Tongfang Academy
Micro Party Class · Issue 329
Cultivate a patriotic spirit like that of Huang Xuhua.
“Theoretical cultivation is the core of the comprehensive quality of Party members and cadres. Theoretical maturity is the foundation for political maturity, and political steadfastness stems from theoretical clarity.” For Party members and cadres, fostering a fine academic ethos and strengthening theoretical training are both fundamental requirements for cultivating Party spirit and an inescapable political responsibility.
Tongfang Law Firm provides all its lawyers with learning opportunities in the form of micro-party classes, thereby enhancing their ideological and political awareness as well as their spirit of learning and inquiry. By establishing a long-term educational mechanism, the firm has created a new platform for self-education and self-improvement.
“Patriotism is the deepest and most enduring emotion in the human world.” What kind of patriotic actions can illuminate a chapter of history? And what monumental achievements can move an entire nation?
On February 7, when the heartbreaking news of Huang Xuhua’s passing spread across the internet, people everywhere expressed their deep gratitude for this elderly man’s lifelong dedication and boundless sincerity. Old articles recounting his life-long “deep dive” for the motherland were once again brought to the top of search results; videos of his interviews resurfaced; mountains of admiration and rivers of tribute flowed forth; and countless words filled with reverence and sorrow offered us the answers we’d been seeking.
Huang Xuhua, an elderly man who lived a life of quiet simplicity, left this world quietly, once again stirring deep nostalgia for a glorious chapter in history and prompting profound reflection on what it means to love one’s country. In that moment, his thoughts, his moral character, and his contributions became timeless.
Huang Xuhua’s life was “simple” in one sense: from a young man determined to succeed to an elderly man with silver hair, he devoted his entire life to nothing but the research and development of nuclear submarines. Yet his life was also “extremely complex”: he willingly lived a life of anonymity, dedicating his whole being to the country. With a “life that could not be openly spoken of,” he answered profoundly the question of how one should live one’s life. Between “simplicity” and “extreme complexity,” Huang Xuhua, through his modest yet remarkable demeanor—“famous yet unknown”—embodied the patriotic spirit of “thinking about what the nation thinks and urgently addressing what the nation urgently needs.” His life reflected the magnanimity of “greeting the autumn dew with a fresh sprig, unassuming yet leading the garden’s earliest bloom,” and showcased the broad-mindedness of “neither seeking praise for one’s beauty nor desiring acclaim, but leaving only pure fragrance filling the universe.”
A hero is one who stands out from the crowd and rises above the rest. Heroes generally fall into two categories: one charges forward boldly, fearless and selfless—“willing to sacrifice their lives for the nation’s plight, treating death as if it were returning home”; the other devotes themselves wholeheartedly, working tirelessly day and night—“like a silkworm that spins its silk until death, or a candle that burns itself out only when its wax has turned to ash.” The former exemplifies courage and boldness, while the latter embodies perseverance and dedication. Huang Xuhua possesses both of these noble virtues simultaneously.
Witnessing the nation’s suffering at the hands of Japanese aggressors, during his middle-school years he changed his name from Huang Shaoqiang to Huang Xuhua, vowing, “As the rising sun illuminates the east, may China shine in glory,” and resolutely “abandoned medicine for shipbuilding.” After embarking on the development of nuclear submarines, he retreated to a remote island for 30 years, determined: “No matter how low I have to bow my head or how upside down my feet may be, I’ll still get those nuclear submarines built!” Even after achieving great fame and success, he refused to live in luxury or comfort, devoting himself wholeheartedly to serving as a “cheerleader” for young scientific researchers. With strength as steadfast as a towering pillar, achievements as enduring as green mountains, and a soul as pure as crystal, Huang Xuhua has fused his deep love for his country and his unwavering commitment to serving it into the grand cause of strengthening both the nation and its military, thereby erecting a spiritual monument that commands universal admiration.
Recipient of the Republic Medal and the State’s Highest Science and Technology Award, National Model of Morality… Where does such a distinguished aura of achievement come from? Netizens answered with two classic quotes from Huang Xuhua: “My entire life belongs to the motherland; I have no regrets or remorse in this life.” “When the motherland calls on me to give my blood once, I’ll give it all at once; when the motherland asks me to shed my blood drop by drop, I’ll do so drop by drop!”
Oaths may be silent, yet the nation’s powerful instruments are the finest testament to its reputation; though life is finite, remembrance and inheritance are the most enduring mementos. The giants have passed on. No matter how many tears or flowers we offer, we cannot hold back the footsteps of these heroes. The torch of patriotism has now been passed into our generation’s hands. Today, we live in a new era—one that values loyalty and champions selfless dedication, an era that reveres heroes and calls for practical action. Striving forward is the most concrete declaration of patriotism. Let us cultivate the patriotic spirit exemplified by Huang Xuhua, integrating our personal efforts into the mighty tide of building a strong nation and achieving national rejuvenation—“bending our heads low, willingly becoming silent pillars,” “standing tall, becoming the nation’s greatest treasure.” By boldly stepping forward as those who march in step with the times, as pioneers and contributors, we will surely accomplish extraordinary feats that benefit both our country and our people, and write a life story that leaves us with no regrets.
Source | People's Daily Online, Official Website for Party History Study and Education
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