Quotation from the front of the volume, the care of the Prime Minister

One day in late September 1970, a black high-class sleeper car quickly and quietly drove into the division compound.

After the guards gave a standard military salute, they immediately alertly dialed the phone in the duty room.

"I'm a sentry at the camp gate, and just now car 01 from the garrison came in, and the commander seems to be sitting in the car. ”

When the watchman heard the news, he immediately ran to report to the division commander and political commissar.

Division commander Tian Zhankui and political commissar Zhang Yonghua immediately ran downstairs, followed by other leaders in the division.

The car stopped at the door of the office building, and Wu Zhong walked towards the office building with a relaxed pace.

Wu Zhong's sudden arrival surprised the division leaders, and it had been less than two months since Wu Zhong was promoted from first deputy commander of the Beijing garrison to commander.

After sitting down, Wu Zhong said with a smile: "I don't think you should be busy, what were you doing before I came, what are you still doing now, I am not here to check today, nor am I here to find fault with work, now there are more activities in the capital, your security work is good, Premier Zhou praised you a few days ago." ”

When the division leader heard Wu Zhong say this, his heart was much more relaxed.

"I came to your division today to assign you an important task. Wu Zhong took a sip of tea and said.

The hearts of the division leaders were lifted again: What is more important than the work of guarding the troops? The guards are no trivial matter! They are all thinking about this question.

Wu Zhong said: "The dumb man is one of the few old Red Army soldiers in our division, and he has followed the party Central Committee all his life to carry water, feed horses, and carry a marching pot all his life, and has made outstanding contributions to the first division, and these central leaders are very clear. ”

The division leaders looked at each other, and they couldn't help but be happy in their hearts, it turned out that they had come for dumb things.

Wu Zhong continued: "Comrade Dumb should be in his 60s, I was only 12 years old when I joined the army, and I heard that he should be in his 20s when he joined the army. After working in the revolution all his life, he has not yet started a family, so it is time for him to enjoy himself, which is also in line with our party's policy, and to care for and cherish the old comrades. His salary must not be spent on one person, and he usually adds some better daily necessities and furniture...... Don't be afraid to spend all his money, we'll give it to him when it's gone. ”

When Wu Zhong spoke, the division leaders were all taking notes seriously and nodding their heads constantly. For so many years, the mute man only cared about work, but he never asked the organization for anything, and the organization did not say that he would not take the initiative to enjoy it, and he did not know how to enjoy it.

In the end, Tian Zhankui assured Wu Zhong: "Please rest assured that the head of the garrison will do our best to ensure that the mute can live a good life and spend a good old age." ”

The next day, the division leaders held a short meeting, and the leaders thought that the dumb man was the only one anyway, with no relatives, no wife and children, and it was useless to keep the money, so they simply let him enjoy it. Afraid that he would be inconvenient due to his old age, he moved from the third floor to the first floor, and decided to ask the management department to add some sofas, Simmons beds, tables, chairs and other furniture to the dumb house.

One afternoon after the September 13 incident in 1971, Premier Zhou Enlai returned to Beijing from the south. Wu Zhong and several other leaders of the garrison went to the airport to greet him. After arriving in Zhongnanhai, Premier Zhou Enlai suddenly remembered that the dumb man was coming, and asked Wu Zhong: "Is the dumb comrade still in the first division?"

Premier Zhou Enlai's question, so that the leaders of the garrison felt very surprised, they looked at each other, both excited and excited, decades have passed, Premier Zhou Enlai actually remembers the dumb man who carried water in Yan'an, this is undoubtedly also a kind of affirmation and care for the achievements and work of the first division.

Wu Zhong said: "Prime Minister, the dumb man is still in the first division. ”

Premier Zhou Enlai said: "How are you living?"

Wu Zhong said: "It's good, the first teacher took good care of him, bought him a sofa, Simmons's bed, and lived in a single room." ”

Premier Zhou Enlai said: "Old comrades, you should enjoy it!"

Wu Zhong said, "Yes." Should have enjoyed. ”

Premier Zhou Enlai said: "Has he got married?"

Wu Zhong said: "No. ”

Premier Zhou Enlai said: "You can consider giving him a family, you don't have to have children, but at least you have a companion when you are old, and you can take care of each other!"

Wu Zhong said: "Prime Minister, the First Division once gave him Zhang Luo, but it didn't work. ”

Premier Zhou Enlai said: "Then why?"

Wu Zhong said: "Some people think he is too frugal, some think he has no money, and those who are willing to combine with him have not been able to communicate with him, so they have not succeeded in any of them." ”

Premier Zhou Enlai said: "This is also a pity!"

In the end, Premier Zhou Enlai instructed Wu Zhong to say: "You are the commander of the garrison, and you must arrange for the first division to take care of the dumb comrades, and all aspects of food and shelter must be taken into account! He has also made contributions to the cause of the country's liberation! We must not treat this deaf-mute man who has made meritorious contributions to the country!"

Wu Zhong said: "Please rest assured that we will definitely make arrangements for the life of the dumb comrades in their old age."