Interview with Zhu Guangjian

Zhu Guangjian (b. 1941) is a resident of Diaoyutai Village, Yindian Town, Suizhou City, Hubei Province. Zhu believes that the grain shortage was because China needed to pay debt to the Soviet Union with grain. But later in the interview, he also talks about the boasting and exaggeration of grain production during 'the transitional period'. Since 1958 people could eat in the People's Commune Canteen for free. Soon the commune canteen failed to feed the people, who began to eat wild herbs, tree barks, corn leaves, water grass and chaff. In 1959 Zhu participated in the construction of Handan Railway because he could have more food there. Zhu recalls that most fellow villagers died of starvation were adults.

朱广建（1941年生）是湖北省随州市殷店镇钓鱼台村村民。朱老人认为粮食缺少的的原因是国家需要集中粮食给苏联还账, 在之后的采访中他也提到了'粮食过渡'时期的浮夸风。1958年免费吃食堂, 后来食堂吃不饱人们开始吃野菜、榔树皮、青桐树皮、棉花叶子、水草和糠的情况。1959年朱老人辍学参加汉丹铁路建设, 因为能够吃得多一些。另外, 老人还回忆村里饿死的大多是成年人。

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。