In October 1962, Zhongnanhai, Beijing.
Mao Zedong was buried in his desk, dealing with busy state affairs. Suddenly, the silence of the office was shattered by the sound of hurried footsteps. The secretary pushed the door in, with a happy face: "Chairman, you are a grandfather!"
Mao Zedong was stunned when he heard this, and then he smiled with satisfaction. He sighed softly: "I'm seventy years old, I didn't expect to be able to be 'promoted to the next level'."
At this moment, an unknown warm story is quietly kicking off.
[Little grandson, leading the leader of a big country]
This sudden good news made Mao Zedong instantly switch from the role of a national leader to an ordinary grandfather.
He immediately put down the work at hand and asked about his daughter Li Min's situation with concern. After learning that the mother and son were safe, Mao Zedong breathed a sigh of relief, and his eyes flashed with joy that could not be concealed.
This leader of a great country shows the soft side of an ordinary elder at this moment. He told his secretary to take out a sum of money from his manuscript fee to buy nutritional products for his daughter. This detail precisely reflects Mao Zedong's strict principle of distinguishing between public and private.
Even at such a festive moment, he insisted on not using a stitch from the public. This kind of honest and self-disciplined style was rare among the senior leaders at that time.
Mao Zedong hurried to the hospital and saw his daughter's weak appearance, and his distress was overflowing. He carefully stroked his daughter's forehead, as if Li Min was still the little girl who needed to be cared for.
This scene allows us to see Mao Zedong's little-known father figure. He is vigorous and resolute on weekdays, but he seems so gentle in the face of his relatives.
[Naming turmoil: a small request, a big meaning]
When Mao turned his attention to the crumpled little one, his eyes gleamed with love. This tiger-headed little boy became a bright spot in Mao Zedong's later life.
"The forehead is broad and has an aura." Mao Zedong commented softly, and then asked the child's name.
Li Min said with a smile that the whole family wanted her grandfather to name her. However, her father-in-law, who is Kong Linghua's father, made a small request.
"My father-in-law said that there should be no popular words such as tiger, biao, yang, willow, pine, and cypress in the name. It should be both nice and meaningful. Li Min said with some apprehension.
Hearing this request, Mao Zedong couldn't help but wonder: "This little request of my father-in-law is really not low."
This seemingly simple request actually has a deep meaning. It reflects both the expectations of the children of this special family, as well as certain taboos about naming in the era.
Mao Zedong pondered for a moment, and a flash of wisdom flashed in his eyes. He looked down at the little grandson in his arms, and slowly spoke: "Kong Jining, what do you think?"
"Inherit Marxism-Leninism, inherit the cause of the socialist revolution, and build and develop the motherland." Mao Zedong explained, with an ardent anticipation for this new life.
After Li Min heard this, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes: "Dad, this name is so good!" Let's call it Kong Jining. "
In this way, in an inadvertent moment, Mao Zedong poured his ideals and expectations into his eldest grandson. This name not only avoids those "popular" words, but also entrusts a great man with expectations for future generations.
[Loving in Degree: Kindness in Severity]
With the passage of time, Xiao Jining's life in Zhongnanhai has added a bit of vitality to this solemn place.
Mao Zedong doted on this little grandson, and even gave him the cute nickname "Little Tiger". It is often seen that this majestic leader is walking in the courtyard with Xiao Jining in his arms, with a rare soft smile on his face.
However, Mao's affection was not doting. One day, three-year-old Xiao Jining saw a small fish in his grandfather's fish tank and wanted to catch it out to play. Seeing this, Li Min immediately stopped it, but the stubborn little guy cried and caused a child's temper.
Li Min was about to go find some candy to coax him, but Mao Zedong spoke: "Jiaowa, you can't be so spoiled by the little tiger, it's not good."
This sentence expresses Mao Zedong's educational philosophy. Even if it is a grandson you love, you must cultivate correct behavioral habits and values from an early age.
Li Min understood his father's intentions and silently stepped aside. Xiao Jining cried for a while, and when he saw that no one paid attention to it, he slowly quieted down.
This small shows Mao Zedong's wisdom as an elder. He knows how to let go when the time is right and let the child learn to self-regulate. This kind of education method, which is both strict and loving, has laid the foundation for Xiao Jining's future growth.
[The Extraordinary in the Ordinary: The Ordinary Life of a Special Family]
In a special family, Xiao Jining has been asked to "be a man with his tail between his legs" since he was a child. This seemingly strict requirement actually contains profound educational wisdom.
Li Min always insisted on dressing the child in ordinary clothes and letting him walk to school by himself like other children. Even if the school was far away later, he just let Xiao Jining ride his own bicycle and never sent a special car to pick him up.
"That's how my grandfather taught my mother when I was a child," Li Min often told his son, "Now you have to understand your grandfather and mother's intentions and be an ordinary student." "
This kind of education method has allowed Xiao Jining to understand the truth of being a low-key person since he was a child. At school, when his classmates curiously asked about the situation at his home, Xiao Jining always replied lightly: "It's just an ordinary military family, nothing special."
This kind of extraordinary in the ordinary is the essence of Mao Zedong's tutoring. He hopes that future generations will be able to stay grounded and succeed not by family background but by their own efforts.
[Parting and missing: when leaders also have tenderness]
In 1964, Li Min and Xiao Jining moved out of Zhongnanhai. This decision made Mao Zedong's heart empty.
What was once a lively yard is now deserted. The little figure who always chased him and shouted "grandpa", and those warm times when he walked on the street with the "little tiger" in his arms, have all become memories.
Although Mao Zedong was not good at expressing himself, his longing for his grandson was increasing day by day. Sometimes, he would stand in the yard, looking at the place where Xiao Jining used to play, and fall into deep thought.
This scene allows us to see the little-known tender side of Mao Zedong. Even if he is a great man who commands thousands of troops, when facing family affection, he will have the concern and longing of ordinary people.
[Inheritance and perseverance: the growth of the little tiger]
Time flies, and the little little man who followed his grandfather back then has now grown into a high-spirited teenager.
"Grandpa, I'm back to see you." A familiar voice interrupted Mao's thoughts. Seeing his longing grandson appear in front of him, Mao Zedong's face bloomed with a smile of relief.
"Jining has grown a lot taller." Mao Zedong looked at the young man in front of him, his eyes full of approval.
Kong Jining, who was growing up, never forgot the teachings of his grandfather and mother. Influenced by his family, his dream of joining the army is deeply rooted in his heart. During the college entrance examination, Kong Jining applied for the military academy without hesitation, and practiced the meaning of "inheritance" with practical actions.
In the barracks, Kong Jining relied on his own efforts to realize his ambition step by step. He never used his family background to gain privilege for himself, but relied on his own skills to gain a foothold in the barracks.
This kind of persistence and hard work is the best response to Mao Zedong's expectations. Kong Jining used his own life trajectory to interpret the profound meaning of the word "Ji" in his name.
This little-known family story allows us to see the side of the great man Mao Zedong as a grandfather.
In that special era, Mao Zedong used his own way to give his grandson's most precious life wealth, integrity, low-key and self-improvement character. This kind of education is far more valuable than money and power.
Today's Kong Jining has started his own entrepreneurial road. He still adheres to his grandfather's teachings and never uses his family background for personal gain. While working hard in his career, he has always paid attention to the development of the country.
"I will always miss my grandfather." Kong Jining often said this. And we will always miss Mao Zedong, who was both a great man and a loving grandfather.