In September 1982, villagers in Shaoshan, Mao Zedong’s hometown, began to discuss the issue of the household contract responsibility system.

This was not an unusual thing at the time, but for the people of Shaoshan, it was a very difficult decision.

In the early 1950s, the people of Shaoshan actively responded to Chairman Mao’s call and established Shaoshan’s first mutual aid group. They worked meticulously, fearing that a little slack would disgrace the Chairman.

Chairman Mao is the glory in the hearts of the people of Shaoshan, so many years later, no matter how the outside world develops, they still adhere to the path pointed out by Mao Zedong. Shaoshan people who know little about "market economy" subconsciously avoid new eras and new things. Once they talk about doing business, they feel that it is not doing their job properly and it is a smear on Chairman Mao's face.

However, the tide of the times is unstoppable, especially now that old ideas have affected the economic development of Shaoshan.

Tang Ruiren, a neighbor and distant relative of Mao Zedong’s hometown, refused to attend the production team meeting. She was lying on the bed alone, and she couldn't figure it out. Chairman Mao led everyone to divide the land of the landlords. Now, should the land of the collective be divided? Is this right?

The more she thought about it, the more confused she became. She sat alone at the door of the main room. With nowhere to vent, she cried for several days facing Mao Zedong's former residence across the pond. No one tried to persuade her.

She struggled, scolded those members who engaged in "packaging", and felt that the cadres of the production team had no spine. However, her opposition had no effect, and the contract system was still launched in Shaoshan.

Perhaps out of sympathy for Tang Ruiren, the cadres of the production team gave Tang Ruiren the fields that Mao Zedong had planted when he was a boy.

Tang Ruiren was unwilling to give up, but facing the field that Chairman Mao once cultivated, she had no choice but to maintain and cultivate it.

During the harvest season, the field's output more than doubled compared to the collective period, and almost every household increased its output. Everyone was immersed in the joy of the harvest, but Tang Ruiren was still melancholy, recalling the past from time to time.

In terms of generation, Tang Ruiren was two generations older than Mao Zedong. When she was born, Mao Zedong had already left Shaoshan to make revolution. Although she lived close to him when she was young, she had never met Mao Zedong.

At the age of 20, Tang Ruiren married from a neighboring village to Shaoshan Chong. Her husband Mao Kaiqing’s family was just across the pond from Mao Zedong’s former residence. When Mao Zedong's parents were still alive, the relationship between the two families was very good. Mao Kaiqing's grandmother delivered Mao Zedong when he was born.

On October 1, 1949, the folks in Shaoshan Chong heard the familiar local accent on the radio. Mao Zedong solemnly announced the founding of New China on the Tiananmen Gate Tower. They were excited. Who would have thought that in this village, which was almost isolated from the world, among these mud-brick houses, a hero would be born who could turn things around?

In 1950, Tang Ruiren and villager Liu Xiuhua took the lead in setting up the first women's mutual aid group in Shaoshan. The production was in full swing. To encourage them, the head of Xiangtan County specially rewarded them with a ox and a set of farm tools. .

Tang Ruiren and the Women's Federation wrote a letter to Mao Zedong that evening to announce the good news. Mao Zedong's reply was quickly sent back: "Mutual assistance and cooperation are good, and great achievements can be made. I hope you will continue to work hard."

This short sentence was firmly remembered in Tang Ruiren's heart. Every year thereafter, she became a model worker and activist in the brigade, commune and county.

June 26, 1959 was a big day for Shaoshan people. Mao Zedong returned to his hometown after an absence of 32 years.

He suddenly proposed to go to his parents’ graves to express condolences. Along the way, Mao Zedong stepped forward to shake hands with the villagers, whether they were wearing straw hats, barefooted, or with muddy hands. .

After getting the news, Tang Ruiren's nephew immediately went back and told his aunt that the graves of Mao Zedong's parents were on the mountain behind Tang Ruiren's house, and it was only two or three hundred meters away.

In the past, Tang Ruiren could only listen to the villagers telling stories about Mao Zedong. Now Chairman Mao was on the hill behind her home. Without saying a word, she dropped what she was doing and rushed up the hill. She happened to see him on the way. Mao Zedong.

Mao Zedong was 68 years old and was a little breathless when walking. The enthusiastic Tang Ruiren found a bamboo stick nearby and gave it to Mao Zedong as a crutch.

Mao Zedong smiled and nodded to her as a thank you.

After Mao Zedong went down the mountain after paying homage to his parents, no one expected that he would go straight to Tang Ruiren's house.

Tang Ruiren was still following behind. When she saw that Chairman Mao was going to her house, she hurriedly ran home.

Panting, Tang Ruiren opened the main room and welcomed Mao Zedong in. Chairman Mao found a small square stool and sat down. Tang Ruiren and his family members gathered around Mao Zedong.

Mao Zedong greeted them and asked them whether the elderly at home were still alive and how much millet they could harvest from one acre of land. Tang Ruiren answered them one by one.

The village cadre in Shaoshan introduced to Mao Zedong: "Her name is Tang Ruiren, and she is our aunt in Shaoshan."

Mao Zedong nodded: "I know, I know, the Mao family's family She is the oldest, but I am the youngest."

Tang Ruiren was embarrassed to ask Chairman Mao to call her grandma. She was only 30 years old at the time, and she was just a little girl in front of the Chairman. She asked Mao Zedong: "Chairman, can my son call you grandpa?"

Mao Zedong shook his hand: "No, no, how can you call me the other way around? The grandpa who sucks the milk is the uncle in the cradle." !"

As soon as Mao Zedong finished speaking, everyone laughed.

Mao Zedong asked the child what his name was. Because his husband Mao Kaiqing was still serving as a soldier outside at that time, Tang Ruiren named his son "Mao Junjun". Mao Zedong was very happy after hearing this: "This is a good name. I love the army. Without the people's army, there is nothing! I think the name needs to be changed. Soldiers have to obey orders as their bounden duty. In the future, when you become a soldier, you will be a high official. , I think he will be called 'Mao Mingjun'."

Mao Zedong personally changed his son's name. Tang Ruiren was naturally very happy and nodded immediately.

Mao Zedong was so approachable that Tang Ruiren relaxed and chatted with him about his work. Tang Ruiren cooked in the collective canteen. The canteen was advocated by Chairman Mao. He asked how the canteen was now and what kind of dishes and soups they mainly eat.

Tang Ruiren was very proud when he said: "Report to the Chairman, the rice is cooked in a large iron pot, and the dishes are mainly vegetables. But I can make many kinds of things from a radish, including dried radish, shredded radish, radish, etc." Roots, radish leaves..."

Mao Zedong laughed loudly and gave her a thumbs up: "Oh, you are so capable, you are almost a cooking master!"

Tang Ruiren remembered the conversation between Mao Zedong and them as if it was yesterday. But now, the land that Chairman Mao once cultivated was at her feet, and she began to think, what would Chairman Mao think if he was still here?

After the reform and opening up, the living standards of Shaoshan people have continued to improve, and more and more tourists come to Shaoshan for tourism.

In the early 1980s, the scenic area facilities were not comprehensive enough. The tourists who queued up in front of Chairman Mao’s former residence every day were thirsty and had no water to drink, and they could not find a place to eat when they were hungry. Tang Ruiren felt that she had an obligation to entertain these guests who came all the way to pay homage to her former residence. She got up early every morning to boil a pot of water, filled it in wooden barrels and placed it on the roadside. Visitors could drink the water for free.

Boiling water every day has become Tang Ruiren’s habit. Some people advised her to charge a little for tea. She quickly shook her head: "How can we be worthy of Chairman Mao? Don’t lose the ugliness of Shaoshan people." !”

Soon after, Tang Ruiren discovered that more and more outsiders came to Shaoshan to do business. They set up small stalls in front of Chairman Mao’s former residence and had no worries about sales every day, and she was also moved.

In 1986, 50-year-old Tang Ruiren spent one yuan and seventy cents to buy two kilograms of mung beans and one kilogram of sugar. He cooked two large barrels of mung bean porridge and placed them on the path opposite Mao Zedong's former residence.

This was the first time Tang Ruiren tried to do business. She felt that everyone around her was scrutinizing her. She was so embarrassed that she put the porcelain bowl on the stone and stood in the woods from a distance and watched.

A group of enthusiastic Shanghai guests smiled and encouraged Tang Ruiren: "You are doing business, don't be afraid, don't be afraid, we will help you sell!" Each of these guests filled a bowl and ate happily. Everyone took out some money, ordered it neatly and handed it to Tang Ruiren. Encouraged by these kind-hearted tourists, Tang Ruiren boldly started selling porridge. At the end of the day, she earned more than 5 yuan.

Tang Ruiren sells porridge, but her neighbors can’t understand her, and her family members don’t agree either.

She is a family member of a soldier and has met Chairman Mao. How can she sell porridge on the roadside?

Tang Ruiren replied: "What's wrong with military families? I don't steal or rob, and it's in line with national policy. Why can't I get rich?"

Tang Ruiren saved money by selling mung bean porridge. With a sum of money, she remembered Mao Zedong's encouragement to her and decided to open a small restaurant next to Chairman Mao's former residence, named "Mao's Restaurant".

Tang Ruiren has a business acumen and determination. In order to find a big shot to inscribe the name of her small restaurant, she simply went to Beijing and found Wang Shoudao, a member of the Standing Committee of the Central Advisory Committee. Wang Shoudao was from Liuyang, Hunan. He warmly received Tang Ruiren and readily agreed to help her write the name of the store. He only told her: "If you open a restaurant, I can write the name of the store for you, but you must love the country, the party, and the people. You must love the country, the party, and the people." Do legal things!"

Tang Ruiren solemnly promised: "I will definitely listen to you, old man, and I will definitely do it."

Tang Ruiren's restaurant opened in a bustle, and she is good at her craftsmanship. , is also a close neighbor that Chairman Mao once met, and many tourists come here to eat. The special dishes of "Mao's Restaurant" are all Chairman Mao's favorite dishes - braised pork, fire-baked fish, black bean pepper...

Unexpectedly, Mao Zedong's casual joke later turned into Indeed, Tang Ruiren not only became a cooking master, but also had his own restaurant.

People who come to Maojia Restaurant to eat are not only tourists from all over the country, but also guests from abroad. Tang Ruiren has always insisted on maintaining Mao Zedong's image, especially when it comes to the "tough questions" raised by some foreign tourists. Tang Ruiren has always faced the difficulties.

Once, an American guest asked Tang Ruiren a question after finishing his meal: "Which one do you think is better, Chairman Mao or Deng Xiaoping?"

Tang Ruiren didn't even think about it. Answer: "Chairman Mao and Deng Xiaoping are both good and great."

The American asked further: "If Mao Zedong was alive, would you be able to run this hotel? He would cut capital and pay attention to the tail."

Tang Ruiren smiled. When foreigners look at us, they always stay on the superficial surface. It seems that the arrival of a new era will inevitably overthrow everything in the old era. But they never understood that throughout his military life, Mao Zedong relied on "seeking truth from facts" and "self-reliance" to conquer the world.

When Tang Ruiren was 30 years old and knew little about politics, Chairman Mao only asked her if she was doing well and whether she was eating enough. The prosperity of the people was Chairman Mao's biggest ideal after the founding of the People's Republic of China. If Chairman Mao were still alive and watching the villagers in Shaoshan getting rich, how could he not be happy?

Tang Ruiren smiled and said to the Americans: "Chairman Mao said that the situation is constantly changing, and the future of socialism is bright and great. I am a guest receiving Chairman Mao. May I ask this foreign friend, you Do you think I can do it? "

This rural woman hidden in the mountains is not only smart and courageous, but also has a very sharp political vision. The American guests have to admire her.

Tang Ruiren went on to say: "Chairman Mao led the Chinese people to turn over, and Deng Xiaoping led us to become rich. I am now rich through hard work, and my family is not short of anything. Both leaders are great!"

p>

Tang Ruiren's patriotism is very sincere and simple. When Japanese tourists came to visit, she said without hesitation: "Welcome to Shaoshan, but your ancestors were not good. They came to China to kill people and set fires." American tourists came When visiting, she must also say a few words: "Taiwan is China's territory. We are determined to reunify the motherland. You should not interfere."

Tang Ruiren's philosophy in running a restaurant is very simple, which is to "receive Chairman Mao well." guest". She has always had a strong connection with the Chairman. The photo of her family and the Chairman was enlarged and hung in the center of the restaurant. The tourists were warmly entertained by Chairman Mao’s neighbors and ate authentic dishes from Chairman Mao’s hometown. Naturally, they felt glorious and happy in their hearts. of.

When the Shaoshan Mao Zedong Memorial Garden was being built, Tang Ruiren immediately donated more than 30,000 yuan. The general manager of the memorial garden said to Tang Ruiren: "Mother Tang, you have donated so much, we want to carve a monument for you." Tang Ruiren waved his hand: "If you don't help Chairman Mao, I'm afraid I will still beg for food. No. I want to help Deng Xiaoping, but I can’t even donate money.”

In 2003, the central government and Hunan Province decided to restore the environment around Mao Zedong’s former residence on the occasion of the 110th anniversary of Mao Zedong’s birth. Tang Ruiren's "Mao's Restaurant" once had a geographical advantage, but now the organization leaders have discussed with her that it would be best to move Mao's Restaurant.

Tang Ruiren cried when he heard this. The whole family was very sad and unwilling to move away. The next day, the Mao's Restaurant closed. Tang Ruiren sat in the main room where Chairman Mao and she had a homely life, crying to Chairman Mao's portrait: "You asked me to be a cooking master, why are you asking me to move out now?" "A week later, Tang Ruiren suddenly figured out that her husband and son were both soldiers, and she was a member of the military, so she should know best what it means to "follow orders in all actions." She called her son over and decided to start moving the next day.

A few months later, the brand-new Mao's Hotel was built next to Mao Zedong Memorial Park. The scale expanded several times and the business became even more prosperous.

Mao Mingjun, who was once blessed by Mao Zedong to "become a high official", did not become a high official.

At the age of 14, he became a soldier of the People's Liberation Army like his father. During the Vietnam War, the Maoist Army was awarded third-class merit and returned home after being injured. He participated in the 1984 National Day military parade in the capital. Later, Mao Mingjun was recommended to Nanchang Infantry School to study. He finally gave up his official career and returned to his hometown to save the classical Shao music that was on the verge of being lost.

Tang Ruiren did not forget Mao Zedong’s cordial greetings, nor Wang Shoudao’s serious instructions.

Before the founding of New China, Tang Ruiren sent her husband to the battlefield. In the 1960s, a guard company was stationed in Mao Zedong's former residence. Tang Ruiren led the women in the production team to remove, wash and mend the soldiers' bedding and clothes.

In 1988, Mao's Restaurant began to grow in scale. The first meal for recruits of the Armed Police Squadron, the reunion dinner during the Chinese New Year, and the birthday banquets of the soldiers were all provided free of charge by Mao's Restaurant. TV sets and electric fans were also purchased and given to the armed police soldiers stationed there.

One day, a soldier in Mao Zedong's former residence squad fell seriously ill and was sent to the hospital by his comrades. As soon as he completed the hospitalization procedures, Tang Ruiren had already sent him hospital fees and nutritional supplements. The mother of a soldier was seriously ill. Because the family was too poor and had no money for medical treatment, Tang Ruiren secretly sent 400 yuan to his family. The veteran wanted to start a chicken farm, but unfortunately he lacked funds and had no choice but to give up. It was Tang Ruiren who sent him a precious 10,000 yuan and encouraged him: "The folks are waiting to eat eggs! Take this money first, and worry about it for the rest of your life if it is not enough." "

The soldiers initially called her "Sister-in-law Tang", and later "Mama Tang" and "Grandma Tang." She was older, but her love for the soldiers never changed. .

Tang Ruiren supports and loves the army because they are Chairman Mao's soldiers and because her husband and son are one of them. She has deep feelings for the People's Liberation Army.

Her daughter once kindly reminded her: "Even if you don't leave us anything, you still have to think about your future life."

Tang Ruiren's answer was also very simple: "I As long as we can still work and make money, we must do something for the soldiers and military families at any time, and we must be good neighbors of Chairman Mao and be qualified Shaoshan people."

She. She has become a well-known leader in getting rich. She has to participate in more and more social activities and is more aware of the social responsibilities on her shoulders.

Tang Ruiren was born in poverty. He has been begging for a way to survive since he was a child. What she once longed for most was money. After having a lot of money, she always "gave it away". When participating in a program on CCTV, she told the host: "Chairman Mao said that if you are poor, you will want to change. I started with one yuan and seventy cents, and now I am the chairman of the Maojia Hotel Group. Ask me what this chairman has How much is it? I said the money is in your pocket. How famous I am, Mrs. Tang, when my name is in your mouth. You don’t have to believe me if I don’t make any money. Please don’t believe me if I say I have a lot of money..."

Every year, Tang Ruiren sends money and gifts to Wubao elderly people and nursing homes; she has adopted more than a dozen orphans and has been supporting them to complete their studies. She has watched them enter university and even become masters and Ph.D. ; She mobilized her whole family to help more than 500 out-of-school children return to school and donated more than 1 million to poor students. She said that in Mao Zedong's hometown, she did not want to see illiterate people like her again; the Wenchuan earthquake made her anxious every day. I couldn't sleep well, so I not only donated money and goods, but also placed a donation box in Mao's Hotel, hoping that guests could lend a helping hand to the victims...

The employees in Mao's Hotel are absolutely amazing Most of them are laid-off workers. There is a chef named Xu Jiahua, who is one of the orphans supported by Tang Ruiren.

Tang Ruiren supported him from elementary school until he graduated from high school. Xu Jiahua did not go to college, so Tang Ruiren recruited him to be his employee at Maojia Restaurant and sent him to other places to learn the skills of a chef. Tang Ruiren never felt that Xu Jiahua was trained by himself. On the contrary, he would shed tears every time he mentioned Xu Jiahua, hoping that he could make more money at Mao's Restaurant, marry a good girl, and start a family. In Xu Jiahua's heart, Mao's Hotel is his home, and Tang Ruiren is his grandmother.

It turns out that Tang Ruiren's success was not due to luck. Mao's Restaurant had the right time and place. This was also the best reward for her kindness that time had given her. For such an ordinary yet great woman, no wonder people respect her in awe.

Tang Ruiren did not go to school when he was young. When he first opened a restaurant, he could only write his name and "Long Live Mao Zedong". She only started to learn to read when she was 76 years old, accompanied by her children. In her spare time, she also learned to draw, play WeChat and write limericks.

In 2014, 84-year-old Tang Ruiren finally joined the party. She had been writing this party application for 40 years. She was illiterate at first, so she asked someone to write it for her, but later she realized it and wrote it herself.

On the day she joined the party, she cheerfully wrote a limerick to herself:

From the day Mao’s Restaurant opened, no matter spring, summer, autumn or winter, this stubborn old lady would Standing at the door of Maojia Restaurant to greet guests and happily taking photos with them.

Maojia Restaurant has left Shaoshan and opened hundreds of franchise stores across the country. Tang Ruiren has transformed from a traditional farm woman who worked hard in the fields to a female boss in the new era.

Tang Ruiren also practiced and got the answer that had always puzzled her.

Tang Ruiren often said: "I have benefited from Chairman Mao's glory, and I have brought glory to Chairman Mao even more." This may be the power of great men. Even a brief contact or a simple conversation can benefit people. lifelong. Mao Zedong's experience on the battlefield was also the source of Tang Ruiren's confidence and strength to work hard in the business. This rare Shaoshan spirit allowed her to become rich, but she would never be lost in wealth, making her a person admired by others. But she has never looked down on anyone, letting her know that if you come from the masses, you must return to the masses...