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He Yiquan: My life and the life of Sanmao
**Abstract**
I was born in 1932 and am now 81 years old. In January 1951, during my second year at Wuhan University, I answered the call of the Anti-US Aid and the Protection of the Homeland and joined the Chinese People’s Volunteers. After six years of resuming my studies, I graduated from Huazhong Institute of Technology (now Huazhong University of Science and Technology) in 1960. I retired in 1995, having worked for over 20 years and managed for more than a decade over the course of 36 years. In 42 years of work, Sanmao accounted for 6/7 of my life, and 81 years of experience covered 2/3 of it — a lifetime dedicated to service.
There is a saying: “Life is three people, death is three grinding ghosts.†I often reflect on the years that have passed. Key moments include joining the army, returning to school, engaging in research, joining the Party, and becoming a director — most of which were in an office setting. The commemoration of the 55th anniversary of the institute inspired my memories. I am grateful to Sanmao for providing me with meaningful jobs that served the country and the people, and for creating personal achievements I can be proud of. I am deeply satisfied with the love and support I received from Sanmao throughout my career.
In the first half of 1960, I returned to Wuhan University for my fifth year after being called back to study. I visited the library and read a magazine where I came across an article by Wang Jin, the first director of the "Machine Tools and Tools" department. This was my first encounter with Sanmao, though I had no idea I would be assigned there. During the rectification movement, when I filled out my volunteer distribution form, all three choices were factories. I thought of combining industry with workers and growth, but I was surprised when I received the assignment. My major was mechanical manufacturing technology and equipment, yet I was sent to a factory focused on chemical and non-metallic materials. Still, I believed that changing roles was not a bad thing.
On August 14th of that year, I arrived at Ludong Village by bus after getting off the train. After reporting to the design team, I learned I would be working on mechanical design, which brought me peace of mind. Upon arriving, I heard that during World War II, Germany bombed the Soviet Union, targeting power stations, transportation hubs, as well as bearing and grinding wheel factories. At that time, Shenyang, Zibo, and Zhengzhou each had large grinding wheel factories, considered secret units. This made me realize the critical role of this industry, and I felt a strong sense of responsibility.
In 1961, Comrade Lu Genren took charge, and under his leadership, we set up a research group and promoted the concept of “quiet and focused research,†which greatly encouraged me. Like other professional groups, the design team evolved into a specialized research office. Director Lu became the first head of the special equipment research room. Mr. Yu proposed a development plan for the sixth research office, including industry surveys, studying abroad, establishing laboratories, and building manufacturing plants. It gave me hope for the future of special equipment development.
Under the six research offices, I served as the deputy leader of the abrasive tools group. I thank the Party for its trust and encouragement. When implementing the “five-fix†policy of scientific research, I asked the team members to select key processes like grinding wheel molding and compounding, and I took on the remaining tasks. I visited many factories for internships and research, observed the rough equipment used in the industry, and saw the harsh conditions faced by workers. I was determined to work hard to improve the outdated machinery and bring progress to the sector.
Since 1963, when I turned 31, I married and found a lifelong partner and a stable family. I had no worries, even though I was separated from my wife for ten years due to work. I didn’t take a single leave for a whole year. In 1966, I led the development of the first oil-stone surface grinder for the industry, solving the problem of manually holding the oil stone while grinding planes. It won an advanced project award. As the deputy leader of the abrasive equipment group, I also contributed to the successful development of the resin sheet grinding wheel roll forming machine, which solved the manual enamel film issue and earned us an advanced professional group title. I personally received the title of technical innovation master, spoke at the conference, and felt confident moving forward in my research career.
Around 1973, I worked on six key tasks: developing industry-specific equipment plans, joint design with 10 factories, centralized manufacturing and fixed-point production, coordinating with the Ministry of Machinery, completing the “Design and Selection of Grinding Machine Tools†project, starting the “Selection and Design of Abrasive Mixers,†and participating in the preparation of the industry’s “Sixth Five-Year Plan†and technical reform plan. At the time, I was in my early 40s, full of energy, working day and night. These were crucial steps in my research journey.
Over the past 20 years, I have led or participated in over 30 projects and technical works. Among them, “Design and Selection of Grinding Machine Tools†achieved six firsts: more people (8), more results (7 machines), more applications (nearly 100), better efficiency (several million yuan in output value), and more awards (three provincial and two municipal). The special-shaped grinding wheel processing machine used advanced technologies such as rigid spindles, hydraulic chucks, hydraulic sealing rolling guides, and closed rigid beds. Unlike simple lathes in local factories, it was manufactured in Fushan County Machinery Factory in Shanxi and won the second prize for major scientific and technological achievements from the Shanxi Provincial Government and the first prize in Linyi City.
The oil-stone surface grinder changed the layout of imported equipment from East Sands of Ersha, relocating the column to the center of the workbench. Its compact footprint allowed vertical arms to remain stationary, with four gear sizes. Roller bearings and planetary cycloid reducers improved the rigidity of the machine tool, simplified the design and manufacturing process, and achieved 70% universal parts. It was produced in Fuxin Machine Tool Factory and won the second prize in the city and third prize in Liaoning Province. The entire project also received the third prize for major scientific and technological achievements from the Henan Provincial Government.
Over the past 20 years, I have traveled to over 100 cities and nearly 100 grinding wheel factories. I worked in sand wheel factories in Beijing, Tianjin, Yantai, etc., often staying for half a year. I met hundreds of technicians and workers, who invited me to their homes for meals. I grinded oil stones and drove wheels using electric tools. In the middle of the year, I often traveled to factories for months, sometimes unable to find sleepers. I once took three consecutive nights on a train to Fuxin, contacted the factory, and returned to Zhengzhou by night bus, speaking only briefly before falling asleep. At industry equipment meetings, I summarized foreign situations and presented reports on industry planning, leaving no time for rest. Because of frequent travel and busy work, my wife, who moved in 1973, was left alone with housework and fell into chronic illness, making me feel guilty.
After more than 10 years as deputy leader and several years as team leader, the reform and opening-up era brought a new spring for science. In 1979, I was appointed as deputy director of the Sixth Research Office. After one year, I was promoted to director and took on technical management responsibilities. In 1982, the ministry appointed me as deputy chief engineer of Sanmao, responsible for technical transformation. I reported to various departments more than 10 times in half a year. Regardless of the workload, I remained satisfied and committed. I intended to continue doing the work.
I enjoy reading books and newspapers, and I actively participate in political studies. I subscribe to magazines like “Red Flag†and “Learning,†read through four volumes of Mao Xuan, and deeply studied philosophical works such as “Contradictions†and “Practice Theory.†Party Secretary Zhao Qunyi visited our room many times, participated in political studies, and invited me to speak at the general meeting. I was honored to be named an advanced individual in Zhengzhou Industrial Science Daqing and went to Daqing to visit and study with Zhao Shuji, where I was deeply inspired.
On the eve of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party on June 30, 1981, I submitted another application for party membership. On July 1, 1982, I finally became a glorious member of the Chinese Communist Party. From January 14, 1950, when I became the first member of the New Democracy Youth League in New China (a member of Wuhan University), to becoming the first member of the Wuhan Municipal Congress, it was a dream that lasted over 30 years. I had a patriotic dream during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. On January 13, 1951, as a second-year student and member of Wuhan University, I responded to the call of the great anti-US aid and the defending country, embarking on the road of submitting a pen to serve the motherland. Despite many twists and turns, I never wavered in my conviction and feelings of loving the Chinese Communist Party and socialist China. I have stood the test of all political movements, especially the Cultural Revolution. Joining the party at the age of 50 was a glorious moment in my life.
In July 1983, the Ministry appointed me as director of the Sanmao Institute. This was something I never expected. I tend to analyze myself, and I think I’m not suitable for being a director — I prefer managing things rather than people. However, as a party member, I couldn’t refuse the organization’s request. I did my best, and later I also served as party secretary. For more than ten years of leadership, I lived through a different kind of life. The hard work of the first few years was far more complex than the research itself. Although I knew that Lu had said I could afford it and let it go, I wasn’t suitable due to my lack of ability. Even though I barely managed, I couldn’t walk away. If you want to ask questions, the pressure is small and it's really fun. But when the director thinks about problems, the pressure is unbearable, and he needs courage to act. Sure enough, less than two years later, on April 30, 1985, I was exhausted and nervous. I just wanted to relax, but suddenly I suffered from Ménière’s disease (inner ear vertigo), couldn’t stand, had to lie down, sweat, and vomit. Although hospitalized twice in 1985 and 1989, I was never fully cured and often relapsed. When re-elected, the work was mostly entrusted to Deputy Director Yan Wenhao, and the party committee work to Deputy Secretary Shao Dehou. I often only came to work in the morning. After 1993, the director position was not good, although I was still the secretary. Since 1994, my condition gradually improved, and later, the ear issues stopped, and the disease got better. In 1995, after many requests, the labor department agreed to retire. I had worked for over 60 years and 2 more years.
As a director, I had many duties and responsibilities, and I tried to do things for the employees. I didn’t need to write much. What I pursued was “doing things for the public, treating others with sincerity,†and never using power for personal gain. I wasn’t focused on managing people, but on serving them, and my term should withstand employee appraisal and historical inspection. There were moments when workers and shackles appeared, but they weren’t terrible — what mattered was not being embarrassed after leaving office. For more than ten years in leadership positions, I never looked at any employee’s files, nor did I read any technical information of any subject. I didn’t count personal grievances or dislikes; everything was based on facts, with the system as the standard, and things were not right.
When taking over as director, the ministry requested not to keep business, but to start a business. How to reform and open up, how to position, exist, and develop under the market economy, and how to predict the future of the planning office from the situation, market, and national conditions — these were the main issues I had long considered. I didn’t think about three or five years, but ten years and decades. Therefore, there were some non-job behaviors. In addition to vertical leadership, I also engaged in horizontal communication and alliances. There were two main things: establishing joint ventures and creating engineering centers. At the 45th anniversary of the institute, I wrote an article about creating an engineering center. I recently wrote a review of the history of the institute and included these two points. I won’t talk much about it here.
The joint venture and the construction center were not tasks assigned by the bureau, but two major events. The first joint venture, Shenzhen Zhengyuan Superhard Materials Co., Ltd., played a leading role. After the approval of the Shenzhen Municipal Government in October, we only needed to report to the ministry, but it was not agreed. Later, I explained that it was a technical window in the frontier areas of reform and opening up, which reluctantly agreed to set up. In 1989, I officially reached a cooperation agreement with Osaka Diamond Co., Ltd., and the ministry again opposed it. Because the local government had already established a project, we recommended a local factory replacement, which was the joint venture between Huanghe Industrial Group and Japan. The engineering center was first approved by the Provincial Science and Technology Commission and the provincial government, and together with the provincial government's special article to report to the State Science and Technology Commission. After the project was established, the formal application was submitted from the Ministry of Machinery. Our institute was the first engineering center of the Ministry of Machinery. Some directors at the meeting of the directors of the ministry asked me: What is the use of the center? The establishment of a joint venture factory made it very easy for us to obtain the autonomy of the first batch of 100 national research institutes in the country, and also created powerful conditions for the Shenjian Center. If it were a few years later, our center may have been difficult to pass the industry review. (The second declaration office in the department was not approved). It was enough to be busy enough, and I found these extra things, and I became more busy and tired. I have always revered Zhuge Liang in my life, doing my best, and dying in the effort.
Three mills, three types of grinding, making hard abrasives into sharp ones for the last critical process of machining. Three mills, honing, grinding, honing — I grew up in Sanmao, from a military and university graduate through tempering (character), grinding (aspirations), honing (gungry), growing into research and design personnel for special mechanical equipment for abrasive tools (recognized as professor-level senior workers, enjoying special allowances from the State Council), and then to top management positions (respected as outstanding leading cadres of the Ministry directly under the Ministry, outstanding Communist Party member of Zhengzhou City, National Science and Technology Commission Torch Program advanced individual). Let me make the most of my strength, play and perform extraordinary roles. On the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the founding of the institute, I reviewed my love for Sanmao and the ups and downs of my heart and emotions. I am grateful for the good environment provided by the reform and opening up. I am grateful to Sanmao for providing a great stage for my life. Thanks to the leaders of the office and many colleagues on the same stage. We performed together in one scene after another. Although I have been retired for many years, I still miss you deeply!