Editor:
This column introduces the original non-fiction article "1977: Behind-the-scenes News of Changlin Diamond" published by Wu Xuehui, a retired cadre of our county, in the 6th issue of "Time Literature" magazine in 1998.
Comrade Wu Xuehui was the first to create a documentary work in the form of a detailed introduction from the discovery of "Changlin Diamond" to how Wei Zhenfang's family dedicated diamonds to the country: every detail, story and character involved in the text is real and has its source... The author spent more than a year researching historical materials, interviewing many witnesses and insiders of those years, and went to Jinan to interview Shi Panqi, director of the Shandong branch of the Xinhua News Agency, who was the first to publicize Wei Zhenfang in the form of news reports. Coupled with Wei Zhenfang's own narration, this article was formed. It can be said that Wu Xuehui is the most authoritative data collator of the historical events of "Changlin Diamond".
1977: Behind the scenes of "Changlin Diamond"
In the past 21 years, in Linshu County, Shandong Province, where the world-famous "Changlin Diamond" was discovered, people often mentioned Wei Zhenfang, the girl who selflessly dedicated diamonds to the country, and often compared her spirit with the greed of some people who are full of material desires today. As a literary worker in the hometown of "Changlin Diamond", I am willing to relive that singing and crying history with readers, and tell people a real and touching Wei Zhenfang...
In the thatched field, she dug up a shocking legend
The quiet and fertile land of Lu Southeast is selfless in raising people. Over the centuries, she has not only raised generations of children, but also dedicated her treasures to the world.
Twenty years ago, on the afternoon of December 21, 1977, in Changlin Village, Huaqiao Township, Linshu County, Shandong Province (then called the Changlin Brigade of Qianshan Commune), Wei Zhenfang, a twenty-two-year-old young woman, together with the members, waved a shovel and turned the field deeply, but she did not expect that she would dig out a priceless treasure, a piece of news, and a story that surprised the world and made this ordinary day brilliant.
Wei Zhenfang, a young woman from Changlin Village who discovered the "Changlin Diamond"
Provided by: Shi Pan Chess Photography: Time Board Chess
At that time, the rural production system was one of collective work and finishing work. In the evening, when the winter sunset casts the afterglow on the bank of the Shu River, the members are carrying the shovels one after another and are about to finish work and go home. Wei Zhenfang finished digging the plot she was allocated, just about to finish work, saw that there was still a piece of thatch on the adjacent land that had not been dug, she walked over and waved a shovel to dig up, only when she dug two gongs, a crystal clear thing the size of an egg yolk was turned out of the thatch, Wei Zhenfang picked it up, wiped the soil on it, and found that it turned out to be an extra-large piece of natural diamond.
The members who had not yet left were all rushing to watch.
The "Changlin diamond" found by Wei Zhenfang weighs 158.786 carats.
Provided by: Shi Pan Chess Photography: Time Board Chess
When Wei Zhenfang arrived at her home covered in dust, it was already dark and the lamp was in hand, she put the shovel on her shoulder towards the courtyard and shouted to the thatched hut of the black hole: "Big! Mother! Come and see! ”
"Girl, what's the matter, what the hell." With the sound, elderly parents appeared at the door of the house.
The mother patted the dust on her daughter's body and said, "Wash your hands and eat, the meal is almost cold." ”
"Big, mother, what do you think of my life?"
"What life? Girl, I see that you are asking for food. The old father quipped.
Wei Zhenfang stretched out his hand holding the diamond to his father: "Da, what do you think this is?" ”
It was almost dark, and my father glanced at it carelessly: "What, isn't it just a horsetooth stone?" Can you still pick up a diamond? ”
"I really picked up a diamond, and everyone looked at it and said yes." If you don't believe me, take a look. Wei Zhenfang said, handing the diamond to his father.
Back in the house, my father looked at the weak light of the kerosene lamp and took a closer look, it was really a rare large natural diamond! The hands holding the diamond trembled, not knowing whether they were afraid or happy.
Wei Zhenfang told his father about the process of collecting diamonds.
Listening to his daughter's account, the old father calmed down a little and asked her if she remembered that there was also a diamond picker in this area before liberation, because a diamond killed several people. How can you not remember this history of blood and tears? Although Wei Zhenfang was not born at that time, he often listened to the old people in the village.
Before liberation, about 1933, in Luomo Village, not far from Changlin Village, a common man surnamed Luo watered the vegetable garden and changed the thunder grass ditch, and found a large diamond in the thunder grass ion. In the nearby Chenjiabu village, there is a man named Wang Shanxin, who is in the Shanghai Leather Goods Company, a person who has seen the world, learned that someone in Luomo Pupil Village had picked up a large diamond, so he offered to give 40 acres of land, two cows, and a car to exchange this treasure. The surname Luo does not change. Hiding diamonds in aloe grass, I didn't dare to put them at home. By 1938, the pseudo-township chief Zhu Yingsan and the pseudo-captain Zhu Xipin in the rampant township became evil-minded, found an excuse to pull the surnamed Luo into the stronghold, locked them up for nearly a month, and forced the surnamed Luo to hand over the diamonds. Unexpectedly, in order not to leak the news, these two traitors brutally killed the surnamed Luo and his family. Later, the villagers in Zhuang reported this matter to Li Xuejian, chief of the Lizhuang police station, and Li Xuejian was very happy, and asked the French to send people to get Zhu Yingsan and Zhu Xipin, and after getting the diamonds, they killed two more people. Not long after, the Japanese Kawamoto consultant stationed in Linyi City came here with a team of men and horses, invited police chief Li Xuejian to Linyi, never saw him return, and was said to have been killed. The diamonds were eventually taken captive by the Japanese.
Wei Zhenfang's family sat around and discussed the offering of diamonds.
Photo: Shi Panqi Provided by: Wei Zhenyi
The three of them sat around, looking at the diamond that did not know whether it would bring blessing or curse to the family. The mother looked at her daughter, who had grown up in the ordeal, and wept. The old man has a total of eight children, four boys and four girls, Zhenfang ranks seventh, and there is a younger brother below. Wei Zhenfang, one of the eight children, had a hard time surviving, and she was born in a small house on the side of the road on the way to her mother's request for food. When she was eight years old, she was covered in pus and could not move at home for months because she had no money for medical treatment; When he was ten years old, he fell into a well, and he was in a great difficulty not to die... Repeated disasters did not take Zhenfang's life, her life was hard, and the uncles, grandfathers, aunts and aunts in the village all said so. But no one said that this girl is blessed. What fate will the diamond that suddenly appear bring to my daughter? Thinking of this, Niang sighed deeply helplessly:
"I often hear from our predecessors that things in the world are sometimes dependent on misfortune and blessing. It depends on what kind of life our girl is, and we can't bear it. ”
"Mother, are you saying that you can't afford this diamond in your life, but you want to eat?" Then throw it away, whoever picks it up will not be blushing, as long as our family is safe. Mom, is it? Mother-" Wei Zhenfang threw herself into her mother's arms and cried.
After dinner, Wei Zhenfang did not play with female partners as usual, but went to bed early. She wanted to go to sleep early and forget about diamonds. But where can I sleep, I have to look out the window through the glass of the small wooden lattice window, look at the moon shadow sifted through the dead branches, think about the Duan'e in the moon, the jade in the moon...
The old mother, who was worried about her daughter, came over with a brazier, and saw that her daughter was tormented by a diamond, and she shed tears in distress: "Fourth girl, relax, my mother will sleep next to you tonight..."
Due to my work, I often go to the following interviews, and I have been to Huaqiao Township several times, and I know that many of the people in the villages in this area are experts in identifying diamonds. In this place, a devastating earthquake occurred more than 300 years ago. According to relevant historical records and research, Linshu County is on the Yishu fault zone, and the activities of the Yishu fault control the geological conditions of Linshu County. In 1668, an 8.5-magnitude earthquake occurred in the southwest of Huaqiao Township, Linshu County, at the junction of Tancheng County and Linyi City, the macroscopic epicenter was 118 ° 30 'north latitude 34 ° 48' east longitude, the intensity of the extreme earthquake area reached 12 °, the area was about 1,700 square kilometers, the earthquake area affected more than 10 provinces, more than 400 prefectures and counties, with a total area of nearly 1 million square kilometers, known in history as the "Kuanggu Qiqi disaster", which is the largest earthquake in North China since earthquake records began.
In the summer of 1978, when the Central News Documentary Film Studio was filming her film, she told reporters that "Changlin diamonds" were found in this field.
Provided by: Cao Dianhua Photo: Cao Dianhua
The fracture zone caused by the dislocation of underground rock formations 330 years ago has caused natural diamonds formed over tens of thousands of years and sunk in the rock formations to be impacted to the ground, and it has become a place where natural diamond diamonds are produced. In Huaqiao Township, Linshu County, Tan Zhuang, East and West Guo Pupil, East and West Sa Zhuang and Changlin Village, diamonds are often exposed on the surface, and people find them from time to time. According to the old man, in the old society, the landlords here bought large quantities of straw shoes, let the long-term workers wear them to the ground, and then burned the worn straw shoes with fire to wash away the dirt impurities, and often found diamonds in them. Until now, the old farmers here still have the habit of wearing straw shoes to work in the fields in the summer, taking off their shoes when they return home, carefully patting off the sand attached to the soles, and if they are lucky, they can also get a diamond.
At the end of the Qing Dynasty, the Germans came here to buy large tracts of land and hired people to dig wells in the area, dig and look for diamonds. How many diamonds the Germans took from here is unknown.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the state established the 803 Mine here to carry out mining and washing, creating great wealth for the country. Especially after the people's commune, the mountains and mountains were greatly rectified, the land was deeply plowed and the diamonds buried in the sand were often turned over to the ground, and more people found and picked up. It is said that almost every family in the villages in this area has a collection of diamonds of various sizes, which are easily refused to be shown.
In the second month of the lunar calendar of one year, Xiguo Hitomi had the old character of the family surnamed Li, and when the melon seeds scraped on the earthen wall were about to raise melon seedlings, a diamond the size of a yellow bean grain was scraped out of the earthen wall.
Xisa Zhuang has a family to build a pot stove, and when mud, pick out a diamond like a mung bean grain.
Shortly after Wei Zhenfang discovered the extra-large diamond, that is, in the late summer and early autumn of 1978, Tan Zhuang's family surnamed Tan had a thirteen or fourteen-year-old boy who was mischievous, went to school irregularly, and skipped school. So he asked the children to follow him, braving the scorching sun to work in the fields, turning sweet potato stalks and grass. Who knew that the child did not want to go to school, and he was tired of doing the work in the field, and after working for a while, he squatted in the field to grind the foreign worker. He was so angry that he casually touched a piece of dirt and threw it at the child. The child's eyes were quick, and when he saw the mud flying in, he hurriedly blocked it with the bucket that was worn on his head to shade the sun, and the mud was shattered, and a crystal clear diamond the size of a corn kernel flew out of the mud.
Local elders say that diamonds are spiritual. Whoever should have it will get it, and whoever should not have it will not be able to keep it if it is robbed. There was an old man in Tan Zhuang who had bad eyes, fell down in Zhuangtou and picked up a diamond. He touched the slippery one and asked a young man walking by, is it a diamond? The young man deceived him badly, he was older, and he was honest, saying that it was a horsetooth stone, and he deceived the diamond. Who knew that after drinking that night, when the young man took out the diamond and showed it off to others, the diamond rolled down from his hand and could not be found. Besides, the old man, who was too hot to sleep at night, moved a bench to sit in the courtyard to cool down, and suddenly felt a slippery and cool silk thing fall on his straw shoes on his feet, and he touched it with his hand, it was the diamond that he had deceived and came back from yesterday.
....
The examples of diamonds found here are too numerous to mention. When I went to Dongguo Pupil Village in late spring last year, I was sheltering from the rain in the village clinic, and during casual conversation, I heard from the village doctor in the clinic that the two diamonds in his family had been sold because they urgently needed money. But when I asked him how big the two diamonds were, where they were sold, and how much, he kept silent. It wasn't until later that I realized the mystery.
In the past two years, the county has cracked several important economic cases, all of which have been related to diamonds, either as gifts for the lustful factory directors and managers, or as bribes demanded by foreign investors, but when comrades from the discipline inspection commission followed the vine and found the villages there, none of them admitted that they had sold diamonds.
For many years, the folk customs are quaint, men are brave and hardworking, women are kind and virtuous, the road is not lost, and the house is not closed at night. People who come and go from the south to the north, whether they are passing by or fleeing the famine to ask for food, when they arrive here, they are hungry and some people are given food, and some people are trapped to stay overnight. However, once upon a time, some people in society began to become mercenary, seeing that the eyes of money were open, and the higher the courtyard wall, hindered the communication between people's feelings and hearts...
Every time I think of this, the author feels a faint heartache, which comes from the depths of the soul, not only moral sorrow ... So, I had the idea to contact Wei Zhenfang, understand how she gave diamonds back then, and explore her emotional world and spiritual trajectory over the past twenty years. This is an old news, and how many times it has been written by many news outlets and journalists of all stripes. It's just that here, what the author pushes in front of people is a real Wei Zhenfang without any embellishment.
With tears in her eyes, she held diamonds in both hands and offered them to the country
In order to understand how Wei Zhenfang presented the gem 20 years ago, I asked Xuan Deyin, then party secretary of the Qianshan Commune and now retired as vice chairman of the county people's congress. He said that Wei Zhenfang shaved thatched and cut out diamonds, and he generally remembered it, but some specific work was done by Comrade Li Jiating, deputy secretary of the commune at the time.
Later, Lao Xuan got in touch with Lao Li.
Li Jiating, currently the manager of the Linshu County Tobacco Company, has a burly figure and is in his fifties. I heard that I wanted to interview Wei Zhenfang's diamond offering, and he took the initiative to find it, but I didn't expect that Manager Li, who gave people a sense of thick lines, talked about the events of twenty years ago, so emotional and meticulous.
He said that the news that Wei Zhenfang had dug up the diamonds was made by leaders at the 803 Mine the next morning from a tofu seller in Changlin Village. When Secretary Tong of the mine heard about it, he immediately rushed to Linyi by car and found Zhu Qimin, then secretary of the prefectural party committee, to reflect the incident. After hearing this, Secretary Zhu attached great importance to it, so he immediately assigned Zhu Shengli and others from the prefectural committee to handle the matter.
After Secretary Tong and them returned from Linyi, they rushed to the commune station overnight with Zhu Shengli of the local committee. Knock on the door of Xuan Deyin and Li Jiating's dormitory. At that time, Lao Xuan was the secretary of the commune of Qianshan, and Lao Li was the deputy secretary and minister of the armed forces.
After Wei Zhenfang returned from attending the National Women's Congress in Beijing, he and Sun Maokui, the secretary of the commune, were reading letters and calligraphy from various places.
Provided by: Cao Dianhua Photo: Cao Dianhua
Secretary Tong of the mine explained his intentions and said that Secretary Zhu Qimin of the prefectural party committee had repeatedly stressed the need to quickly find the diamond-pickers and protect the diamonds; they were national treasures, and they could not be allowed to be taken away by opportunistic and illegal businessmen in society; moreover, it was also to prevent accidents and protect the safety of Wei Zhenfang's family. I hope that the leaders of the commune can cooperate and do the ideological work of Wei Zhenfang's family. Secretary Xuan arranged for Deputy Secretary Li Jiating to go. Li Jiating made another appointment with Lao Zhuo in the management area and took them to Changlin Village with a group of six or seven people. When I found Wei Zhenfang's home, it was already past midnight.
Although it was night, the moonlight that night was exceptionally clear, spreading on the fields and villages in winter, reflecting the silhouette of Wei Zhenfang's three low, dilapidated small earthen and grass houses. The room was dark, and standing outside, you could faintly hear the sound of smoking smoke and Zhenfangniang's coughing sound from inside.
"Boom! Boom! "They knocked on the door.
"Who?"
"It's Secretary Li of the commune who is here." Lao Zhuo of the management area accompanying him said.
"Whoosh!" With the sound of a match, kerosene lights lit up in the house.
"Squeak!" With the sound of the dilapidated wooden door opening, they entered the cabin.
Seeing the brazier placed in front of the bed and a pair of old people sitting on the bed, I knew that the three of them were not sleeping and were baking a fire around the brazier.
Entering the door, the group saw these three small earthen huts that were low and narrow, and the homes inside were extremely simple. The single room on the east side leads to two doors. Wei Zhenfang lives inside, and the double room to the west lives Wei's parents. The walls of the three earthen houses have been cracked everywhere by decades of smoke, and they look crumbling, and life is very hard. At that time, the production team only divided about ten pounds of wheat every year. Here is relief by eating every year.
After a few common words, Secretary Li and they explained their intentions to Wei Zhenfang and her parents. Speaking of Wei Zhenfang's collection of diamonds, the leaders of the prefectural party committee knew about it, and they were very concerned about it, and also talked about what everyone in this area knows, and before the liberation, a family surnamed Luo of Luo Mo Pupil Village, not far from Changlin Village, found diamonds and took several lives. In view of the lessons of history, although it is now a new society, it is necessary to be prepared for accidents. For the safety of their families, they were mobilized to put the diamonds in the safe on the 803 mine first, and then talk about it slowly. Wei's father didn't want to take it out at that time, and pushed it: "It was rumored outside, and the girl picked up a horsetooth stone." ”
"Whether it's horse tooth stone, let these two technicians from the mine use the identification instrument to try it." Secretary Li said, pointing to the instrument box carried by the technician next to him.
Wei Zhenfang, who was sitting close to his father, had been silent, with a hint of confusion in his eyes, looking at his parents for a while, and looking at the full house of people for a while.
After some bitter enlightenment, Wei Zhenfang finally said: "That stone was taken by Brother Li." ”
So they asked her to get her eldest brother, and she went. After waiting for a full two or three hours, I finally waited for Wei Zhenfang. She said that she found the eldest brother, and the eldest brother said that it had been transferred to the second brother; When he arrived at the second brother's house, the second brother said to let the third brother keep it; He also looked for the third brother, and the third brother said that he would put it with the fourth brother; Finally, he knocked on the door of the fourth brother, who said that he had transferred to the eldest brother again. After turning around, I don't know who is in whose hands.
Secretary Li asked Lao Zhuo of the administrative district to find cadres in the village and, together with several comrades who came with him, to do the ideological work of Wei Zhenfang's brothers and younger brothers. The brothers and brothers came one after another. Knowing that they are not making games, one by one is passing on a single line, because I don't want outsiders to find out the details.
By the time they took out the diamonds, it was almost dawn. The diamonds are wrapped in two layers of cloth, one red on the inside and white on the outside. Secretary Li asked Technician Liu from the 803 Mine to identify it with an appraiser he had brought with him, and it was confirmed that it was a rare natural extra-large diamond. It was weighed again with a scale and weighed 158.7860 carats (five carats equaled one gram). When all this is done, it will be dawn.
Secretary Li and his party of six or seven returned to the commune station. At this time, the county leaders also heard the news.
In the office of the commune party committee, the fire was burning vigorously, and here, the leaders of the prefectural party committee, the county, and the commune were doing ideological work for Wei Zhenfang's family.
One of Wei Zhenfang's older brothers said: "We keep this diamond for ourselves so that we can pass it on to future generations." It is a family heirloom of our Wei family. ”
Another brother said, "There are so many people with diamonds, can you still mobilize them to give them?" ”
“.....…”
When the leader asked Wei Zhenfang what she meant, this peasant girl who grew up in the countryside and had not gone to school for a day said at a loss: "I don't know, I listen to it a lot." ”
Wei Zhenfang's father, a 69-year-old farmer who has endured a lifetime of weather, has been sitting there silently. When he finally spoke, he looked at the leaders present and several sons and daughters around him:
"This diamond was picked up by a girl, and since she picked up this diamond, the whole family has not slept well in the past two days, and has not eaten a stable meal. I thought about it, in the past, several generations of my family lived by farming for others, fleeing the famine and asking for food, and never dreamed of making a fortune. This time the girl picked up this diamond, whether she was happy or sad, I can't tell. If before liberation, the family would have suffered a catastrophe, wouldn't the family surnamed Luo have given several lives because of a diamond? Of course, the current society is different from before, there are no horses, bandits and traitors, life is stable, the Communist Party is in charge, Chairman Mao's successor, Chairman Hua, is in charge, and the 'Gang of Four' has also been overthrown. What did the leader say just now? It is said that this diamond has given the country a great role in scientific research and industry. When the old man said this, he paused slightly, and his kind gaze turned to Wei Zhenfang, "In this case, no one will buy or sell this diamond, and no one will give it to anyone." I must personally hand over this diamond to Chairman Hua Guofeng, this is the diamond that my daughter picked up when he was the chairman, this is Chairman Hua's blessing, and he must personally hand it over to Hua Guofeng..."
From last night to this afternoon, fifteen or six hours have passed, and finally waiting for the old man's words, which are so simple and sincere.
The sons stopped squeaking.
The eyes of the people present were a little moist.
·. ….…
The consultation has a result, and for various reasons, their desire to personally present the diamonds to Hua Guofeng is somewhat unrealistic, so let the superior leaders transfer it on their behalf.
Wei Zhenfang took the diamond that her father took out of his arms, wiped the already pure and flawless diamond with a red cloth, and when she held the diamond in both hands and handed it to the leader, her eyes were filled with tears.
Zhu Shengli of the prefectural committee was going to return to Linyi with the diamonds presented by Wei Zhenfang to the country, and before leaving, he asked what else he had to say. Someone suggested writing a letter to Hua Guofeng. Wei Zhenfang, who could not read a lot, and his father made a mistake, and later Officer Sun of the propaganda department of the county party committee wrote a letter to Chairman Hua on behalf of their family. The letter said to the effect that this gem buried in the ground is a treasure of the motherland, and the excavation is the wealth of the people, and it should be dedicated to the party and the people, so that it can play its due role in realizing the four modernizations.
The author here reveals to people a little-known plot, which Li Jiating told the author, saying that this matter has been buried in his heart for twenty years and has not been told to the outside world, because the organization is considering the typical tree, for fear of affecting Wei Zhenfang's image.
It was the morning after Wei Zhenfang gave the diamonds and the leaders of the local committee took the diamonds away, Wei Zhenfang, her father and brother went to the commune again, found Li Jiating, and asked him to bring the diamonds back. Li Jiating was very incomprehensible at the time and asked why.
The old man said: "Secretary Li, if you think about it, it is better to personally send the diamonds to Beijing to present to President Hua." ”
Li Jiating laughed, "Why is your old man confused again today?" President Hua is very busy with work and has no time to receive you. ”
"If you don't have time to meet them, you have time to meet them? Why should they be allowed to give the diamonds they have collected? Give the diamonds back, don't give them away! Didn't it steal it, see if you can still bring it to justice? One of Wei Zhenfang's brothers rushed to say, and his words were very rushed.
Wei Zhenfang was so frightened that he hurriedly pulled his brother's clothes and did not let him continue to talk.
The old man glared at his son fiercely, but did not squeak.
At that time, although Li Jiating was the deputy secretary of the commune, he was a parental official in the eyes of the people, but he was also young and vigorous, listening to Wei Zhenfang's brother say this, he was a little uncomfortable.
"It's not a question of giving or not giving! What did yesterday's letter to Chairman Hua Guofeng say? 'This gem buried in the ground is the treasure of the motherland, and the digging out is the wealth of the people', that is, whoever digs this diamond must be handed over to the state! We are a socialist country, not a Western capitalist country. Yes, if this happened in a Western country, your family would become billionaires, but it is you who will lose your life. In our country, this diamond is dedicated to the country, and the country has a wide range of uses, and it has become a priceless treasure; Put it in a personal hand, it is a stone, can you eat it as a meal, as a clothing? Smuggling on the underworld can sell for a lot of money, but that's illegal! Besides, this diamond is dedicated to the country, and the country will not fail you at that time. Secretary Li said in his mouth, but he thought in his heart: Strange, why did you regret such a good thing? Did the Wei family go back and be instructed by "understanding people" again? Even if you don't want to return the diamonds, you have to take advantage of this... Thinking, he looked at Wei Zhenfang's father:
"Uncle, this is a big deal, it's not a child player's house, backtracking. Yesterday, didn't you say it well? Everyone is touched by the spirit of your old man. Why did you suddenly change today? I think you must have come today for some purpose. Well, what are your requirements for your superiors, what difficulties do you have at home, if it is difficult to say on other occasions, just tell me and I will tell the truth to your superiors. ”
Secretary Li said, waiting for Wei Zhenfang's father's statement. Who knew that the old man looked at Secretary Li with an embarrassed face, his lips moved as if he wanted to say something and finally did not say anything, but two old tears rolled out. He slowly lifted himself and staggered out.
"Great!" Wei Zhenfang hurriedly stepped forward and grabbed his old father's arm. Before leaving, she glanced back at Secretary Li.
Watching the back of Wei Zhenfang's family walking out of the commune, Li Jiating had an indescribable taste in his heart at that time, and he began to regret that his attitude just now was a little stiff.
Once, when interviewing Wei Zhenfang, when she mentioned the topic of Li Jiating's disclosure of this matter, her taste welled up in her heart, crystal tears swirled in her eyes, and finally she couldn't help but burst out of her eyes, she said, yes.
It was the day he returned home from the diamonds, and at night, my father did not sleep well.
The next morning, just after dawn, her father woke her up and said he wanted the diamond back. She was amazed: "Big, this, you... What was given away, so that you want to come back? ”
The old father said, after that you will understand, you first go and find your brothers.
They first went to the 803 mine, which is eight miles away from home, and found the leader of the mine, who said that the diamonds had been sent to Linyi early.
They drove another twenty-five or six miles to the commune. I found Secretary Li and asked Secretary Li to help him get the diamonds back, but he was beaten down by Secretary Li.
When he returned home, the old man couldn't eat anymore, so he just smoked. The family also blamed him. Especially the third brother has a big opinion of him:
"This time it's good, the most positive thing about giving diamonds is you, and it is you who regrets it!" Listen to what Secretary Li said about you? Say you're a kid gamer. You're almost seventy! This time you made Zhu Bajie look in the mirror - it's not a person inside and out! ”
When Wei Zhenfang brought a bowl of rice to his father, the old man looked like a wronged child, his eyes were wet again, and he shook his head, "None of you said it." That diamond is a sacrifice anyway. It's just that I want to say a few words with Chairman Hua, but Secretary Li... Listening to those words he said, what do you see us as, what do you see? Blackmail, blackmail..." Speaking of this, the old man's heart became more and more uncomfortable.
"Won't we find someone to help us write a letter and write what you want to say to President Hua?" Wei Zhenfang comforted his old father.
"Write it, it's not something to say. I just want to say it to President Hua. The old man's expression was a little sad, "A diamond is priceless, we don't ask for gold or silver, we just want to be able to say a few words to Chairman Hua, this is the heart of the household, President Hua can't hear it sitting in Beijing." ”
Wei Zhenfang asked, "Great, what do you want to say to President Hua?" But the old man didn't say anything, just exhaled deeply helplessly, his helpless eyes, Wei Zhenfang looked sour. She knows her father, it is not his intention to return diamonds, and the motto of the old man's life is hard work and does not seek foreign wealth. She didn't know what her father was going to say to the central leadership, and he didn't tell her until the old man died a few years later. This left Wei Zhenfang with a mystery. It also left a misunderstanding and endless repentance for Secretary Li back then.
After Wei Zhenfang joined the work, her old father told her to study culture well.
Provided by: Cao Dianhua Photo: Cao Dianhua
In recognition of Wei Zhenfang's patriotic spirit. The superiors wanted to give her some material rewards. When she asked her for her opinion in advance, she thought about it for a long time, and only put forward one thing: "The brigade is too poor, there is no tractor yet, let's buy a tractor for the brigade." ”
When asked her again, she shook her head and couldn't speak. When the people present listened, they felt a little bitter in their hearts: the diamonds were dedicated to the country, and she thought about the brigade, but she did not think of improving her poor home. Some people say that she has never seen the world, has no culture, and is stupid. And this kind of stupidity, which reflected the true portrayal of her soul at that time, did not render any color. She inherited simplicity, kindness and hard work from her poor parents, and all day, looking down at the land, looking up to see the blue sky, conformist heart, will not do the colorful dreams. Just as she didn't expect to pick this diamond. Later, the news about her spread throughout China and shocked the world, and the world stirred up, while she lived her life peacefully.
On the morning of January 7, 1978, the Linyi Prefectural CPC Committee, the Linyi County CPC Committee, and the former Qianshan Commune Party Committee held a celebration meeting attended by nearly 1,000 people in Caozhuang, where the commune was stationed. At the meeting, the leader gave Wei Zhenfang red and flowers, rewarded her with 3,000 yuan in cash, applied for her a non-hukou transfer from farmer, and arranged for her to become a worker in the 803 Mine. At the same time, a 24-horsepower tractor of the Changlin brigade was awarded.
On the morning of January 7, 1978, at the commendation meeting held at the station of Qianshan Commune, the leaders of the local party committee gave Wei Zhenfang red and flowers.
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Then, there was news that Wei Zhenfang presented this extra-large natural diamond to the country, the Chinese Academy of Sciences conducted a comprehensive identification study, the color is transparent, light yellow, with diamond luster, strong refractive ability, dazzling, is the largest one found and preserved on the mainland so far, it is also rare in the world. Scientists believe that this diamond was found in the deep fault zone of the western Pacific continent and is of great significance for the study of earth science, the search for primary minerals and the study of the environment in which natural diamonds are formed.
Wei Zhenfang and her parents
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"Whoever speaks sloppily will repay the three spring huis." With her patriotic heart and noble character, Wei Zhenfang dedicated diamonds to the country and repaid her hometown. While rewarding Wei Zhenfang, the state also gave certain rewards to Linshu County and Qianshan Commune, awarding 200,000 yuan to Qianshan Commune, and the party committee used this funds to build the Lingnantou Electric Irrigation Station and supporting projects, and improved the watering conditions of Qianshan Commune. The award was given to Linshu County of 1 million yuan, and the county used this prize money to build a knitting factory, named "Changlin Knitting Factory" in commemoration of "Changlin Diamond".
Twenty years of heart, she weaves her own life
"On the first few days I found the diamonds, my superiors transferred me from farming to Africa, and used Linyi's recruitment indicators to recruit workers for me in the 803 Mine. Because the superior asked me for advice and asked me if I wanted to go out and become a worker? I said I didn't want to. On January 7, 1978, a commendation meeting was held in the commune, and the next morning, the village banged gongs and drums, twisted the song, and a group of people came to the door of Li's house to take me to work at the 803 Mine. I was crying, I didn't want to go on the road, I said that I didn't want to be a worker, I couldn't read, I didn't know how to be a worker, and I still had to farm at home. Later, my family advised me, go, I can't do it there, let's come back. At that time, my family was too poor to have any decent clothes, and when I left, my mother took out the floral cotton blouse that I was willing to wear only when I went to relatives, and put it on my shabby cotton jacket.
Wei Zhenfang and her sisters went into the fields and walked towards tomorrow.
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"When I arrived at the mine, the leader assigned me to do an X-ray quality check. When the master pointed to the instruments and drawings to tell me how to use the operation, I couldn't understand anything, my mind was buzzing, and I was dumbfounded. The next morning, I ran home and cried at my father, big, mother, it's not the life of a worker, I can't stand that foreign crime, let's come back, and when I can support my life in the next life, I have to go to school no matter how poor I am... My mother was so sour by my crying that she took me into her arms in tears... On the third day, the mine sent someone to take me back.
In 1978, when Wei Zhenfang worked at the county mining station, the workshop selected ore.
Provided by: Cao Dianhua Photography: Cao Dianhua
"After I was arranged to work as a worker in the 803 mine, I was paid 21 yuan a month at that time. I clearly remember that on the morning of May 1, 1978, I went to the cafeteria with a lunch box to eat, and heard the news on the radio that Chairman Hua Guofeng named the diamond I presented as "Changlin Diamond". After that, I rushed to the house again, and my old father was as excited as I was and burst into tears, and my parents and I hugged and cried again..."
The story of Wei Zhenfang's collection of diamonds spread throughout China and caused a sensation in the world. Foreign friends in dozens of countries, including Japan, Singapore, the United States, Britain, and Italy, wrote a mountain of letters to her, which busied several foreign language teachers in the county No. 1 middle school. In this regard, various newspapers and periodicals competed to report, such as "Popular Daily", "People's Daily", "China Pictorial" and dozens of reporters from all walks of life across the country, in addition to taking pictures is to interview, making her overwhelmed, she could not adapt for a while, she began to refuse interviews, but the leader said that this is a task, can not be too willful. Even more embarrassing for her was a meeting to give a report on how she had discovered diamonds and offered them to the country. Two or three days before each report, the leaders assigned someone to write a speech for her according to the fashionable political words of the time, and when she could not read, she taught her to read word by word. Every time she was anxious, the only spiritual comfort was to go home and cry at her father.
In the future, no matter what meeting was held above, whether it had anything to do with her or not, the county sent her to attend. As soon as the people at the meeting heard that Wei Zhenfang was also coming, they all rushed around her, as if they were looking at an exhibit. At that time, in public, she did not dare to say a word more, did not dare to take one more step ... Thinking of those years of being swinging around like a puppet, Wei Zhenfang was a little crying and laughing.
Wei Zhenfang at work, picking ore in the workshop.
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In this regard, the author's feelings are quite similar to Wei Zhenfang. When Wei Zhenfang discovered the diamond, I was a freshman in high school. I remember the propaganda about Wei Zhenfang at that time. Especially those published news photos, which still have the purpose of remembering:
Wei Zhenfang carrying a dung shovel on his shoulders, standing in the field camera;
Wei Zhenfang in front of a kerosene lamp, studying the footage of Chairman Mao's works;
the shot of Wei Zhenfang teaching his old father to learn "Mao Xuan";
Wei Zhenfang sat in the field, reading the newspaper to the members and studying together;
Wei Zhenfang's shot of the Red Soldier giving an education class;
Wait a minute......
Wei Zhenfang and the sisters in the workshop read and studied together.
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At that time, those carefully designed photos were packaged with Wei Zhenfang's "tall" image, but for our heroine, it was a kind of mental abuse, and at that time, her psychological load was difficult for ordinary people to understand. Today, twenty years later, looking back at those old news photos is like swallowing a green fruit, with an indescribable feeling.
Of course, there are some exciting and beautiful shots:
Hua Guofeng and Deng Yingchao received the camera of Wei Zhenfang;
Audio and video of foreign friends in Beijing,
Shots of Wei Zhenfang at work...
After returning from attending the National Women's Congress in Beijing, Wei Zhenfang reported her experience to the leaders of the county women's federation.
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Wei Zhenfang said that she was fortunate and could not forget the Fourth National Women's Congress held in Beijing in August 1978, which she participated in as a special invited delegate. During the meeting, Hua Guofeng and Deng Yingchao received her, and her excitement and happiness made her swell into one sentence: "Chairman Hua, Mother Deng, hello!" Tears flowed.
When I returned from the Women's Congress in Beijing and gave a report in the county auditorium, it was the only time I didn't need to write a speech. It was not that the leader was gracious, but that she felt that she was received by the national leader, which could not be replaced and written by others, so she had to "open her mouth", but this time she played it to the fullest: "In the Great Hall of the People, when I saw President Hua and Mother Deng, I was so happy that my heart was about to fly into the sky!" When Mother Deng touched her braid with her warm hand, she was so excited that she really wanted to kneel down to Mother Deng like kowtowing to her father and mother when she was a child..."
In September 1995, the United Nations convened the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, and she participated and was interviewed. On September 16, the third issue of CCTV's women's "Half the Sky" program broadcast her special interview.
Since 1981, she has been elected as a deputy to the Linshu County People's Congress and a member of the Standing Committee of the County People's Congress for six consecutive terms. After Linyi was reformed in 1995, she was elected as a deputy to the Linyi Municipal People's Congress.
Wei Zhenfang first recruited workers to work as a worker in the 8O Three Mine on December 30, 1977, and was transferred to work at the Linshu County Mining Station in October 1978; in 1984, she was reformed into the office of the mining company as a deputy manager, focusing on production and taking charge of family planning work; the county electronic materials factory was completed and put into operation in 1990; in 1991, it merged with the mining company; she came to the electronic materials factory, in the administrative section, specializing in women's work and family planning, and was elected president of the factory trade union just last month. Because of her hard work, she is often rated as an excellent party member and advanced worker.
In June 1981, due to malignant tumor, she underwent an incision operation in Qingdao Shanda Hospital, an illness almost knocked her down, and she recovered after three years of recuperation at home, and after a few years, that is, in 1989, her husband, who worked in the county cement factory, was mentally stressed and insane due to work in the unit. During this period, she shed many tears and suffered a lot, and after three years, her husband finally regained his senses. In September 1993, while riding her bike to work, a car accident injured her spine and forced her to lie in a hospital bed for months. Now her family is stable and happy, and her only son, who is 18 years old this year, is studying at County No. 1 Middle School.
Once, the author went to Wei Zhenfang's home and saw that the furniture and facilities in the room were simple and tidy, although not luxurious, but also not cold. Through the spacious window, you can see the cultivated vegetable patch in the yard, which is neatly planted with green onions, peppers, kidney beans and leeks, and the courtyard wall facing the street is crawling with loofah and square melon stalks.
Wei Zhenfang said that after she recruited workers, the state gave her fiancé, who was also a worker and farmer at the time, a regularization. Their marriage was a traditional matchmaker, and they had been engaged for a year the year she found out about the diamonds. After marriage, they live on their own wages. Due to the downturn of the enterprise in the past two years, the couple's salary income has been affected, but this has not affected her enthusiasm for life. She is a contented person and a very realistic person, she believes that the family is safe, harmonious, and it is good to take care of food and clothing, of course, she also hopes to live a richer life, but there is a premise, it must be created by her own hands.
Without approaching Wei Zhenfang, you can't understand her inner world, her heart is calm, and there is no sense of imbalance. Especially in today's materialistic society, it is even more valuable. By Wei Zhenfang, I think of Queen Elizabeth II, the diamond on top of her crown, the world's first (said to weigh more than a thousand carats), found in the British-occupied colony of South Africa. I think what is the significance of this except to show the queen's solemnity and nobility, and satisfy her vanity. Thinking of the deception in the royal family, money and jewelry are better than family affection, her life is not easy, and her spirit is empty.
In order to deepen the impression of her history, when the author proposed to see the reports and text and picture materials about her deeds over the years, I did not expect to cause her a wave of sadness. She said with tears in her eyes that when she mentioned the precious materials and precious photos that had made her proud, she felt sad and angry, that it was her spiritual wealth, and in her mind its value was as important as her own life, and she wanted to keep it for future generations. Just three years ago, a female reporter from the province said that she belonged to a magazine and said that she wanted to write about her. He also proposed to take away all the materials and precious photos that Wei Zhenfang showed her, use them for reference, and return them after writing the manuscript. Wei was reluctant and not assured, and under the repeated assurances of the female reporter, Wei believed her. Who knew that Huang He would never return, the manuscript was not written, and the information and photos were not returned. Later, Wei Zhenfang's trustee called over and over again, and several times the trustee personally went to the female reporter to ask for it, and the female reporter bid that she had lost the move. For this, Wei Zhenfang's heart ached, and he was seriously ill, and I don't know how many times he cried.
The next day, our group took a car to her hometown. Along the way, thanks to Li Jiatin, the then deputy secretary of the commune and minister of the armed forces, his memory is surprisingly amazing, and along the way he keeps talking about the past of twenty years ago. From time to time, Wei Zhenfang is prompted: Xiao Wei, this is like this, right? Who is present when this is said? When you spoke, you made a joke. It caused Wei Zhenfang a series of surprises: yes, yes, yes.
We first went to a field in the west of Changlin Village, where Wei Zhenfang dug up diamonds while working. In order to commemorate the 20 th anniversary of Wei Zhenfang's digging out diamonds and offering them to the country, in order to let future generations cherish this honor, cultivate their spirit of hardship and hard work, and carry forward the idea of loving the country and love for the family, they are preparing to prepare for this field, where Wei Zhenfang dug up diamonds, a marble stele on the tree with Hua Guofeng's handwritten inscription "Changlin Diamond" is engraved on it.
As the people spoke, Wei Zhenfang had crouched down, her hands grasping deeply into the dirt, this is where she dug up the diamond twenty years ago, and when she wordlessly and slowly raised her face and stared at the path leading to the village, I saw tears welling up in her eyes, what did she see at the end of that path? Did you see her carrying a shovel on her shoulder and following the group out of the village to work? I still saw my father and mother standing at the head of the village looking at the end of work and returning home... A tremor in my heart made me feel the stillness of time and the profundity of space.
Braving the drizzle, walk in the wheat field where Wei Zhenfang picked up the diamonds (on the left is the vice chairman of the county federation of literature, in the middle is the author, and on the right is Wei Zhenfang). Photographed in May 1998.
Heaven, I don't know when it started to drizzle. As Wei Zhenfang came to the village, he passed through several laneways and came to the old house area in the north of the village. She stopped in front of a small courtyard, and the village officials told me that this was her hometown, the three rooms she built for her parents that year with 3,000 yuan from the state award. Now, her uncle and eldest brother just moved over a few days ago to live temporarily because of the flip house. The walls are made of red brick and the roof is made of cement tiles, but after twenty years of wind and rain, there are already mottled cracks. The west courtyard wall is a half-earthen wall left over from the collapse of a former firewood and straw house, and it is covered with clusters of small red and pink trumpet flowers. Wei Zhenfang walked into the small courtyard, walked into the door of the home where she once lived, looked back and forth, and lingered for a long time. She stared blankly at the door, and when a pair of old brothers and sisters came out of the house to lean on the door to look at each other, she almost mistook it for the figure of her long-dead old parents supporting each other. She ran over, and when the old sister-in-law called out her name and pulled her arm to cry out in surprise, she woke up like a dream, but she was already in tears.
Hearing that Wei Zhenfang had returned, many villagers came to visit her, and there were not so many people in the narrow hut, so they stood in the courtyard, completely ignoring the raindrops. There were no other words than mutual salutations. Holding hands, pulling the corners of your clothes, patting the back of your shoulders, stroking your somewhat messy hair, all in silence...
The original creator and Wei Zhenfang
My eyes were a little wet, and I quietly walked out of the somewhat dull and hot hut to the collapsed half-wall of the courtyard, my eyes looked through the misty rain and fog, looking out of the village, I seemed to see Wei Zhenfang holding diamonds in both hands, calling for my father, and rushing towards home...
Original creator: Wu Xuehui
End of full text
Wu Xuehui's publication on Wei Zhenfang and Changlin diamonds
Records of other works
The documentary article about Wei Zhenfang and Changlin Diamond, the original creator Wu Xuehui also published in other newspapers and periodicals at the same time. Here are some examples:
★ 1. "Wei Zhenfang and Changlin Diamonds" (non-fiction) was published in
Yimeng Life Newspaper Weekend Edition Saturday, August 15, 1998. Seventh edition, No. 361. Original Wu Xuehui
and won the second prize of this year's "Shenyuan Cup" weekend feature essay.
★ 2. "Wei Zhenfang and Changlin Diamond" (non-fiction literature. Featured) published in Shandong Economic Daily on August 17, 1998. Monday. Fourth edition, No. 2844. Original Wu Xuehui
★ 3. "She Gives Diamonds to the Country" was published in United Weekend, January 15, 1999. Five editions. Issue 138, Issue 1247 in total. Original Wu Xuehui
★ 4. "Behind the Scenes of "Changlin Diamond" (feature)
Published in Linyi Daily. Social Weekly, 19 January 1999. Tuesday. Five editions. Issue 105. Original Wu Xuehui
★ 5. "Behind the Scenes of Changlin Diamond" was published in Eight Hours Away, No. 3, 1999. Original Wu Xuehui
★ 6. "Behind the Scenes of Changlin Diamond" was published in Legal Literature Newspaper (sponsored by Legal Daily) on March 15, 1999. 12th edition. Issue 485. (Note at the end of the article: Reprinted "Eight Hours Away" No. 3 Wu Xuehui text)
★ 7. "Tears and Laughter After Changlin Diamonds"
"Liuzhou Railway. Journey to the Grandview", April 30, 1999. Friday.8.Issue 7526, month-end edition No. 58.
(Note below: All pictures and texts are taken from the third issue of "Beyond Eight Hours".) Written by Wu Xuehui)
★ 8. "The Bitterness Behind the Honor" (character documentary) was published in Oriental Youth (inaugural issue) in May 2001. Original Wu Xuehui
★ 9. "Wei Zhenfang and Changlin Diamonds" (original Wu Xuehui) is included in "Shuhe Starlight" (Linshu County Literature and History Materials) edited by the Literature and History Materials Committee of the Linshu County Political Consultative Conference (edited by Gao Tianxi) in 2002.
In 1998, the original creator was photographed in the publication published in the sixth issue of "Time Literature" magazine in 1998. (Transferred from: Linshu County Library)