Carry Forward the Spirit of NPU—QMES Held “Four Ones” Interview Activity

In order to carry forward the spirit of NPU and let the students of NPU inherit the glorious tradition of older generation of loving the motherland, working hard, bearing hardships, being selfless and dedicated, the Retired Party Committee of NPU and relevant colleges and units jointly carried out the “Four Ones” interview activity of “telling a piece of history, caring for young people, getting to know an old man, and increasing an experience”.

In response to the call of NPU, QMES set up an interview group composed of 9 students, including Hu Xinrui, Yu Xinyue, Su Yujing, Liu Yiming. They interviewed Mr. Hu Baoyun, the representative of the first generation of logisticians of NPU, on April 15, 2023.

In 1957, when Northwest Institute of Technology and Xi’an Aeronautical University merged to establish Northwestern Polytechnical University in Xi’an, Mr. Hu Baoyun had already worked in logistics department of NPU and was responsible for the logistic inspection. At that time, Mr. Hu was only eighteen years old. After the establishment of NPU, Mr. Hu Baoyun served as the director of the cafeteria and other management positions. He was also one of the founders of the reputation of “Eating at the University of NPU”.

On April 15, the interview team came to Xiyuan of NPU, Youyi Campus. Downstairs of the house, the interview group and Mr. Hu Baoyun met in the garden. Mr. Hu had gray hair, was in good spirits, and greeted the students warmly. During the interview, Mr. Hu first talked about his indissoluble bond with NPU. Before the school was moved, he came to Xi’an for inspecting and recording the supply of materials in Xi’an. The lack of aquatic products, the monotony of vegetables, and the changes and limits of staple food all brought difficulties to logisticians. Despite the difficulties, the old generation of logisticians of NPU, represented by Mr. Hu Baoyun, tried their best to ensure the diet of teachers and students in the “Catering Department” at that time. He talked a lot, including how to run the farm, how to make tofu steamed buns with flower rolls and how to travel to Qinghai to buy more salt. Due to the hard work and careful calculation and strict budgeting of many logisticians of NPU and their principles of “the more effort logisticians put, the less students can spend”, “the canteen of NPU has not only become a benchmark in Shaanxi, but also ranked in the top three in China.” he said.

After the 1980s, the logistics team of NPU continued to expand, but “culinary skills” did not develop, and many new recruits had never even cooked. Mr. Hu, the director of three canteens of NPU at the time set up a training class, adopting a method of taking turns to learn and teach. After the training course, Mr. Hu also took the “trainees” with good performance to study in a professional cooking school, which not only ensured that there were people cooking in the canteen, but also ensured that the level of the canteen was not reduced. At the same time, the logistics department also kept pace with the times, adding meat grinders, steamed bun machines, etc., becoming the first batch of mechanized canteens in China. At the end of the interview, students of interview group asked Mr. Hu’s suggestions and expectations of today’s logistics department of NPU. He said, “I have been in NPU for 60 years, and it is different time, but I have always believed that as long as students are satisfied with the canteen, then it is a good canteen. I hope that the current logistics department can continue to inherit the spirit and energy of that time, listen to opinions of students, actively solve problems, and pass on our enthusiasm and drive.”

Mr. Hu Baoyun, as the first generation of logisticians and witnesses of the development of NPU, told us about the development and changes of NPU, as well as the sincerity of the older generation logisticians of NPU, which are the most authentic and vivid learning materials for young people. As the youth of the times, we should carry forward our cause and forge ahead into the future, and on the basis of learning from the spirit of hard work of the older generation, bloom the flower of the era that belongs to the youth.

Text: Su Yujing, Hu Xinrui

Picture: Liu Yiming, Liu Yuxin

Editor: Tang Yinwen

Review: Cheng Yin

Translator: Li Qianqian