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Mao comes to town
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Huang Naili
XU ZHAOYANG, a local businessman, and his nine-year-old daughter got up at six o'clock yesterday morning to rush to Shenzhen Book City in order to grab a copy of “My Uncle Mao Anying", a book written by the only grandson of the late Chairman Mao Zedong.
The father and daughter were rewarded for their dedication by becoming first in the line which by 9am -- an hour before the author was slated to give autographs -- consisted of more than 50 people.
Chen Jintao, general manager of the city's largest bookstore, was reluctant to give too much publicity on the occasion for fear of a chaotic situation during the festival season. “Also I'm not sure if Shenzheners would take to it. Mao Anying was a hero a long time ago. Many people nowadays don't even know who he was."
However, Chen was surprised and happy to see the quick sale of more than 500 copies of the book in memory of the hero, who was killed while a member of the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) sent to Korea to fight against US aggressors and aid Korea in the early '50s.
Mao Xinyu, in a dark grey Sun Zhongshan-style suit worn so frequently by his famous grandfather, began signing autographs at 10am. Xu Zhangyang and his daughter were happy to get the first autograph. Xu said he would hate to see his daughter fighting for autographs from pop stars: “I want her to read the book and to remember the spirit of these people who sacrificed their lives for the building of New China."
Tong Qingfu, who owns a newsstand in Futian District, abandoned his business to get the young Mao's autograph: “I got up at 6am and I didn't have breakfast. And I didn't sell any newspapers. I really cherish the memory of Chairman Mao and I'm so excited to see his grandson in person."
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