Wang Hairong: The first half of her life and the second half of her life

In 1966, Mao Zedong and Wang Hairong. Photo/Courtesy of respondents

This article was first published in The 821st issue of China News Weekly

The night before his death, Wang Hairong left his last words: "I'm going to read the documents." ”

It was more than 9 p.m. on September 8, and Wang Hairong summoned his nephew and several other close relatives to the bed.

Kong Dongmei was very emotional when he learned this later, and felt that the 79-year-old Wang Hairong must have sensed that he was leaving. This last sentence seems to represent her dedication to diplomacy and the life of that special era.

Kong Dongmei still finds it difficult to accept this fact. Not long ago, Wang Hairong and Tang Wensheng went to her house for dinner. At that time, Wang Hairong's weight was only more than 70 pounds due to the pain of recent years, but Kong Dongmei felt that her spirit was still good.

September 9 was The day of Mao Zedong's death, Wang Hairong died on the same day, and as Mao Zedong's granddaughter, Kong Dongmei always felt that it was a kind of providence.

"Each of us has to go, and as a relative of Chairman Mao, I think it is not a fortunate thing for her to be able to go on this day." Kong Dongmei told China News Weekly.

"The Sea Man"

Wang Hairong once recalled to Kong Dongmei that her name was taken by her grandfather Wang Jifan (also known as Mao Zedong's cousin), taken from "Hai Na Bai Chuan, You Rong Nai Da". It is often written as "Hai Rong", which makes her a little helpless. However, as a child, she was often called "sea man".

In the early 1950s, she was taken to Zhongnanhai by her grandfather, met Mao Zedong for the first time, and at his grandfather's request, called him "Chairman Gonggong" (Hunan dialect calls her grandfather Gonggong). The adults chatted in the Summer Palace of Fortress Garden, and she ate and played, looking east and west, very comfortable.

Before leaving, Mao Zedong asked her: "You are a very strange person, and you are not afraid to see me for the first time." Wang Hairong said, "Why am I afraid of you?" Won't eat me either! Mao Zedong said, "You wrote me a letter. I was busy and didn't write you back. Wang Hairong said: "I also asked you for a basketball, and you didn't give it to me!" ”

According to the generations, Wang Hairong should be called Mao Zedong's "Three Grandfathers" (Mao Zedong ranked third). That time, Jiang Qing also took Li Min and Li Ne out to meet the guests, and Wang Hairong called Jiang Qing "Three Grandmothers". Later, Wang Hairong heard that Jiang Qing, who was less than 40 years old, did not like this title, so he stopped calling it, and after participating in the work, he began to call her "Comrade Jiang Qing" like everyone else.

After arriving in Beijing, Wang Hairong stayed in Beijing as a descendant of the martyrs to go to school. Her father, Wang Deheng, the only son in the family, died in the War of Resistance at the age of 30. At that time, Wang Hairong was 3 years old, and his younger brother Wang Qihua was 1 year old, and he did not have any memory of his father. Because he was a close relative of Mao Zedong and became good friends with Li Ne, Wang Hairong could not only enter and leave Zhongnanhai at will, but also sometimes live in Fengze Garden for a period of time.

In 1958, Wang Hairong graduated from high school, failed the college entrance examination, and worked as an apprentice for 3 years in the Beijing Chemical Factory. While an apprentice, she wrote about her experience of apprenticeship life as My Experience. After Mao Zedong personally revised and added an editor's note, it was published under the pseudonym "Apprentice Wang Bo".

Shortly after the article was published, at the suggestion of Mao Zedong, Wang Hairong began to study in the Russian Department of Beijing Normal University. After graduation, he entered the Beijing Foreign Chinese College to study English.

While Chinese college in Beijing, she wrote to Mao Zedong to reflect some of her views on the reform of the college's teaching. Mao Zedong attached great importance to her letter and immediately approved it and forwarded it to Lu Dingyi, vice premier of the State Council in charge of cultural and educational work, saying that "some things are worth paying attention to" in the letter and that someone should be sent to investigate and correct it.

Mao Zedong also wrote in particular in her letter this passage of criticism: This person's name is Wang Hairong, a girl, very ambitious, the granddaughter of the people's representative Wang Jifan, and also my granddaughter. If you want to talk to her, ask my secretary Xu Yefu to send her.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs "Little King"

In 1965, Wang Hairong completed his further studies and was assigned to the General Group of the General Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Everyone called this 27-year-old young man "Xiao Wang".

Here, Wang Hairong met many people, including her lifelong friend Tang Wensheng.

Tang Wensheng was 5 years younger than Wang Hairong, and his father, Tang Mingzhao, was then the deputy secretary general of the Central Liaison Department. Tang Wensheng was born in New York and returned to China with his parents at the age of 9. She completed 5 years of courses in 3 years, graduated from the Beijing Foreign Chinese College, entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs half a year before Wang Hairong, and worked as an English translator in the translation room, everyone called her "Xiao Tang".

In August 1967, there was a "burning of the British agency". The "Baochen (Yi) faction" of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wanted to find out Mao Zedong's attitude toward Wang Li's speech, so they asked Wang Hairong to "find out the situation."

At 4 a.m. on September 24, Mao Zedong returned to Beijing by train from the south, and Wang Hairong, who had been waiting in Zhongnanhai, reported the situation to him. When she said that Wang Li's "Eighty-Seven Speech" was unpopular, Mao Zedong recited two poems: "When the heavens and the earth come and go together, the heroes are not free." "And he said, 'Go back, I'm going to rest.'

At 6 o'clock in the morning, Wang Hairong returned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and said: "The chairman only quoted two ancient poems on the issue of Wang, Guan, and Qi. Everyone immediately flipped through the Tang poems and Song Ci, and when they did not find the provenance for a while, they went to consult Wang Jifan. Wang Jifan picked up a pencil, changed the word "Li" that they had copied incorrectly to the word "Li", and took out a Tang poem from the bookshelf and pointed it out to them, which turned out to be from Luo Yin's "Chip Pen Yi". They quickly copied the whole poem and hurried back to the office. After studying, everyone unanimously concluded that mao zedong quoted the meaning of these two poems, that is, "many acts of injustice will kill themselves." Soon, Wang Li, Guan Feng, and Qi Benyu stepped down one after another.

Gradually, Wang Hairong and Tang Wensheng became "liaisons" between Mao Zedong and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after work. From the early 1970s until Mao's death, the two of them participated in almost all of Mao's meetings with visiting dignitaries and celebrities.

In July 1971, Wang Hairong served as deputy director of the Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and participated in the reception of Kissinger's secret visit to China and Nixon's visit to China. In May 1972, she was promoted to Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, in charge of protocol.

In July 1974, she served as vice minister of foreign affairs in the "combination of old, middle and young people", becoming the first female vice foreign minister of New China.

Wang Shengsheng, who was working in the Asia Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the time, told China News Weekly that in his impression, Wang Hairong was a down-to-earth person, responsible for his work, and although he was related to Mao Zedong, he did not speak casually.

During the investigation of the "May 16 elements," Wang Hairong talked to Wang Shengsheng. She said that there are now more than 70 people involved in the Asian Division. Wang Songsheng said that there are only 78 people in the Asian Division, and 78 people and more than 70 people are involved. Wang Hairong thought it was reasonable after listening to it.

After October 1976, Wang Hairong was suspended from his post and placed under review at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. At the end of December 1978, the review was completed. Her working relationship moved from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Central Organization Department, and later to the Central Party School for further study. Three years later, she was appointed deputy director of the State Council Counselor's Office (retaining the rank of vice minister) and went to the unit where her grandfather, Wang Jifan, had worked.

Councilor's Office "Umiyo"

One day in December 1988, Zhang Zhidong's granddaughter, the famous psychologist Zhang Houcang, suddenly knocked on the door, and outside the door stood a woman wearing a blue cloth uniform and lazy shoes, combing her short hair, looking "unremarkable." Zhang Houcang was stunned: "Who are you?" ”

Zhang Houcang recalled to China News Weekly that since the 1950s, she has been criticized for more than 20 years because of her grandfather's relationship, so that she has long been away from politics, so she did not know this familiar face for many people.

Wang Hairong informed her straight away and formally selected her as the new counselor of the State Council Counselor's Office.

Zhang Houcang said that he did not have that level, wang Hairong said that he did not need your analysis, all the counselor had to do was to upload and issue, make a direct train, and reflect the real opinions and the real public opinion. Zhang Houcang agreed. Wang Hairong said: "Okay, then next Tuesday a meeting, there is a car to pick up." ”

Zhang Houcang did not bring her tea and pour water, invited her to sit down, and the first meeting between the two ended. At the age of 61, she became one of the first counselors to be appointed after the reform of the State Council Counselor's Office (previously under the appointment system), the youngest of them, and served as the head of the education, culture and health group.

In contrast, Deng Yinyin, the daughter of General Deng Baoshan and an expert in petrochemical engineering, has long heard of Wang Hairong. She recalled to China News Weekly that the two first met in 1990 in the lobby of the first floor of the Sinopec company where she worked. Wang Hairong did not have a single polite word, after introducing the situation, he said a sentence of "let's go here today", and simply walked cleanly, striding meteors, taking two steps in one step.

In 1991, Deng Yinyin was formally appointed as the second state council appointment counselor, and Zhang Houcang continued to be re-elected. Due to the small number of female counselors, Wang Hairong had more exchanges with Deng Yinyin and Zhang Houcang.

In the early 1990s, Wang Chuguang, who was nearly a year old, was assigned to work in the Counselor's Office of the State Council. When he reported to the counselor's office, he walked into the hall, and the first person to greet him was Wang Hairong. She warmly shook Wang Chuguang's hand and said, "Comrade Chu Guang, welcome to you!" This impressed Wang Chuguang, who had been prepared for a cold reception.

Wang Hairong combs her short hair, wears white plastic-rimmed myopic glasses, a blue civilian suit, and a pair of old cloth shoes with black gangs on a white background. In this era, Wang Chuguang was still dressed up, and Wang Chuguang admired it, but also felt that it was a bit "out of place".

Wang Hairong was in charge of administrative logistics in the counselor's office, from the director of the counselor's office to the driver and cook, all of whom called her "Hairong", and politely called "Comrade Hairong".

At that time, there were more than 30 counselors of the State Council and more than 20 librarians of the Central Museum of Culture and History, all of whom were elderly. Every Tuesday morning, the counselors go to the staff room for a half-day meeting. Wang Hairong would stand at the door of the office building to greet him. She left at the beginning of the meeting, coming in from time to time to see if there was any water in everyone's cup. After the meeting is over, they are put in the car.

Sometimes after the meeting, Wang Hairong would come in and chat with Zhang Houcang and others, asking about the study and discussion topics of the meeting, or how they went out to investigate. Talking about some of the policies and spirits just conveyed, or some opinions of counselors and librarians on the current work, Wang Hairong often said: "Have all the words that Chairman Mao said done now?" Or: What will happen to Chairman Mao in a question like this, and I understand what Chairman Mao will say. But she will stop at the point, and others will not continue to ask questions. Zhang Houcang felt that it was difficult for Wang Hairong to find the right person to talk about these things.

Wang Hairong often runs errands everywhere to solve the difficulties in life for counselors and librarians. Whoever is sick, she will go to her home or the hospital to comfort her. Once, Deng Yinyin was hospitalized with pneumonia, and when she returned to the ward after the examination, the nurse told her that a person surnamed Wang had just come to see her.

The birthdays of counselors and librarians are every 5th and 10th, and we must wish them a happy birthday. Wang Hairong will personally choose the venue, order the recipe, come to the scene in advance to place the table signs, and then toast to the birthday star at the banquet. When counselors and librarians die, a memorial service is held. Wang Hairong did everything himself, waiting until the body was transferred to be cremated before leaving the scene for the last time.

At that time, the old counselor and the old librarian would go out on vacation once a year, but Deng Yinyin had never seen Wang Hairong in the 18 years of the counselor's office, and she always arranged the itinerary for everyone and stayed in Beijing.

Wang Hairong worked in the counselor's office for more than 20 years, during which time she changed 5 directors, only she was "resident". From 1998 to 2008, she was elected to the 9th and 10th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

After leaving the counselor's office, Wang Hairong participated in or hosted several forums in honor of Mao Zedong, and her nephew Queen Danqing contacted Zhang Houyue and Deng Yinyin and invited them to attend.

Zhang Houcang felt that it was more regrettable that if Wang Hairong inherited the family's "art cells" and understood some poetry and calligraphy, her later years would be much richer.

First opening

When he was in the State Council Counselor's Office, Wang Hairong sometimes joked with everyone: "Hey, you give me staff officers and staff officers to see how I can make a little fortune and get rid of poverty and get rich?" Someone half-jokingly said: "You write a memoir, it is best to take it abroad to publish, at least you can earn thousands of thousands of dollars to spend." ”

But Wang Hairong never wrote. Once, the editor-in-chief of the Ta Kung Pao and an entrepreneur invited her to a banquet in the VIP building, accompanied by Wang Chuguang. The editor-in-chief said that Wang Hairong dictated as he wished, and he could send someone to record and sort it out and serialize it in batches. Wang Chuguang also advised her that if she did not want to publish it publicly, the record could also be preserved in history. But no matter how much persuasion, Wang Hairong did not agree.

It wasn't until 2004 that she made an exception and opened her mouth to Kong Dongmei.

As early as 1979, Kong Dongmei ended her days in Shanghai with her grandmother He Zizhen and came to beijing to attend primary school at her parents' home. Li Min is still in the sadness of her father's death, she is not very sociable, and few people come to visit her.

One winter, Wang Hairong came to see Li Min. Kong Dongmei remembers that she was wearing a half-worn green army coat. Wang Hairong and Li Min are similar in age and size, but Li Min speaks softly and slowly, and Wang Hairong has a high voice and a fast speech. Kong Dongmei asked, "Is this aunt...?" Li Min immediately explained: "Not an aunt, you are the same generation as her." Wang Hairong also smiled heartily and said, "Haha, Xiao Dongmei!" Call me Sister Hairong! ”

Wang Hairong never talks about the past. When someone found out that Kong Dongmei knew nothing about Wang Hairong's experience, he was very surprised: "Haven't you seen the documentary about your grandfather receiving foreign guests?" Nine times out of ten there was Wang Hairong! ”

Slowly ripening, Kong Dongmei began to understand and like Wang Hairong. Wang Hairong called Li Min "aunt", she was two years younger than Li Min, but instead took care of her like a sister. Kong Dongmei feels that Wang Hairong has a very personality, spicy and capable, and is a typical Hunan personality. "Her hairstyle and outfit have always been like that. In that era, she was an icon (idol), and she represented that era. This unique style continues to this day. Kong Dongmei told China News Weekly. She feels that this is related to Wang Hairong's unique and complex life experience.

In 2004, after Wang Hairong retired, he once again came to Kong Dongmei's house as a guest. Still in that blue casual dress, the buttons of the neckline of the white shirt were always tied, and everything was like when we first met. The only change was that the short hair on his head was all gray.

"Tell me your story, Sister Hairong, I want to write your story." Kong Dongmei pleaded. "What do I have to write about?" Wang Hairong replied lightly. Under Kong Dongmei's repeated pleading, she finally relaxed and said, "You write yours." I don't write. But I can provide some background material. Therefore, Kong Dongmei wrote the book "The Day of Changing the World - Talking with Wang Hairong about Mao Zedong's Diplomatic Past".

Retirement

In 2005, Zhang Houcang left office at the end of his employment period. In 2008, Deng Yinyin left office at the end of his term. They and Wang Hairong gradually moved around less.

When chatting, Wang Hairong rarely talks, never talks about politics, and does not share much about his life. Zhang Houcang said: "She is not a good object to chat with, and there are few people to chat with, maybe this is where her life is 'boring'." ”

Zhang Houcang believes that Wang Hairong has only one close friend in his life. A retired veteran cadre who was acquainted with Wang Hairong told China News Weekly that Wang Hairong had half-jokingly told him that there was a "Ho Chi Minh Trail" between himself and Tang Wensheng's family, and it was particularly convenient to visit the door. Later, Wang Hairong moved.

Wang Hairong never married. Deng Yinyin had heard gossip in the counselor's office that "someone confessed to Wang Hairong", but she did not have the good sense to ask Wang Hairong for verification.

Wang Hairong wears a kind of lazy shoes all year round, and buys several pairs every time he buys them. Deng Yinyin felt that the word "two sleeves of fresh wind" could really be used on her, and lamented that she was not a small official, but she had never been official.

On weekdays, Wang Hairong has been living with his nephew and niece-in-law. She mainly undertakes the housework, and often carries a cloth bag to buy vegetables. It was not until 2016 that Deng Yinyin heard that Wang Hairong, who was ill, had hired a nanny.

The nephew Queen Danqing made delicious food and often sent it to her aunt. Zhang Houcang felt that Wang Hairong and his niece were extra close and were cultivating her like his own children.

In the past, Deng Yinyin looked for Wang Hairong to hit the landline at home, and later Wang Hairong stopped the landline and switched to a mobile phone. In recent years, mobile phones have rarely been answered. Deng Yin persuaded Wang Danqing to teach Wang Hairong to learn to use a smart phone and WeChat to facilitate contact and let her have a spiritual sustenance. Wang Danqing said that her aunt was unwilling to study.

When Wang Hairong died, Wang Danqing happened to be away. Deng Yinyin heard the news and asked Wang Danqing for confirmation, and received a reply from her who was far away in Tibet: "Just after one o'clock in the afternoon, I was on the train from Shigatse to Lhasa, and I suddenly felt dizzy and uncomfortable. There was no signal at the time, the phone from home couldn't come in, and it was later learned that it was that time..."

Wang Hairong likes to drink strong green tea, she taught Deng Yinyin, every time you take tea from the tea barrel, you must use rubber strips to seal the tea barrel and put it in the refrigerator, so that the tea will not come into contact with the air and become not fresh. With good tea leaves in hand, the two will also send each other.

This was the only hobby that Deng Yinyin knew, Wang Hairong's life.

In the summer of 2016, Deng Yinyin, Zhang Houcang and Wang Chuguang met to visit Wang Hairong, who was ill. It's been nearly three years since we last met. Wang Hairong was already very emaciated and slow to move. After sitting at home for a while, she insisted that Zhang Luo and everyone go out to lunch.

Wang Hairong's meal was very small. In her early years, she liked to eat chili peppers, but later she had stomach ulcers, and she quit her favorite peppers and strong tea.

Originally, everyone wanted to invite Wang Hairong for this meal, but Wang Hairong pulled out a few crumpled notes from his pants pocket and said, "I have money, I give." Wang Danqing persuaded her to take it back and paid for it herself.

At that moment, Deng Yinyin thought she was so cute.

Zhang Houcang and Deng Yinyin originally discussed that they must return to Wang Hairong once this year. Unexpectedly, this wish could no longer be realized.