ruiying was waiting for her friend to come out at the school gate and was bored, an old man in the communication room next to her attracted her attention.
Looking far away, I saw that the old man was holding the newspaper in his hand and reading the text on it with great effort. It seems that because his eyes are not very good, the old man had to lie down on the newspaper.
Li Ruiying, who observed all this, instantly became interested in this old man, and her education from childhood told her that helping others was a subject that should be practiced all her life.
Therefore, the warm-hearted Li Ruiying immediately came to the old man's side and asked him softly whether he needed help.
Looking at the half-grown little girl in front of her, the old man guessed that she had also come to register for the exam, and immediately became interested, saying: "Little girl, you see my eyes are not very good, it is better that you read a few articles to me this old man!" ”
In the face of the old man's request, Li Ruiying was naturally obligated. So she quickly picked up the newspaper and read him aloud the articles in the newspaper.
Because of those casual "reading training" before, Li Ruiying was depressed and full of emotions when reading newspapers. Coupled with the purity of her Mandarin, in this small communication room, it has produced the effect of lingering sounds around the beam.
After a few articles, the old man couldn't help but applaud the little girl in front of him. He smiled and asked Li Ruiying: "Little girl, you are also here to register for the exam, right?" ”
Listening to the old man's words, Li Ruiying replied with some embarrassment: "No, I will only accompany my good friends today." ”
"I just read those few paragraphs, I see that you are born to learn broadcasting material, why don't you try to see it?"
"Grandpa, do you think I can really choose?" Looking at the long registration line at the school gate, Li Ruiying's heart beat a drum.
"Of course, my old man doesn't say anything else, but in terms of people, he is still very good!"
Encouraged by the old master, Li Ruiying's heart inexplicably ignited a burst of courage, like his own lost lamb, found the direction of the grassland. So, she got up and said goodbye to the old man, turned around and joined the registration team.
All success is for those who are prepared. Because of his long-term reading habits coupled with his talent in broadcasting, Li Ruiying, a "stunned youth", actually passed five levels and slashed six generals in the follow-up broadcast examination, and successfully killed the last level of screening.
What surprised her even more was that the "shepherd" who once led her lamb to the grassland was Zhang Song, a famous professor of the Broadcasting Department of the Beijing Broadcasting Institute at that time.
At the scene of the interview, looking at the professor's kind gaze, Li Ruiying's originally uneasy heart was suddenly calmed.
In order not to live up to his preparations during this period, and in order to impress the professor, Li Ruiying adjusted his mentality and coped with the selection in the best state.
Starlight did not live up to the exam, and finally Li Ruiying became the student of the broadcast department that year with very good results.
From the local to CCTV, it only took her three years
Sometimes fate is so ingenious. After entering the Broadcasting Department of the Beijing Broadcasting Institute, Li Ruiying found that Professor Zhang Song was not only an examiner for his third exam, but also a teacher at his four-year university.
There was Bole, and then there was Maxima. Obviously, Li Ruiying's thousand-mile horse was very lucky. Because she successfully met Bole who changed her life in the case of "accidentally hitting and bumping".
After entering the Department of Phonology of Beijing Broadcasting, Under the guidance of Professor Zhang Song, Li Ruiying achieved a qualitative leap forward in broadcasting. As Li Ruiying, who grew up in Beijing since childhood, there should be nothing wrong with his pronunciation.
However, Professor Zhang Song, in line with the teaching concept of strict teachers and high disciples, still very seriously warned Li Ruiying that if he wanted to break out of the world in the broadcasting world in the future, he must start from the basic pronunciation practice, and no pronunciation can go wrong.
Li Ruiying took the teacher's teachings to heart. Every day at six o'clock, walking on the path of the Beijing Broadcasting Institute, you will always see such a figure: a girl holding a Chinese dictionary, loudly reciting the Hanyu Pinyin of each word in it.
Whenever she wasn't happy with that pronunciation, she would correct it several times over and over again. Next to her, one was the morning when she hadn't finished eating, and the other was the cup of water she had drunk most of the time. This girl was Li Ruiying at that time.
Talent can indeed lead a person to success, but if you want to succeed, talent alone can work, but also have the unremitting efforts of the day after tomorrow.
Li Ruiying knew this very well, so he had this morning reading every day. And it is precisely because of her little by little effort that she can create the later "first mouth of CCTV".
On the road of Li Ruiying's struggle, in fact, there is another person who is crucial, that is, her later husband - Zhang Yuyan. Zhang Yuyan is also a child of the compound, and the two have grown up together and have a strong relationship.
When Li Ruiying's father did not approve of Li Ruiying's application for the broadcasting department at all, it was Zhang Yuyan who gave her encouragement from the side.
At the same time, after Li Ruiying successfully enrolled in the Beijing Broadcasting Institute, as a student of Peking University, he tirelessly stressed the importance of reading to Li Ruiying.
In Zhang Yuyan's view, as long as Li Ruiying continues to work hard, sooner or later she will be able to stand on a larger platform and shine. And by then, a person's cultural literacy will surely contribute to her career.
For Zhang Yuyan's suggestion, Li Ruiying also agreed. So in the four years of this university, Li Ruiying not only learned professional skills down-to-earth, but also did not slacken off in reading.
And this has also become the most crucial competitiveness when she later ran for the live broadcast host of CCTV's "News Network".
The friendship of Qingmei Bamboo Horse and the like-minded interests and hobbies, during the university, Li Ruiying and Zhang Yuyan, two people who were in love, also naturally became lovers.
But like all lovers who "separated after graduation", in 1983, Li Ruiying, who was about to end his college stage, would also be separated from Zhang Yuyan. One will be assigned to work for Jiangsu Satellite TV, while the other will stay in Beijing for graduate school.
In the face of the upcoming life in a different place, Li Ruiying is unwilling to accept the distribution, and on the other hand, he cannot choose the relationship between the two.
After all, throughout the ages, long-distance relationships are difficult to cultivate. Even if he is as tenacious as Li Ruiying, he is afraid that after a long parting, the two will be scattered at the fork in the road of fate.
In this regard, Zhang Yuyan is full of confidence in this relationship. On the one hand, he repeatedly promised Li Ruiying that he would not marry her in this life, on the other hand, he also pulled his mother and gave Li Ruiying a reassuring pill:
"Rest assured, Li Yatou, you grew up together, and your feelings are deep." As long as you want to marry, even if this boy is at the end of the world, I have to let him come back and marry you. ”
In the face of the assurance of her future mother-in-law, Li Ruiying was touched and shy in her heart. In the end, she also made up her mind.
She is willing to believe in her boyfriend's loyalty, and she also believes that with her own ability, she will be able to transfer back to Beijing to work in the future. So, after graduation, she stepped on the Train in Nanjing alone.
After coming to Jiangsu Satellite TV, Li Ruiying started from miscellaneous work. Despite the tedious work, Li Ruiying never complained in front of leaders and colleagues. She treats every task as a test and growth for herself.
In all the trials, Li Ruiying's favorite is to be a live reporter. Because in her view, only media people who personally experience the warmth and coldness of the world can truly convey the correct values to the public.
Li Ruiying's dedication as a screw also deeply touched the leaders in taili.
So in 1984, Li Ruiying, who had been in Taiwan for only one year, took charge of the military parade and fireworks display for the 35th anniversary of the National Day on behalf of Taili.
At the same time, in just three years, Li Ruiying, with his excellent hosting ability and the strong recommendation of Professor Zhang Song, successfully transferred from the local station to the CCTV, ending his long-distance relationship career with her boyfriend.
In the early days of CCTV, Li Ruiying was still doing his "old business" and doing the work of an on-site reporter. Every time I do a live commentary, Li Ruiying's words are kind and humorous, but also full of empathy, which is extremely moving.
After CCTV captured the characteristics of Li Ruiying, it was even more favorable to him, and there was a great tendency to reuse it.
So in 1987, Li Ruiying and Zhang Yuyan had just finished receiving their marriage licenses, and CCTV specially sent Li Ruiying to Shanghai for professional live broadcast training in order to start the long-awaited live broadcast column of "News Network".
Just married but facing a parting again, I believe that every husband will be more or less dissatisfied with his wife in his heart.
However, Zhang Yuyan, who has been with his wife for decades, has not complained about her foreign assignment. He knew that this mission was also an important step in his wife's career, and he should support it as a husband.
And in terms of family, Li Ruiying obviously paid more than himself before. When her mother-in-law was sick before, Li Ruiying was still dressed like a girl to renovate and take care of her.
Now that it is his wife's turn to take her career to a higher level, how can he drag his feet?
So, with the support of her husband, Li Ruiying started a trip to Shanghai. At the live training base in Shanghai, Li Ruiying's vision has been greatly broadened, and his adaptability and professionalism have been greatly improved.
Coupled with the experience of the host of the CCTV Spring Festival Gala in 1991, there is no suspense, on January 1, 1996, when CCTV's "News Network" first launched the live broadcast mode, Li Ruiying became the best partner selected as a CCTV brother Luo Jing, and opened her CCTV hosting career that will continue for 18 years.
18 years of zero mistakes is her ultimate professionalism
In these 18 years of hosting, Li Ruiying has not made a single live broadcast mistake. Perhaps in the eyes of many people, as a CCTV host, not making mistakes in the program is the most basic requirement.
However, I believe that any journalist knows how difficult it is to achieve 18 years of zero mistakes.
Even a well-known host like Sabine has spoken three times on the stage of the Spring Festival Gala. The price of each slip of the tongue is a fine ranging from 200 yuan for a wrong word.
Of course, fines are not the point. The reason why Li Ruiying can never make mistakes is inseparable from her ultimate love and dedication.
And when the interests of the state conflict with the private affairs of individuals, she can calmly put the interests of the country in the forefront. This was amply confirmed by the son's fall from the building in 1998.
Before a live broadcast in 1998, Li Ruiying, who was preparing a press release, suddenly received a call from the nanny at home.
On the phone, the nanny cried and told Li Ruiying that her son had fallen down the stairs because of an accident. Although it has been sent to the hospital, the situation is not optimistic.
At the moment of receiving the call, Li Ruiying was so distraught that even the hand holding the manuscript trembled.
The colleague next to her looked at her pale and couldn't help but ask her what had happened. Li Ruiying only quickly adjusted the state before the live broadcast, saying that there was no problem.
Li Ruiying knew that as a mother, she should have visited her injured son at the first time. After all, the son's life and death are uncertain, and it is likely that this is also the last side of the mother and son.
However, at the same time, as the host of CCTV, she knows better that if she abandons the live broadcast of the day at all costs, it will not only be her colleagues in the station who are flustered, but also countless audience friends across the country who are waiting to see the "News Network".
Driven by this ultimate professionalism, Li Ruiying held back tears, resolutely stuck to his post, and successfully completed the day's work.
At the moment of finishing work, Li Ruiying did not even have time to change his clothes, and rushed to the hospital where his son was located.
Fortunately, under the treatment of medical staff, the son walked through the ghost door and returned to his mother's side.
Because of the injury, his son, who was supposed to take the college entrance examination, could not continue the examination. In this regard, his heart is very upset. Li Ruiying, however, whispered comfortingly from the sidelines:
"If we can't take the exam this year, then we'll come next year." Learning is a lifelong thing, don't worry too much. Mom and Dad have never asked you to come back for a graduate school master's degree. You should live your own life, not be an accessory to anyone. ”
As a parent, Zhang Yuyan has impressive achievements in academic qualifications and career: after graduating from Peking University, he was not only admitted to graduate school that year, but also achieved great success in the economic field after working.
He is both the director of the Institute of World Economics and Politics of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the dean of the School of International Relations.
And Li Ruiying, a national anchor who is well-known in the news industry, is a big man in the industry. Even if she went out for a meal, someone asked her for an autograph. But Li Ruiying, who did not care about fame and fortune, was never willing to give people an autograph in front of his son.
Because she wants her son to understand that even if he is their child, he does not have to create any burden and pressure. Living out of herself is her only requirement for her children.
Return to the family, return to society and people
On May 28, 2014, after completing the evening's "News Network" with his partner Zhang Hongmin, Li Ruiying and Zhang Hongmin submitted a retirement application to CCTV to retire behind the scenes. At that time, Li Ruiying was 53 years old.
53 years old, in the eyes of the host community, is not too big a number. After all, before Li Ruiying became the "first sister of the national face", the former "first sister of the national face" Xing Qianbin, even at the age of retirement at the age of 60, still worked hard at the post for a year.
And why did Li Ruiying, who is far from reaching retirement age, quit early? In response to this problem, Shui Junyi even denounced his lack of professional ethics in front of the media, giving media people a bad start.
For Li Ruiying's early retirement, coupled with the previous incident because of his son, the public is very dissatisfied with Li Ruiying. Even because she started the broadcast training work after her retirement, she was criticized and scolded for being a "gold digging girl".
However, for the evaluation of the outside world, no matter good or bad, Li Ruiying accepted it completely.
Perhaps in the eyes of many people, they see only the number of 53 years old, but ignore that behind it is Li Ruiying's absence from nearly 30 years of family life;
Perhaps in everyone's view, Li Ruiying handled the training class to use popularity to make money, but ignored that she was also using her years of professionalism to preach and solve puzzles for students of the Communication University of China and instill new forces in the broadcast hosting industry.
What more people have not understood is that since retirement, the "first mouth of CCTV" has done the most things to repay the society with his years of savings.
According to incomplete statistics, Li Ruiying has invested nearly 2 million yuan in charity, and most of the donations have flowed into the mountainous areas and Hope Primary School. From the people, to the people.
After retirement, Li Ruiying returned not only to his family, but also to society and the people.
In 2022, Li Ruiying, who once said "Hello audience and friends" on time at the "News Network" at seven o'clock every night, is 61 years old.
Today, her hairstyle is no longer the iconic short hair, but gradually grew long hair, showing the atmosphere and dignity of Chinese women in the photo with passers-by.
Whenever the music and greetings of "News Network" sound on tv on time, everyone's heart will emerge with the national pride of going abroad to Taimin'an and Hainei feasting.
And that kind of national pride is exactly what excellent journalists like Li Ruiying have passed on to the public.