On the third day after War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression's victory, Zhou Enlai gave Deng Xiaoping a photo of himself and his wife Deng.
On the back of the photo, Zhou Enlai wrote it himself and gave it to Comrade Xiaoping and Comrade Zhuo Lin as a souvenir.
This is also the only photo that Deng Xiaoping and his wife Zhuo Lin have from Zhou Enlai. From 1945 to Zhuo Lin's death in 2009, this old photo was treasured by them for 64 years.
Zhou Enlai and Deng Xiaoping are two epic legends of New China. They met in France at the beginning of the 20th century and maintained a brotherly friendship for more than half a century.
From the changeable war years to the peaceful construction period, they have been working closely together and moving forward side by side.
Deng Xiaoping's youngest daughter, Deng Rong, later recalled that she had asked her father who she was closest to in this life. He thought for a moment and said slowly:
Your uncle Zhou, I regard him as my brother.
1923, 19-year-old Deng Xiaoping took part in the French revolution and met Zhou Enlai, secretary of the Communist Youth League of China, who was six years older than him.
After returning home, in the white terror of Shanghai, they have been living together, living together and working together. At that time, Zhou Enlai was the Secretary-General of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau, responsible for the work of the Central Committee, and Deng Xiaoping was the Secretary-General of the Central Committee, responsible for the daily work of the central organs.
Years of acquaintance have made the cooperation between the two people very tacit.
Although the environment was very sinister at that time, people who lived with Deng in the concession could often hear the happy laughter from downstairs with Zhang Xiyuan.
After more than ten years of fighting, two people usually sit behind the battle formation, and the other one faces the strong enemy at the front. The rare encounter also passed by in a hurry.
It was not until July 1952 that Deng Xiaoping was established in the southwest and was ordered to go to Beijing as the deputy prime minister of the State Council, that Zhou Enlai and Deng Xiaoping began to continue to cooperate side by side.
195410 June 15, the first plenary meeting was held after the State Council changed its name to the State Council. Since then, Deng Xiaoping has been assisting Zhou Enlai as Deputy Prime Minister of the State Council.
Zhou Enlai was 56 years old this year, and Deng Xiaoping just turned 50.
At that time, both of them lived in Zhongnanhai, not far away, and the relationship was very close. In Zhongnanhai, the children of many leaders, like the children of couples, are called Uncle Deng Zhou and Mother Deng.
However, this wonderful time was not interrupted for long by the arrival of 1969, and Deng Xiaoping and his wife were assigned to work in Jiangxi. Zhou Enlai, who struggled in Beijing, still tried his best to make detailed arrangements for his old friend's family and secretly protected him.
At that time, Mr. and Mrs. Deng Xiaoping had no water, but they were allowed to take a bath in Jiangxi Binjiang Hotel every week. Details like this are personally arranged by Premier Zhou.
At that special time, even a little care made old friends feel extremely warm in the cold winter.
1972, Marshal Chen Yi died in Beijing. Chairman Mao attended the memorial service despite his illness. Mao Zedong, who wore a robe and coat at the memorial service, mentioned that Comrade Xiaoping was a contradiction among the people. On the side, Premier Zhou keenly captured this positive political signal and began to pave the way for his comeback.
1973 In February, Comrade Xiaoping returned to Beijing with his family after working in Jiangxi for three years. After three turbulent spring and autumn periods, old friends finally reunited.
At this time, Deng Xiaoping knew for the first time that Zhou Enlai's illness had reached a very serious level. He was silent for a long time with a sad expression.
In fact, since 1972, Premier Zhou was seriously ill, the medical staff asked him to reduce his daily work to cooperate with the treatment, but Premier Zhou said:
"I must wait until Comrade Xiaoping comes back before I can be hospitalized."
1973, under the impetus of Zhou Enlai, the dust finally settled on the comeback, and Premier Zhou finally breathed a sigh of relief and formally asked for leave from the Central Committee.
1973 On April 12, arranged by Zhou Enlai, Deng Xiaoping appeared in the Great Hall of the People and attended a banquet to welcome Prince Sihanouk and his party.
This is his 1976' s first appearance since he left politics. Comrade Xiaoping's official comeback has become a sensational news at home and abroad.
1April 6, 974, Deng Xiaoping went to the United States to attend the sixth special session of the United Nations General Assembly. On the day of his trip, Zhou Enlai personally led people to the airport to see them off despite illness. Deng Xiaoping stood on the ladder and said goodbye to them with a smile.
Looking at the thin figure of his old friend, his heart was very heavy. He knew that there was not much time left for them to get together, so when he changed planes in France, Comrade Xiaoping proposed to visit a small hotel on the street in France.
That was the beginning of a great friendship between Deng Xiaoping and Zhou Enlai.
Fifty years ago, they spent many sleepless nights together in this small hotel in France and wrote many passionate revolutionary articles.
At the end of returning home, the secretary asked Comrade Xiaoping:
"What are you going to do with your $20 pocket money?"
The ambassador said, "Twenty dollars can buy a hundred croissants. How nice it is for you to buy some back for them. "
Comrade Xiaoping immediately agreed. When he returned, his first thought was his old friend Zhou Enlai.
When he got off the plane from the United Nations, the first thing that caught his eye was Zhou Enlai's thin but strong body. At this moment, the hands of two people were tightly held together, and all the trust was in the air.
Zhou Enlai is 76 years old and Deng Xiaoping is 70 years old.
At that time, Zhou Enlai's health became more and more serious. After several major operations, he lost less than 65,438+000 Jin and was too weak to work long hours. So he entrusted the task of drafting the government work report of the Fourth National People's Congress to the most trusted Comrade Xiaoping.
From 1949, this is Zhou Enlai's 26th year as Prime Minister. Although Deng Xiaoping didn't want to admit it, he also vaguely felt that this would be his dear brother's last government work report.
1975 1, Premier Zhou came directly to the Great Hall of the People from the hospital. Under the attention of 2864 delegates, he finished the last report in his life. He read aloud in that magnetic and warm voice:
After the meeting, Zhou Enlai suggested to the Central Committee that Comrade Xiaoping should be responsible for the daily work.
In this way, Deng Xiaoping, who came back for more than a year, was given military and political power and began to rectify with great fanfare. However, no matter how busy the work is, no matter how stressful and difficult it is, Comrade Xiaoping will take time out to visit his old friend who is ill in bed.
1One day in September, 975, Premier Zhou's condition suddenly deteriorated and he needed major surgery. Deng, Li Xiannian and others are waiting in the hospital.
Just before the operation, Premier Zhou tried his best to ask:
"Is Comrade Xiaoping there?"
"I'm here, I'm here." Comrade Xiaoping held his old friend's hand tightly.
Premier Zhou smiled and said slowly and excitedly, "Your work over the past year proves that you are much better than me."
Many years later, Comrade Xiaoping still deeply remembers the scene when he was affirmed by his old friends. He said to his daughter Deng Rong: "What the Prime Minister said is from the heart and also to outsiders."
108, the great premier Zhou Enlai stopped breathing forever. At the national mourning memorial service, Deng Xiaoping made a eulogy for his old friend Zhou Enlai, leaving the last photo of them at the turn of life and death for more than half a century.
At this time, Deng Xiaoping was 72 years old, and Zhou Enlai stayed at 78 years old forever.
From the acquaintance of 1923 to the death of Premier Zhou in 1976, it was the turn of life and death for the couple who had lived together for 50 years, and it was also the young people who were high-spirited in those years who were forever separated from life and death.
Daughter Deng Rong later recalled that his mother Zhuo Lin had not seen Deng Xiaoping leave a tear for decades, but at Premier Zhou Enlai's memorial service, he choked up when he said the eulogy that touched the world.
After Zhou Enlai's death, according to his will, he scattered his ashes in the mountains and rivers. Coincidentally, one hundred years later, Deng Xiaoping made the same choice for his destination.
These two great revolutionaries who devoted their lives to the cause of the party and the country finally lived in the sea forever.
"Premier Zhou's life is a hard-working person. He always works more than 12 hours a day, sometimes more than 16 hours, all his life.
We have known each other for a long time. We lived together when we were working in France. For us, he will always be a brother. We embarked on the road of revolution almost at the same time. He is deeply respected by comrades and people. "