As night fell, in a quiet cottage in Alp, California, Bianca sat alone at his desk, flipping through dusty letters. Every letter is a piece of the past, and every piece of the past carries endless memories. 44 years ago, she left Tan Zhanchao, and at that time, on the war-torn land of China, the story of her and Tan Zhanchao seemed to be ruthlessly torn apart by a sudden storm. Since then, she has made her way home, returning to faraway Italy to start a new life with her four children. At that time, she thought that Tan Zhanchao had died in the war, and this news was like an invisible boundary, completely cutting her off from the past.
As the years passed, Bianca's life changed dramatically. She modeled for the famous fashion designer Christian Dior and later founded her own clothing company and became a successful female entrepreneur. Her love life is as varied as her career, and she has been through five marriages, each of which has been a precious experience in her life's journey.
Transnational love and betrayal
In 1938, China was in the difficult period of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, and Beianga and her husband Tan Zhanchao returned to their motherland from the charming Italy. Beianga, a woman who has already shouldered the responsibilities of a mother of three children, chose to stick to the rear in the face of the frequent war, taking care of the young children, while Tan Zhanchao was sent to the front line to take on important military command positions.
In such days, the family has become a safe haven in Bianca's heart, and despite the uncertainty of life, she still strives to maintain the family's daily life and create as peaceful a world as possible for her children. However, the shadow of war is everywhere, and Tan Zhanchao's return date has become the most uncertain factor in the family.
As the war progressed, Tan Zhanchao's figure often appeared in various military meetings and front-line commands, and his bravery and wisdom won the admiration of his subordinates. At an important military review, senior generals and front-line officers and soldiers gathered together to review the achievements and look forward to the future. Bianca, the wife of an officer, was also invited to watch the ceremony, and she stood in the crowd, silently watching her husband and his troops.
At such a solemn moment, Tan Zhanchao's eyes inadvertently met a young female war nurse, He Yixian. He Yixian, as a member of the field hospital, her dress is simple, but her face is full of youthful vitality and dedicated professionalism. Tan Zhanchao's glance at He Yixian, although it was short, was enough for Bei Anga, who was onlookers, to notice the strangeness.
This scene, for Bianca, was a major turning point. She witnessed the change in her husband's gaze, a tenderness and attention she had never seen before. Although the occasion did not allow her to have any words or actions, it was all deeply etched in her memory.
In the days that followed, Tan Zhanchao stayed on the front line more and more frequently because of the needs of military tasks, while Bianca continued to bear the heavy responsibility of raising children and maintaining the family. The cruelty of war and the pressure of life did not give her a succumb, but the emotional entanglement between her husband and He Yixian gradually surfaced became a scar in her heart that was difficult to heal.
Face life's challenges alone
Unable to bear her husband's betrayal, Bianca decided to leave Duyun, and it was the end of summer and the beginning of autumn, and the weather was getting cooler. She simply packed her belongings, took her three children, and stepped on the train to Shanghai. As the train slowly pulls out of the platform, the scenery outside the window changes from the familiar cityscape to the unfamiliar fields and mountains, as if to herald a sea change in the lives of Bianca and his family.
Upon arriving in Shanghai, Bianca was confronted with a completely different life scenario. Shanghai, known as the Paris of the East, retains a unique vitality and prosperity even in the shadow of war. Merchants and diplomats from all over the world weave through the streets, while languages weave in the air, creating a picture of a cosmopolitan city.
As a single mother, life with three children is naturally challenging. She rented a relatively quiet neighborhood in which the living conditions were not luxurious, but they were enough to meet the basic needs of the family. Every day, Bianca has to take care of the children's daily life, manage the daily routine of the family, and find work to support the family's finances. Although such days are hectic and stressful, Bianca gradually adapts and overcomes the difficulties of life with his strength and independence.
Although the shadow of the war made the atmosphere of the whole society relatively heavy, Bianca still managed to integrate into the social circle of Shanghai Tang with his ingenuity and exotic atmosphere. She began attending a number of gatherings and events hosted by diplomats, and her unique background and experiences attracted a lot of attention. In these social occasions, Bianca appeared in front of everyone with her carefully selected outfits and became a highlight that could not be ignored.
Through these events, Bianca met many people from different countries, including some influential diplomats and businessmen. They expressed their deep sympathy and admiration for Bianca's experience and reached out to provide a lot of help and support. Someone introduced her to job opportunities, someone advised her on the children's education, and even invited her to participate in more social activities to expand her network and social influence in Shanghai.
From judgment to rebirth
As the autumn breeze of 1945 cooled, the fate of Bianca also ushered in a grim turning point. In Guangzhou, the historic city, she was wrongly labeled as a war criminal and imprisoned. In a foreign country, she was in a particularly difficult situation in the face of such huge accusations and potentially severe punishments. Beanga is being held in a rudimentary cell, and the dynamics of the outside world are unknown to her.
Just when Bianca was facing the biggest crisis in his life, Tan Zhanchao, the husband he hadn't seen for four years, suddenly appeared on the brink of trial. Although the relationship between the two was complicated by the previous betrayal, at this critical moment, Tan Zhanchao still chose to stand up and do his best to rescue Bianca.
Tan Zhanchao used the connections and influence he had accumulated in the army to run around and ask for help. He contacted some of his former comrades-in-arms and influential politicians in an attempt to secure a fair trial for Bianca's case. In that turbulent era, such efforts were full of uncertainty, but Tan Zhanchao still did not give up.
After a series of complicated procedures and negotiations, Bianca finally got the chance to be released. The moment she walked out of her cell and regained her freedom, the sky in Guangzhou seemed brighter than it had been when she was in captivity. Although the relationship between Tan Zhanchao and her is different from the past, this rescue has undoubtedly left a special connection between the two.
However, just as Bianca began to plan his future and prepare to start a new life with his children, a bad news came - Tan Zhanchao died heroically in a military operation. The news was both a shock and a grief for Bianca, and even though their marriage had died in name only, Tan Zhanchao's sacrifice had brought a heavy blow to her heart.
In the face of such changes, Bianca is deeply aware that there is no place for nostalgia in her life in China. All the entanglements and past seem to have disappeared with Tan Zhanchao's death. After much deliberation, she decided to return to her native Italy with her four children in search of a fresh start.
Reinvent yourself and pursue happiness
Upon arrival in Italy, Bianca began a new chapter in her life with four children and a strong heart. In the early days of her return to her homeland, the biggest challenge she faced was how to settle down in post-war Italy and provide a stable living environment for her children. With the help of friends and family, she was able to find the right environment for her children to grow up in and ensure that they received a good education.
As life gradually got back on track, Bianca began to explore his career path. Her unique background and multicultural experience make her unique in the fashion industry. Her elegance and unique aesthetic quickly attracted the attention of the famous fashion designer Christian Dior at the time. Dior invited her to be his model, which was not only a job for Bianca, but also a great opportunity to step into the fashion industry.
Under Dior's leadership, Bianca has participated in many fashion shows, and her unique style and international image have won her numerous accolades. Through this experience, Bianca not only gained an in-depth understanding of the inner charm of fashion design, but also accumulated a wealth of industry experience. She began to have the idea of opening her own clothing company.
After careful preparation and planning, Bianca finally realized his dream of setting up his own clothing company. Her designs blend Eastern and Western artistic aesthetics, and each piece reflects her pursuit of detail and unique understanding of beauty. The Bianca brand quickly made a name for itself in the fashion industry and became the go-to choice for those who value individuality and taste.
With the success of his career, so did Bianca's personal life. She has had five husbands in her life, and each marriage seems to be an important chapter in her life journey. Although some of these marriages did not last, each of her husbands left a deep mark on her life and added a rich color to her life experience.
Family memory and reconciliation
On a warm autumn day in 1991, the Opium Tea Publishing House in New York received a letter from Aimei Tan. The content of this letter not only contains Tan Aimei's memories of the past, but also expresses her hopes for the future. In the letter, Tan Aimei explained her identity to the publishing house, she is the daughter of Tan Zhanchao and He Yixian, and hopes to get in touch with Beianga through the publishing house, expressing her strong desire to meet.
The staff of the Opium Tea Publishing House were very surprised by the letter, and at the same time were moved by Tan Aimei's sincerity. They decided to assist Tan Aimei by passing the letter to Bianca. When Bianca received the letter at her home in California, she was shocked by its contents. For many years, she had always thought that Tan Zhanchao had died in the Northeast Battlefield. Tan Aimei's letter not only allowed Beianga to learn information that she did not know over the years, but also let her know that the news of Tan Zhanchao's death was actually a miscommunication.
After receiving Tan Aimei's letter, Bianca was deeply touched and decided to respond to Tan Aimei's request. The bond between the two gradually forged up, and despite being halfway around the world, the exchange of letters gradually brought them closer together. After a period of correspondence, Bianca and Tan arranged a meeting.
This meeting is not only the intersection of the histories of the two families, but also a remembrance of Beianga and Tan Zhan's past life. During the meeting, Tan Aimei told Bianca about her parents, Tan Zhanchao and He Yixian, as well as her personal upbringing. Bianca also shared her own story, including her past with Tan Zhanchao, and the changes in her life since then.
This meeting was an emotional release and reconciliation for Bianca. Although both Tan Zhanchao and He Yixian have passed away, through the communication with Tan Aimei, Bianca feels a connection that spans time and space. For the next two years, Bianca and Tan Aimei kept in touch, and although they didn't communicate frequently, this special relationship gave Bianca a lot of comfort.
However, the impermanence of fate struck again. In 1993, Bianca died of liver cancer at his home in Alp, California.
Liu Chuang.The Bitter Love between the Countess and the Chinese Officer[J].Special Attention,2022(1):7-9