United Zhiyie's Celebration Event for the Centenarian Veterans of the New Fourth Army

Inheriting the Revolutionary Spirit

On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Party, according to the work arrangement of the Party branch of Beijing United Wisdom Group, Yang Jin and Li Yanan were appointed to represent the Group Chairman and Party Branch Secretary Chen Yong, to visit the New Fourth Army Research Association Seventh Division Branch. They met with President Zhang Weimin, Vice Presidents Li Xiangbin and Gui Qi, Director Xu Xungu, Luo Yabin, He Changhong, and other outstanding second-generation representatives of the New Fourth Army. On the afternoon of October 11, 2021, at 3 p.m., they went to No. 2, Jia Courtyard, Wanshousi, Haidian District, to celebrate the centennial birthday of the veteran comrade Yao Qi, whom the descendants of the New Fourth Army respectfully call Aunt Yao Qi.

Congratulations on the Centenarian Birthday

Due to the impact of the pandemic, the leaders of the research association had not seen Aunt Yao Qi for nearly two years, but felt that the elderly lady was in good spirits. Everyone presented flowers to Aunt Yao Qi, brought longevity peaches, and gave summer quilts, congratulating her on her 100th birthday and wishing her health and longevity! Aunt Yao Qi held the flowers in her hands and repeatedly said, "Thank you for coming to my home to celebrate my 100th birthday. I wish you success in your work and happiness in life!" Aunt Yao Qi's son expressed his gratitude to everyone!

Joining the Communist Party of China

Yao Qi was born on October 3, 1921, in Tongcheng County, Anqing City, Anhui Province, into a scholarly family. As the eldest grandson of the Yao family’s main branch, she was influenced from a young age, laying a cultural foundation. At 14, she was admitted to Anqing Girls' High School, where she was influenced by progressive ideas and actively participated in patriotic student movements. Later, she worked at the Anqing textile factory, experienced the life of workers, and participated in labor movements. In 1938, during the anti-Japanese patriotic struggle, she joined the Communist Party of China. Due to the large-scale Japanese invasion and the continuous defeat of the Kuomintang government, she moved to the rear areas and continued anti-Japanese propaganda activities in Guilin, Guangxi. During this period, she met and married her revolutionary partner Zhou Hongming.

During the Liberation War

In 1943, Yao Qi returned to Tongcheng County and mobilized seven like-minded sisters to join the New Fourth Army Seventh Division stationed on the anti-Japanese front in southern Anhui, where she reunited with her husband Zhou Hongming who had arrived earlier. During her time in the Seventh Division, she mainly engaged in cultural education for the troops, mass propaganda, and local land reform work. During the Liberation War, she crossed the sea from the Shandong base area to Dalian, Liaoning, then controlled by Soviet forces, mainly engaged in intelligence collection and analysis for the troops. At the end of January 1949, following the victory of the Pingjin Campaign, she was assigned by the organization to work at the Tianjin Bureau of the Military Commission's Social Department in newly liberated Tianjin.

After the Founding of New China

After the founding of New China, during the period of large-scale national economic construction, she worked for several years in the Ministry of Fuel Industry and the education department in Wuhan, Hubei. In 1959, she returned to the Party's intelligence work front and was assigned to work at the Hong Kong branch of Xinhua News Agency in 1961. During the Cultural Revolution, Yao Qi experienced some setbacks but remained firm in her belief in the Party. Aunt Yao Qi retired in the 1980s and enjoyed her later years.

Comrade Chen Yong, Chairman and Party Branch Secretary of Beijing United Wisdom Group, has a father who is a veteran of the New Fourth Army and is also nearly 100 years old. Influenced by long-term revolutionary tradition education, Chairman Chen and the people of United Wisdom have inherited the red gene, adhere to the revolutionary path, and uphold the fine tradition of respecting and loving the elderly. The veterans of the New Fourth Army have made great contributions to the Party and the country and are valuable assets of the Party and the nation. The people of United Wisdom respect and cherish them! As part of the Group Party Branch's activities, following the assistance to the New Fourth Army Research Association Seventh Division Branch in holding the "Tracing Red Footprints, Singing the Centennial of the Party" visit event at the New Fourth Army Headquarters in Huangshan, this event is another very meaningful revolutionary tradition education activity. Beijing United Wisdom Group will continue to maintain close contact and cooperation with the Beijing New Fourth Army Research Association, provide loving services to revolutionary veterans, inherit the revolutionary spirit, and contribute multi-level and multi-angle efforts to revolutionary construction in the new era. Serving society, benefiting the public, achieving present merits, and benefiting future generations!