He provided for Zhou Enlai to study and adopted Zhou Enshou as his son. Zhou Enlai said: My fourth uncle, Zhou Yigeng, was as kind to me as a mountain.

1

In 1933, the 61-year-old Zhou Yigeng passed away in Tianjin due to illness. A hundred years of life were like a drop in the ocean. When Zhou Yigeng left this world, not many people knew about it because he Zhou Yigeng was neither a powerful general nor a talented writer. Zhou Yigeng, who had married three wives, did not even leave any of his own flesh and blood in this world.

In this way, when Zhou Yigeng left this world, it may have been very lonely and deserted, but this was not the case. Zhou Yigeng did not leave any heroic deeds that the world talked about, but he Throughout his life, he valued love and justice and made selfless contributions, leaving infinite tenderness for his relatives, especially his nephews. As an uncle, he helped Zhou Enlai complete his studies, changing the trajectory of his life. He also adopted Zhou Enlai's younger brother Zhou Enshou as his son. When the Zhou brothers were in poverty and distress, he built a warm home for them, and also Gave them paternal care.

Zhou Enlai, who has always paid attention to family ties, said when talking about his father Zhou Yineng: "I sympathize with your grandfather. He is very honest, and his monthly salary does not exceed 30 yuan in his life, but he I haven’t done anything bad.” But when talking about his fourth uncle, Zhou Yigeng, he said:

My love for my father is thicker than water, and my admiration and gratitude for my uncle come from the bottom of my heart. Zhou Enlai's grandfather Zhou Qikui originally bought the house on Prince Consort Lane with his second brother Zhou Haixiang. Zhou Yigeng ranked fourth in the entire Zhou family, so Zhou Enlai called him his fourth uncle and sometimes his uncle. When Zhou Yigeng passed away, Zhou Enlai was commanding the Fourth Anti-Encirclement and Suppression Campaign in Jiangxi. The war was tense, and his family had no way to report his funeral to him. Even if he got the news, he could not rush back to see his beloved fourth uncle on his last journey.

What is comforting is that Zhou Enlai's younger brother Zhou Enshou was by Zhou Yigeng's side at this time and died for him as a filial son. Although Zhou Enshou was Zhou Yigeng's adopted son, Zhou Yigeng also had a nurturing relationship with Zhou Enlai. Well, Zhou Enshou felt that his brother should also express his feelings. However, due to the Kuomintang's heavy-money arrest warrant, the appearance of the three words "Zhou Enlai" would cause a storm. The alert Zhou Enshou sent an obituary to his uncle using his brother's nickname, which only his family members knew:

Zhou Enshou's courtesy name is Tongyu, and Zhou Daluan is Zhou Enlai's nickname. This not only avoided the eyes and ears of the Kuomintang, but also expressed filial piety for Zhou Enlai. "Luan" is a mythical bird like the phoenix in legend. There is an origin behind this name. Before Zhou Enlai's mother Wan Dong'er gave birth to her child, she dreamed that a divine bird, the luan phoenix, flew into her arms. Soon after, she She gave birth to Zhou Enlai, so Zhou Enlai's nickname was Dayuan, and his scientific name Enlai means the coming of Luan and Phoenix. ”

Shaoxing, also known as Yuhang in ancient times, has been a geomantic treasure land with outstanding people since ancient times. There is a big family living here for generations, the Zhou family. Zhou Enlai’s ancestral home is Shaoxing, like Lu Xun. Coming from the Zhou family in Shaoxing City, Zhejiang Province, Zhou Enlai's grandfather Zhou Qikui moved to Huai'an, Jiangsu Province with his family when he went to Huai'an to work as a clerk.

When his grandfather Zhou Qikui was still alive, he served as county magistrate and prefecture magistrate. At that time, the Zhou family was still very prosperous. Zhou Qikui gave birth to four sons: Zhou Yigeng, Zhou Yineng, Zhou Yikui, and Zhou Yigan. Counting among the entire Zhou family, they ranked fourth, seventh, eighth, and eleventh respectively. Zhou Qikui was in his fifties. After his death, apart from leaving a large house in Prince Consort Lane, he left no other valuable property to his descendants. When Zhou Enlai was born in 1898, the Zhou family had gradually declined.

When Zhou Enlai was a child, his eleventh uncle Zhou Yigan was suffering from an incurable disease and he did not have much time to live. He had only been married for a year and had no children. Zhou Enlai's father Zhou Yigan felt sorry for his younger brother and did not want to see him die without an heir. In order to give his younger brother some psychological comfort, he discussed with his wife Wan Dong'er and adopted his only son and eldest son Zhou Enlai to his younger brother Zhou Yigan. The 22-year-old Chen was proficient in poetry, calligraphy and painting, and often taught the young Zhou Enlai how to read and write in front of the window. This scene was also a childhood memory that Zhou Enlai would cherish for many years.

It can be seen from Zhou Yineng's attitude towards his younger brother that although the Zhou family was very poor at the time, the four brothers were brothers and respectful and very harmonious. As the elder brother, Zhou Yineng could He generously adopted his biological son to his younger brother Zhou Yigan, who had no offspring. As the eldest brother, Zhou Yigeng also treated Zhou Yineng's children as his own.

In 1904, 6-year-old Zhou Enlai moved to Qingjiangpu, Qinghe County with his father, biological mother, stepmother and younger brother. He studied in his grandfather’s home school. His father Zhou Yineng worked hard and his monthly salary was only 16 yuan. Money, the family's financial situation went from bad to worse. In a life of poverty and illness, Zhou Enlai's biological mother Wan Dong'er and stepmother Chen left him within a year.

In order to survive, Zhou Yineng went to Hubei to look for work again. His parents were no longer around. 10-year-old Zhou Enlai had to take his two younger brothers: 9-year-old Zhou Enpu and 4-year-old Zhou Enshou back to the already dilapidated Huai'an, Jiangsu Province. In his hometown, he relied on his eighth uncle Zhou Yikui and his eighth mother to survive. Zhou Yikui has suffered from polio since he was a child. He has limited mobility and is no longer able to work. The family has no financial resources. However, even though they are so poor, the eighth uncle and eighth mother still gritted their teeth and accepted the three children who had lost their support. Zhou Enlai always remembered the kindness of his eighth uncle and eighth mother, and he always cared about his relatives at home after leaving home. As the eldest son, at the age of 10, he shouldered the burden of the family early on with his young shoulders. Fortunately, his fourth uncle Zhou Yigeng often sent money back to support the family.

When Zhou Enlai was 12 years old, his fourth uncle Zhou Yigeng served as a clerk in the Fengtian Finance Bureau. The economic conditions improved. If there were any difficulties at home, Zhou Enlai would write letters to discuss with his fourth uncle. Zhou Yigeng discussed this with his fourth uncle. The relationship between the nephews is very deep. In addition, he has married three wives of the Wang family, Zhao family, and Yang family, and has never had anything to do, so he cares even more about the nephews in the family.

Zhou Yigeng wrote a letter asking Zhou Enlai to go to the Northeast to study. This became the first major turning point in Zhou Enlai's life and changed his life. He later recalled:

Zhou Yigeng was very Appreciating the talents of Zhou Enlai, his nephew, had a vital impact on Zhou Enlai's completion of studies and moral cultivation. That's why Zhou Enlai later said that his uncle was very kind to him. After carefully understanding everything Zhou Yigeng did to Zhou Enlai, he You will feel that the phrase "a kindness as heavy as a mountain" is not an exaggeration at all.

2

In 1910, Zhou Yigeng asked Zhou Enlai to transfer to Class D of Fengtian No. 6 Second Class Primary School. After studying here for two years, Zhou Enlai had a worried heart since he was a child. The country cares about the people. When the teacher asked everyone why they studied, some students said it was to help their parents keep accounts, and some said it was to have a bright future for themselves. However, the young Zhou Enlai answered extremely firmly:

In 1913, Zhou Yigeng's job was transferred to Tianjin as a clerk in the Changlu Salt Transportation Department. 15-year-old Zhou Enlai also moved to Tianjin with his fourth uncle's family. After three months of English tutoring, he was successfully admitted to the university. At the nationally renowned Nankai Private School, Zhou Enlai not only had excellent academic performance, but was also the president of the alumni association. He had a high appeal among students. The principal, Zhang Boling, often stayed with him for meals at home and said:

Zhou Yigeng was working in Tianjin at the time, and has always made his home in Tianjin. It was with the solid support of his fourth uncle that the young Zhou Enlai was able to successfully complete his studies. Judging from human nature, Zhou Enlai is not Zhou Yigeng's biological son. After the economic conditions improved, he was understandable in not caring about his younger brother and nephews who were in trouble at home. Moreover, Zhou Enlai had been adopted by his eleventh uncle Zhou Yigan. Zhou Yigeng's adopted child was Zhou Enlai's younger brother Zhou Enshou, Zhou Enshou was his nominal son, and he could only be responsible for Zhou Enshou's education.

Zhou Yigeng’s upbringing of Zhou Enlai was entirely out of the elders’ sincere concern for the younger generation, without any selfish motives. “In ancient times, those who wanted to bring virtue to the world first governed their country; "Organize his family; he who wants to order his family must first cultivate his own body." Zhou Enlai, who grew up in such a family atmosphere full of family affection, valued love and righteousness from an early age, had a mind for the world, and was extremely filial to his relatives. Whether he was studying in Japan , or far away in Europe, what I care about most are always my relatives at home. I often shed tears and have sleepless nights because I miss my hometown and relatives.

When he went to Japan to study, Zhou Enlai tried his best to pass the official examination. When he studied in Europe, he also worked part-time. He always insisted on work-study, so as to reduce the burden of his fourth uncle.

No matter where he was in the world, the difficult situation of his relatives at home always worried Zhou Enlai, and his greatest hope for his fourth uncle's kindness was that he would be able to repay it one day:

< p> In 1918, Zhou Enlai, who was far away in Japan, received the news of the death of his eighth uncle Zhou Yikui. He knew that his eighth uncle's illness was an old disease that he had suffered since childhood, but he died early because he never had money for proper treatment. He was simply poor. He was dead, thinking that his fourth uncle Zhou Yigeng must be so anxious now that he didn't know what to do, and that he couldn't go back to help share some of the burden. Zhou Enlai was so worried that he couldn't sleep for three days in a row.

Zhou Enlai's literary talent was very good. The person he mentioned most in his compositions was his fourth uncle Zhou Yigeng. In March 1916, Zhou Yigeng went from Tianjin to take up a position in the financial department of Xifeng County, Fengtian. Before leaving, in order to avoid The fourth uncle was sad because Zhou Enlai did not see him off at the station. After arriving in Shenyang, Zhou Yigeng wrote a letter to Zhou Enlai to report that he was safe. After receiving the letter, Zhou Enlai wrote a sincere "Letter to the Family" to his uncle:

Since 1910, Zhou Yigeng sent Zhou Enlai to After receiving his home in Northeast China, Zhou Enlai was treated like a biological son and raised by Zhou Yigeng for seven years. It was not easy to make a living in the dark and troubled times, but in order to support the big Zhou family and to provide for his nephews to study, Zhou Yigeng In the work, he has always been willing to compromise and work diligently. Now, in order to provide food and clothing for his children and nephews, Zhou Yigeng, who is nearly 40 years old, has to leave his home in Tianjin for many years and go to work in Liaoning, thousands of miles away. Zhou Enlai fully understands the hardship of his uncle's life, but he is still studying. But he was powerless and could not share even one ten thousandth of the burden for him. Thinking of this, in addition to worrying about his uncle who had been with him for many years, Zhou Enlai felt more guilty and uneasy.

Through Zhou Enlai’s letters, we can also feel the preciousness of Zhou Yigeng as an uncle. After taking Zhou Enlai to study in 1910, he took Zhou Enlai’s 14-year-old brother Zhou Enshou to study in Tianjin in 1918. , however, Zhou Yigeng, who successively provided education for his two nephews, was not a wealthy person. His younger brother Zhou Yikui was bedridden all year round, and he often had to send money back to support him. In fact, he did not have much money, and his life was rough. It is quite difficult. The reason why he has been able to persevere over the years is entirely due to his responsibility as the eldest son in the family and his heartfelt love for the younger generations.

Zhou Enlai lost his mother when he was a child. From Liaoning to Tianjin, he stayed with his uncle for seven years. "Youzi":

While in Japan and Europe, Zhou Enlai had been communicating with his uncle through letters. Every time he returned to China, he would go to the Northeast to visit him. In 1928, when Zhou Enlai and Deng Yingchao were traveling from Northeast China to the Soviet Union to attend a conference, they were followed by Japanese agents. The first thought that came to his mind at that time was to go to his uncle to take shelter from the limelight. Zhou Enlai used his nickname to get in touch with his uncle, and told the outside world that Zhou Yigeng was his uncle. Under Zhou Yigeng's clever cover, Zhou Enlai and Deng Yingchao got rid of the enemy and successfully left the country. At the critical moment of life and death, Zhou Enlai completely trusted his uncle:

This period was also the only warm moment when Zhou Enlai, Deng Yingchao and his wife got along with their uncle Zhou Yigeng and aunt Yang. In this short day, Deng Yingchao It left a good impression on the elders. Zhou Yigeng has always been known for his strict tutoring of his younger generations. Zhou Enlai's classmates recalled:

Zhou Yigeng's family motto for his younger generations is: "The children and grandchildren of Confucius do not know how to scold, the children and grandchildren of Zengzi do not know anger, and the children and grandchildren of the Zhou family do not know how to seek." . He asked the children and grandchildren of the Zhou family not to seek fame or profit, but to be frugal, study hard, and help others. Zhou Yigeng did the same throughout his life. The young Zhou Enlai was deeply influenced by his uncle. He never spent a penny at school. He also used the money he saved to help the sick old school staff treat their illnesses.

Deng Yingchao had long heard of Zhou Yigeng’s family management philosophy. Although she was a new woman and a revolutionary, she knew how to behave in front of her elders. During the day she and Zhou Enlai stayed at her uncle Zhou Yigeng’s house, Deng Yingchao does all the housework. When the elders are present, she never sits down and always stands.

Many years later, Deng Yingchao said humorously when mentioning this past event:

In the autumn of 1933, 61-year-old Zhou Yigeng quietly left this world at his home in Tianjin, but he has always lived among the younger generations. In his heart, the nephew he had raised for many years did not live up to his expectations. Zhou Enlai, who promised to "see us again when China takes off" when he parted with his classmates in Shenyang, finally fulfilled his wish and created a prosperous world for the people with his own hands. country.