Siheyuan: I am different He Yuzhu

Then M Lide talked to He Yuzhu about many factory management issues. When they were almost done, He Yuzhu mustered up the courage to say, "M Lide, I have a suggestion I want to share with you."

"What suggestions do you have? Tell me!" M. Lide asked with concern.

"Before coming here today, I read about our country's aid to Albania in the Masses Daily. I wonder if we can reduce our aid to foreign countries and use it to change the lives of our people at home, or to increase investment in the industrial sector?"

"Comrade Xiao He, do you feel bad about the huge amount of money our country spends on foreign aid?" M Lide said kindly.

He Yuzhu nodded seriously and explained, "I think it's better to use the money in China than to give it to foreign countries for free. For the kind of aid that is really unavoidable, we should not use free aid. I suggest using loans. In this way, when they get through the difficulties, they can repay us. There is an old saying in our country that we only help in emergencies but not in poverty. If their countries don't work hard and just keep asking for aid from us, we can't support them for the rest of their lives!"

"And if we continue to provide them with aid without limits, not only will they not appreciate it, but they may also think that our aid is their due. Once our aid is reduced, they will blame us. This is a typical case of gratitude leading to resentment."

"Xiao He, our country is now being isolated internationally by America and Russia. If we don't maintain good relations with other countries, the situation we face may become more passive." M. Lide said earnestly.

"No matter how overbearing America and Russia are, it is impossible for all countries to isolate us. I feel that the most effective way to break through the blockade of America and Russia is to strengthen our own strength. As the saying goes, a good blacksmith must be strong himself. As long as we are strong, the blockade of America and Russia against us will be broken."

"Just like the Qin State during the Warring States Period, when the Qin State was still very weak, none of the other six states looked up to the Qin State and bullied the Qin State at every turn. But when the Qin State became rich and strong after six generations of monarchs, no country dared to look down on the Qin State, and the Qin State could easily find a reason to make other countries cede cities. Therefore, I feel that the fundamental thing for our country is to concentrate its strength and improve its industrial strength bit by bit."

"Besides, we are such a big country that even if Western countries lift the technological blockade against us, we do not have sufficient funds to purchase the necessary technology. In the end, we still have to rely on our own efforts to realize national modernization. We cannot buy our way to national modernization."

At this point, He Yuzhu paused and continued, "Take Albania for example. The entire country is a small country with a population of less than 2 million. If we give them a little assistance, their people can live a happy life. But then again, how much say can a small country with a population of less than million have in the international arena? If America is compared to a tiger, Albania is like an insignificant ant. I have never heard of a tiger caring about an ant on the ground."

M Lide sighed and said, "Xiao He, I understand your feelings, but the exchanges between countries are equal. We cannot look down on other countries just because they are weak."

"Even if we need foreign aid, we have to do it within our means. We can't let our people go hungry while we tighten our belts to help other countries! Besides, our country has not yet completely solved the problem of food and clothing for the people." After saying this, He Yuzhu looked at M Lide with a firm face.

"Xiao He, we are a big country. If we donate a little, we can solve the thorny problems of those small countries. And some aid cannot only be judged by economic value, but also by strategic value, such as the war that the country fought in the Korean Peninsula and America when it was first established."

"M Lide, what you said makes sense. I admit that small countries are not strong in resisting major disasters, and they cannot compare with our country in terms of comprehensive national strength. But a small country does not mean that the people have a bad life! Take Albania for example. If their total annual income is only 20 billion yuan, it may not be as good as a fraction of our country. But their country has less than 200 million people, and the average per person is 1000 yuan, which is far higher than our country's per capita level. We are blindly helping them. Isn't this like a beggar tightening his belt to donate to the rich peasants?"

He Yuzhu paused for a moment and continued, "There are many details like this, such as per capita grain output, per capita steel output, and so on. Well, even if they are not living as well as we are now, we have provided them with assistance and made their lives better; but from a moral point of view, after they have a good life, shouldn't they help us in return? Ordinary people still know how to interact with each other, so don't countries need to do that? If you don't know how to be grateful, you are definitely an ungrateful person."

"Therefore, I suggest that before providing foreign aid, it is best to investigate the situation of the country being assisted. Only when we are sure that the country is facing difficulties that cannot be solved by itself, we can give them certain assistance from a moral perspective. If the amount is relatively small, we can provide them with free assistance, but if the amount is relatively large, it is best to give them in the form of loans. When they get through the difficulties, they can slowly repay us, and we can do so without interest or at a very low interest rate."