The story of the first blast furnace female welding of Wugang tells the story of shaking hands with Chairman Mao

On September 13, 1958, today 64 years ago, a fiery "torrent" burst out from the mouth of Wugang No. 1. More than 3,000 people in the audience suddenly sounded the applause and cheers of the sky. Chairman Mao Zedong boarded the furnace, standing on the platform, and watched the birth of the first furnace iron.

Wu Runmei tells the story of the construction of No. 1 for young employees and the employees of Chairman Mao met with Chairman Mao.

"Chairman Mao laughed happily and kindly, applauding with everyone present, and beckoning everyone one by one." Wu Runmei, who was standing behind Mao Zedong, has retired for many years. On September 10, 2022, Wu Runmei said in an interview with the Yangtze River Daily reporter: "My brain is blank. When they saw the iron water, I looked at Chairman Mao as soon as possible. Take out the photos of her collection with Chairman Mao throughout her life, stroking it over and over again, and laughed at each other.

For Wu Runmei, who has been with Chairman Mao that day, and accompanied by the whole process, September 13, 1958 was a highlight of New China and her. This is built by the "Soviet experts enthusiastically, more than 200 factories in the 18 provinces and cities", built in the "Wild Five Miles" in Qingshan, Wuhan, with a volume of 1386 cubic meters. The average daily output of British Wels 4, which is known as "Western Europe's largest blast furnace", is still 500 tons. The first furnace of New China has made the European and American countries who have publicly predicted that "out of the iron is simply‘ Fang Ye Tan ’”, which has made countless builders encouraging and rejoicing. "I was one of the tens of millions of builders at that time, and it was the first female welder in China. At this moment, I was extremely glorious." In the past 64 years, Wu Runmei has recalled countless times and told the scene at the time.

The first to shake hands with Chairman Mao, this life was encouraged

"Chairman Mao shook hands with the builders of us on the same day. I was the first to shake hands with him. The chairman's hand was warm and powerful, his eyes were firm and kind, and he kept looking at me." On September 11, 1958, Wu Runmei received it in advance. The notice asked her not to leave the construction site casually, and she guessed that Chairman Mao was coming. Thinking that she could see Chairman Mao immediately, she was so excited that she didn't fall asleep all night.

On September 13th, the bald furnace of Wugang No. 1 was successfully leaned out. Chairman Mao came to the iron ceremony and shook hands with the builders one by one. "Chairman Mao was very tall. He walked in front of me and asked me with a strong Hunan accent. How old is you? 'I immediately answered twice. If you don't come out, you can only answer the chairman over and over again. "

According to Wu Runmei, among the front -line builders of Chairman Mao's handshake that day, she was the only one who accompanied the whole process. Mao Zedong appeared on the blast furnace platform, and only a few staff members surrounded him. Wu Runmei was one of them and the only female comrade. Chairman Mao smiled and beckon everyone at the scene, thanked Soviet experts to pay tribute to the builders in all aspects of design, construction, and production around him. When he was farewell, the chairman also waved to everyone and did not let go for a long time.

"I deeply feel that Chairman Mao has deep feelings for our workers' class." The scene 64 years ago, Wu Runmei was still vivid and encouraged throughout his life.

"Work does not talk about conditions, and labor does not pay attention to work." It is the common spirit of that era

Wu Runmei welding work diagram.

Wu Runmei is a native of Wuhan, who brings a "female general" who "not allowed to make a eyebrow". In 1956, at the age of 20, she signed up for the welding of No. 1 blast furnace. After three strict exams, she entered the martial arts site as expected. Welding is a bitter work, especially at high altitude of more than 70 meters. It is a huge test for ordinary young and strong male comrades. The quality supervisor at the time was very uneasy about Wu Runmei, a female welder. "When I was in the homework, the quality inspector stared at me intently, and every piece had to be checked. I also took the welded things to cut the inspection of the horizontal cut surface to see if it was not qualified. No matter how he checked, I met the standard. . "Wu Runmei talked about his experience of becoming a furnace female welder." It has been liberated, it is New China! Participate in revolution, male and female equality, male comrades can do it, and female comrades can do it. "

Wu Runmei participated in the construction of the first, second, three, and four -four blast furnaces in Wugang. According to her, when welding furnace No. 4, other female welders have joined the production team.

In the midsummer of Wuhan, the sun is like a fire. When welding the martial arts No. 1 blast furnace, Wu Runmei wore a heavy protective suit every day, climbed up to 70 meters high blast furnaces, and worked with a mask. With two hoe, the water dare not drink more. If the male welding worker welded, she welded as much as she welded. After the number of blast furnaces was completed, Wu Runmei "reborn" -the weight lost 30 pounds, and the short hair that had been favorable could have been tied with two twist braids. Until now, there can be a little scar left in her work on her two arms.

"Work does not talk about conditions, and labor is not paid" is the spirit of the builders in the early stages of the construction of New China. "Conditions are dry, and there must be no conditions to create conditions! It's not that I am alone. Everyone's enthusiasm is very high, and I am very motivated." Wu Runmei said: "In order to build a New China, everyone is working hard."

Witness the country's great changes, "If you are young, you still want to participate in construction"

Wu Runmei visited Wugang No. 1 blast furnace.

Although Wu Runmei is nearly 90 years old, she is clear and spiritual. She witnessed the vicissitudes of New China. Recalling the scene of arriving in Qingshan at the beginning of the year, she was so emotional. When I first joined the work, everyone lived in the "sheds" in the factory area. The entire Qingshan District was deserted, and there was only one 6 -way bus. Go back to Hanyang's home from the factory, take a boat, take a car, and move for a long time. Later, they got married and had children, and they were divided into "tube tower". Everyone was squeezed. The corridor was very narrow. The kitchen and bathroom were shared by the kitchen and bathroom. In 2007, Wu Runmei moved his family into a newly -built residential building. The community property services were complete, the living environment was clean and comfortable, and the transportation was convenient. She has also built a new community hospital in Xingouqiao Street, Qingshan District, Wuhan, to provide health guarantee for residents, especially elderly elderly. Wu Runmei, who is now studying for a doctorate, is often invited to participate in the party organization activities of the unit to communicate with young people. She encourages the younger generation to "work skillfully" -the inheritance of suffering, but also to learn new science and technology, and actively innovate.

When Wu Runmei was young, China was in the early stages of construction, developed backward, and had difficult conditions. She said: "Just decades have passed, and now our country has really achieved catching up in many aspects, which is really exciting. If I am young, I want to continue to participate in construction."

"66 years in the party is my biggest honor"

Wu Runmei looked at the "Glory of 50 Commemorative Medal in the Party". Photo by Zhao Liji's reporter from the Yangtze River Daily

Wu Runmei's drawer has a group photo of her and Chairman Mao and the "Glory Fifty Years of the Party" commemorative medal and certificate. This is the "honor certificate" of her life. She said, "I can study, participate in work, be met by Chairman Mao, and live a happy life now. All of this is given by the Communist Party of China. Become a Communist Party member, it is my greatest honor."

Wu Runmei, who just graduated from Huangshi Technical School in 1954, was assigned to administrative positions. However, she wanted to learn what she used to apply for to build the front line and became the female welder of the No. 1 blasting furnace. In 1964, she was adjusted to the rear because of her marriage. One year after the eldest daughter, she took the initiative to apply to the organization to return to the front line. It was not until 1976 that she was elected as the chairman of the union in her unit, and her physical condition was no longer suitable for high -intensity operations. After entering the administrative post, she first started to build grass -roots party organizations. While serving as a full -time deputy secretary of the factory branch of Yi Ye, she still insisted that "she can't do it, but she can accompany the workers and masters."

"Chairman Mao has met me, and the party trusts me. In this life, I always demand myself strictly." Wu Runmei said that he was a Communist Party member. Essence

(Changjiang Daily reporter Yao Xu Tu Guangying Xu Jia correspondent Yin Zhiyuan Guo Changfeng)

【Edit: Zhang Jing】

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