Deng Xiaoping: a Great Person with Charming Character

PLA Daily 2004-08-18

　

　　From the late 1970's to the 90's, Deng Xiaoping took his train 54 times to visit all parts of China. Li Kun, a train attendant at the time, recalled her impressions of the leader.

　　"My biggest impression of Deng Xiaoping is he always sat on the sofa, looking out of the window and thinking of something."

　　As a state leader, Deng Xiaoping was friendly to people of all ranks. His chefs or hairdressers liked to call him "Lao Yezi" or something similar to grandfather in English. Tian Huiyan was a hairdresser at the Beijing Hotel at the time. She told us this story.

　　"The most unforgettable thing for me is that one year we were in Beidaihe, a resort in northeast China's Hebei province. Many people wanted to take pictures with Deng Xiaoping. To avoid inconvenience, I didn't go. After taking pictures with all the others, he asked me to have a photo with him. I didn't expect a great person like him would still think of me."

　　Throughout his life Deng Xiaoping experienced many ups and downs but one thing he never changed was his perseverance and optimism, even when facing difficulties. That was reflected in his answer to an American journalist's question on how the Cultural Revolution's influenced him.

　　Deng Xiaoping says the Cultural Revolution, though bad, was a means for the country to think about its future. It was the lessons drawn from it that finally led to China's modernization drive, reforms and opening up.

　　Li Gang, CRI news.

　　(CRIENGLISH.com )