In the list of candidates for the Central Committee of the Youth League, there are only seven under thirty—far too few, and there are also very few women. It is necessary for more experienced and mature Party members to take on leadership roles, but we must also bring in more young people; we should not allow it to become a gerontocracy, nor should we turn the Youth League into an organization solely for the elderly and the young.

We need to “harvest” cadres in successive waves; if we don’t, they lose their vitality. Are there still ten thousand veteran cadres? We could redeploy another five thousand.

Regarding the report to the Youth League Congress, some have said it feels rather abstract. Could it be that our standards were set too high? I find it satisfactory. Those over thirty are dissatisfied with it, while those under twenty-five simply can’t understand it.

The Party has tightly controlled several documents. In my view, under the Party’s leadership, the Youth League should retain its independence in organizing activities. All these documents focus exclusively on central tasks, making everything dry and rigid, far too strict. Discipline is essential, of course—indeed, we need discipline around the clock—but if we demand discipline every minute of every day, then we might as well dispense with discipline altogether.

Under the Party’s leadership, participating in central work and observing discipline, with young people learning from adults—this is one side of the equation. On the other hand, young people must also have room for independent, free-form activities. Being mature and responsible on one hand is important, but being entirely serious all the time is unsustainable. There needs to be both rigor and a degree of looseness.

We must encourage young people to be more lively—not prematurely mature, but vibrant and energetic. This is a matter of principle. It concerns the Party’s connection with the broad masses; otherwise, we risk becoming detached from them.

It has become overly politicized and overly mature, turning the Youth League into a kind of “youth-adults’ organization.” As a result, conditions at the grassroots level have deteriorated: there is no longer any independent activity.

Today, we are guiding you to carry out independent activities and supervising you in doing so.

“Struggle against discrimination against women”—there is already far too much struggle. It took ten to fifteen years just to fully implement the Marriage Law. What we need is education, not confrontation.

“Down with liberalism!” (a phrase from the document.) Society should allow for a certain degree of liberal thinking, while within the Party we must oppose it. Backbiting, after all, is one way of expressing one’s views. To ban it entirely among the general public would be impossible.

“As for instructions from superiors, either implement them or refrain from voicing dissent” (another line from the document). Instructions should be carried out. As for refraining from dissent, even at this very meeting, some of us speak up while others remain silent.

We shouldn’t micromanage young people. When children get into a scuffle, as long as no one ends up blinded and there’s just a bit of blood, it’s no big deal. Lu Xun’s own son once criticized him, saying, “You’re not much like a father.”

So what am I supposed to talk about? I’ll just talk about fighting and making a ruckus.