In some film and television dramas, we often see a plot: Chairman Mao's daughter Li Ne, when she was on her first day of school, she was warned by her father: Don't mention her name. If others ask, they say that their father is "Li Desheng".
As a result, Li Ne met some classmates who loved to compare in school, and the other party said that his father was a cadre and he had a car to sit in, and even looked down on her because of Li Ne's simplicity. Li Ne was so aggrieved that she wanted to cry, but she still had to listen to her father and hide her true identity.
This scene, which is slightly exaggerated, should be exaggerated by the screenwriter in order to create plot conflicts. However, Chairman Mao did not allow his children to mention their names outside and was strict with them, but this is true. And it's not because he doesn't love his children, but quite the opposite. His love for children is not a superficial doting, but a great love that goes deep into the bone marrow.
Chairman Mao had many children in his life, but after continuous changes in history, only the two sons Mao Anying and Mao Anqing, and the two daughters Li Min and Li Ne, finally lived to adulthood. Mao Anying, Mao Anqing and Li Min, brothers and sisters, grew up in the Soviet Union. Chairman Mao's concern for them was first reflected in his letters.
At that time, the Chinese people of all nationalities were still under the rule of imperialism, the bourgeoisie, and the feudal bureaucracy, but Mao Anying and the other three studied and lived in the Soviet Union, the stronghold of the proletariat at that time. As long as they have the opportunity, they will write letters to Chairman Mao to report on their study and work. And no matter how busy Chairman Mao is, he will find time to write replies to the children. Most of the main contents of the letter are to encourage the children to study hard, especially to learn more about traditional Chinese culture.
In a letter to Mao Anying, Chairman Mao wrote, "After reading your letter, I am very pleased to know that you are making progress...... You have to read some historical novels, notebook novels written by people from the Ming and Qing dynasties. If you take notes before Ming, you don't have to read more. In another letter, Chairman Mao also emphasized: "No matter what a person learns or does, as long as he has enthusiasm and perseverance, and at the same time does not have vanity, he will always make progress." ”
It is under the influence of Chairman Mao that Mao Anying's four brothers and sisters are all figures who have studied both Chinese and foreign countries. And it is precisely because they already have an understanding of Chinese culture that they can quickly devote themselves to new studies and work after returning to China, and achieve their own careers. In addition to Mao Anying's accidental death in the Korean War, Mao Anqing later became an expert in literature and history, while Li Min studied science, but there are always works in the newspapers. Not to mention Li Ne, her level of literature and history is also quite high.
In addition to caring about learning, Chairman Mao is also very strict with the lives of his children. After Mao Anying returned to China, he was arranged by his father to farm in the countryside, and even worshipped the production model at that time as a teacher. Later, he did almost all the revolutionary work of the main gate, and also held important positions in the factory. Mao Anqing's health is not good, and he can't work like his brother, but he is also strict with himself and never talks about privileges. As for the two sisters, Li Min and Li Ne, they really suffered a lot during their school days. As for the trivial matter of not being able to mention their father's name, it is just a small regret in all their experiences. Especially Li Ne, the hardships she has endured have not even been suffered by some ordinary children.
Li Ne is different from Chairman Mao's other children, when she was born, the situation in Yan'an was relatively stable, so she can be said to be "born in peace". Chairman Mao's love for her also surpassed that of other children, and even allowed her not to go to the nursery, but to stay by his side to raise her. Therefore, Li Ne and Chairman Mao are very similar in temperament and hobbies.
Chairman Mao was familiar with ancient books, and he was familiar with the "Analects" in the "Gentleman's desire to be obedient to words and sensitive to deeds." This sentence has a very profound experience. He named his two daughters Li Min and Li Ne respectively, hoping that they would do more practical things and talk less empty words. Therefore, although he loved Li Ne very much, he didn't think about doting on her. He always let his daughter exercise in various difficult environments and live an ordinary life, not allowing her to engage in specialization, let alone breaking away from the masses and developing the habit of being superior.
In the winter of 1947, Chairman Mao used himself as a bait to take Hu Zongnan's hundreds of thousands of troops back and forth in the mountains of northern Shaanxi. And the young Li Ne, who also followed his father, lived a life of marching and fighting. When they came to Yangjiagou, food was already very difficult, and they could only eat black beans supported by the old base area of the Jinsui Military Region. Once, Xiao Li Ne saw that everyone's mouths were black, so she laughed curiously. She said to Chairman Mao: "Dad, look, uncles and aunts have black mouths. ”
Chairman Mao replied to his daughter very seriously: "Don't laugh, the uncle of the People's Liberation Army who fought in the front won the battle by eating black beans." Black beans are good, eating them can make you fat and taller. You should also bring your own dishes and chopsticks and go to eat black bean rice with your aunts. Listen to your father, and you will definitely be a good boy in the future. ”
From this day on, Xiao Li Ne, who was just 7 years old, began to go to the big canteen to eat. To be honest, black beans are not delicious, and eating boiled black beans in salt water will bloat your stomach. However, Xiao Li Ne never complained. On this road of marching and fighting, she ate and slept in the open like everyone else, endured the bombing of planes together, and understood what war is at a young age. Later, the whole country was liberated and the conditions were better, but Li Ne still insisted on eating in the big canteen with the guards and soldiers, and did not enjoy the treatment of "small stove" with his father.
Later, Li Min and Li Ne successively entered the High School Affiliated to Beijing Normal University to study. When he reported for duty, Chairman Mao asked his health care doctor Wang Hebin to go instead of him. And Wang Hebin took the student registration form and looked at it, and he was dumbfounded at that time. There is an item on the registration form that requires the parent's name. Wang Hebin hurried back and asked Chairman Mao directly. Chairman Mao didn't look at the form at all, so he said very casually: "You brought the person, just fill in your name." ”
Chairman Mao asked Wang Hebin to sign instead of himself, because he was worried that once his name was on the registration form, even if the school would do a good job of confidentiality, it would increase unnecessary mental burden, and even give his daughters some special treatment. In his eyes, this will have a bad impact on the child.
A few years later, Li Min and Li Ne were admitted to university and began to eat and live in school. Like their classmates, they slept in bunk beds and ate dishes with little water. They only get home once on weekends, but they have to go to the station to squeeze the bus just like normal people.
Because the school was too far away from home, Chairman Mao's guards were worried that it would be unsafe for girls to walk at night, so they hid from Chairman Mao and sent a car to pick them up several times. In order not to be seen, they first parked the car in a secluded corner, waited until after school to enter the school to find someone, and when they met Li Ne, they left the school together and quietly took the car home.
When Chairman Mao learned of this, he severely criticized these defenders. The guards were very aggrieved, saying that they were worried that it was too dark and it was not safe for girls to walk at night. Chairman Mao's answer was even more severe: "Other people's children are not children?" If someone else's child can go home on his own, why can't my child? Don't pick it up! Do what you say! Let them ride back on their own. ”
In 1960, the country's economy entered its most difficult time. Li Ne's schoolwork was heavy and he rarely went home. Once, Chairman Mao's bodyguard Yin Jingshan went to visit Li Ne and found that her face was very bad, so he asked her with concern if she was sick. Li Ne shook her head, and said with some embarrassment that she was actually hungry. At that time, it was difficult to ensure enough food in the school, and meat was rarely eaten. For students who are growing up, it is really difficult to meet the needs of such food.
Yin Jingshan was very sad when he heard this, and when he went back, he told the situation to Li Yinqiao, the chief of the guards. Li Yinqiao has watched Li Ne grow up since he was a child, and he has long regarded her as his sister, so naturally he can't watch her go hungry. So, he hid from Chairman Mao, made a pack of biscuits, and sent it to Li Ne.
Li Ne was very happy to see the biscuits. She was afraid of being seen, so she hurriedly took two pieces and put them in her mouth, then wrapped the rest and picked it up. Li Yinqiao saw that she was hungry like this, and he couldn't bear it in his heart, so he said that he would send something to Li Ne to eat in the future.
Soon after, Chairman Mao still knew about it. He was very angry and criticized Li Yinqiao: "Why do you want to be specialized? Li Yinqiao explained that many other parents also brought food to their children. Chairman Mao was even more angry, patted the table and said: "Others can send it, but my child is not allowed to send a biscuit!" ”
A few days later, Li Yinqiao was still a little emotional, feeling that Chairman Mao was too harsh on his children. Chairman Mao said to him meaningfully: "When the child is hungry like this, in fact, I don't feel good in my heart." However, I am a state cadre, and the state gives me a certain amount of treatment according to regulations, which is okay. She is a student, and according to the rules, she can't enjoy what she shouldn't enjoy. It's better to abide by your duty, especially in this situation, especially to be strict! Again, who called her my daughter? ”
After this incident passed, the aftermath still existed for a long time, and Li Yinqiao and others still wanted to persuade Chairman Mao to let his daughters live better. In order to let them understand their good intentions, Chairman Mao and Li Yinqiao had a very special conversation.
One day, Li Yinqiao accompanied Chairman Mao for a walk. As he walked, Chairman Mao suddenly asked, "Do you feel that Li Min is better or Li Ne is better?" ”
Li Yinqiao replied that they were all very good, and thought that they did not have the sense of superiority that some high-ranking children were easy to show, they could be strict with themselves, and they were also very self-motivated in their studies.
Chairman Mao shook his head, saying that his daughter did not look as promising as Li Yinqiao and other guards, and she was not as promising as them. Chairman Mao believes that his daughters suffer less than the guards, and only those who can endure hardships will have a future of success.
When Li Yinqiao heard this, he began to be upset again, he said that the two children have suffered a lot, even more than the children of many ordinary people, which is already very rare.
However, Chairman Mao shook his head and said earnestly: "You are not right. When you talk about their hardships, your thinking is wrong, because the first thing you think of is that they are my daughters, so you set a standard for them that is different from that of ordinary children. Aren't they just eating in the big cafeteria? Isn't it true that the food in the big canteen is better than that of most peasant families? ”
Li Yinqiao was still not convinced, he said that Chairman Mao always looked for a lower comparison, which was unfair. He also pointed out that the average family in the city has met or even exceeded the food standard of the school canteen. It's like your own home, and the food is better than that in the big canteen.
Hearing this, Chairman Mao replied with a smile: "You have contributed to the revolution, and the people have no opinion on eating better." However, Li Min and Li Ne have not yet contributed. People, it's still good to compare with the lower ones in life. It's not more enjoyable than contribution, it's useless. ”
It is precisely because of Chairman Mao's deliberate strict requirements that his children have experienced some hardships in life at a young age, and have immunity to future setbacks. Those who can only enjoy themselves, once the standard of pleasure cannot be met, they will be depressed, or even collapse and lie down. And only those who have endured hardships can choose to face difficulties and give themselves a new future in the face of life's setbacks.
Later, Chairman Mao's children all experienced extraordinary setbacks. Mao Anqing has been ill for many years and is unable to work normally. Without mental preparation, the situation is unimaginable. And Li Min and Li Ne have experienced many twists and turns in their lives and emotions. Especially Li Ne, for a period of time, she lived alone with her children, and the economy was very difficult, and she could only buy meat for a few cents. If there is no hardship and training in the early years, we may not be able to wait for the day when the hardships are exhausted.
Chairman Mao also has his own special ideas about the special education of his children. In the winter of 1959, Chairman Mao said at a meeting: "I am very worried about some of our cadres. They have no life experience or social experience, but they have a large shelf and a serious sense of superiority. We must educate them not to rely on their parents and martyrs, but to live entirely on their own. ”
On another occasion, Chairman Mao had a discussion with Mei Bai, Secretary General of the Hubei Provincial Party Committee. When the two talked about the education of the children, Chairman Mao asked Mei Bai if she remembered Cao Cao's comments on Emperor Han Xian. Mei Bai replied, "Yes." : 'Born in the deep womb, grown up in the hands of a woman.' ’”
Chairman Mao nodded and said, "Not bad." Now the children of some high-ranking cadres are actually 'Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty', and they are also 'born in the deep palace and grew up in the hands of women'. They are pampered, they can't endure hardship, and they are flowers in a greenhouse. At present, the nurseries and kindergartens of the central and provincial organs, as well as the Bayi Primary School of the army, are comparing with each other what kind of car they are riding, what their father does, and whose official is bigger. In this way, isn't it cultivating a group of noble young masters from an early age? This worries me! No matter how good the children of senior cadres are, problems will one day arise. ”
Chairman Mao also asked Mei Bai: "Does your child want to ride in your car?" Mei Bai shook her head and said no, and said that her three daughters were very honest and never dared to get into their own cars; The two sons were naughty and sometimes wanted to take the car, but they were pushed down by themselves. Chairman Mao was very pleased to hear this, and immediately said that Meibai's experience should be promoted.
Chairman Mao's strict requirements for his children, on the one hand, are to cultivate their ability to survive alone, and on the other hand, he is also to set an example to influence other cadres and prevent them from spoiling their children too much. He was worried that the children of those high-ranking cadres would become "nobles", become "Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty", and become people who can only compare and enjoy. As a founding leader, Chairman Mao raised the issue of the education of the children of cadres, especially the children of senior cadres, to the level of the socialist cause. Whether it is for the family or the country, Chairman Mao's feelings are touching.