Zhou Enlai and the Farmer Zhang Erting

In early May of 1961, Zhou Enlai went to conduct a survey in Baiyan Commune, Wu'an County, Handan, Hebei. Wu'an was poorer than Zhou Enlai thought. When he saw there were no leaves on the trees at roadsides, he asked:"where are the leaves?" The cadre who accompanied him was afraid that the truth would make the premier sad so he lied:"they have been eaten up by sheep."

In the public dining hall of the production brigade, the premier Zhou organized an information discussion which brigade and sub-brigade carders and representatives of commune members participated in. At the beginning, some people said that eating in the public dining hall was good but most people made no comment. Considering this situation, Zhou Enlai said:"don't worry. Say what you want to say. It doesn't matter if you say something wrong."

After a while, still no one said anything. Zhou Enlai asked the farmer Zhang Erting sitting over there, "what's your name? Why didn't you talk?" Zhang Erting stood up suddenly and said:"premier, do you want me to tell the truth or a lie?" "Of course, the truth." "The truth is what they said is a lie. Eating in the public dining hall isn't good at all. The dining hall is good but we don’t have enough to eat," Zhang Erting said, "premier, you can see the quota of food for each person. If the mess officer and cooks eat a little more, if their children, wives and parents eat a little more, if the cadres eat a little more, how much food could be left for us? Just a little. We suffer from oedema and have no strength to work. And our livestock is so emaciated that they could even be blown away. The curses are that: firstly, the work style of cadres is prone to boasting and exaggeration; and secondly, we all eat in the public dining hall. If it continues, I think even you won't have enough to eat in a few years." After hearing Zhao Erting out, Zhou Enlai said sincerely, "Erting, you are the first one who dares to tell the truth on my survey trip. Good. I want to make a friend with you."

Zhou Enlai reported to Mao Zedong on the actual situation of his survey. Since the survey results of other central leaders were similar to Zhou Enlai's survey result, the central committee soon made a decision to disband rural public dining halls.