Title: 30 years of cross-strait cultural exchanges: Huang Hong meets Zhang Xueliang and talks about the regret of the young marshal returning to his hometown
Since the Taiwan authorities allowed Taiwan compatriots to visit relatives on the mainland in 1987, cross-strait cultural exchanges have begun to germinate. A few years later, a troupe of mainland artists set foot on Taiwan soil for the first time, realizing two-way cultural exchanges between the two sides of the strait. With the continuous promotion of the mainland and the joint efforts of compatriots on both sides of the strait, cross-strait cultural exchanges and cooperation have continued to develop. However, when it comes to the story of the first time the Continental Army people set foot in Taiwan, we have to mention Huang Hong.
In July 1993, sketch actor Huang Hong received a notice from the Ministry of Radio, Film and Television inviting him to participate in performance activities in Taiwan. However, the day before his departure, Huang Hong received a notice from the General Political Department that he was not allowed to go to Taiwan. It turned out that at that time, there was no precedent for mainland soldiers to perform in Taiwan. Unwillingly, Huang Hong approached the United Front Work Department for help, and under the coordination of the United Front Work Department, Huang Hong regained permission and became the first mainland soldier to set foot on Taiwan soil.
For Huang Hong, being able to go to Taiwan to perform has a different meaning. At the moment when he overlooked the land on the plane, Huang Hong's heart was very uncalm. At lunch, he was excited by the scene of the word Taiwan printed on the knife and fork. When he landed, when Huang Hong saw the similarities between Taiwan and the mainland, a strong resonance surged in his heart.
On the way to Taipei, Huang Hong had a new understanding of Taiwan's impression. I used to think that Taiwan was full of high-rise buildings and flowers, but the roads were lined with simple bungalows. The Taiwanese who received them told him that Taiwan had been preparing for war in previous years, so it had not engaged in construction. This reminded Huang Hong of the situation in his hometown.
However, during Huang Hong's performance in Taiwan, he had a "non-divided thought" - to meet Zhang Xueliang. Zhang Xueliang is a legend with an irresistible charm for Huang Hong. So, Huang Hong contacted the local department and expressed his desire to visit the young marshal. In indescribable excitement and anticipation, Huang Hong waited for the moment to meet.
On the evening of July 28, Huang Hong and other actors of the troupe finally met Zhang Xueliang. The meeting, originally scheduled to be 20 minutes, lasted more than two hours. The actors performed skits to Zhang Xueliang, and Zhang Xueliang also gave them a crosstalk. Zhang Xueliang was not familiar with the sketch, but watched it with relish, Huang Hong took the opportunity to ask Zhang Xueliang if he knew about the two-person turn in the northeast, Zhang Xueliang said that he knew, and showed his ability to sing the two-person turn.
During this precious meeting, Huang Hong raised his thoughts and concerns for Zhang Xueliang. However, Zhang Xueliang was full of helplessness and regret when he answered. Zhang Xueliang's previous plan to return to the mainland failed to materialize, not only because of the interference of the political environment, but also because of his wife's illness. Huang Hong's proposal seemed to make Zhang Xueliang think more deeply, but he left only three words on the grounds that his eyes were not very good: "Zhang Xueliang".
However, Zhang Xueliang did not write a word to his father and elder in his hometown. Perhaps it was because of his situation at that time, or maybe a few words could not carry his thoughts about his father and elders in his hometown. Missed the best opportunity to return to the mainland, Zhang Xueliang's regrets in his later years could not be truly resolved.
When Huang Hong and the other actors parted, Zhang Xueliang stuffed each of them into an envelope containing two ten-dollar bills. The next day, the performance opened at the Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall, and when Huang Hong and others saw Zhang Xueliang sitting offstage, the audience gave him thunderous applause.
Although Zhang Xueliang failed to realize his wish to return to the mainland, he fulfilled this long-cherished wish for him through his son's return hometown. After visiting the former residence of the Zhang family and the Mausoleum of the Great Marshal, Zhang Lulin returned to the United States with her father's thanks. Although he could not return to his hometown in person, Zhang Xueliang's thoughts and concerns accompanied him in his later years.
The desire to return home is like a dream, and my heart is like a cloud. The road to the young marshal is so tortuous, and there are so many regrets. Zhang Xueliang had a rough life, but he played an important role in the long river of history. Perhaps, for Zhang Xueliang, he will always have an unrealized dream in his heart, and that dream can only stay in the depths of his heart.
