It was a hot summer night in 1954, and the Conservatory was holding a graduation presentation. In the center of the stage, a young man in a white shirt is singing in his loud and magnetic voice.
He was the music master who later became a household name - Hu Songhua.
This is the first time Hu Songhua has soloed on stage. The audience was full of people, but he was not afraid at all, and sang to the climax with full emotion. The ethereal and deep singing echoed in this ancient music hall, like spring thunder running through the mountains, causing the audience to nod frequently and applaud warmly from time to time.
At this moment, Hu Songhua's eyes met the girl in a red dress under the stage. The girl looked at him intently, a bright smile in her eyes. Hu Songhua couldn't help but be stunned, he was deeply captured by the girl's moving smile.
It turned out that this girl was Zhang Manru, who later married Hu Songhua and spent 60 years together. She is a dance student and was invited to perform at this gala.
After the party, Zhang Manru took the initiative to talk to Hu Songhua. The two quickly became acquainted with each other, and it turned out that music and dance both require a high level of emotional resonance, and they have a great common language.
In the following days, Hu Songhua began to invite Zhang Manru to go out and walk around from time to time. The two walked along the campus path surrounded by trees, talking and laughing; Sitting in the piano room, you pull me to sing, enjoying the time when music and love are intertwined.
It didn't take long for Hu Songhua, who had always been introverted, to confess his heart to Zhang Manru and ask to marry her. Zhang Manru gladly accepted. They immediately made a vow that no matter birth, old age, sickness or death, they would work together and never abandon them.
When the marriage was about to be obtained, an order shattered the beautiful vision of the two. Zhang Manru received a notice to rush to Mongolia within a month to study folk dance theory.
"This separation, I don't know when we will see each other again......" Before parting, Zhang Manru held Hu Songhua's hand and sighed softly.
"I'll always wait for you to come back. Hu Songhua stroked her face, and there were tears in her eyes.
In the blink of an eye, Zhang Manru set off and stepped on a train towards the depths of the vast Gobi. Hu Songhua's concerned gaze followed the train and disappeared into the dust on the horizon.
After the breakup, Hu Songhua devoted all his energy to music creation. Whenever he thinks of Zhang Manru, he will pour all his emotions into compiling touching songs.
Two years later, when Hu Songhua participated in the Frontier Literature and Art Report, he accidentally learned that Zhang Manru was studying in the Altai region, which is separated by a mountain. In addition to being excited, Hu Songhua took out the letter paper and wrote a warm love letter.
He folded into a boat, tied a red rose, and released it into the Altai River, hoping that his lover would receive it.
After another four years, Zhang Manru, who was far away from home, finally returned. In the spring of 1960, the destined lovers officially got married with the blessing of relatives and friends.
Despite the imminent separation of six years, their affection has never changed in the slightest.
Hu Songhua and Zhang Manru's newlywed life is very simple. As a musician, Hu Songhua's income is limited, and Zhang Manru also gave up her dance career to take care of the housework.
The two live in a small, inconspicuous courtyard on the outskirts of Beijing, which is well-stocked but not spacious.
In order to save money, Hu Songhua travels all year round to participate in performances. The hard seat of the train has become his best home, and he has never chosen a soft sleeper even if the distance is far away.
In between performances, he would talk to Zhang Manru on the phone and ask if everything was okay at home. At that time, each phone call cost a few yuan, but Hu Songhua was never stingy, just to listen to the voice of his beloved wife.
The money earned by Hu Songhua's national tour must be hit to Zhang Manru's account first. He never carries much cash when he goes out, often has half a pound or eight taels of food, clothing, housing and transportation, and the rest of the crew can take the performance seriously.
"We don't live richly, but we are content. Hu Songhua often said this. Indeed, the unpretentious life has made the relationship between their husband and wife warmer and deeper.
In the early morning, when Zhang Manru was picking vegetables in the yard, Hu Songhua would sit aside and play and sing a small song composed by himself. At night, the two sat on a wooden chair in front of the door and counted the stars, counting all kinds of interesting things in the past.
No one would have thought that the most touching stories of their lives were brewing in these ordinary little days.
Time flies, and the years are quiet. The simple life did not hinder the development of Hu Songhua's music career, and he gradually became a well-known music master, composing a string of popular golden songs.
In 1980, with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Hu Songhua and Zhang Manru successfully held a large-scale solo concert. It was a grand audio-visual feast that combined cabaret performances and instrumental performances.
Hu Songhua and Zhang Manru poured half of their life's hard work into it, showing superb stage charm and achieving great success.
At the congratulatory banquet, the leaders of the Ministry of Culture personally presented the golden boy and girl with pennants and flower baskets, and spoke highly of their contributions to the cause of culture and art. After decades of mutual affection, the husband and wife are still like lovers.
This affectionate experience that has been operated over the years is touching and envious.
"We will continue to work together for the rest of our lives. The banquet ended, and when the night was getting dark, the two came to stroll on the campus path. Hu Songhua solemnly repeated the promise to Zhang Manru - I will always be with you.
Zhang Manru smiled and held his hand, and the long skirt fluttered in the night breeze.
In the 21st century, Zhang Manru's physical condition is becoming more and more deteriorating. She suffers from a variety of serious illnesses that require long-term medication maintenance. In 2015, her condition suddenly deteriorated, and she had to stay in bed for a long time.
Looking at his beloved wife's gray-haired and emaciated appearance, Hu Songhua's heart was like a knife. He decided to put his job down and devote himself to taking care of the love of his life.
Therefore, during the five years that Zhang Manru was hospitalized, Hu Songhua stayed by her side almost every day. Going back and forth between the hospital, home, and two places. For this huge medical bill, he did not hesitate to exhaust his life savings.
Seeing her father getting thinner and thinner, the two daughters were distressed. They often brought home-cooked food to visit and advised their father to pay attention to his health. Hu Songhua gratefully hugged his daughter and cried bitterly, but did not relax his care for Zhang Manru in the slightest.
On a rainy night in 2020, under the shouts of his family, Zhang Manru swallowed his last breath. The other half of his married life suddenly left him. That night, Hu Songhua cried bitterly, hugging Zhang Manru's cold body like a mourner.
The sudden abrupt abandonment made him grief-stricken.
Zhang Manru's death was a huge blow to Hu Songhua. Having lost the companionship of his husband and wife for 60 years, this grief almost made Hu Songhua lose the courage to live. Lying in bed all day long, looking at the portrait of his wife.
I don't eat or drink, and I lose a lot of weight.
The daughters saw it in their eyes and were in a hurry. They discussed that at least one person would come over every day to accompany their father. Take him out for a walk, and talk about his mother's virtues around him; Organize a photo album of the couple and reminisce about the past with your father.
His nephew, Hu Jun, also drove over from time to time. He knew that Hu Songhua's stomach had always been not very good, and every time he would call his wife to cook some light and delicious meals.
The family sat around the courtyard to eat, chatted about music and life, and gradually resolved the sorrow in Hu Songhua's heart.
These filial piety made the damaged Hu Songhua feel warm. He thought that he couldn't always let his family worry about him, and it was time to cheer up.
In the 2021 Spring Festival Gala, the 93-year-old Hu Songhua withstood all kinds of physical discomfort and appeared on the CCTV stage. He sang his own classic golden song "To the People" with many singers, and his calm and magnetic voice is still there.
Suddenly, the audience cheered, and everyone gave a standing ovation for the strong vitality shown by the old man.
Today, Hu Songhua's life is on the right track. He settled in Beijing, and his two daughters took turns to take care of life. Although his wife has passed away, the family still depends on each other and supports each other.
Hu Songhua is no longer depressed, but lives a regular life and maintains an optimistic and positive attitude. In his spare time, he often practices Xi calligraphy and painting, and guides young students to learn Xi music.
The 93-year-old Hu Songhua is tough and radiant. The hair is gray, but there is no trace of decadence between the eyebrows. He has always believed that the end of a person's life should not stop at the end of his life just because he has gray hair and old age.
"My life has been spent with music. Its end is also at a certain moment, when the song comes to an abrupt end. Hu Songhua said with a smile.
He hopes that he can continue to compose and sing, and bring more and better music works to the world. As long as he is there, the beautiful melody will never stop.
Indeed, Hu Songhua is still on the move, working with performing groups at conservatories; continue to instruct young singers on singing skills; Occasionally, he will perform in person at some galas...... Wherever he goes, his bright smile and sunny and warm personality infect the people around him.
We sincerely wish that this music giant can continue to live a healthy and happy life, and warm people's hearts with his heavenly singing voice. May his musical path be filled with flowers and applause, and his life will be full of laughter.