In the forties of the last century, in the Yuanling area of Xiangxi, there was a small village called Wusu. In this remote corner, a middle-aged woman who is unusually maverick lives. Her name is Jiu Mei, she lives with her honest and simple husband, lives on a dilapidated ship, and raises a bright and handsome son, but their life has always been poor.
The image of Jiu Mei often makes the villagers feel incredible. She always wore a white cheongsam and looked out of place. Sandwiched under her arm, two hardcover foreign books seemed to be part of her body. During the day, I often wandered on the river beach, wandered aimlessly, or sat on the edge of the unitary water, and fell into deep thought for a long time.
The passage of time has left deep marks on Jiu Mei, her face is old, her hair is as white as snow, but her spirit seems to have long been lost. Her behavior was strange, her expression was dull, and the white cheongsam and the book seemed like a grotesque joke.
The villagers rumored that Jiu Mei was a crazy woman who was chosen by a lonely man to be his wife, however, they did not know that Jiu Mei was once a highly educated woman. She studied at university in the distant Qingdao, was fluent in French and English, and had a close relationship with the literary giant Xiao Hong, who was once lovingly called "Nine Sisters". And what is even more surprising is that her second brother is Shen Congwen, a giant in the literary world!
However, the story of Jiumei is like a complex puzzle, composed of two very different identities: on the one hand, she is Shen Congwen's own sister, and she has a blood relationship with the great literary scholar; On the other hand, she is the crazy wife of a country man who has spent her life in this remote village.
Time flies, and the story of Jiu Mei has long passed sixty years, however, her fate is still embarrassing. Her complex and colorful life, like an ancient picture scroll, still leaves a deep imprint in people's memories.
In that time full of vicissitudes and family emotions, Shen Congwen's literary brushstrokes were like a magic knife, delicately outlining the family's blood inheritance and profound emotions.
Between 1920 and 1940, these years were inscribed in his texts, such as "Cricket", "Past", "Rose and Nine Sisters", "Occupation", "Record of Life", "Painter's Brother", "Cousin", "Dawn" and other works, all of which carry the memory of the family. Grandparents, maternal grandparents, parents, seven aunts and eight aunts, brothers and sisters, each family member was resurrected in his writings.
The group photo of this family in Shanghai, Shen Congwen, sixth brother Shen Quan, mother Huang Suying, ninth sister Shen Yuemeng, and eldest brother Shen Yunlu, seems to be a happy and harmonious picture.
However, in Shen Congwen's literary works, the figure of Jiu Mei appears most frequently. In "The Rose and the Nine Sisters", she is the baby of the whole family and is well cared for. In "Fireside", Jiu Mei is clever and clever, and becomes the channel for the second and sixth brothers to have a night snack. In Three Women, Jiu Mei, Ding Ling and Zhang Zhaohe play together on the Qingdao beach, talking about poetry and philosophy.
Shen Congwen's mother had a total of nine children, but only five could become adults: the eldest brother Shen Yunlu, the eldest sister Shen Yuexin, the second brother Shen Congwen, the sixth brother Shen Quan, and the ninth sister Shen Yuemeng. At home, Jiu Mei was pampered by the whole family, especially her mother, because of her smallest status.
Shen Congwen's family background is not ordinary. His grandfather once made a living by selling horse grass, participated in the battles of the Taiping Army with the Xiang Army, won great battle merits, and was later appointed as the governor of Guizhou. However, an injury took his life, leaving him with honor and a rich family business.
In this small village in Xiangxi, there are two families with very different life trajectories, but both carry heavy stories.
First of all, let's come to the Shen family, which is a place that is praised as a well-off home. Every year, the rice fields there harvest 300 quintals of paddy, enough to feed the family and even save a small surplus. The life of the Shen family was worry-free, like a warm sun shining on their bodies, and the family was full of laughter and harmony. In this warm environment, there is a little girl, she is Jiu Mei. Her childhood was filled with carefree times and was pampered immensely. This family has cultivated her innocent character, like the green rice field, full of life and hope.
However, not far away, there was a world completely different from the Shen family. This is a place that lives in the shadow of marching and fighting, and the people there do not enjoy the well-off life of the Shen family. Education opportunities are limited, and there seems to be only one way for young people to go forward, and that is to become a soldier and enter the military. Shen Congwen's father and uncle, as well as himself, his younger brother and brothers of the same lineage, all grew up in this family, their lives shrouded in the shadow of war, every day is a hard struggle, every moment is an uncertain future.
At the age of 14, Shen Congwen left home and went to Yuanling, where he became a reserve soldier and followed the indigenous troops in the border areas of Xiang, Sichuan and Qian for five years.
This family history tells of deep emotions, glorious past and persistent pursuit, and has become an indispensable part of Shen Congwen's works. The blood of the family and the warmth of the family, intertwined with the tenacity and hardships of the war years, added more rich colors to his literary world.
Beijing in 1922 was a city full of hope and change. The young Shen Congwen, only 20 years old, with a dream of literature, resolutely abandoned the army and left his hometown, and came to this cultural treasure alone, determined to learn new trends of thought and embrace new culture.
His residence was a cramped, damp hut with mottled walls and leaking roofs. Livelihood was difficult, every meal was a problem, and he worked tirelessly to earn a thousand words for only five dimes.
At that time, Jiu Mei had just entered the ten-year-old flower season. Although the family's situation is gradually difficult and her father's disappearance has put the family in trouble, at home, she is still a petite flower that her mother has devoted all her efforts to.
It was not until 1925, through the promotion of Yu Dafu, Xu Zhimo and other literary predecessors, that the Beijing "Morning Post Supplement" finally began to accept Shen Congwen's works. His writings shone in the newspapers, and he published more than sixty works, and the fee jumped from four yuan a month to twelve yuan.
In 1926, Shen Congwen's text spread throughout various journals and published more than 70 works, and he finally became a professional writer. His persistence and hard work finally brought the glory of his literary career.
However, in the late summer of 1927, a huge change came. Her mother and her 15-year-old ninth sister trekked all the way from Xiangxi to Beijing and joined Shen Congwen, who was far away in the city. Jiu Mei followed her second brother and started a new life. But it also marked the beginning of another sea change in her life.
In the years to come, Jiu Mei will experience countless ups and downs and challenges, and her story will also be intertwined with Shen Congwen's literary career, becoming a part of that era that cannot be ignored. This is a story of family affection and tenacity and struggle, a legend of deep love between brothers and sisters.
In that era full of choices and dreams, Shen Congwen's heart carried a precious wish, a wish closely connected with Jiu Mei.
He recalled the scene when his sixth brother was a child, the little guy always endorsed and read, but he could not remember. However, Xiao Jiumei on the side seemed to have a different talent and easily memorized those words. Although Shen Congwen and Jiu Mei are ten years apart and have left their hometown for many years, his impression of his sister has always stayed at that childhood, that deep expectation in his heart.
Therefore, when the 15-year-old Jiu Mei left home and came to Beijing to join him, Shen Congwen had high hopes. He dreamed that Jiu Mei could study abroad like the talented Lin Huiyin or Ling Shuhua, and then become an outstanding female scholar.
Wang Jizhen, a translator who had a close friendship with Shen Congwen, corresponded frequently during his time teaching at Columbia University. In the letter, Shen Congwen repeatedly mentioned his academic plans for Jiu Mei, writing: "If there is a convenience, there is a coincidence, I really want her to go to France or the United States to learn some skills other than study, learn to dance or other things, I will send her a thousand yuan a year in China to create a new destiny in a new place." ”
Shen Congwen himself did not go to college, and his literary path was full of ups and downs. Therefore, he pinned his life regrets, hopes and expectations on Jiu Mei.
As Ba Jin said, Shen Congwen was self-taught, and he longed to work more on his sister's education, so that she could master the knowledge and things that he himself had long to know but could not delve into deeply.
In order to better educate Jiu Mei, Shen Congwen resolutely went to Shanghai. In early 1929, Hu Shi became the principal of Wusong Chinese Public School, and he unexpectedly hired Shen Congwen, who had only primary school education, as a university lecturer. On November 4, Shen Congwen wrote to Hu Shi to ask for help, giving Jiumei the opportunity to work as an auditor in a public school.
Although Shen Congwen's monthly salary at China Public School is about 150 yuan to 170 yuan, the salary is good, and the eldest brother Shen Yunlu returned to Shanghai in August to relieve a lot of the burden of bringing his ailing mother back to his hometown, but they still have a hard time.
However, Shen Congwen not only generously helped others, but also spared no expense to tutor Jiumei in mathematics alone, and hired expensive foreign teachers to teach her French and English. This story between brothers and sisters, full of family emotions, struggles and hopes, has become a moving legend of that era.
The pavilion in the old lane became a shelter for brothers and sisters. When this small corner leaks rain everywhere and the cold wind is fierce, Shen Congwen can only be wrapped in a quilt, bleeding from his nose, and constantly rushing to the manuscript, in order to earn some warmth and hope in life.
However, Jiu Mei does not seem to have a strong interest in literature, she prefers to read those little bourgeois love books, and foreign language learning has become quite difficult. In the only article signed by Jiumei, "My Second Brother", it is actually written by Shen Congwen. Such a situation made Shen Congwen full of worry.
In a letter to Wang Jizhen, he expressed concern: "She is now in Shanghai learning English and French conversation with a Frenchman, which she started the year before, but every time she has to change places, a different teacher, as if she is studying specifically for those teachers." On the one hand, I thought about my future destiny, and on the other hand, I was worried about her future, and I really felt troubled and did not know what was the best way. ”
Shen Congwen, like a parent who pursues excellence, firmly believes that by creating more learning opportunities and conditions, Jiumei will become a talented woman like Lin Huiyin, and her future is limitless. However, he ignored the infiltration of the original family culture, Jiumei was born and raised in the countryside of Xiangxi, and at that time, Lin Huiyin, who traveled to Europe with his father, already had a completely different life trajectory.
On the one hand, Jiu Mei feels that her mediocrity contrasts greatly with her brother's expectations, on the other hand, she is also fortunate to make many outstanding cultural celebrities and participate in the cultural circle with her brother, which makes her vision even broader.
However, the gap between the circle and ability has cultivated Jiu Mei's lofty and unrealistic personality. Until September 9, 1933, Shen Congwen tied the knot with Zhang Zhaohe, and Jiumei was 21 years old, but her studies and career did not have a clear direction. She continued to live in her brother's family, and the newlywed life took away a lot of Shen Congwen's energy, and Jiumei, who had been fully concerned by her second brother, began to feel a little frustrated.
However, the new sister-in-law was friendly to this beautiful and quiet sister-in-law, and she not only accepted Jiu Mei gladly, but also personally set about introducing her to suitable marriage partners. Among them, there was a young talent named Xia Yun, a professor in the psychology department of Yenching University, and Jiu Mei's sisters had thought he was a suitable candidate. But after getting along a few times, Jiu Mei reluctantly rejected Xia Yun's marriage proposal.
The label of "Shen Congwen's sister" once became the capital of Jiu Mei's confidence and pride. However, she was young and too protected to see reality clearly, full of ideals and confusion about the future. This is a story of inner emotions, growth and pursuit of a family, and it is also a chapter of emotional intertwining between brothers and sisters.
Beijing in the 1930s was an era full of culture and passion. Zhang Zhaohe, Shen Congwen, and Jiu Mei, these three young people weave a compelling story in this bustling city.
Zhang Zhaohe regrets Jiu Mei's choice, and he understands that Jiu Mei is addicted to the illusory world of foreign romance novels, and this unrealistic fantasy may keep her away from reality. He couldn't help but sigh: "Jiu Mei's heart is too high!" ”
In the thin life of Jiu Mei in the first half of her life, Liu Zuchun was an existence that could not be ignored. Shen Congwen has always tried his best to help aspiring juniors in his hometown. In 1934, Liu Zuchun, a young man from Xiangxi, found Shen Congwen's residence in Beijing and begged him to sponsor his studies in Beijing.
In Liu Zuchun's later written recollections, he vividly described his first encounter with Jiumei: "From Wen's sister Yue Meng came out of the East House one step late, lifted the curtain, stood there smiling, and looked at me, a young man from my hometown who had just arrived in Beijing. ”
Every weekend, Liu Zuchun would visit Shen Congwen. The couple saw the affection between the young couple and often deliberately created opportunities to allow them to spend more time together. Beijing during this period was full of hopes and dreams, as well as the fusion and germination of emotions. And this story is a good time for young people to explore love and life in the metropolis.
The summer of 1937 was an important watershed in Jiumei's life. After Liu Zuchun graduated, his ideals and ambitions gradually exceeded the scope of Jiu Mei's understanding. He grew up to be a progressive young man who worried about the country and the people and firmly devoted himself to the revolutionary resistance against Japan, but Jiu Mei's feelings remained in simple and deep love.
Jiu Mei's love appeal is simple and sincere, as long as she can be by Liu Zuchun's side, she is willing to follow him anywhere. She was used to living under the protection of her second brother, like a dodder flower that was carefully cared for. However, Liu Zuchun understood that the path he chose was full of hardships and sacrifices, and he was ready to sacrifice his life for the country at any time. He felt that he could not give Jiu Mei a stable life and a happy family.
On July 27, 1937, Liu Zuchun hurriedly came to Shen's house, he did not respond to Jiumei's concerned gaze, but hurriedly borrowed 20 yuan from Zhang Zhaohe as a travel fee, and then left in a hurry, never to be heard from since. This parting made Jiu Mei bear the biggest blow in her life.
With the spread of war, in 1941, Shen Congwen helped Jiumei find a job in the library of Southwest United University, with a monthly salary of 100 yuan. This made Jiu Mei's life improve slightly, and she became more lively. However, on 14 August, the General Assembly was bombed by enemy aircraft and the library was severely damaged. Jiu Mei actively participates in the rescue of precious books, but when she returns to her residence, she finds the door wide open and her belongings looted by thieves. This incident made her feel deeply stimulated and gradually became insane.
During the Second Sino-Japanese War, prices in Kunming rose sharply and life became difficult. Zhang Zhaohe was unemployed, his two sons were still very young, and Shen Congwen's salary alone could barely make ends meet. During this difficult time, Jiu Mei often went out to distribute the family's clothes and food to the beggars, despite the family's longing and hunger. Jiu Mei's mental state gradually deteriorated, and the family fell into trouble.
In Shen Congwen's family letter, you can see the gradual deterioration of Jiu Mei's mental state. From the initial abstract language, to the gradual reticence, and finally to the generosity of donating to the beggar, her mental state gradually collapsed.
In 1945, Jiumei was finally sent back to Yuanling, separated from her beloved second brother, and never saw him again. She was 34 years old, and her life came to an end in hardship and pain. It is a story full of tragedy, a woman who quietly sacrifices for love and family and finally sinks into the ruthlessness of fate.
In that era of vicissitudes, the fate of the Shen family brothers and sisters was like a drifting boat overturning in the great waves of history. The eldest brother, Shen Yunlu, was born weak and sick, with blurred vision, rhinitis behind his ears, and lived in exhaustion. He was full of worries about Jiu Mei, and although Jiu Mei returned to her hometown, the situation did not improve, and she often broke free from her eldest brother's supervision and ran around.
Around the Dragon Boat Festival in 1946, Jiumei suddenly disappeared and left her family. A few years later, her family finally found her in Wusu, a small town not far from the county seat of Yuanling. She was married to a mason, had a son, who was born in 1947.
However, more tragedies followed. In 1949, Shen Congwen fell into trouble for historical reasons, he tried suicide, but was rescued in time and sent to a mental hospital, ending his literary career. Later, at the end of 1951, the sixth brother Shen Quan was also executed due to the misunderstanding of the times.
Under the great waves of history, the bond of family affection seems to be more and more fragile, like an untied boat, drifting, sometimes affected by the wind and waves, sometimes lost in the vast sea.
Over time, in 1959 and 1960, the area around Xiangxi fell into famine, and Jiumei died in this widespread famine at the age of 48. The handsome woman who had studied in college, seen the world, and known many cultural celebrities, the little Jiu Mei who had been carefully cared for since she was a child, she ended up lying on a broken boat, entangled in hunger and disease, and her life ended quietly on the barren river beach.
However, her ashes were not reburied by her son until 1994, when the construction of a hydroelectric power station downstream forced her remains to be re-exhumed from the old ground. Shen Congwen's cousin Huang Yongyu once said that the family tragedy Shen Congwen experienced was heavier than any story he created, and the sixth brother and ninth sister, like two burned soul stories, were unspeakable traumas in Shen Congwen's heart.