At the end of the 30s, a photo of a child in the shot, wearing a decent suit, with his hands behind his back, and his facial features are upright, revealing an innate temperament. The child was born into a Peking Opera family, his father was a well-known Peking Opera artist, and his mother was the daughter of a Manchu banner family, and his maternal grandfather was once a Manchu flag officer who ate imperial food.
He was influenced by his father since he was a child and came into contact with the charm of Peking Opera art. Every word of his father's teachings, every action, he took to heart. Under the influence of his ears and eyes, he developed a strong interest in Peking Opera, and over time, his talent gradually manifested itself. He not only inherited his father's mantle, but also carried it forward. We have to say that although talent is important, some people's fate is predestined from birth.
In the early years of the Republic of China, the group photo of the two little brothers and sisters in Shanghai makes people speculate that they were born in a wealthy family, they were dressed in gorgeous clothes, and their temperament was elegant, obviously influenced by a good education and family environment. In that turbulent era, although the social changes were drastic, for the upper classes, their way of life was not greatly affected.
Their father or mother, perhaps some powerful person, holds a certain amount of resources and wealth. In such a family, children live a carefree life from an early age and enjoy the best education and resources. They don't have to worry about their livelihoods, they don't have to worry about the future, and this kind of happy life is the envy of many people.
In addition to material wealth, they also have the love and care of their parents. At that time, parents attached great importance to their children's education and life, and they tried their best to create the best conditions for their children to grow up in a happy family.
In 1917, in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, several children frolicked in the streets, holding copper fires in their hands, although their clothes were not flashy, but they were clean and tidy. From these details, we can deduce their living conditions. Although they did not wear silk and satin, at least the problem of food and clothing had been solved. At that time, many people were still living on the poverty line, but these children were undoubtedly fortunate to have a relatively stable life.
However, what many people don't know is that during the Republican period, the literacy rate of the whole society was very low. According to statistics, the literacy rate of society as a whole at that time was less than 10 per cent, and in many rural areas, almost everyone was illiterate. This is not because people are reluctant to let their children go to school, but because the hardships of life make it difficult for families to afford their children's education. For many families, food and clothing are the top priority, and education is on the back burner.
In the winter of 1925, in a small village in Shanxi, several children squatted in the corner of the wall, holding mud in their hands, although their clothes were heavy, but they could not resist the invasion of the cold wind.
These children, their childhood lives were not as carefree as we thought. At that time, the children of poor families did not have any decent toys, they could only play with mud and catch bugs.
Their parents, who toiled in the fields every day and were busy for their livelihood, were destined to be accompanied by poverty in their childhood, without fancy toys, without advanced educational resources, and even a full meal became a luxury.
In the winter of 1911, the little beggar on the streets of Hankou shivered in the cold wind. He was barefoot, hobbly, and unkempt, which made people feel pity when they saw it. His clothes were tattered and had completely turned into flocculent, apparently worn for many years. The streets of Hankow were cold, and he was still barefoot, not knowing if it was because he was Xi to this miserable life, or because of something else.
We don't know where his parents are or if they're still alive. If his parents saw this scene, they would definitely feel extremely sad in their hearts. In those days, it was easy for destitute families to fall into trouble and become beggars. Because once they encounter the era of bad harvest, they will have no rice to cook, and they are destined to join the army of beggars.