On the bustling streets of Shanghai, there was once a talented and peerless woman, her name was Su Qing. Her life, like the stories she weaves, is full of ups and downs and twists that are unpredictable. Su Qing was the brightest star of her time, and her beauty and intellect earned her countless accolades and followers. However, behind the glamorous, her life path is full of thorns.
After the divorce, Su Qing is like a phoenix nirvana, shining again. Her beauty and talent have once again put her in the limelight, and her life seems to be back on a glamorous track. However, as time passed, the praise and pursuits around her gradually dimmed, and there were very few people who were really willing to accompany her for the rest of her life. The years passed quietly, and Su Qing's life also entered the twilight years.
The beginning and breakdown of marriage
Su Qing was dressed in a wedding dress and sat in a richly decorated sedan chair, outside which was a noisy wedding band and laughter, but her mood was complicated. Through the gap in the sedan curtain, she saw Li Qinhou and a woman in a silver dress whispering and laughing in the corner. The woman's smile was enchanting, and Li Qinhou's eyes on her were filled with unconcealable intimacy and appreciation. Su Qing's heart was filled with an ominous premonition, but she could only silently hide this doubt and uneasiness, because the wheels of the wedding had rolled forward.
Soon after the marriage, the news of Su Qing's pregnancy made the entire Li family rejoice. At that time, childbearing was seen as one of the important roles of women, and Su Qing wanted to continue her studies and move towards her dream of becoming a diplomat. However, her pregnancy became a turning point, and the school gently persuaded her to drop out, believing that she should devote herself to family life. Su Qing had to leave her beloved school and books, and since then, her life has been confined to the Li family's housework and the raising of her children.
In the next few years, Su Qing gave birth to five children in succession, and the home was always filled with the cry of babies and the laughter of children. However, the happiness was short-lived, and her second daughter died of illness shortly after birth, followed by a fourth child, also a daughter. Such a blow left Su Qing physically and mentally exhausted, but she had to endure her grief and continue to take care of the other children and the heavy housework.
In this process, Li Qinhou does not seem to have given enough support and understanding. He often goes out for socials, comes home late, and is indifferent to the affairs of the family. Su Qing tried to communicate with him about the child's upbringing and the family's financial arrangements, but often did not receive a positive response. The Li family's focus seems to be more on his career and social activities than on his family, wife and children.
A turning point in life in Shanghai
Su Qing and Li Qinhou stepped into the bustling city of Shanghai together, with expectations and uneasiness for the future. Li Qinhou opened his own law firm here, hoping to make a big splash in this land of opportunity. However, contrary to his expectations, his firm did not run smoothly, and as time went on, the volume of business became scarce, his income plummeted, and his financial situation deteriorated.
In an increasingly difficult situation, Su Qing had to face the weight of her family's daily expenses. As her family's food stocks bottomed out, she realized she had to solve the growing problems of her life. One day, she came to Li Qinhou's office, hoping to get some money to buy daily necessities, such as rice and other ingredients. But Li Qinhou was at a low point in his career at that time, and the pressure was great, and when he heard Su Qing's request, his emotions were out of control, and he suddenly slapped Su Qing.
This sudden blow was not only a physical pain, but also a great trampling on Su Qing's dignity. For a long time, she has endured all kinds of misfortunes and grievances in her marriage, trying to maintain the integrity of this family. However, this slap completely shattered her last patience and hope. In the family she once built together, she can no longer find a trace of warmth and respect.
On Su Qing's side, the children were confused and frightened by this sudden change. Their home, which was supposed to be the safest and most welcoming place, suddenly became strange and scary. After Li Qinhou realized his mistake, although he repented, it was too late, and Su Qing's heart had already broken.
In the days that followed, Su Qing struggled and thought for a long time in his heart. She began to plan for her future in secret, reaching out to friends and family for support and help. She learned that leaving such a marriage, especially in those days, required not only courage, but also careful planning and arrangement. Su Qing gradually straightened out her affairs and handled the placement of the children to ensure that they could have a stable living environment after leaving.
Finally, Su Qing made a decision, she wanted to end this marriage and leave the house. She chose to leave this place full of painful memories one early morning, when Li Qinhou was not at home, with the necessary personal belongings. Her figure disappeared into the streets of Shanghai, leaving only a divorce agreement and full of grief for this marriage.
The challenges of independent living
After the divorce, Su Qing faced unprecedented life challenges. In order to make ends meet and take care of her children, she began to try various jobs and eventually chose to write. She put her experiences and feelings into words, working day and night, hoping to improve the difficult living conditions through literary creation. Her works were gradually published in newspapers and magazines, gaining a certain amount of recognition and income, but her health deteriorated dramatically due to prolonged overwork and psychological stress.
Su Qing began to cough and feel tired, and at first she thought it was just the result of overwork, and she didn't pay much attention to it. However, as time went on, her symptoms worsened and she was forced to go to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with tuberculosis. This news was a heavy blow to Su Qing, because in those days, tuberculosis was an incurable disease, which was a great test for the patient's body and spirit.
During this difficult period, Dr. Su Zengxiang became Su Qing's attending doctor. Not only did he provide her with medical treatment, but he also often encouraged her to maintain a positive attitude towards life. Dr. So often finds time to visit Su Qing in his spare time, chatting with her, distracting her and alleviating her pain. His professionalism and patience gradually won Su Qing's trust and respect.
At the most difficult moment in Su Qing's life, Chen Gongbo entered her life. Chen Gongbo is a successful businessman, and he shows special care and support for Su Qing. He not only helped Su Qing financially solve many practical problems, but also often sent books and cultural relics to encourage her to continue writing and researching. Chen Gongbo's generosity and understanding became a pillar of Su Qing's spirit.
Su Qing's life gradually stabilized with the help of these two men. She continued her writing career while treating tuberculosis. Although life is still full of challenges, with external assistance and her own inner persistence, Su Qing gradually feels a glimmer of hope.
Her health has improved under the careful treatment of Dr. So Tsang-cheung, and she has been able to focus more on her writing. With Chen Gongbo's funding, Su Qing has more time and energy to devote to literary creation, and her works have begun to be more widely recognized.
Although there are various speculations and discussions about the relationship between Su Qing and Chen Gongbo, the two have always maintained a friendship and cooperation that goes beyond the norm. Chen Gongbo's help to Su Qing has undoubtedly brought great changes to her life, enabling her to continue to persist and create in difficult situations.
The days that circulate between men
Su Qing's talent and demeanor have attracted the pursuit and appreciation of many men. A variety of characters enter her life, bringing brief moments of joy and companionship, but as time passes, these relationships gradually reveal the hustle and bustle on the surface and the emptiness on the inside. Her interactions with these men are mostly based on external aura and temporary pleasure, lacking deep and lasting resonance.
At that time, Su Qing's independence and talent were a challenge for many, and her success and fame allowed her to form an invisible divide among women. Social prejudices and traditional beliefs have made her a competitor or a threat in the eyes of some women, thus invisibly isolating herself. In this case, although there is no shortage of suitors around her, it is difficult to achieve deep understanding and support.
Su Qing's brilliance in social situations concealed the loneliness and helplessness in her heart. Her life is like a choreographed drama, shining on the surface, but behind the scenes is a lonely self. Behind the prosperity of interpersonal relationships, it is difficult for her to find a true confidant and long-term partner. Those men who are attracted by their appearance and talent often choose to leave after the novelty wears off, and their departure once again confirms Su Qing's desire and despair for love and belonging.
The end of life
With the passage of time, Su Qing's life gradually moved away from the glory and hustle and bustle of the past, and turned to a more ordinary and simple state. Time flies, and she has gradually changed from a dazzling star in the social circle to an ordinary old man living in an ordinary alley. After her retirement, she lived a more austere life. Su Qing lives with her divorced youngest daughter and grandson in a small space of only ten square meters, a home that is far from comparable to the living environment of her youth, but she does not complain too much about it.
Although this cottage is small, it is the whole of Su Qing's life in his later years. The house is sparsely furnished, and the corners are piled with old objects and books that bear witness to her life's literary and emotional journey. The hardships of life have not weakened Su Qing's dedication to life, and even with limited resources, she still struggles to maintain her literary creation. Although her work no longer appears in the public eye as often as she did when she was younger, her love for words remains undiminished.
As she grew older, Su Qing's health began to decline. Although she had been able to control the illness she had suffered from due to overwork and psychological stress, she still faced a variety of health problems in her old age. Despite this, Su Qing tries to remain independent, unwilling to rely too much on her daughter and grandson, and she hopes that she can be strong to face every challenge in life.
On December 7, 1982, Su Qing, as usual, read and write alone at home. Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain in her chest, followed by a massive vomit of blood, a sudden turn that prevented her from seeking help. In this small room, Su Qing faced the end of his life alone. She used to be such a dazzling and popular generation of talented women on the beach, but at the last moment of her life, no one was by her side.
Su Qing's death is a shock and regret for those who once knew her, loved her, and even envied her. Her life is full of legends, and the glory and frustration of the past are intertwined into an indelible mark on her life. However, when all the brilliance faded, all that was left to the world was her popular words and the deserted hut.
Li Bin, Zhao Linzhi.Su Qing's novel "Ten Years of Marriage": Feminist Narratology[J].Journal of Jiangxi Electric Power Vocational and Technical College,2023,36(7):163-165.)