Thursday, 14 January

Ninth day of the twelth lunar month

Yang Gongda (楊公達) invited me to lunch at his house (No.4, Zhang Jia Garden). Section Chief Yang Yunzhu came and said he had detected from the tone of both ministers Wu, and Hu, that they didn’t agree that he should leave the section and then follow me to Soviet Russia. This put him in a difficult situation. I told him to take it easy. He then told me that if I agreed, he would tell Wu and Hu that he will not go with me. I said I would support such a reply. After lunch I went with Baoqiao and Li Bohua to Dushiqiao using Wu Shangying ‘s newly acquired car, an Austin. We did not arrive until 5.30 in the afternoon. In the evening Fanny was already experiencing labour pains and I discussed the arrangements for after my departure with her. To separate is one of the most terrible things in life and she was crying till dawn and I felt very sad as well. Because of the difficult situation within the country and my heartfelt responsibility towards my Party and my country I would rather stay home and die of poverty or starvation and not leave my Fanny.  I tried not to cry and consoled her. I told her that life in the future would be more stable. She would stay with her parents. She also understood that it was my responsibility to my country and she changed to consoling me. Well, this is the general sentiment of human beings universally.