Nothing Is A Soft Job for Our Premier: A Retiree

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, August 06, 2003

Nothing Is A Soft Job for Our Premier: A Retiree

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The time was just approaching 8:30 a.m. on March 5. Nanny Zhang Zhaosu, a 60-year-old retiree, hurried off for home from her regular morning exercises. "We have been thinking of the First Session of the 10th National People's Congress (NPC) since yesterday. Actually many senior people are concerned with Premier Zhu's last report on the work of the government," said her husband.

At their invitation, the reporter paid a visit to their home, meanwhile watching the live broadcasting of the meeting.

It is a simply-furnished yet well-arranged sitting room. From the old-fashioned refrigerator and worn-out sofa, the reporter read that they were living a stringent life.

When Premier Zhu was out at the front row around 9 a.m., the old couple gave a warm applause together with deputies.

Once Premier began to deliver the report, they gazed at him, listening attentively in silence.

When Premier mentioned that many workers had been laid off during the last five years, they nodded.

When Premier referred to falsification, extravagance and waste, they lent wriggling forward.

When Premier talked about efforts made to rectify the market order by slashing the counterfeit, they knitted their brows...

Seeing attendants were pouring tea for the presidium of the First Session of 10th NPC, they whispered, " Please have a sip of tea, Premier."

Although the 18" color TV delivered very mediocre sound and lighting effects, they listened seriously throughout the half-and-hour report without taking a drink.

Two of their three children have been laid off. However, Nanny Zhang said, "I can understand our government. It is not an easy job for our Premier to have administered such a huge country so well."

They are now living on the retirement pension of several hundred yuan without taking any subsidies from their children.

"The government made considerate policies. Nonetheless, some officials carried out these policies wantonly. They chucked away the state budget on eating and drinking rather than spent it properly, which induced a harmful practice in society. Some factories are on the brink of bankruptcy yet their directors turn a deaf ear to it. Although we ordinary masses hate to see such waste, we cannot do anything about it. Premier calls on officials to keep to the style of hard struggle and plain living and to stay free from arrogance and rashness. We sincerely hope that the government will put stresses on the construction of officials' working style. Never let the extravagance spoil the image of the Party."

Asked about their opinions towards Premier's report, they replied, "Frankly speaking, I didn't understand much of the contents. But, I agree on what I understand whole-heartedly."

When the reporter was leaving, they said with a regretful smile, "We don't have a good education. The interview must have disappointed you."

Though plain, every word has stricken home a profound influence on the reporter.

By PD Online Staff Zhu Lizhen

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