This centenarian, who walks without support and reads newspapers without presbyopic glasses, talked with great emotion about his application for Party membership last Wednesday morning.

"I, once a slave of foreign power, have lived in the northeast for decades. Though life turned better after liberation, coupons were needed for the purchase of meat, clothing and other consumer goods of daily use, because these things were in short supply sometimes, not to say housing. Over 10 years ago, my six-member family just lived in a small single-story, 10-odd square-meter house with the stove being linked up to the kang. (a heated brick bed in north China) You can well imagine what an unbearable state we were in.

"But now things are changing quickly in Shenyang. The city, which was originally full of chimneys sending out black smoke all day long in the past, is now a scene of green trees with a bright blue sky. And my family has moved into a spacious storied house, which provides lodging to 22 members of four generations, eight of them Party members. My children have grown up and are promising. However, I know they were educated and brought up by the Party. So I often tell them that without the Party, I wouldn't have been able to live to this day, not to mention leading a decent life.

"As I am 103 years old now, the local government provides me with allowance each month. Leaders at all levels take care of me in every possible way. On my birthdays or during festivals, they never forget to visit me, bringing with them gifts for me. When it turns cold, city leaders grope their way to my house on dark nights to see whether or not the heating radiator works properly. In a word, I am quite content with my present life.

"I like to read news, from which I learn that trains are no longer sending out smoke, and our satellites have been launched into the sky. When our government leaders visited foreign countries, they were warmly welcome wherever they went. The Chinese people are no longer subjected to petty annoyances. But sometimes when I'm brooding over something, I invariably feel I'm in want of something. Then what is the thing lacking? I want to join the Party!"

Everyone present was deeply struck by Grandpa Zhang's sincere feelings for the Party. Secretary Xie with the sub-district office said that Grandpa Zhang reads newspapers and watches CCTV news every day, concerning himself with Party and state affairs, and his greatest desire is to join the Communist Party of China.

(People's Daily November 15, 2002)