Lei Shi

Lei Shi, born into a poor family with an unspecified birth date. Her family background was relatively impoverished, and she was deeply aware of the hardships of the poor, demonstrating great charity and kindness within her family. During her youth, Lei Shi married Pu Zanting, an industrialist of Xuanyuan Ham (a type of cured ham). Pu Zanting once served as the Director of Supplies for the Yunnan Army under Sun Yat-sen’s Northern Expedition Army. As a result, her family became the female head of a general’s household. In her family life, Lei Shi fully displayed the virtues of traditional Chinese women, acting as the mistress of household affairs and the backbone of the family.

In 1925, Lei Shi took her daughter Pu Qiongying (later renamed Zhuo Lin) to Guangzhou to participate in Sun Yat-sen’s revolutionary activities. This was the first time she traveled far from home and marked an important political milestone in her life. At that time, she wore fashionable cross-collared shirts, with simple hair, embodying the elegance typical of Chinese women of that period. She gained respect from others through her kindness and hard work, caring for her family and actively helping friends and relatives to resolve difficulties.

During her life in the Pu family, Lei Shi experienced her husband Pu Zanting’s imprisonment and the crisis of her family being ransacked. At that time, she fled with her eldest son and young daughter, eventually leading the family out of hardship and helping her husband restore their family business. She sold her assets to settle disputes for her husband, demonstrating a strong sense of family responsibility. Her actions enabled Pu Zanting to make a comeback.

Lei Shi’s influence was also reflected in her education and values passed down to her descendants. Her daughter Zhuo Lin later became the wife of Deng Xiaoping, inheriting her mother’s resilience and charitable spirit. During the Yan’an period, Zhuo Lin devoted herself to the revolution, actively participating in national affairs as a young revolutionary and performing well in various roles. After the founding of New China, Zhuo Lin always adhered to her husband’s principles, focusing on family and secretarial work without pursuing higher office.

Lei Shi passed away after the Anti-Japanese War, though the exact date of her death is unknown. Her death was regarded by her family as a great loss. Throughout her life, Lei Shi was diligent, kind, and virtuous, earning respect from both her family and society. Her life exemplified a combination of traditional maternal virtues and new-era values, setting a good example for her family and the community. In the memory of the Pu family, Lei Shi is always regarded as a symbol of resilience, charity, and modesty.