The National Museum for Modern Chinese Scientists recently unveiled a handwritten 'contract' from 1999 that offers a rare, intimate glimpse into the domestic life of Peng Shilu. Peng, who passed away in 2021, was a titan of Chinese defense as the inaugural chief designer of the nation's nuclear submarine program and a pioneer in nuclear power plant construction.
The document, signed by the then 74-year-old Peng and his young granddaughter, Peng Yao, outlines a playful set of domestic rules. In exchange for returning home by 5:30 PM and sleeping by midnight, the elder Peng was to be rewarded with two cans of beer. This lighthearted interaction stands in stark contrast to the high-stakes, secretive world of nuclear physics that Peng inhabited for over three decades.
To understand the gravity of Peng’s commitment to the state, one must look at his turbulent origins as a 'child of the revolution.' Born to Peng Pai, a prominent early Communist leader executed in 1929, the younger Peng was orphaned by age four and spent years in hiding, including two stints in prison, before being rescued and sent to the Soviet Union for education.
His return to China marked the beginning of a life spent in deep anonymity, as he led the team that developed the country’s first nuclear-powered submarine, launched in 1970. Peng famously remarked that he did only two things in his life: build nuclear submarines and build nuclear power plants, emphasizing a career of singular focus on national energy and defense security.
The release of this personal archive reflects a broader trend in Chinese state media to humanize the architects of its strategic weapons programs. By portraying these figures as relatable grandfathers rather than untouchable icons, the narrative seeks to bridge the generational gap between the era of revolutionary sacrifice and a modern, consumer-driven China.
Even in his final years, Peng’s humor remained intact, often referring to himself as 'Peng the Sixth' or joking that his hospital tubes were merely 'charging cables' for the New Year. His ashes were scattered at sea near Huludao, the site where his most famous creation—the first Chinese nuclear submarine—was born, symbolizing a final return to his life's work.