In Cao Xueqin's magnum opus Dream of Red Mansions, the love story of Jia Lian and Second Sister You is like a rich and colorful picture, with its emotional ups and downs, and the details are delicately depicted, like a short story embedded in a long masterpiece, which is thought-provoking. This affair began with Jia Lian's love for Second Sister You, experienced a well-planned elopement marriage, and spent a honeymoon-like sweet time together in Huazhi Lane, but it took a sharp turn for the worse after Second Sister You was admitted to Jia's Mansion, and finally ended with Jia Lian's coldness and betrayal. The ups and downs of this emotional journey are not only the revelation of the fate of the individual, but also a profound analysis of the social ethics and morality, the family power struggle and the complexity of human nature at that time.
When Jia Lian first met Second Sister You, she was attracted by her outstanding beauty and gentle temperament, and since then she has been haunted by her dreams and never forgotten. This kind of emotion is like the first touch of green in spring, quietly germinating, but it is enough to subvert Jia Lian's emotional world. Cao Xueqin depicts Jia Lian's obsession with Second Sister You with delicate brushstrokes, the flirtation between eyebrows and words, all like jumping notes on the strings, playing the overture of their relationship.
Jia Lian's pursuit of Second Sister You not only stays in the yearning of the soul, but also puts it into real action. He made careful preparations, purchased houses, maids, customized costumes, jewelry, and created a warm little world for Second Sister You, and even the wedding ceremony was meticulous. This series of actions undoubtedly demonstrates Jia Lian's deep affection for Second Sister You and her solemn attitude towards this marriage.
In the days of Huazhi Lane, the lives of Jia Lian and Second Sister You seemed to be soaked in honey, and they were concubines and lingering love. Jia Lian regards Second Sister You as the pearl of her palm, and she does her best to pamper her, not only giving meticulous care materially, but also praising and respecting her spiritually. He ordered his servants to be called "grandma", and so did he himself, and even did not hesitate to belittle his main family, Wang Xifeng, to show his preference for Second Sister You.
Jia Lian's love for Second Sister You is also reflected in the fact that he handed over all his savings for many years to her for safekeeping, which is undoubtedly the ultimate expression of his trust and dependence. Not only that, Jia Lian also confessed his heart to Second Sister You, told Sister Feng all kinds of wrongs, and even revealed that once Sister Feng passed away, he would immediately straighten Second Sister You. During this time, Jia Lian's love for Second Sister You was as blazing as fire, she was the only one in her eyes and heart, and Huazhi Lane witnessed their strong affection, like a paradise, short but beautiful.
The illusion of beauty was quickly shattered after Second Sister You was admitted to Jiafu. Jia Lian's attitude towards her has changed dramatically, the former warmth has been replaced by indifference, and the former concern has become indifferent. In the face of Second Sister You being conspired against by Sister Feng's subordinates and Qiu Tong's blatant insult, Jia Lian chose to remain silent and estranged. This contrasting behavior made Jia Lian's image instantly degenerate from an infatuated Langjun to a heartless person. So, what caused Jia Lian's attitude towards Second Sister You to change so drastically?
Jia Lian's indifference to Second Sister You is not due to a single reason, but the result of a variety of factors. First of all, the appearance of the new love Qiu Tong did distract Jia Lian to a certain extent. Qiu Tong as a gift from Jia Yu, its young and beautiful, warm personality, has a natural attraction to Jia Lian, and Jia Lian has always liked freshness, strong possessiveness of women, so the favor of Qiu Tong has increased unabated. However, this is only a superficial phenomenon and is not enough to explain Jia Lian's complete change in attitude towards Second Sister You.
In-depth exploration shows that Jia Lian's coldness stems more from external pressure and changes in his own psychology. Second Sister You's past, including the divorce scandal and the ambiguous relationship with her brother-in-law Jia Zhen, became the talk of the public after Jiafu was made public. These negative news were regarded as seriously tarnishing women's morality in feudal society, which not only burdened Second Sister You with heavy pressure from public opinion, but also made Jia Lian lose face. Jia Lian may be tolerant of Second Sister You's past, but she can't ignore the doubts and accusations of family elders, relatives and friends, and even public opinion about her marriage choice. Especially when even Jia's mother publicly scolded Second Sister You as a "cheap bone", Jia Lian's inner contradictions and struggles became more and more intense.
Jia Lian once aroused his desire to protect Second Sister You's weakness and dependence, but when these traits were combined with her negative rumors, they became an unbearable burden for him. He began to realize that the existence of Second Sister You not only failed to bring him the happiness he expected, but instead became the focus of his conflicts with his family and society, and may even affect his status and reputation in the family. This change in cognition made Jia Lian's feelings for Second Sister You gradually cool down until they became indifferent.
The story of Jia Lian and Second Sister You reveals the fragility of love under the pressure of reality, as well as the complex reactions of human nature in the face of moral dilemmas. Jia Lian's affection and indifference to Second Sister You seem to be contradictory, but in fact reflects his struggle and compromise between personal emotions and social norms, individual desires and family interests. His enthusiastic pursuit of Second Sister You at first was out of his yearning for beauty and desire for free love, but his later coldness and betrayal were out of the maintenance of his reputation and his submission to the pressure of reality. Jia Lian is not completely affectionate, but in the face of reality, his love seems weak and short-lived.
The fate of Second Sister You is not only a personal tragedy, but also a microcosm of social tragedy. Her beauty and tenderness once made her the goddess in Jia Lian's heart, but her past and social status made her the target of public criticism inside and outside Jia's mansion. Her tragedy reveals the strict moral standards of feudal society for women, as well as the betrayal of love by men in the face of family and social pressures. The experience of Second Sister You allows us to see the complexity of human nature in the face of moral judgment, public opinion pressure and self-protection mechanism, as well as the insignificance and helplessness of individuals in the face of huge social machines.
The affair between Jia Lian and Second Sister You, from love at first sight, passionate pursuit to cold abandonment, shows the fragility of love under the pressure of reality, as well as the complex reaction of human nature in moral dilemmas. This relationship is like a flower that blooms briefly in the flower branch alley, although it was once gorgeous and dazzling, but after all, it cannot compete with the wind and rain of reality, and withers in the ruthless years. It warns us that no matter how fierce love is, it cannot be separated from the fetters of society, and human nature often shows its complex and contradictory side when facing the dual test of morality and reality.