Yang Kaihui (1901-1930) was born in Bancang, Hunan Province.
She was the daughter of Yang Changji, one of Mao Zedong's most
beloved teachers. She married to Mao Zedong in winter 1920.
Yang Kaihui joined the Chinese Communist Party
in 1921, becoming one of its earliest members.
She devoted her time to Mao Zedong and their children:
Anying (1922-1951), Anqing (1923) and Anlong (1927).
While Mao Zedong did organizational work for the Party and
traveled widely, she rarely accompanied him.
After Mao Zedong had participated in failed attempts at revolutionary
upheavals in late 1927, she never saw him again.
While Mao Zedong hid out at Jinggangshan, building the Red Army,
Yang Kaihui remained in Bancang with their children.
She and Anying were arrested in Changsha by the local warlord,
and Kaihui was executed on 14 November 1930.
Gu Dao Bie, departing at the old country road, is an act of
the Teochew Opera Die Lian Hua, the butterfly long for the
flower. It was the story of Yang Kaihui who was arrested
and was leaving her village. The villagers were sending her
off. An old blind woman was reluctant to part with her.
She praised Yang Kaihui who took care of her and the villagers.
Then Yang Kaihui's mother came and encouraged her to be more
firm and stronger.
I, David, was taking part in the chorus. While singing with
other 104 classmates, I was touched by the story and the
performance. I was almost moved to tears.