Great men are born here: Leaders and Mothers

Author: Xiao Xinli
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-06-01
Features:
"Mother's High Virtue" is primarily about her benevolence. After Mao Zedong, she gave birth to Mao Zemin and Mao Zitang, her brothers, and also adopted a daughter, Mao Zhenjian. In this five-member household, Wen Qimei wasbusyandhardworking. She raised the children, managed the household, raised chickens and pigs, tilled the garden, and did everything, yet arranged everything in an orderly manner. Her frugality was also widely known. She would pick up every grain of rice on the table and even wash the leftover bran and husks from the pig's mouth before feeding them to the pigs, ensuring they ate it all. Wen Qimei's diligence, frugality, and silent hard work undoubtedly played the role of a "wise helper" in Mao Yichang's efforts to revitalize the family's business. Buddha advocates compassion and universal salvation. As a devout follower of Buddha, Wen Qimei was benevolent, simple, charitable, and deeply empathetic, pitying the poor and often helping them as much as possible. To this day, stories of her aiding the needy and poor are still told in Shaoshan. Mao Yichang had a cousin named Mao Jusheng. Due to extreme poverty and natural disasters, he was forced to sell the seven acres of land that sustained his family. Mao Yichang planned to take advantage of this opportunity to buy it at alow price. Upon learning of this, Wen Qimei, contrary to her usual gentle nature, strongly opposed her husband's plan and persuaded him to help her brother instead. Young Mao Zedong firmly stood on her side, and Mao Yichang, isolated, wasfinally forced to give up. Afterward, whenever the New Year arrived, Wen Qimei would secretly send some white rice and preserved meat to this relative. One winter, Wen Qimei was doing chores at home when suddenly, an old woman and her granddaughter, both in ragged clothes, came before her. The older woman, weak and exhausted, pleaded, "Merciful mistress, we haven't had a meal in days! Please, have mercy on this granddaughter and give us some rice to cook a meal!" With that, the old woman and her granddaughter knelt and begged for alms. Wen Qimei quickly put down her work, choked up, and asked them to stand up, then went inside and brought out two large bowls of rice for them. She also filled their pockets with rice. Wen Qimei not only practiced kindness herself but also always praised and supported her children's charitable actions. When Mao Zedong was studying at the private school, he noticed a classmate who, due to poverty, never brought lunch and attended class with an empty stomach. Mao Zedong shared his own food with the classmate, so he often came home looking hungry. At first, Wen Qimei thought her son's large appetite was due to his diligent study and asked him to switch to a larger bowl for his lunch. However, the same thing happened. Wen Qimei, puzzled, asked why. Mao Zedong explained directly, and his mother not only didn't scold him but praised his kindness. After that, Wen Qimei always made sure Mao Zedong brought two lunches. One time, Wen Qimei asked Mao Zedong to carry two baskets of white rice to the private school teacher. But soon after, her son returned with empty baskets. Wen Qimei, puzzled, thought it was strange—there was quite a distance from home to the school, and it shouldn't take him back so quickly. Mao Zedong saw her confusion and, before she could ask, explained the situation: shortly after leaving, he encountered his cousin Mao Chengqi and his wife arguing. Their family had run out of food, so Mao Chengqi's wife took their daughter to beg for rice in another village. Mao Chengqi was