Cheng Shuyao, a drama actor who was once full of dreams, gave up a stable job for love and joined the showbiz full of uncertainty. He not only provided a warm home for his wife Huang Zongying, but also tolerated her family, and only wanted to create a happy harbor for this small family.
However, fate always seems to like to joke, just after Cheng Shuyao thought that he had found a home in life and arranged everything for his lover Huang Zongying, a divorce agreement was ruthlessly placed in front of him.
Dreams and Abandonment: Cheng Shuyao's Choice
In the spring of 1945, the sycamore trees in Shandong began to sprout, and Cheng Shuyao's life also ushered in a turning point. He walked into the "Department of Education" of Shandong Province and submitted his resignation report. It was a sunny morning, and the sun was shining on the ground through the window, but his heart was like that of the plane tree, looking forward to the growth of new shoots and worrying about the unknown wind and rain. Resigning means giving up a stable income and social status in the Department of Education, but for him, it is a necessary price to pay for chasing his dreams.
On the first day of joining the North and South Drama Club, Cheng Shuyao walked through the bustling streets, full of excitement and nervousness. The troupe is located on the third floor of an old building, the stairs are creaking, and the patent leather on the walls has peeled. He pushed open the door, and a busy rehearsal scene came into view: the actors were standing or sitting, reading the script intently, with the occasional harsh instruction from the instructor. He knew that from this moment on, he would breathe and struggle with these people who love theater.
In the days that followed, Cheng Shuyao devoted himself to the rehearsal of the play. He goes out early and returns late, and even though he is physically tired, he is mentally satisfied. At the same time, he also began to appreciate the hardships of the artistic road: the theater club's budget was tight, the performance opportunities were limited, and every stage was full of uncertainty. However, these difficulties did not hold him back, but strengthened his conviction.
The encounter of love: the encounter with the "sweet sister" Huang Zongying
In that era full of uncertainty, the encounter between Cheng Shuyao and Huang Zongying was like a fateful encounter. The first time the two met was at a theatrical gala, where Huang Zongying performed a traditional opera on stage with her unique temperament and talent, winning bursts of applause from the audience, including Cheng Shuyao. After the performance, they met unexpectedly backstage, and Cheng Shuyao was full of praise for Huang Zongying's performance, and the two naturally started to communicate.
In the days that followed, Cheng Shuyao often went to watch Huang Zongying's performances, and waited for her after the performance, and the two went home together. Such days are gradually increasing, and the relationship between the two is also quietly growing inadvertently. Cheng Shuyao's concern is reflected in the bits and pieces of life, whether it is a small flower when Huang Zongying performs or an umbrella on a rainy day, he is always careful and thoughtful. Huang Zongying began to notice the suave man and developed a liking for his attentiveness and talent.
As time passed, the two began to frequently participate in various literary and artistic activities together, discussing art and life together. In these common experiences, they found that they not only shared the same pursuit of art, but also a high degree of similarity in their attitudes and values towards life. This spiritual fit makes their relationship deeper.
Cheng Shuyao and Huang Zongying's relationship progressed very naturally. After a long night talk, they decided to get married together. The wedding was simple and warm, with only friends and family and colleagues from the drama club invited. At that time, their wedding was particularly special, without too much red tape, more about the vision of future life and a deep commitment to each other.
Although the life after marriage is uneventful, both of them feel very happy. Together, they took care of the big and small affairs of their lives, Huang Zongying continued her acting career, while Cheng Shuyao found his place in the drama club and later in the bank. Although their lives are full of stress and challenges, the two always support each other and face them together.
The Trials of Family: The Challenges of Living Together
The day Cheng Shuyao and Huang Zongying moved into Dabeiwu, it was a spring breeze afternoon. Located in an old neighborhood of the city, the Great North House is in disrepair, but still exudes the warmth of time. The house was arranged by the bank, and for Cheng Shuyao, this was not only an affirmation of his work, but also an expectation of their small family. Although the interior of the house is spacious, it is a bit cramped to divide it into three rooms, each of which carries a different atmosphere of life.
Cheng Shuyao and Huang Zongying's room is located in a corner of the room, and outside the window is an old locust tree, and in spring, the fragrance of locust flowers always wafts in from the windowsill. Huang Zongying has made a simple and warm layout of this small space, with a double bed, a wooden desk, and wedding photos of the two hanging on the wall, although simple, but full of life. At the same time, Huang Zongying's mother and eldest brother and sister-in-law also moved in with them, occupying the other two rooms respectively, and the increase in family members made this originally small space seem more crowded.
Friction in life ensues. Huang Zongying's relatives and friends sometimes visited, and the living room was often bustling, with a coffee table full of teacups and snacks. When Cheng Shuyao came home from work, he could often see the living room full of people, talking and laughing, enjoying a pleasant afternoon. Cheng Shuyao never showed displeasure, he always greeted him with a smile, and then quietly walked into his room, leaving enough space for everyone.
Cheng Shuyao's tolerance is particularly important. He understands the pressure of Huang Zongying and silently takes on more family responsibilities, whether it is repairing the damage in his home or taking care of the elderly when Huang Zongying is away, he always does his best. Despite the pressures and challenges of family life, Cheng Shuyao has always maintained patience and understanding, which he knows are an integral part of family life.
The ups and downs of his career: Huang Zongying's success and Cheng Shuyao's challenges
In 1947, Huang Zongying's career ushered in a highlight moment. Not only did she successfully transition from the stage to the film industry, but she also starred in several popular films, and her name appeared in major newspapers and magazines, making her public attention. The aura of the movie has made Huang Zongying's life faster, and various promotional activities and movie premieres have become a part of her daily life. Sought after by fans and the media, Huang Zongying undoubtedly became one of the brightest stars of that era.
At the same time, Cheng Shuyao's life has entered a trough. The North and South Drama Club fell into financial difficulties due to a long period of no performances, and finally had to announce its closure, which was undoubtedly a major blow to Cheng Shuyao, who loved theater. Losing the stage of artistic development of the drama club, Cheng Shuyao was forced to change careers, and although he found a position as a manager in the bank, this job was far from his artistic dream. The repetitive banking process on a daily basis made him feel more stressed and frustrated than ever before.
Huang Zongying's career success is in stark contrast to the low point of Cheng Shuyao's life. Huang Zongying is busy with film shooting and promotion, while Cheng Shuyao is immersed in the tedious affairs of the bank, and the two spend less and less time together, and the distance between them is quietly widening. Huang Zongying's social circle is getting wider, and she often attends various parties and events, while Cheng Shuyao spends more time at home alone or working overtime to deal with bank work.
As time passed, the contradictions between Huang Zongying and Cheng Shuyao gradually became apparent. Huang Zongying mentioned in her memoirs that the communication between her and Cheng Shuyao became less and less, and the lives of the two barely intersected. She was puzzled by Cheng's lifestyle and work attitude, while Cheng expressed dissatisfaction with Wong's frequent attendance at social events. This difference in lifestyle has made the relationship between the two more and more strained.
The fragility of love: the end of marriage
At the filming site of "Rhapsody of Happiness", Huang Zongying and Zhao Dan fell in love because of the play, and the interaction between the two before and after the camera gradually went beyond the scope of the script. During the filming, they spent many unforgettable moments together, sharing the bits and pieces of life with each other outside of work, and mutual understanding and support made this relationship quickly warm up. With frequent contact inside and outside the crew, the relationship between the two became closer and closer.
However, Huang Zongying did not inform Cheng Shuyao at the first time of the change in emotion. She may have had contradictions and struggles deep down, but this hesitation eventually led to an emotional rift. With the end of the filming work, "Rhapsody of Happiness" was successfully packaged, and the emotion between Huang Zongying and Zhao Dan also reached its peak. However, with the disbandment of the crew, various problems in reality began to emerge.
After the filming, Huang Zongying chose to stay in Shanghai and did not immediately return to Beijing to face and resolve the problems between them with Cheng Shuyao. During this time, she seems to be running away and unwilling to face the consequences that could lead to the breakdown of her marriage. Cheng Shuyao's wait and worry about Huang Zongying gradually turned into disappointment and pain. At the same time, Ms. Wong's family is beginning to realize the gravity of the situation, and they are concerned about Ms. Huang's decision, fearing that the turmoil will have an irreversible impact on her reputation and personal life.
Eventually, Huang Zongying's brother Huang Zongjiang and his lover Zhu Jiachen intervened in the crisis. After learning about Wong's emotional and marital woes, they decided to take action. As Huang Zongying's sister-in-law, Zhu Jiachen has sisterly care for her, and she knows that Huang Zongying's situation needs help from the outside world to be solved. After some persuasion and arrangement, Zhu Jiachen finally traveled from Beijing to Shanghai and took Huang Zongying home.
In the end, Huang Zongying and Cheng Shuyao's marriage came to an end. The marriage is portrayed in Mr. Wong's memoirs as a bond that began on impulse and lacked deep communication. The "whim" she mentions not only reveals the casual nature of the relationship, but also reflects the fundamental differences between the two in their married lives. Huang Zongying, a radiant actor on stage and screen, is accustomed to the lights and applause of the showbiz, while Cheng Shuyao's life is far from this hustle and bustle, and his world is full of bank papers and figures, a difference that makes the two drift apart in their lifestyles and hobbies.
Huang Zongying's recollection of attending a friend's party revealed her and Cheng's different preferences in social activities. Cheng Shuyao tried to reduce the distance between each other through these gatherings, hoping to bring some relaxation and fun to Huang Zongying after his busy work. However, for Huang Zongying, these social activities not only did not attract her, but became a burden. She prefers to find passion and fulfillment in acting rather than in social situations.
Over time, this lifestyle mismatch and lack of communication made the relationship between the two increasingly strained. Huang Zongying's mention in his memoirs that "every time he gets off work, I get nervous" may not refer to Cheng Shuyao's own or his work problems, but to the discomfort and pressure in this state of life, reflecting her deep dissatisfaction and confusion about this married life.
My father Cheng Shuyao and mother Shangguan Yunzhu[J].Book Digest,2019,0(2):32-36