Care for the old party members, blessings to the centenarians. On May 21, the staff of the retirement office of Xi'an University of Finance and Economics came to the home of Yang Du, former deputy secretary of the party committee of Xi'an Basic University and a hundred-year-old party member, congratulated him on his 100th birthday, and presented the old man with the inscription "Fu Ru East Sea Long Flowing Water, Shou Bi Nanshan Bulao Pine" Zhu Shou Zhongtang.
"Educator" from underground party membership
Born in Fengxiang, Shaanxi Province, Yang Du graduated from the Department of Agricultural Economics of Northwest Agricultural College in 1949, and then stayed on to work at the school, serving as the general secretary of the party branch of the department of agricultural economics and the director of the office of the party committee of the academy until he was ordered to leave in 1976.
During his studies at Northwest Agricultural College, Yang Du made progress in his thinking, actively moved closer to the party organization, and became an underground party member in March 1949. Together with the underground party members and league members of the student council, he strengthened the security of the school and prepared for liberation. In May 1949, when the First Field Army of the Chinese People's Liberation Army sent personnel to take over the Northwest Agricultural College, Yang Du served as the deputy head of the liaison group of the Response Committee and the secretary of Wang Gang, a military representative. With their active cooperation, representatives of the People's Liberation Army successfully accepted the school. Determined to dedicate himself to the cause of education, Yang Du stayed in school and participated in the work.
Yang Du served as the secretary of the general party branch of the Department of Agricultural Economics for many years, summed up a set of effective educational work methods, he was good at mobilizing the enthusiasm of teachers and workers of all ages in the old, middle, and young, and cultivated a large number of agricultural and economic talents with both political integrity and ability for the country. In the process of organizing students to go to rural teaching internships, he often went deep into the internship village team to understand and grasp the actual situation and difficulties, and actively coordinated with local governments to solve them, so that every internship activity could be carried out smoothly.
In 1964, in order to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Xinong, Yang Du was responsible for editing and revising the "Northwest Agricultural College History Materials". In 1976, in view of the urgent shortage of higher education schools in the province at that time, the Shaanxi Provincial Party Committee and the Shaanxi Provincial Government decided to establish Xi'an Basic University of adult education, and dispatched Yang Du and others to organize it, creating the country's first model of specialized upgrading. In December 1978, Xi'an Basic University was officially established, later renamed Shaanxi Institute of Technology and Business, and renamed Xi'an University of Finance and Economics after being merged into Xi'an Institute of Finance and Economics.
The elderly Yang Du told reporters that when Xi'an Basic University was preparing, there were only 7 staff members. He served as the deputy secretary of the party committee of the school, experienced the hardships of starting construction and building the school, and trained a large number of urgently needed highly educated talents for the country. Outstanding achievements have been made in the construction of the school, and it has been publicized and reported by Guangming Daily in the form of four front-page headlines, which has aroused widespread concern in the whole society.
For many years, Yang Du has been concerned about the development and progress of his alma mater, Northwest A&F University and his work unit, Xi'an University of Finance and Economics, and as long as the two universities have activities that need him to participate, he always arrives on time. On May 20, 2007, Yang Du specially wrote a letter to Xi'an Institute of Finance and Economics, proposing to revise and improve the school's upcoming school motto. In May 2007, Northwest A&F University collected school history materials, old photos and celebrity archives, and Yang Du gladly donated his decades-long Qing Dynasty version of the Book of Kang's Wugong County Chronicle, with detailed donation instructions.
The "Old Labor Model" of the Provincial Old Science and Education Association
After going through the procedures for retiring from his post in 1984, Yang Du did not enjoy a life of rest without worries about food and clothing, but always wanted to take advantage of his physical strength and continue to do more work for the party.
In 1985, Yang Du, together with a number of retired veteran comrades, began to prepare for the establishment of the Shaanxi Association of Elderly Science and Technology Educators. In 1987, the Provincial Association for Science and Technology was formally established, and Yang Du served as the executive vice president and presided over the daily conference work. In 3 years, the association has developed more than 7,000 members, held more than 10 private colleges and universities, and independently operated more than 10 economic entities; the association also ran its own enterprises, with Yang Du personally serving as the chairman; and established the Shaanxi Institute of Science and Technology, and Yang Du successively served as vice president and dean. For more than 10 years, Yang Du and the old science and education workers who are willing to dedicate their residual heat have worked selflessly to revitalize Shaanxi's economy and accelerate the construction of speed. In 1991, the China Association of Retired Science and Technology Workers awarded Yang Du the honorary title of "Excellent Retired Science and Technology Worker".
Just when Yang Du was full of confidence and ready to organize the workers of the old science and technology association to dedicate the residual heat, he unfortunately suffered a car accident, resulting in a fracture of the collarbone of his right shoulder. In desperation, he had to resign from the post of leader of the provincial old science and education association. During this period, he also served as the vice chairman of the Provincial Agricultural Economics Association and participated in important work such as editing historical materials for agricultural economic cooperation in Shaanxi Province.
A "good example" of healthy old-age care
At about 5:00 a.m. on September 10, 2021, the reporter deliberately got up early in the morning, just to catch the outdoor morning exercise time that the elderly Yang Du insisted on every day to take a photo of the morning exercise of the old man.
Next to the garden in front of a residential building, I saw a slightly thin but energetic old man, doing gymnastics with full concentration. Waist is not hunched, back is not bent, standing firmly, no crutches, one move and one style, unique momentum! Li Zhaozhu, secretary of the fifth retired party branch of the school's retired party branch who accompanied the reporter's reporter, said: Yang Du pays special attention to sports and fitness, and has insisted on it for decades. Every day, I have to do more than half an hour of morning exercises in the morning, and I can't move all year round. If it rains, do it on the balcony of the house, and if it doesn't rain, go out of the house and do it in the yard.
When talking about his own health care secrets, Yang Du said: Life must be regular, and I also do this. Every morning, he insisted on practicing and exercising for more than half an hour, and in the afternoon, he walked out of the family home and walked along the Aixue Road in front of the door to the nearby Fucong Road and then returned. Thanks to his focus on fitness, he is still flexible and can walk freely.
According to the reporter's understanding, the longevity of the elderly Yang Du is also related to family harmony and filial piety of children. Yang Du has six children who now take turns to accompany the old father every week, carefully take care of the elderly's food, clothing, housing and transportation, and find ways to make delicious meals for the elderly every day to ensure that the elderly can take in enough nutrition every day to live a long and healthy life.
The children of the elderly Yang Du said: In addition to insisting on fitness and exercise every day, the old father also strives to keep pace with the times ideologically and always maintains close ties with society. He has a deep friendship with his teachers, classmates, friends, and students, and still maintains contact with his junior high school classmates more than 70 years ago, and has been in correspondence with many friends for many years. It is precisely because of so many relatives and friends that this elderly man's old age life is very fulfilling.
In addition, Li Zhaozhu also told reporters: Although this old party member is old, he never forgets that he is a communist party member and actively participates in party organization activities. As long as the party branch where he is located carries out activities, this old party member always actively participates and speaks enthusiastically. On June 23 this year, the Fifth Retired Party Branch held a symposium on the centenary of the founding of the Party, and Yang Du spoke for more than 10 minutes when he spoke, excitedly expressing his deep feelings for the Party organization.
(Reporters Wu Kuanhong and Chen Taifu )