Four years ago, Yuan Xingguang, a retired cadre recuperating at the 18th Cadre Rest Center of the Hubei Provincial Military Region, took out 150,000 yuan of savings to sponsor 6 poor students in Ji County, Shanxi Province, and helped them pay off the university tuition and accommodation fees for 4 years at one time. The old man Yuan Xingguang did not ask for anything in return, and resolutely refused to let the assisted students send him something. On August 12, Yuan Xingguang's son and the staff of the Dry Rest House said in an interview with the Yangtze River Daily reporter that for a long time, Yuan Xingguang has been living a frugal life, but he is enthusiastic about public welfare undertakings and pays special party fees.
Yuan Xingguang, a hundred-year-old party member. Correspondent Wei Yinghong photographed
He spent his whole life practicing the oath of joining the party with practical actions
In 1921, the elderly Yuan Xingguang was born in Ji County, Shanxi, and his original name was "Yuan Zongguang". After joining the revolution, he changed his name to "Yuan Xingguang".
When Yuan Xingguang was a teenager, he attended a private school for two winters, and the master of the school at that time was an underground party member. Under the influence of his teacher, he read many progressive books and established the goal of contributing to the revolutionary cause.
In the spring of 1936, when Yuan Xingguang was 15 years old, the Red Army from northern Shaanxi broke through the Yellow River and attacked the county seat of Ji County and stayed for a few days. The Red Army units were strictly disciplined and did not do anything to disturb or oppress the people. "When the officers and men of the Red Army use the things of the common people, such as when they take the eggs of the common people's families, they will leave notes and money for the people." After the Red Army left, the Kuomintang troops entered the county seat of Jixian County, causing a miasma of smoke and chickens and dogs. After comparing the actions of the Red Army with those of the Kuomintang army, Yuan Xingguang had the idea of joining the Red Army.
When the Japanese invaders first invaded and occupied Ji County, they burned and looted in Ji County, forcing the people of Ji County to a dead end. After hearing and witnessing the heinous crimes committed by the Japanese invaders against the Chinese, Yuan Xingguang, who was flesh-and-blood, was determined to join the army and serve the country, carry his guns to the front, and contribute to the fight against the Japanese invaders.
In 1938, under the introduction of underground party members, Yuan Xingguang left his hometown of Ji County to participate in the revolution. In August 1940, Yuan Xingguang gloriously joined the Communist Party of China. He vowed: "One day to live, one day to fight for the cause of the party!" Since then, he has become a Communist Party member who "practiced the oath of joining the party with practical actions, listened to the party all his life, and followed the party."
Yuan Xingguang is a veteran party member who "fought all his life and fought for thousands of miles", and served as the director of the Public Security Bureau of Fencheng County in Jinnan Province, the political commissar of the 19th Division of the Air Force Aviation Corps, and the former deputy director of the Political Department of the Air Force of the Wuhan Military Region.
He used the money he saved to help the poor and the poor
"Elder Yuan lives frugally and is very low-key." Wei Yinhong, a staff member of the cadre rest center, said that Yuan Lao was a retired cadre with a deputy military post, and it is reasonable to say that his life should be very moist, but he has an ordinary life. "He saves money, doesn't covet enjoyment, doesn't pay attention to eating and drinking, and doesn't pay attention to dress."
Yuan Xiaorong, the son of Elder Yuan, said that his father's savings have not been much. For decades, my father was enthusiastic about public welfare and often participated in various public welfare activities. When my father paid special membership fees and poverty alleviation, he was "generous and not stingy." After the Wenchuan earthquake, my father took the initiative to donate his months' salary to help the disaster-stricken people; in order to help out-of-school girls in poor areas, my father donated 10,000 yuan to the "Spring Bud Project" public welfare project; in September 2019, my father paid a special party fee of 30,000 yuan to the party organization; during the epidemic in 2020, my father donated 5,000 yuan...
In 2019, Yuan Xingguang paid a special membership fee of 30,000 yuan. Correspondent Wei Yinghong photographed
Yuan Xiaorong also said that under the influence of his father, all six of his brothers and sisters had joined the Chinese Communist Party. Of these, 5 have also served in the army. My father was very strict with them, often telling them: "Labor is glorious, and it is shameful to get it without labor." You must work hard, be motivated, be law-abiding and helpful. ”
Wei Yinhong said that once, after paying the special membership fee, Elder Yuan once said to the staff of the dry rest center: "When I joined the party, I swore an oath to fight for the cause of communism all my life. Many of the people I took the oath with at that time have sacrificed, and I am luckier than them to live to this day. As long as I am alive, I will fulfill my obligations for the party and work for the party! My money is given by the party and the government, and I should use this money to pay party dues, or to help people in need, or to repay society. (Yangtze River Daily reporter Chen Qixiong correspondent Xu Jing, Wu Han, Meng Bo)
【Editor: Liu Yan】