Qian Sanqiang

Author: Ge Nengquan / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: When Bingqiong, the leader of Class 7, entered the upper grades of the Konde School, he had already gained a certain reputation within the school. This was not only due to his "all-around" performance but also because he was surrounded by a good group of classmates who worked together harmoniously and had close relationships. In this group, Bingqiong had two close friends—one was Zhou Fengyi, known for his skill in "passing the ball" on the basketball court. He was the son of the literary figure Zhou Zuoren, but his personality was not as reserved and introverted as his father's; instead, he was lively and mischievous, fitting the "martial artist" style. He was particularly good at rallying others to join him in activities. The other close friend of Bingqiong was Li Zhizhong, who excelled in writing. He had a quiet and refined personality, possessed literary talent, and was especially skilled at writing poems. Classmates often called him "the Poet." Despite this seemingly unreasonable combination, they spent years together without any conflict, regarded each other as close friends, always ready to help, and were very enthusiastic in assisting one another. Because of this, they often played the role of leaders in the class.
Li Zhizhong had exceptional writing skills, and his essays were frequently selected as model texts to be promoted throughout the school and even published in newspapers, bringing honor to all his classmates. One year, the Beiping "North China Daily" invited Li Zhizhong to serve as a contributing writer and external editor for its weekly supplement "Shi" (meaning "stone" in Chinese). This encouraged all the classmates to actively submit their work. However, they were not accustomed to using pen names, and as a result, their articles gained fame throughout the school. While such spotlight often drew envy behind the scenes, when classmates from other classes encountered them, they would often praise them enthusiastically, which made them very happy.
However, the other side of being a leader also sometimes occurred. During a period when Bingqiong's class had poor classroom discipline, students often caused trouble for the teacher, even playing pranks, leading to chaos in the classroom. Zhou Fengyi, the lively troublemaker, was at the forefront of this. Out of "friendship," Bingqiong also lost his restraint and joined in the mischief. Among the teachers who suffered the most from this behavior were Yu Weimin (also known as Shi Yuan, who later became a professor at Northwest University), who taught geography and natural science. Decades later, Zhou Fengyi and Bingqiong still felt deep shame about this incident.
On March 19, 1987, Professor Zhou Fengyi, who was 75 years old at the time, wrote a long letter to Bingqiong, openly expressing their shame:
"Another thing that makes me feel ashamed to this day is that Mr. Yu Weimin, the mineral teacher, was the most bullied teacher in the class, and I was one of the most prominent troublemakers. You probably won't forget how chaotic the classroom was. In the 1950s, Mr. Yu came to Beijing from Northwest University in Xi'an for a conference. My brother-in-law, who was also teaching at Northwest University, asked Mr. Yu to deliver something to me at his residence in the Xi'an Hotel. I went there and immediately recognized Mr. Yu, who was accompanied by the president of Northwest University. When Mr. Yu introduced me, he said I was very lively in class. But 'lively' doesn't mean 'troubling,' does it? I don't remember how I handled the situation. Afterward, I always felt uncomfortable."
After reading the letter, Bingqiong felt deeply in agreement. To atone for the past, he once tried to find out the workplaces of some living teachers through Konde classmates and even contacted some of them. On a Teacher's Day, he published an article titled "Unforgettable Teachings, Sincere Gratitude" in the "China Education News," deeply recalling his teachers from middle and high school. In the article, he wrote:
"Respecting knowledge and talent inevitably means respecting teachers. The ancients said, 'A teacher is one who imparts knowledge, teaches skills, and resolves doubts.' In today's terms, this means that teachers cultivate people, impart knowledge, and are the engineers of the human soul. This is not an abstract definition or an artificial interpretation—it is the truth. Some teachers may not realize that among all those who have experienced the life of studying, a significant place in their best and most unforgettable memories belongs to their teachers, and this feeling does not fade with time or change with circumstances. I personally deeply understand this. With the passage of time and changes in circumstances, many events from decades ago have become hazy in my memory, but the guidance and teachings of my teachers remain vivid and as if they are before my eyes."
P25-26