Model homes for model workers (2)

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By Wang Zhefeng (Global Times) 10:14, November 22, 2013

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One resident looks over her old home at Caoyang New Village on Zhongshan Road North. Photos: Yang Hui/GT

A great honor

"She was a model worker at the Huatong Switch Factory. Every one in her factory loved her," recalled Zhang Guiqin, Zhang Qiwei's mother. Fang Linzhen had five children and even now, 10 years after Fang passed away, her children regard her nomination as a model worker one of the greatest honors.

Being named a model worker is one of the most prestigious honors awarded in China and is given to people who have made a significant contribution to the country through their hard work. In the early days people used to refer to model workers as "old bulls" - a reference to the heavy work an old bull would carry out without complaint.

"In those days families had lots of children and most workers had trouble finding accommodation. Model workers and senior staff were given priority when homes were allocated," Zhang Guiqin told the Global Times. More than 10 of the apartment blocks in the fifth Caoyang New Village were allocated to the Huatong Switch Factory and Shanghai Mint. As a Huatong Switch Factory model worker, Fang was awarded a large apartment.

"It was in a half-timbered three-story building. We lived in the second floor in room number 8. There were four families on each floor, which shared a kitchen, a bathroom and two toilets." Zhang recalled. She was born in 1946 and as a child remembered living in a room in a shikumen on Guling Road, Huangpu district. "There was no running water or toilet there. It was primitive."

Moving into the New Village was "like a dream." Although Zhang can't recall all the details she remembers distinctly that the day the family moved in it was sunny and the sun seemed to shine on everyone.

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