By Xue Zhi

Zhou Binjian is the youngest daughter of late Premier Zhou Enlais brother Zhou Enrong. Premier Zhou (1898-1976) and his wife Deng Yingchao (1904-1992) had no children. Zhou Bianjian was their most favorite niece. In 1968, Zhou Binjian graduated from junior middle school and applied to go to Inner Mongolia. Her application was approved. Before the 16-year-old set out to the north, she came to say good-bye to her favorite uncle and aunt. The premier and his wife invited her to stay for dinner.

The premier advised her to get used to the life in Inner Mongolia as soon as possible and gave her brief tips on food and other important things of everyday life there.

Zhou Binjian stumbled into a life completely different from her imagination. She lived in a tent. Local residents had noodle for dinner. It was the only meal of a day. They had milk tea twice for other meals. If she couldnt get used to that regimen, she would starve.

She adapted fast to the life. She learned to dress like a Mongolian girl. She learned to ride horse and herd sheep. She learned to speak the Mongolian language. And she merged with local residents. By how she dressed herself and how she worked, nobody knew she was of Han nationality and she was the premiers favorite niece.

In 1970, she joined the army through a normal channel and was assigned to Beijing. Four months later, the premier learned about her enlistment and advised her to go back to Inner Mongolia. The premier successfully persuaded her. Her uncle even asked if she ever considered marrying a Mongolian man and settling down there.

Zhou Binjians Romeo was a singer named Lasurong, a man she had never met but had heard of his singing everywhere across the vast autonomous region.

They finally met in 1977 when both studied in the Inner Mongolian University. Zhou fell in love with the handsome young singer. But the young man was very shy about the situation. He was from a very poor family and he was the familys only breadwinner. His monthly wage of 32 yuan supported himself, his mother and two sisters. He hesitated. Zhou Binjian was not to be deterred. She went to visit Lasurongs family frequently. The young mans mother liked her very much. The two began to date and then went steady.

They planned to get married. Then one day someone wrote an anonymous letter to her aunt Deng Yingchao, saying that “I am worried if our beloved premiers niece marries Lasurong”. Zhou Binjian did not have any idea that her aunt had known about her and Lasurong. Deng Yingchao said she would concern herself about her nieces future. The niece confided in her favorite aunt about her romance with Lasurong in 1978 while attending a meeting in Beijing. After learning the truth, the aunt said the love between the two was as beautiful as that of any other young people and that she would not interfere. The aunt said let the two decided when to get married. And the aunt wanted to meet the young singer in person. The young man came to Beijing and met with Deng Yingchao. The aunt liked the young man. In 1979, Zhou Binjian and Lasurong married. The aunt gave them a camera as a wedding gift and paid off a debt of 300 yuan in cash for Lasurong. The wedding was simple enough. They got married by buying a six-yuan sweater and putting their quilts together.

After nearly 30 years in Inner Mongolia, Zhou Binjian came back to Beijing to take care of her sick mother. She worked for the ministry of finance and her husband came to work for the Central National Dance and Song Troupe. Zhou retired from the ministry in March, 2009.

Looking back at her marriage, Zhou Binjian says she is happy. She says the 30 years on the grassland was the most beautiful period of her life. The biggest thing she gained from Inner Mongolia is her dear Lasurong. “He gives me a happy home!”□