Chen Guangmei travelled to Beijing to visit Guo Moruo. Delighted to receive a fellow townsman, Guo Moruo asked about many developments back in their hometown and inquired about Chen Guangmei’s livelihood. When Chen Guangmei mentioned that his grandson was soon to be born, he suddenly asked Guo Moruo to name the boy.
“The child has not yet been born, and we do not know whether it will be a boy or a girl. We may choose a name after the birth,” Guo Moruo replied.
“We have confirmed that it will be a boy,” Chen Guangmei said.
Out of friendship for his townsman and respect for the Chen family, Guo Moruo pondered for a moment before going to his study and returning with a handwritten note.
“How about Guodong — ‘Pillar of the Nation’?” Guo Moruo proposed. “May your grandson grow into a stalwart pillar for the country.”
Chen Guangmei took the note and responded, “Thank you, Master Guo. We dare not aspire to such eminence. It would be better for him simply to plough the fields.”
Guo Moruo sensed Chen Guangmei was unenthusiastic about the name. “Why do you say so, Guangmei?”
Chen Guangmei explained: “In years past, my uncle Chen Duxiu ended his days in Jiangjin. He could not win favour with either political camp. My adoptive father took me to visit him there. Uncle Chen sighed that it was fortunate my adoptive father had not followed him into politics. Politics, one might say, is nothing but political strife layered upon more strife. To till the soil, keep out of contention, live in personal peace — only then may the world know peace.”
“There is truth in your words, Guangmei,” Guo Moruo remarked. “The fundamental principle is that the people live and work in contentment.” Guo Shuying, daughter of Guo Moruo, and Chen Entian, great-grandson of Chen Duxiu
The two fell silent for a while, before Guo Moruo spoke again. “Since you favour the pastoral life, let us draw on the image: ‘Chen’s grace falls like dew, bestowing blessings upon the farmland.’ How about Entian for your grandson?”
Chen Guangmei repeated the name and murmured to himself: “It sounds plain at first glance, evoking an ox ploughing farmland. Yet upon reflection, it carries profound meaning. The child will be born in the Year of the Ox, just like the buffaloes praised in your Ode to the Buffalo, Master Guo. An excellent name indeed! Truly, you are a great master of your era.”
Guo Moruo returned to his study and wrote the name down on another slip of paper.
When Chen Entian turned twelve, he composed a poem titled Destiny to Plough: Ancestors were ministers and Hanlin scholars, Yet young Chen bears a destiny to plough. Plough the land until autumn brings harvest, Tend the soil until the nation flourishes.
Later, invited by a senior veteran leader to pursue development in Beijing, Chen Entian wrote another poem, The Buffalo Journeys to the Capital: My fate was always to plough the earth, Now I come to the capital as a buffalo. If I labour faithfully in the spring fields, Surely autumn fruits shall be reaped. Guo Pingying, daughter of Guo Moruo, and Chen Entian, great-grandson of Chen Duxiu
