Liu Shaoqing's founding major general.

Liu Shaoqing lived in a courtyard house in Wangfujing Vegetable Factory Hutong.

Speaking of it, this quadrangle has some historical origins and seems a bit ostentatious. This used to be the place where vegetables were placed in the Imperial Palace-so it was called "Vegetable Factory Hutong". During the Republic of China, he became a capitalist's private residence. In modern Beijing, it is also a district-level cultural relics protection unit.

General Liu Shaoqing's family moved here in the early 1970s.

In fact, this quadrangle is very shabby and doesn't look like the general's residence. Many people were really taken aback when they visited General Liu Shaoqing's house for the first time. The furnishings in Liujiali are also very simple. Apart from TV, there is basically no fashionable furniture. The cushion on the bed was patched, and the old sofa creaked when it sat up. Liu Shaoqing's daily desk was also painted and peeled. It is said that more than one visitor advised him to "reorganize" the broken house and furniture. General Liu Shaoqing always said seriously, "This is very good. Aren't there many people who don't have houses to live in now? We old guys can't create anything for society now, so we should save more for society. In my hometown of Hubei, some people only have three wooden bowls, a patched quilt and a pair of trousers, which the whole family wears in turn. Compared with them, I am in the sky and they are underground. Why should I? Isn't it because Chairman Mao created the Party by * *? ……"

Liu Shaoqing is a general who loves beauty very much-of course, he is also very handsome. If you don't believe me, you can look at his uniform photo when he was in service. His clothes are always neat, and his hair is always neatly combed. However, his usual clothes are very simple. Until he was very old, his sweater was patched at both elbows and covered with an old military uniform. This simple family style was also passed on from him to his children.

This quadrangle used to be a very lively courtyard, with a large group of children chattering in the middle.

Because Liu Shaoqing had three marriages, three mothers gave birth to seven children. A lot of children in a yard must be earth-shaking, and of course there will be pranks. However, Liu Shaoqing, who is so angry and ready to "I'm going to shoot you" on the battlefield, is an affectionate child. No matter how the child gets into trouble, he never moves his fist-and, of course, there is a symbolic "fight" When the children come back from school and kindergarten, he always asks about the temperature, homework and health. He is not like a general, but like an old woman. If any child hasn't come back by the time, he should ask him if he called or left any food. He seems more worried than a mother.

But this does not mean that he is a laissez-faire father. He is also very strict with children-sometimes he is overbearing or even "overbearing", but his method is not reprimanding and slapping, but holding a meeting, of course, a family meeting. It is often said that many meetings of the * * * production party are held at home. Liu Shaoqing is a risk-averse person. He often holds meetings of the * * * production party at home. When the children grow up and work, this meeting will still be held frequently. As soon as he heard about any unhealthy phenomena in society or the spirit of the central government on the education of cadres' children, he asked the whole family to have a meeting together. At the family meeting, of course, it is inevitable to be warned that the whole family, including me, should not forget that they are a member of the revolutionary family and are from party member, and should always be vigilant. No matter what, they should not go wrong and make mistakes! And then you have to ask again and again. You got it? At this time, everyone should say loudly and unanimously, "I see!" Otherwise, it may never end. ...

General Liu Shaoqing is also a father of calf care, although he is strict on the surface.

At the beginning of the Cultural Revolution (1967), Liu Shaoqing's third son, Liu Jinjie, was designated as "Lian Zuo" at school and ordered to accept "criticism". At that time, it was popular to "attack the martial arts with words", and it was hard to predict whether he would go or not. Liu Jinjie has a hot temper. He is a very appealing "king of the children" in the compound of the Military Training Department. Now he's going to yell at his little buddy and go to school to make a scene. When Liu Shaoqing knew this, he severely stopped the child's recklessness and decided to go to school to accept criticism instead of the child. That day, he didn't take the bus. He walked alone for more than an hour and went to school to accept "criticism". Although the rebels are fierce, they dare not use force when they see an old general in military uniform coming. Of course, abuse and "criticism" are inevitable. However, Liu Shaoqing, who had a bad temper all his life, showed a rare generosity and calmness. He had no temper from beginning to end at the critical meeting, so he was extremely easy-going.

Probably got a general to criticize, the school storm was an explanation, and then never came again.

Many years later, many of Liu Jinjie's classmates still remember this incident vividly: it is really not easy for an old general of that age to do this for his children. Mao Wenxiu, the general's wife, is also a very wise and broad-minded oriental woman. She took the children of Liu Shaoqing's two ex-wives as her own children and took good care of them. Liu Shaoqing's second son, Liu Lousong, talked about his stepmother. The college PE teacher who is about to retire has great affection for "Mao Wenxiu's mother". He said: Compared with the same type of family situation, he has never seen a better stepmother than "mother". He retires this year and will go to Beijing to take care of this hardworking mother. Both Liu Lousong and his brother Liu were born in the wartime. When they were young, they were hidden with their biological mother in Liu Shaoqing's hometown in Huanggang. In order to avoid the surprise attack of the Kuomintang army, they lived in poverty and the world was cold. His feelings, of course, are very weighty from the heart.

Although Liu Shaoqing is a general and a big head, his family's financial situation is actually very poor, even difficult, because there are many children and old people to support. A bunch of children and an old mother at home. Some staff officers of the Land Training Department still remember that Liu's children sometimes came to their home and said enviously, "Uncle, if only our meals were as good as yours."

Some military training staff members who have traveled with Vice Minister Liu still remember that although Vice Minister Liu is a big head who goes out with a soft sleeper, he is often a risk-averse with no RMB in his pocket. Of course, his sleeping car is also a lively place for big parties. At that time, there was no concept of leaders and subordinates, and everyone had no fun. Sometimes when you go into a restaurant with some staff officers, the head of the team will not be able to pay for it, and often he will blush and say that he is embarrassed to make you laugh. I have no money in my pocket. The staff officer has something to go to the head's house, and the head is usually a representative to stay for dinner. If you have any difficulties, tell the section chief that as long as the principles are not bad, the section chief always tries his best to solve them. Until now, someone talked to them, and they still called the chief's wife "kitten" bluntly, but naturally there was no obstacle at all. ...

Liu Shaoqing, who has been wearing a military uniform all his life, has many expectations for his children. The biggest expectation is that all children will wear military uniforms like him and be soldiers like him. In this way, in the event of war, children can follow in their father's footsteps, defend the country like themselves, and fight with guns. However, after all, we live in a peaceful era. Although many of the children of the Liu family were former soldiers, they all changed jobs and chose their own work and life path. Although Liu Shaoqing felt sorry, he didn't have the energy to struggle with the increasingly colorful world outside. He still showed more kindness and respect for his children's choices.

This seems to be a common feature of their generation.