In 1930, 22-year-old Pan Lanzhen confessed to her 51-year-old neighbor "Mr. Li": "I want to marry you, as long as you don't dislike it, I will never give up!" "Old Mr. Li" was frightened by Pan Lanzhen's courage, and after coming back to his senses, he refused again and again: "Why are you here?" “
Pan Lanzhen was a bitter child who fled to Shanghai with her parents when she was 4 years old, and lived a poor life of hunger and food. At the age of 13, Pan Lanzhen was sent by her parents to work as a child laborer in a spinning factory, and at a young age, she had to shoulder the burden of life with her tender shoulders.
In the yarn factory, Pan Lanzhen suffered so hard that she did not dare to stop for fear that once she could not keep up with the rhythm and complete the task, she would be swept out. But although Pan Lanzhen did everything she could, she couldn't even straighten her waist when she returned home every day, but she could only get a meager salary and barely take care of food and clothing.
Pan Lanzhen, who was soaking in bitter water, grew up day by day, and her rough clothes could not hide her beautiful face, and this also became the trigger for her misfortune.
At the age of 17, Pan Lanzhen was unfortunately occupied by a bully, who not only forced Pan Lanzhen to give birth to a child for herself, but also punched, kicked and bullied her every day. The humiliated Pan Lanzhen thought about dying, but in the end she couldn't bear to leave her parents and children behind, and chose to survive strongly.
Due to the harsh living conditions, Pan Lanzhen's child soon died. The pained Pan Lanzhen made up her mind: even if she was killed, she would escape from the clutches of the devil! Fortunately, this time she escaped, she succeeded.
In order to prevent the bullies from finding themselves again, Pan Lanzhen did not dare to return to her parents' residence, but found a factory again to work as a female worker.
Despite the hardships, Pan Lanzhen is still willing to be kind to the world.
One day, Pan Lanzhen saw an old man collapsed on the ground on the way home, and she quickly stepped forward to help. During the exchange, Pan Lanzhen learned that the old man, surnamed Li, moved here after his divorce from his wife, and now makes a living by submitting articles to the newspaper.
Pan Lanzhen is very sympathetic to the experience of "Mr. Li", and also appreciates his talent. Since then, Pan Lanzhen has taken the initiative to take care of "Mr. Li", who is suffering from poverty and illness, taking care of his housework and caring for his health.
In his spare time, "Mr. Li" also taught Pan Lanzhen to read and read, telling her the truth that everyone is equal, and rejuvenating her female self-esteem.
This is a very precious gift for Pan Lanzhen, who has experienced many vicissitudes and has not had the opportunity to go to school since she was a child.
After getting along for a while, Pan Lanzhen took the initiative to confess to "Mr. Li", hoping to marry him. "Mr. Li" was very surprised, saying that he was a lot of age, and advised her to consider carefully. However, Pan Lanzhen had made up her mind and repeatedly emphasized: "As long as the old man does not dislike it, I am willing to accompany and serve for the rest of my life." ”
"Mr. Li" initially thought that Pan Lanzhen was "messing around", but in the end he was still moved by Pan Lanzhen's tenacity and infatuation, and the two people who shared the same illness lived a life of dependence on each other.
One day in October 1932, "Mr. Li" was suddenly arrested and imprisoned by the Kuomintang. Pan Lanzhen, who could not find her husband anywhere, finally knew that "Mr. Li" turned out to be the famous Chen Duxiu in the process of inquiring about the whereabouts of "Mr. Li" everywhere!
Chen Duxiu, an advocate, initiator and main standard-bearer of the mainland's new culture movement, was the commander-in-chief of the May Fourth Movement, one of the main founders of the Communist Party of China and the main leader of the early party.
Pan Lanzhen was stunned, she never dreamed that she could come together with a big man like Chen Duxiu. Others advised her: "Forget it, you are not the same person, there are many dangers with him." ”
Pan Lanzhen was determined in her heart: "I don't care who he is, I only know that he is my husband, I told him, as long as he does not dislike, I will definitely accompany him to the end." ”
After that, Pan Lanzhen went to Nanjing to visit the prison, despite the danger. But she waited at the prison gate for many days, and she didn't get a visit warrant.
It turned out that the Kuomintang formulated a "three prohibitions" system for Chen Duxiu, which "did not allow relatives to visit prison, did not allow correspondence, and was not allowed to read books and newspapers," and firmly blocked him.
Pan Lanzhen did not give up, she rented a house next to the prison, and while doing odd jobs to make ends meet, she tried to find a way to get a jailer to pass on the message for herself.
Chen Duxiu, who was in prison, was very moved when he learned that Pan Lanzhen was trying his best to visit him, but he was more worried about Pan Lanzhen's safety. Chen Duxiu's eldest son Chen Yannian and second son Chen Qiaonian both died under the butcher's knife of the Kuomintang, which was extremely miserable. His arrest this time is also uncertain and dangerous.
I didn't tell Pan Lanzhen's real name before, I just didn't want her to be affected, but I didn't expect this silly girl to come over.
In order to persuade Pan Lanzhen to give up on herself and hurry back to Shanghai, Chen Duxiu protested by hunger strike, forcing the Kuomintang authorities to change the "three prohibitions" to "three permits".
In the summer of 1933, Pan Lanzhen finally met Chen Duxiu, who had been detained for half a year. Chen Duxiu said to Pan Lanzhen: "You go back quickly, there is still work in Shanghai." You think, what else can I give you in prison? Pan Lanzhen said with tears in her eyes: "I don't need you to give me anything, I just want to stay and take care of you." ”
Pan Lanzhen's behavior of not abandoning her husband moved the warden, and coupled with the visits of some high-ranking Kuomintang officials such as Song Meiling to Chen Duxiu, the prison finally stopped preventing Pan Lanzhen's visits.
Pan Lanzhen used her status as a "free man" to help Chen Duxiu sort out his poems and run errands while delivering food for Chen Duxiu.
With the help of Pan Lanzhen, Chen Duxiu turned the prison into a "research room", and while reading books, reading newspapers, and writing books, he also taught himself German.
In the past five years, Chen Duxiu has studied tirelessly, worked tirelessly, and completed a large number of monographs. Among them, the ninth edition of "Duxiu Wencun" has also been rated as one of the most attractive anthologies of the 20th century.
People commented on Chen Duxiu: "When people are in prison, their thoughts fly to the vast space. "Behind all this, Pan Lanzhen has made a great contribution.
In 1937, after the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, Chiang Kai-shek agreed to release political prisoners, and Chen Duxiu was released from prison and went into exile with Pan Lanzhen.
In the following years, Pan Lanzhen did her best to take care of Chen Duxiu's mother and children.
Chen Duxiu's mother was blind, and Pan Lanzhen combed her hair, washed her face, and rubbed her back and waist every day. When there was no rice to cook at home, Pan Lanzhen secretly used her ring and earrings.
With Pan Lanzhen's dedication, this calamitous home finally enjoyed a short period of happiness. On May 27, 1942, Chen Duxiu died of poverty and illness at the age of 63, while Pan Lanzhen was only 34 years old this year.
Before dying, Chen Duxiu looked at Pan Lanzhen and instructed: "Lanzhen's wife: I hope that everything will be independent in the future, and I must live independently..."
Pan Lanzhen took Chen Duxiu's words to heart, she did not sell Chen Duxiu's relics, nor did she participate in any activities in his name, she went to work on a farm, used her meager income to make a living, and never complained.
After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, Pan Lanzhen returned to Shanghai and found an errand to cook. In 1949, Pan Lanzhen died of uterine cancer at the age of 41.
Chen Duxiu experienced ups and downs in his life, and his later years were especially unfortunate. Fortunately, Pan Lanzhen has always been by his side and accompanied him through the most difficult years.
Although Pan Lanzhen's own life has suffered a lot, she has always retained the kind nature and gentle background of her life. In doing anything, she is not afraid of danger, does not count gains and losses, does not skimp on paying, does not look at returns, and only seeks to be worthy of her heart. Many people do not understand Pan Lanzhen and think that her choice of Chen Duxiu is purely self-inflicted.
But for Pan Lanzhen, spiritual prosperity is far more valuable than material comfort.
Find your own spiritual garden, only ask about cultivation, do not ask about harvest, life will naturally have different feelings.
What do you think of Pan Lanzhen's choice?