4 Olds, House Searched

                                        August 20, 1971

4 Olds, House Searched

Written By Jessica Russo

    Shanghai-Shanghai Times-The Red Guards are breaking into homes to get rid of the 4 olds.  The 4 olds are old ideas, old customs, old cultures, and old habits.  The Red Guards searched Jiang Wu, Fourth Aunt’s house and Jiang Ji-Li’ home to search the 4 olds in their home.  The search happened because the Red Guards found a picture of Fourth Aunt with a forbidden knife in the trash.  Mao has forbidden citizens from owning weapons.
    Before Ji-Li’s house got searched, the Red Guards went searching to see who still had items that consisted of any 4 olds.  Before Ji-Li’s house got searched the Jiang’s burned pictures that showed old clothing .  Also, they had to make sure that no one found out that Ji-Li’s grandfather was a landlord because then Ji-Li would be considered to have a bad political status. Jiang Ji-Li explains, “we wanted to destroy our 4 olds because we want to prove that we are with Chairman Mao.” Six fingers, who participated in Ji-Li’s house search also believes that destroying the 4 olds is a good idea. Six Fingers explains, “I want to make sure that I am at every house for every search to show that i am with Chairman Mao and destroying the 4 olds.