On June 12, 1996, it was Guo Yiqing's review of his marriage at the end of his life.
Guo Yiqing and her husband Cheng Qian, who have an age difference of 37 years, did not start from strong love, but became indestructible after decades of companionship.
This love affair during the Republic of China was not a heartwarming love story from the beginning. Instead, a relationship based on mutual respect and cherishing evolved step by step into an amazing love saga.
Guo Yiqing paid a huge price for this marriage, and she was willing to be widowed for 28 years, in order to accompany Cheng Qian, witness his growth, and share his life. This is not only a marriage, but also a deep tacit understanding and silent emotional investment.
In 1936, the land of China was being washed by a wave of new ideas, and a surging revolutionary wave swept the country. At this moment, Guangdong, as one of the early coastal cities to open up, was a place where revolutionary ideals fell.
Cheng Qian, who was 54 years old at the time, was awarded the rank of second-class army general and served as chief of staff, which was the proudest moment of his life. The flame of revolution burned in his heart, and the future of the country became his greatest faith.
However, at this time, Guo Yiqing was still just an ignorant girl, and the most important thing in her heart was that her father did not allow her to participate in the demonstration with her classmates.
These two people, Cheng Qian and Guo Yiqing, seem to be separated from each other, and their life trajectories have no intersection. However, fate is often unpredictable, and it quietly comes at an ordinary banquet.
At that dinner, a middle-aged businessman, Guo Jingxin, met Cheng Qian through the introduction of a friend. Guo Jingxin, a manager at a Wuhan insurance company, plans to start a new business in Guangdong.
He had already heard of Cheng Qian's name, but seeing him with his own eyes today, he felt that the rumors were not enough to describe his demeanor. Cheng Qian's elegant demeanor makes people unforgettable, like a gentleman from ancient times.
Before Guo Jingxin came, he had learned that although Cheng Qian was married and had three children, due to the turmoil in the country, none of the three wives could accompany him. Cheng Qian, who is in Guangdong, is also in urgent need of a new wife to take care of the housework.
As a result, Guo is more confident in his plan. The following day, he contacted his friend, Chen Congzhi, who was also the deputy director of the General Affairs Office of the Theater of Operations beside Cheng Qian, and asked him to assist in raising his relatives, and handed over the photo of his daughter Guo Yiqing to Cheng Qian.
Chen Congzhi said hesitantly: "How can this work?" The child is only seventeen years old, and we can't mess around. ”
However, fate seems to have been preordained, and an incredible fate is about to begin.
When Cheng Qian heard Chen Congzhi's request for a relative, he kept waving his hand at first, as if he was resolutely rejecting this sudden suggestion. However, Chen Congzhi was resolute, and he thought that Cheng Qian should at least look at the girl's photos and maybe change his mind.
Faced with Chen Congzhi's insistence, Cheng Qian reluctantly took the photo. The girl in the photo is young and beautiful, dressed in a school outfit, with a bright smile and full of energy, as if it were a vivid painting brought to life.
Cheng Qian's originally insistent attitude became hesitant at this moment, he was silent for a moment, and then asked: "How could such a beautiful girl think of marrying me, an old man who is over half a hundred years old?" ”
Chen Congzhi patiently explained that Guo Yiqing's father was worried about the turmoil in the country and wanted to find someone for his daughter who could protect her. In addition, he has always had plans to do business in Guangdong, and if he can have a son-in-law of the general, it will be more helpful to his career.
Cheng Qian hesitantly asked, "Then is she willing to do it herself?" ”
Chen Congzhi replied: "The order of the parents, the words of the matchmaker, as long as you agree, she will naturally obey." ”
Cheng Qian did not respond immediately, but told Chen Congzhi that he would personally visit Guo Yiqing in three days, and the marriage could be discussed at that time.
Chen Congzhi saw that Cheng Qian's attitude had eased, and happily told Guo Jingxin, who had been waiting for news, that it seemed that their marriage had shown signs of being inseparable.
However, when Guo Yiqing learned the news of this provocation, she said without hesitation: "I won't marry!" ”
Father Guo's face instantly became gloomy. As his only daughter, Guo's father has always doted on her. He gave her a good education, broke some family traditions, and gave her a modern education. However, his decision on marriage has always been irrefutable.
But Guo Yiqing was influenced by a new culture, longed for free love, and dreamed of spending her life with a partner of the same age and interests. For a man with an age difference of 37 years, she simply did not want to think about it.
Guo Yiqing's fierce resistance did not break up the marriage as she wished, but aroused Guo Jingxin's anger. Guo Jingxin unceremoniously placed his daughter under house arrest and prevented her from going out. During the three days of waiting for Cheng Qian to come to visit, Guo Yiqing did everything to resort to extreme methods such as hunger strike and jumping off buildings to try to change his father's decision to forcibly marry her.
However, no matter how extreme she used, she could not shake Guo Jingxin's determination. He firmly believes that this marriage will be beneficial to his daughter's future. Therefore, on the day Cheng Qian came to visit, Guo Yiqing hid on the second floor and quietly observed him.
She was surprised to find that Cheng Qian was completely different from the image she imagined. He was dressed in a military uniform, heroic and sassy, and had an extraordinary temperament, which was incompatible with the impression of old age in her heart. In this short moment, Guo Yiqing's rejection of Cheng Qian gradually weakened.
After the guests were seated, Cheng Qian expressed his thoughts, hoping to communicate with Guo Yiqing in person to understand her views on this marriage. Although Guo Jingxin repeatedly stressed that his daughter had no objection and was willing to marry Cheng Qian, but it was only because of illness that it was inconvenient to see guests, his behavior had clearly shown his attitude.
Cheng Qian politely returned Guo Yiqing's photo and politely said that he would have the opportunity to visit again in the future. Then, he left.
Seeing that this family affair was in jeopardy, Guo Jingxin repeatedly assured that once her daughter recovered, she would agree to see the general.
However, Guo Yiqing's heart has already experienced a fierce inner struggle. She understood that there was no need for Cheng Qian to come in person, and his arrival was a sign of respect for her personal wishes. Although the two never knew each other, Guo Yiqing saw from Cheng Qian the respect she had always longed for, which surprised her.
At this moment, the resolute rejection in Guo Yiqing's heart gradually faded, leaving a trace of doubt and curiosity. Maybe the marriage wasn't as bad as she thought at first. She began to think that perhaps this was a new beginning, an opportunity she had not anticipated, and a moment to re-examine herself and the future.
As time passed, two days later, Chen Congzhi took Guo Yiqing to Cheng Qian's residence.
Guo Yiqing's speech and behavior deeply touched Cheng Qian's heart, and his impression of this young woman became more and more profound. This encounter made Cheng Qian fall in love with Guo Yiqing at first sight.
And Guo Yiqing was also very impressed by Cheng Qian. Although the age gap is a non-negligible existence, as the conversation deepened, she gradually discovered that the general not only had a sense of home and country, but also had extensive knowledge and knew astronomy and geography well.
So, in July 1938, the two became husband and wife. Guo Yiqing became Cheng Qian's fourth wife and was destined to be the last.
Their married life lasted thirty years, during which time they hardly quarreled. Their love has gradually become deeper and deeper in these thirty years of companionship.
Their stories show us that love doesn't have to be the same age, but is built on mutual understanding, respect, and working together. Their marriage may be unusual, but it is this special emotion that makes their love more precious the longer they go.
In the early days of his marriage, Guo Yiqing was full of respect for her much older husband, Cheng Qian, which was more respect than love. She respected his identity, his dedication to his country, and he thought he had an enlightened new mind.
However, Cheng Qian gradually transformed Guo Yiqing's respect into true love with practical actions. The two who have just entered into marriage, Cheng Qian often goes out due to work needs, but every time he comes home, he will carry a bag or two of pastries in his hand to comfort his wife's heart. This thoughtfulness and care continued from the early days of their marriage and became part of their life together.
Guo Yiqing grew up in Guangzhou and had a light diet, while Cheng Qian is a native of Hunan and loves spicy food. However, in order to take care of his wife's taste, Cheng Qian has always insisted that the family cook two kinds of dishes, Guangdong and Hunan, and will never wronged his wife and himself. His canteen not only has spicy Hunan food, but also light Cantonese food, in order to cater to Guo Yiqing's taste.
In his spare time, Cheng Qian will also take the initiative to accompany Guo Yiqing to go shopping. He would silently remember what his wife liked, and then, in later days, find similar items to give to her as gifts for his children. He even took the initiative to learn Cantonese, hoping to have more opportunities to communicate with his wife.
Sometimes, Cheng Qian deliberately trick-or-treating and deliberately said some broken Cantonese to amuse Guo Yiqing. This interaction brings the relationship between the two closer and makes the marriage full of laughter and warmth. Their love, from initial respect, gradually evolved into a deep emotion, which has always accompanied their married life.
Although some ideas were opened up during the Republican period, the mainstream idea at the time still believed that women should stay at home once married, with husbands and children as their main task, especially when the man's social status became more prominent.
However, Cheng Qian is an exception. When Guo Yiqing expressed her desire to continue studying nervously, he did not hesitate and immediately agreed to her request. He told his wife that when he was young, no matter how difficult life was, he persevered in his pursuit of knowledge. It was because of this persistence that he was admitted to Xiucai at the age of 16 and got the opportunity to enter Changsha Yuelu Academy for further study. Cheng Qian stressed that his current day is inseparable from his persistent pursuit of knowledge, so he also encouraged his wife to read more and broaden her thinking, hoping that she could contribute to the country like him in the future.
These words became a reality, and many years later, Guo Yiqing became a member of the presidium of the first National Women's Congress and contributed outstanding talents to the development of the motherland.
Soon after, Cheng Qian's political career began to fluctuate, and Guo Yiqing has been accompanying him as best he can. No matter when Cheng Qian was distressed and angry, Guo Yiqing would always use a gentle voice to comfort him and patiently discuss the future path together.
The political situation of the Kuomintang was turbulent, and Cheng Qian was often sent abroad, but as long as conditions permitted, Cheng Qian and Guo Yiqing would be closely accompanied. They are inseparable from Meng, Meng's inseparable companions. However, this affection also brought the first minor crisis in their marriage.
Although the social concept of the Republican period was that once a woman married, she should stay at home and devote herself fully to the role of husband and child, especially when the husband's social status became more prominent.
However, Cheng Qian is a very special husband. When Guo Yiqing firmly expressed her desire to continue learning, Cheng Qian immediately supported it. He strongly believes in the importance of knowledge and insists that education is the key to changing the destiny of a country. He not only allowed Guo Yiqing to pursue knowledge, but also encouraged her to actively study, hoping that she could contribute to the country and society like him in the future.
Their marriage was not all smooth sailing. Cheng Qian's political career is full of twists and turns, and Guo Yiqing has always been by his side to support him and provide him with a strong backing. Even in times of national turmoil, Cheng Qian was often sent abroad, but they still relied on each other closely, did not separate, and supported each other.
However, their happy marriage also faced a crisis. When the third wife Zhou Haohua broke into their lives and asked Cheng Qian to make a choice, Cheng Qian chose to divorce her without hesitation and firmly sided with Guo Yiqing.
Their love is not only expressed in words, but also in the number of times Guo Yiqing is pregnant. In 30 years of married life, Guo Yiqing has been pregnant 16 times, but for various reasons, only 6 times have successfully given birth to daughters. This made Guo Yiqing regret because she failed to give birth to a son.
In contrast, Cheng Qian is more concerned about the health and happiness of his wife than the gender of his heirs. He hid from Guo Yiqing and took part of his allowance every month to subsidize her family to reduce the pressure of their lives.
The husband and wife have spent 30 years together, advancing and retreating together and rarely separating. Even if they needed to be temporarily separated due to work, they expressed their thoughts through poetic transmission. In 1968, Cheng died of illness, and his last memory was his wife Guo Yiqing. Although they failed to fulfill their wish to grow old together, Cheng Qian loved her until the last moment of her life.
Over time, what they once feared became a reality. Cheng Qian was sick, but even so, Guo Yiqing was always by his side. Although they failed to realize their dream of growing old together, their love has always been as strong as a rock. Finally, on June 12, 1996, Guo Yiqing passed away peacefully accompanied by her husband. She kept her lifelong vow and loved only one person, that is, Cheng Qian.
In the next 28 years, she devoted all her energy to serving the people, becoming a member of the Presidium of the All-China Women's United Congress and a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, contributing her wisdom and strength to the well-being of the country and the people. However, she missed her husband until the last moment. After Cheng Qian's death, she continued to serve the people and spent the rest of her time. Her tenacity and dedication have inspired countless people and left an enduring spiritual legacy.
The love story of Cheng Qian and Guo Yiqing, although not as vigorous as those high-profile Republican love legends, is more precious because of the deep affection contained in its ordinary.
The age gap between them is 37 years, which is an unattainable gap, but they have crossed this gap with determined love, making the power of love incredible and moving.
"Never regret", these four short and sincere words tell each other's firmness and persistence.
"I was not born, I was born old." This was originally the biggest regret in life, but Cheng Qian and Guo Yiqing filled this regret with their affectionate companionship and unregretted love, making life full of warmth and meaning.
Their stories may not be widely told, but there is a sincere love shining in the ordinary, like a pearl hidden in the dust, just waiting for the person with fortune to discover and cherish it.