Interview with Zeng Guiying

Zeng Guiying (b. 1932) is a resident of Pengtian Village, Jiangxi Province. In this interview, Zeng recalls the life during the Great Famine. In 1957 when the communal canteen was established, every household’s pots and stoves were confiscated. The famine started in 1958. With three members, Zeng’s family was only assigned one jin of rice everyday. The over 200 people at the communal canteen had to scramble for the scarce supply of food at every meal. In fear of hurting the unborn babies, pregnant women did not dare to join them. Because Zeng was usually not strong enough to get her portion of food, she had to rely on the food her dad, who was the leader of the people’s commune, saved for her. Because of starvation, many people stole food from others, ate daffodils and even river mud.

曾桂英1932年出生，是江西省抚州市广昌县彭田村村民，在这段口述中，曾老人回忆了大饥荒时期的经历。1957年村里开始办大食堂，家里的锅炉都被收走。1958年开始挨饿，曾老人一家三口一天只能分一斤米。每次吃饭一个食堂二百多个人争抢粮食，怀孕的害怕压到小孩都不敢去。曾老人当时抢不到饭，只能靠当社长的父亲分她一点粮食。因为挨饿有人便去偷吃的，甚至吃河泥、水仙花等。

Transcripts for this interview and more may be available under the ‘Documents’ link above. 采访抄录和相关内容，请点击查看上面的’Documents’链接。