周贻能

Zhou Shaogang, originally named Zhou Yineng, courtesy name Maocen, was born on July 11, 1874, at Baishuïtang in Shaoxing, Zhejiang. He was the father of Zhou Enlai and the second son of Zhou Qikui. His father was born in the Jiazi Year of Daoguang (1844), originally named Paitunlong, later changed to Panlong, courtesy name Yunmen, from the Lu family; his mother was Lu Rui, a cousin of Lu Xun.

In 1890, at the age of 17, Zhou Shaogang took part in the county examination in Huainan, Jiangsu, along with his brothers, passing as a xiucai (licensed scholar). Subsequently, his father sent him to Shaoxing to study under his uncle Lu Xiaohe, learning secretarial affairs (shiye). In 1891, he married a woman from Huaiyin, beginning his married life. In his youth, he earned a living as a "guoxuesheng" (student of classical studies) and held the official rank of "Zhushang" (Senior Clerk), both titles acquired through donations. The title "Guoxuesheng" indicated a certain level of cultural literacy, while "Zhushang" was a sixth-rank official rank, a nominal title without actual duties. After his father's death, to support himself, he worked in various regions including Jiangsu, Hubei, the northeast, and Hebei, serving as an aide, family tutor, or clerk handling correspondence and dispatches.

In 1922, with the help of his older brother Zhou Yigen, he became a clerk at the Tobacco and Alcohol Affairs Bureau in Qiqihar, earning a relatively stable income. Around 1927, during the "April 12 Incident" and the difficult period of underground struggles in Shanghai in 1931, Zhou Shaogang risked his life to meet his son Zhou Enlai in Shanghai and participated in activities supporting the revolution.

During the War of Resistance Against Japan, in 1937, Zhou Enlai represented the Communist Party in negotiations for the second United Front. Subsequently, the Eighth Route Army Office was established in Hankou, where Zhou Shaogang lived with Deng Yingchao's mother Yang Zende and other family members. After Wuhan was occupied by the Japanese army, Zhou Shaogang relocated to Hongyan Village in Chongqing. Due to his advanced age, he mainly performed chores such as guarding the door and sweeping the yard but maintained good relations with the staff. In July 1942, in Chongqing, he suddenly fell ill and passed away. On the day of his death, Zhou Enlai, who had just recovered from surgery, was deeply shocked and saddened by the news of his father's passing.

Throughout his life, Zhou Shaogang endured upheaval and lived a life of hardship and simplicity. He and his wife Wan Dong'er had three sons: the eldest, Zhou Enlai; the second, Zhou Enpu; and the third, Zhou Enshou. After Zhou Enlai’s death, he rarely mentioned his father, only expressing sympathy for him to relatives in 1964. During the spring and summer of 1974, before being hospitalized, Zhou Enlai spoke of his father's modest yet upright life. Deng Yingchao once gave Zhou Binge, his niece, a small black leather case containing old photographs of Zhou Shaogang, which served as proof that his father carried important documents during his underground work period.