When it comes to the great people in the early days of the founding of the party, the first thing that comes to mind is Chen Duxiu, Li Dazhao and others. Indeed, compared to them, Hu Shi did not appear to be so great and not so brave.
In addition to being different from Chen Duxiu in political opinions, Hu Shi has also been criticized for his married life. Because in addition to his wife Jiang Dongxiu in life, there is also a distressing woman, she is Cao Chengying.
In those days, the marriage of men and women was extremely feudal and traditional. Most young men and women marry in reverence for the fate of their parents and the words of matchmakers.
Like Hu Shi and Cao Chengying, it is very difficult to break away from the feudal system and pursue free marriage. What is even more regrettable than this is that Cao Chengying actually lost his life because of Hu Shi.
At first sight, Hu Shi was mistaken for life
Cao Chengying was a native of Jixi, Anhui Province, and had some relatives with Hu Shi. Because she is the half-sister of Hu Shi's third sister-in-law Cao Xijuan, she is also considered Toh's cousin. It is precisely because Cao Chengying was arranged to participate in the wedding of Hu Shi and Jiang Dongxiu as a bridesmaid.
As we all know, the marriage between Hu Shi and his original wife, Jiang Dongxiu, was the fate of his parents. As early as when Hu Shi was studying in the United States, his mother helped him arrange this marriage.
Although he was young and promising, and a leader in new ideas, in front of his mother, Hu Shi was only a slightly accomplished son. In the face of his mother's request, he did not dare to refuse, and could only follow his mother's instructions and make a marriage contract with Jiang Dongxiu.
However, what Hu Shi did not expect was that at the wedding with Jiang Dongxiu, he actually met someone who really moved his heart. This person is Jiang Dongxiu's cousin Cao Chengying.
In 1917. Hu Shi, who returned from studying in the United States, obeyed his mother's orders and married Jiang Dongxiu. This is also the first time the couple has officially met. At the wedding, Hu Shi was dressed in a suit and leather shoes, and Jiang Dongxiu was wearing a flower jacket, with a bloated posture, looking so incompatible.
When Cao Chengying, as a bridesmaid, and his wife Jiang Dongxiu appeared in front of him at the same time, Hu Shi's eyes involuntarily stayed on Cao Chengying. Because he was carefully taught by his mother since he was a child, Cao Chengying's style of showmanship is a world away from Jiang Dongxiu, who was born in the shangjia family.
At the moment when Hu Shi did not turn his eyes, Cao Chengying was also impressed by the man in front of him. But no matter how excited you are, what can you do? Two people meet the right person on the wrong occasion, even if there are a thousand thoughts in their hearts, but in the end they can only become invisible.
After all, in that era, Hu Shi was a leading figure in promoting new ideas and promoting new cultural movements, and Cao Chengying was deeply raised by his parents, let alone rob others of their marriages.
When They met in Hangzhou, Hu Shi and Cao Chengying could not help themselves
In 1920, Cao Chengying and her husband Hu Guanying entered the First Women's Normal School and the Zhejiang First Normal School respectively. Because in the 4 years after marriage, Cao Chengying has not had children, which has caused dissatisfaction from her mother-in-law. On the grounds that Cao Chengying did not have children, she forcibly gave Hu Guanying a room of concubines.
The mother-in-law's actions made Cao Chengying, who was full of new ideas, feel difficult to accept. In 1923, Cao Chengying rebelled fruitlessly and resolutely divorced her husband.
In the same year, Hu Shi came to Hangzhou to recuperate because of his physical discomfort. His wife, Jiang Dongxiu, because she could not accompany her, wrote to Cao Chengying to help take care of her sick husband. At this time, Jiang Dongxiu did not understand that the letter he sent was not a letter of help, but a time bomb that destroyed his marriage.
Some people may say that Jiang Dongxiu is too defensive, but this is not the case. The reason why Jiang Dongxiu did not fortify was mainly because in everyone's mind, Hu Shi and Cao Chengying had their own marriage matches, and it was impossible for the two people to be between them.
However, everyone knows that since the wedding, the two have long had feelings in their hearts. This meeting, although it was only a short period of three months, was enough for two people who were thinking about it to break through the taboo.
During his three months in Hangzhou, Hu Shi was with Cao Chengying. The two men either took a walk under the moon or talked about poetry and song together. Because they are both followers of the New Culture Movement, the two people have a spiritual resonance.
Gradually, the two people changed from talking to lovers. However, only three months later, Cao Chengying became pregnant. At this time, Hu Shi also questioned his marriage to Jiang Dongxiu.
In his view, his wife is feudal and conservative, illiterate, and not his ideal partner. Only someone with a new mind like Cao Chengying is the most suitable person for himself. Especially after he learned that Cao Chengying was pregnant, the idea of divorcing Jiang Dongxiu became more and more intense.
Divorcing his wife, Hu Shi abandoned Cao Chengying
As the old saying goes, paper wrapping can't hold fire. Not long after, the relationship between Hu Shi and Cao Chengying gradually spread. When some friends around Hu Shi learned that the two had come together, they applauded and rejoiced. In their view, a young talent like Hu Shi is the most suitable only to be with an excellent woman like Cao Chengying.
Among the many friends, especially Xu Zhimo was the most excited. After learning that Hu Shi and Cao Chengying were together, he immediately told his wife Lu Xiaoman. As a result, before Hu Shi could go home and talk about divorce with Jiang Dongxiu, Jiang Dongxiu had already learned the news from the Beiping professor circle.
In everyone's view, women in the old society like Jiang Dongxiu, who do not conform to the new cultural movement, will inevitably silently nod their heads when they learn that Hu Shi is going to divorce. However, what people did not expect was that although Jiang Dongxiu respected the old marriage, she was not as shy and timid as the women in feudal society, but was very decisive and spicy.
After learning that her husband is in love with Cao Chengying and wants to abandon himself and his two children, Jiang Dongxiu is furious. She rushed into the kitchen and grabbed a kitchen knife, picked up the child and yelled angrily at Hu Shi: "If you want a divorce, I will kill him first, and then kill myself."
Seeing his wife's crazy behavior, Hu Shi, who was known for his elegance, completely lost his temper. Although he had the heart to divorce and fly with Cao Chengying, he couldn't help but feel a little timid in the face of Jiang Dongxiu's anger.
In desperation, Hu Shi could only collect his anger, comfort his wife well, and abandon Cao Chengying, who was already pregnant. Perhaps because he could not divorce and felt guilty about Cao Chengying in his heart, Hu Shi never broke off contact with Cao Chengying.
In 1925, Hu Shi recommended Cao Chengying to enter Southeast University to study agriculture. Later, together with Southeast University, he recommended Cao Chengying to study in the United States.
In 1937, the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression broke out in full swing. Cao Chengying, who had just graduated from college, returned to China with a patriotic heart. After returning to China, Cao Chengying also tried to find a good person to remarry. However, because of Jiang Dongxiu's malicious revenge, Cao Chengying never remarried.
In December 1948, Hu Shi was invited by Jiang to go to Taiwan with his wife. Despite Cao Chengying's strong dissuasion, Hu Shi insisted on going. This meeting also became the last side of Cao Chengying and Hu Shi's life.
A love affair with Hu Shi directly buried the life of a young woman. Fifty years of unmarried, not to mention, when he died, Cao Chengying still hoped that Hu Shi would be able to look at himself when he passed by the cemetery.
In the emotional entanglement between Cao Chengying and Hu Shi, Jiang Dongxiu stood on the moral high ground, and Cao Chengying was a shameless "little three" in the eyes of the world. However, when we learned about Cao Chengying and Hu Shi's emotional past, we couldn't help but feel a pity for Cao Chengying.
Objectively speaking, the reason why Hu Shi and Cao Chengying could not last long was because they met at the wrong time. Whether it is Cao Chengying, Hu Shi, or Jiang Dongxiu, the poor people under their old society. If you were born in today's society, I believe it will not be such an end.