Liu Shaoqi sincerely listen to the truth

Liu Shaoqi pointed out in the political report of the Eighth National Congress of the Communist Party of China: "The important sign of a good party member and a good leader is that he is familiar with the people's living and working conditions, cares about the people's pain, and understands the people's hearts; he insists on hard work and plain living. Style, share weal and woe with the people, can accept the people's criticism and supervision, and does not put on any airs in front of the people; he has something to discuss with the people, the masses are willing to talk to him if they have something to say."
On April 12, 1961, Liu Shaoqi came to the bank of the Lao Dao River, a tributary of the Xiangjiang River-the "Red Flag Brigade" of Hunan Province, that is, Tianhua, Guangfu Commune, Changsha County, to investigate. Liu Shaoqi and his wife Wang Guangmei lived in the brigade headquarters of Tianhua Brigade for 18 days.
In the first few days, because of the instructions of grass-roots cadres, the branch secretary flatly denied that there were patients in the team, and the masses did not dare to tell the truth. On April 15, Liu Shaoqi held another forum for cadres and members. He said sincerely: "We are here to be primary school students of the masses. You must tell the truth and speak your heart. We should listen to both good and bad words, that is, we should also listen to what we scold us, including the president of our country, and reflect the most real situation at the grass-roots level to the Central Committee. No braids, no hats, no sticks." In front of the common people, the president, who was over 60 years old, took off his blue cloth hat and showed his white hair. He bowed deeply to the villagers respectfully and sincerely apologized to them: "seeing that the villagers live so hard, it is because the work of the president of our country has not been done well. I feel very sad. I am sorry to all of you!" "Cadres at all levels have responsibilities, the main responsibility lies with the central government, and the important responsibility lies with me!" He kindly opened cigarettes to everyone. The member Peng Shuyi's hands trembled with excitement, and the cigarette in his hand fell to the ground. Liu Shaoqi helped him pick it up, lit a match to help him light a cigarette, and asked him in whispers whether the public canteen was good or not. Liu Shaoqi's sincerity and sincerity finally opened the chatterbox of the common people.
When Liu Shaoqi learned the real thoughts of the members, he told the villagers, "The public canteen can be run or not. If it is run well, it will be run; if it is not, it will be scattered. It is still socialism to share the canteen without working." Then Liu Shaoqi listened carefully to the report of the central working group that arrived earlier, and then talked directly to the farmers. He conducted research by going from village to house, talking to people, chatting in the field, temporary inspection, on-the-spot observation, visiting old farmers, and offering condolences to patients. Every time he saw the barren countryside and the children digging wild vegetables, he was worried. Liu Shaoqi spared no effort to climb mountains and mountains, every family came to the door, opened the farmer's pot cover, personally tasted the chaff and wild vegetable soup as rations; pulled open the farmer's cupboard, only to find that the oil and salt jar had only salt and no drop of oil. Tianhua's reality shocked Liu Shaoqi. He made a decisive decision. The public canteen of Tianhua Brigade could be disbanded by itself, and local cadres were ordered to transfer iron pots from other places and distribute them to each member's home.

Source: China Organization and Personnel News