On September 9, 1976, the great leader Chairman Mao passed away. Zhou Fuming, a barber who has worked beside Chairman Mao for 17 years, burst into tears after learning the bad news. He begged his superiors to allow him to give Chairman Mao a haircut for the last time. At 3 o'clock in the morning, Zhou Fuming came to Chairman Mao's hospital room with a haircut tool, and when he saw Chairman Mao sleeping peacefully, he knelt down and trembled to comb the chairman's hair for the last time. During the haircut, Zhou Fuming wept bitterly, knowing that this was the last time he would serve his beloved chairman. Why is Zhou Fuming so grief-stricken, and what kind of story has he experienced between him and Chairman Mao?
A twist of fate for an ordinary barber
Zhou Fuming was born in Hangzhou in the 1930s to a poor family. Since he was a child, he worked in a small barber shop owned by his father and learned the craft of barbering. At that time, the status of a barber was insignificant, and Zhou Fuming never imagined that he would one day serve the country's top leader.
In 1960, a chance chance changed Zhou Fuming's fate. That year, when Chairman Mao inspected Hangzhou, he temporarily needed a barber to cut his hair. Zhou Fuming's barber shop happened to be nearby, and he was assigned to cut Chairman Mao's hair. At first, Zhou Fuming was very nervous, for fear that something would go wrong and anger the great man. But what he didn't expect was that Chairman Mao not only did not put on a show, but was amiable and took the initiative to talk to him, which made him relax a lot.
During the haircut process, Zhou Fuming was careful and meticulous. He first used a hot towel to tie Chairman Mao's hair, then skillfully combed and trimmed, and finally used a razor to shave off Chairman Mao's stubble. The whole process went smoothly, and Zhou Fuming's craftsmanship made Chairman Mao full of praise. Chairman Mao even decided on the spot that he wanted this skilled young barber to follow him to Beijing and become his exclusive barber.
In this way, Zhou Fuming was promoted from an unknown little barber to Chairman Mao's personal service staff overnight, opening a new chapter in his life. Bidding farewell to his hometown, he followed Chairman Mao to the capital Beijing with trepidation.
Chairman Mao's "personal guard"
Beijing, a city that has attracted worldwide attention, has brought Zhou Fuming an unprecedented fresh experience. When he first arrived, Zhou Fuming was full of curiosity and awe about everything here. He was arranged to live in a small courtyard in Zhongnanhai, just a few steps away from Chairman Mao's office and living area.
Soon, Zhou Fuming began a new job of serving Chairman Mao. At first, his main duty was to cut Chairman Mao's hair every day. Whenever Chairman Mao needed a haircut, the staff would notify Zhou Fuming to come. Zhou Fuming will make preparations in advance and check the haircutting tools one by one to ensure that nothing is lost.
When getting a haircut, Zhou Fuming was cautious, for fear of any mistakes. He first used a hot towel to compress Chairman Mao's hair, then skillfully combed and trimmed, and finally used a razor to shave off Chairman Mao's stubble. The whole process went smoothly, and Zhou Fuming's craftsmanship won Chairman Mao's appreciation.
Gradually, Zhou Fuming not only became Chairman Mao's exclusive barber, but also was entrusted with important responsibilities and was fully responsible for Chairman Mao's daily life. He needs to arrange Chairman Mao's living area in advance, prepare Chairman Mao's daily necessities, and always wait for Chairman Mao's orders.
With his outstanding work performance, Zhou Fuming quickly won the trust of Chairman Mao. Chairman Mao not only appreciated his craftsmanship, but also admired his diligent and cautious work style. Once, Chairman Mao even said to Zhou Fuming: "The relationship between the two of us is inseparable. ＂
After getting along for a long time, Zhou Fuming knows Chairman Mao's character and habits well. He can accurately predict Chairman Mao's needs and take the initiative to solve his troubles in life. For example, Chairman Mao likes to work at night, so Zhou Fuming will prepare supper and hot water in advance; Chairman Mao likes to read, so Zhou Fuming will put the books that the chairman often reads at hand, and so on.
Zhou Fuming's unique haircutting skills also made him famous with Chairman Mao. He can accurately grasp the hairstyle that Chairman Mao likes, and he never makes mistakes. Once, Chairman Mao had just cut a new hairstyle, and Zhou Fuming recognized it at first sight, and said to Chairman Mao: "Chairman, this hairstyle is very beautiful, I will definitely maintain it seriously." Chairman Mao was very approving.
In this way, Zhou Fuming gradually became Chairman Mao's closest assistant, and was personally called "personal guard" by Chairman Mao. He served by Chairman Mao's side day and night and became an indispensable member of the chairman's life.
Zhou Fuming's unique haircutting skills
Zhou Fuming has a unique experience in the craft of haircuts. He is good at observing the face shape and hair quality of his clients, and tailoring the right hairstyle for them. For an important figure like Chairman Mao, Zhou Fuming was even more cautious, for fear of any mistakes.
Every time before giving Chairman Mao a haircut, Zhou Fuming would make preparations in advance. He double-checks the barber tools to make sure everything is in place. When getting a haircut, he first used a hot towel to compress Chairman Mao's hair to make it soft and obedient, and then skillfully combed and trimmed. Finally, he would use a razor to shave off the stubble for Chairman Mao, so that the chairman's appearance was spotless.
The whole process went smoothly, and Zhou Fuming's craftsmanship won Chairman Mao's appreciation. Once, Chairman Mao had just cut a new hairstyle, and Zhou Fuming recognized it at first sight, and said to Chairman Mao: "Chairman, this hairstyle is very beautiful, and I will definitely maintain it seriously." Chairman Mao was very approving.
Gradually, Zhou Fuming knew Chairman Mao's hairstyle preferences well. He can accurately grasp the hairstyle that Chairman Mao likes, and he never makes mistakes. After each haircut, Chairman Mao would check on the spot, and if he was satisfied, he would praise Zhou Fuming.
Zhou Fuming's in-depth understanding of Chairman Mao
After getting along for a long time, Zhou Fuming knows Chairman Mao's character and living habits well. He can accurately predict Chairman Mao's needs and take the initiative to solve his troubles in life.
For example, Chairman Mao likes to work at night, so Zhou Fuming will prepare supper and hot water in advance; Chairman Mao likes to read, so Zhou Fuming will put the books that the chairman often reads at hand. Sometimes Chairman Mao needs to rest, and Zhou Fuming will arrange a rest environment to ensure that the chairman can sleep peacefully.
Zhou Fuming's understanding of Chairman Mao has surpassed the level of ordinary assistants. Once, Chairman Mao suddenly wanted to drink tea, but no one was around at that time. After Zhou Fuming judged Chairman Mao's needs, he immediately made a pot of good Longjing tea for the chairman and sent it to Chairman Mao. Chairman Mao was very appreciative of this.
Chairman Mao's respect for Zhou Fuming
With his outstanding work performance, Zhou Fuming quickly won the trust and respect of Chairman Mao. Chairman Mao not only appreciated his craftsmanship, but also admired his diligent and cautious work style.
Once, Chairman Mao even said to Zhou Fuming: "The relationship between the two of us is inseparable. This sentence is undoubtedly the greatest affirmation and praise for Zhou Fuming.
In this way, Zhou Fuming gradually became Chairman Mao's closest assistant, and was personally called "personal guard" by Chairman Mao. He served by Chairman Mao's side day and night and became an indispensable member of the chairman's life.
Whenever there is an important meeting or event, Chairman Mao will let Zhou Fuming accompany him and take care of his appearance. Sometimes even in the middle of the night, as long as Chairman Mao has a need, Zhou Fuming will immediately arrive to serve the chairman.
This high degree of trust stems from Zhou Fuming's meticulous work. He always remembered his responsibilities and never let Chairman Mao worry about the future. It is this conscientious work attitude that has allowed Zhou Fuming to establish a very high status in the eyes of Chairman Mao.
The final haircut ceremony
The years fly by, and in the blink of an eye, Zhou Fuming has been working by Chairman Mao's side for 17 years. Over the years, he has witnessed the glorious course of Chairman Mao leading the revolution and building New China. As Chairman Mao's closest assistant, Zhou Fuming's relationship with this great man has long gone beyond the ordinary relationship between superiors and subordinates, and they are more like close comrades-in-arms.
However, all good things are destined to come to an end one day. On September 9, 1976, Chairman Mao passed away due to illness, and this bad news hit Zhou Fuming's heart like a thunderbolt from the sky.
After learning the bad news, Zhou Fuming's tears rained down, and he was in great pain, as if he had lost a loved one. During Chairman Mao's lifetime, Zhou Fuming had always been his closest personal bodyguard, serving by the chairman's side day and night. Now that the chairman has passed away, Zhou Fuming can no longer serve him, which makes him extremely sad.
At about 3 o'clock in the morning of the next day, the central government sent someone to inform Zhou Fuming and allow him to give Chairman Mao one last haircut. This is the greatest consolation to Zhou Fuming, who immediately picked up the barber tools that he had served Chairman Mao for 17 years.
When he came to Chairman Mao's hospital room, Zhou Fuming saw the chairman lying there peacefully, as if he was just asleep. He knew that this would be the last time he would serve his beloved President.
Since Chairman Mao has not had a haircut for three months after he became seriously ill, the top of his head has long been disorganized, and he really needs to be taken care of. Zhou Fuming stood up respectfully and picked up the toolbox at hand that had taken care of Chairman Mao's hair countless times.
However, because Chairman Mao was lying on the bed, and Zhou Fuming was standing, it was difficult to help Chairman Mao arrange his hair in such a posture. He couldn't bear to move Chairman Mao's body, so he had to kneel tremblingly beside the chairman's bedside.
At this time, Zhou Fuming was over half a hundred years old, but he was willing to kneel for the chairman's haircut. He gently combed the chairman's hair, as usual, the chairman was working, he was getting a haircut, and the two of them did not delay each other.
Zhou Fuming used a hot towel to compress the chairman's hair again, and then combed it again and again until the hair became soft. This time he cut it slowly, because it was the last time, and he was going to keep it in his heart forever.
During the haircut, Zhou Fuming cried bitterly, and tears kept rolling down. He knew that this would be the last time he would serve his beloved President. Since then, he has never been able to see the chairman in person or give him a haircut.
In this way, in the darkness of the early morning, Zhou Fuming completed the ceremony of giving Chairman Mao his last haircut. This ritual bears witness to the end of a period of history, but also to the eternity of loyalty.