Xiao Qian

Xiao Qian (27 January 1910 – 11 February 1999), alias Ruoping, was a famous essayist, editor, journalist and translator from China. His life spanned the country's history before and after the establishment of the People's Republic of China. Biography Early years Xiao was born on 27 January 1910 in Beijing. His name at birth was Xiao Bingqian. He was born into a sinicized Mongol family. His father died before his birth, leaving only his mother to raise him. His mother died when he was seven, and he was sent to live with his cousins. School days In 1917, at the age of 7, Xiao entered the Chongshi School. It was a church school run by European missionaries. He took up part-time jobs to pay the tuition fees (e.g. weaving Turkish rugs, delivering milk and mimeographing lecture notes in the school administration office). He worked in the morning and studied in the afternoon. In summer 1924, about half a year before completing junior middle school, he worked as a trainee in Beixin Press bookstore. This sparked his interest in literature. In the same year he joined the Communist Youth League.