The Continuation of Wu Mi's Diaries (Volume 7, 1965-1966)

Author: Wu Mi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-04-01
Features: January 24, Sunday, cloudy, rain. 7—11℃. Starting from 5 a.m., read "Selected Works of Mao Zedong, Volume 1." Breakfast, two steamed buns. Today marks the beginning of the winter vacation, but faculty and staff do not have a vacation and continue the Socialist Education Movement. On the 24th, 25th, and 26th, the entire school's faculty, staff, and students will receive current affairs and policy education. In the morning, Liu Lianbo, the Deputy Minister, was specially invited to the school to give a report on the current international and domestic situation. Mi was ordered by the Chinese Department to "gather." Therefore, at 7:45, he arrived at the entrance of the grand hall and waited. Soon, Li, Zong, Li, and Yang, all from Hebei in the Chinese Department, arrived, and they entered the middle seats of the third row together. The originally scheduled start time was 8:30 a.m. Liu Minister arrived on time and sat alone on the stage, waiting for a long time. Suddenly, it was announced that the start time had been changed to 9:00. At that time, Sun Guangzheng, the Director of the Party Committee Office (Chairman), arrived and prepared everything, then the lecture began. Later, students in the canteens could not hear clearly because the loudspeaker was not working. The loudspeaker then completely broke down, and at 9:30, the lecture was announced to be suspended. When the loudspeaker was repaired, it resumed at around 10:20. Liu Minister first criticized the incompetence of the Southwest Normal University authorities, saying that the loudspeaker had already broken, yet no check was conducted before the meeting, which greatly undermined the significance of the current movement. He then started the lecture over, speaking faster than before. The volume of the loudspeaker dropped again, and by 12:30 p.m., the lecture concluded, and the notes were preserved. Mi returned to his dorm, had lunch, and ate three two-jin bowls of rice with stir-fried mixed vegetables, including stir-fried pork slices and liver slices, and cauliflower. Aunt Tang, who made hot water for Mi every day, also filled the thermos for Gui. After lunch today, Mi told Aunt Tang, "Don't fill the thermos with hot water for Gui anymore. I only need to open one bottle of hot water for the entire day." He wanted Mrs. Tian to know that Mi paid 2 yuan per month for fuel and 0.60 yuan for hot water (both had been paid to Aunt Tang this morning, as usual) and was not overusing the Tian family's stove to get excessive hot water. Shortly after, Gui returned drunk, and Mi informed him of this, saying, "You should get your own hot water and don't burden Aunt Tang with your affairs." Gui argued, "I never asked Aunt Tang to fill my hot water; she did it on her own." With that, he left angrily. Mi was also angry and said, "In the past, when you worked for me, you received 40 yuan per month in salary. Recently, you no longer work for me, yet you still receive 40 yuan in living expenses from me, and you won't even get your own hot water, relying on others?" Outside Room 104, Gui turned back and said to Mi, "40 yuan is what you gave me. If you don't give it, the Public Security Bureau will order you to pay it, and will you dare not?" He then left. At that time, the neighbors in the corridor were all standing and listening to this argument. Mi regretted getting angry and speaking too harshly. After 2:00 p.m., Gui returned and scolded Mi, "Recently, Mr. Tian hasn't attacked you in the small group meeting, and you even provided him with materials!" Mi remained silent. Gui then sighed and said, "This movement has sacrificed me!" He continued to say to Mi, "To be honest, I have done right by you because I have never exposed you anywhere." Mi felt this statement contained (1) a sense of self-righteousness and (2) a threat. He then remembered what Ku had said earlier, that he had overheard Gui talking to someone, showing no gratitude toward Mi, instead saying that Mi had wasted his work and marriage for over ten years due to his involvement with Mi. At this moment, Mi's heart ached deeply, so he packed his documents, went out, and headed to the Chinese Department. It was raining. From 2:30 to 6:30 p.m., there was a movement discussion meeting for the Classical and Modern Literature Teaching and Research Group, chaired by Liu Yixian, who ordered everyone to discuss the morning's report by Liu Minister on the current situation.