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In 1966, in an inconspicuous courtyard in Beijing, a seemingly ordinary family photo quietly recorded the last days of Li Lisan's family.
That year, the political storm swept mercilessly, and Li Lisan, the old revolutionary, suddenly became a traitor and a sinner in the eyes of the public. But is the truth really what it seems? Did he really betray what he had dedicated his life to?
Li Lisan's return and departure again
In 1930, after Li Lisan arrived in the Soviet Union, he began to live in Moscow. As a communist from China, he not only needed to adapt to the new living environment, but also to study Marxist-Leninist theory in depth.
Li Lisan pursued further studies at the Political Science Institute in Moscow, exchanging ideas and experiences with communists from all over the world. He actively participates in the Academy's seminars and activities, listening to the strategies and histories of revolutionaries in different countries, while also sharing the struggles and ideas of the Chinese Communist Party.
Li Lisan's life is not limited to academic and political activities. In everyday life, he gradually got used to Soviet customs.
He learned Russian, and although the language barrier caused many inconveniences at first, he gradually improved his language skills through daily communication and interaction.
In Moscow, he frequently visited public libraries and studied books on international politics and economics in order to broaden his horizons and deepen his understanding of the global communist movement.
As he spent more time in the Soviet Union, Li Lisan also began to participate in local social activities. He made contacts with Soviet workers and peasants, participated in field trips to factories and farms, and learned about the process of industrialization and collectivization in the Soviet Union.
These experiences gave him a more intuitive understanding of socialist construction and provided him with valuable references for his future political activities in China.
The Origins and Challenges of Transnational Marriages
At a political seminar in Moscow, Li Lisan met Lisa for the first time. She was a staff member involved in the translation of the conference, from an ordinary family in the Soviet Union.
Lisa, with her thick blonde hair and bright blue eyes, immediately attracted everyone's attention in the venue. Li Lisan was impressed by her professionalism in handling complex political jargon and fluent translation.
During the coffee break at the conference, Li Lisan tried to communicate with her in his elementary Russian, hoping to learn more about Soviet society and culture.
Although the initial exchange was fraught with language barriers, the two managed to maintain a conversation through simple gestures and expressions, as well as the occasional interlude of English words.
Lisa was impressed by Lisa's friendliness and respect for Lisa, who was attracted by Lisa's cheerfulness and enthusiasm. As time went on, their communication gradually increased, and Li Lisan also began to learn Russian extra in order to better communicate with Lisa.
Over the next few months, the relationship between Li Lisan and Lisa gradually developed. Together, they participated in many cultural events and political study groups, through which they had more opportunities to communicate.
Lisa also began to develop a strong interest in Chinese culture, and she often asked Li Lisan about China's history, culture, and his own revolutionary experience.
Li Lisan patiently introduced her to her and took her to visit the Chinese art exhibition in Moscow and watch Chinese films together, which gave Lisa a deeper understanding of China.
As time passed, the relationship between the two grew closer. In 1946, when Li Lisan decided to end his studies and life in the Soviet Union and return to China to continue to participate in the revolution, he sincerely invited Lisa to go to China with him.
This was undoubtedly a big decision for Lisa. She needed to leave her familiar surroundings and loved ones behind and travel to a new country, facing a new way of life and challenges.
After some careful consideration, Lisa finally decided to accept Li Lisan's invitation. She sees it as an opportunity to support the people she loves, but also an adventure into the unknown.
Changes in Sino-Soviet Relations and Personal Choices
The year Li Lisan and Lisa arrived in China was on the eve of a subtle change in Sino-Soviet relations. In the beginning, life in China was full of novelties and challenges, and Lisa had to adapt to the Chinese lifestyle and social environment.
They settled in Beijing, where Li Lisan quickly plunged into domestic politics, while Lisa devoted herself to family life and learning Chinese, while gradually integrating into the local community.
As time passed, cracks began to appear in Sino-Soviet relations, and doubts and frictions gradually appeared in the originally close international alliances. Many experts and advisers of the USSR in China began to feel this change in the political climate, their position and work suffered, and many began to think about withdrawing to the USSR.
This phenomenon caused widespread concern in the expatriate community, and many Soviet citizens were uneasy and chose to return to their homeland.
Against this backdrop, Lisa's situation becomes particularly complicated. As a Russian, she faces the reality of the departure of her compatriots around her, and often receives care and inquiries from relatives and friends.
However, Lisa's choice to stay in China was not an easy one. She has developed a deep relationship with Li Lisan and his family, and has developed a deep identification with China and its revolutionary ideas.
Despite the pressure from the outside world, Lisa's daily life continues. She has built up a circle of friends in the community and has begun to participate in social activities, such as teaching and participating in community service, which have allowed her to understand and experience Chinese culture and society more deeply.
Lisa's relationship with her neighbors grew closer, and she learned to make Chinese cuisine, share festivals and celebrations with her neighbors, and gradually became an integral part of the community.
At the same time, she often takes her children to visit Beijing's historical sites, such as the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace, to educate them to understand and respect the history and culture of their adopted hometown.
Lisa tries her best to integrate the children into the local environment, she takes them to the park and participates in school activities to ensure that they grow up like other Chinese children.
In the years when the political atmosphere was becoming increasingly tense, Li Lisan's work pressure also increased. Although Lisa could not participate directly in politics, she provided support and comfort to Li Lisan by providing a warm haven at home. Home became a quiet rear in the heat of the political struggle.
The warmth of family and the haze of politics
In 1966, in a secluded and quiet apartment courtyard in Beijing, Li Lisan's family prepared to take a family photo. It was a sunny day, with flowers and trees in the yard sparse and sunlight shining through the green leaves on the neat stone pavement.
Li Lisan wears his usual gray tunic, a traditional garment that looks particularly solemn in the sun. His glasses reflected a gentle glow, and although the years had left white marks on his hair, his stance still seemed firm.
On that day, the photographer was a family friend, and he set up makeshift filming equipment in a corner of the yard. Lisa, Lisa, Lisa, is busy with her two daughters, Young-nam and Yalan, adjusting their outfits to make sure everyone looks neat and beautiful.
Lisa wore a simple and elegant dress, while the two daughters wore similarly styled floral dresses with their hair meticulously combed.
The photographer instructs them to stand under a large tree with dense green leaves and some flowering shrubs in the background. Sunlight shines through the gaps in the leaves, creating dappled shadows of light.
Li Lisan stood in the middle, Lisa stood gently on his side, and the two daughters stood on either side of them, and the whole family was closely connected, and the physical contact between them revealed the intimacy between the families.
The photographer adjusted the lens a few times and then froze the moment with the camera in his hand. The click of the shutter sounded, and a photo recording the warmth and harmony of Li Lisan's family was produced. The photograph was later carefully developed and framed in a wooden frame, which became a cherished memory of the Li family.
However, this year was full of great challenges for Li Li and the three of them. The wave of turmoil has swept through China, and in the political storm, Li Lisan has been wrongly accused of being a "foreign enemy" because of his past international contacts and political stance.
This accusation put him in a deep predicament, and despite his glorious revolutionary history and strong political beliefs, he was barely able to defend himself openly during that period.
Under this pressure, Li Lisan's life became extremely difficult. His official activities were restricted and his personal movements were closely monitored.
Even in such circumstances, he tried to maintain his daily routine and continue to support and care for his family. And Lisa, during this difficult time when her husband was shocked, remained by his side, doing everything she could to support and comfort the family.
Finally, he was rehabilitated and evaluated by history
The year 1967 was full of difficulties and challenges for Li Lisan. He experienced constant political pressure and social isolation, which became more intense, especially in the context of unrest.
On June 20, Li Lisan, who was deeply troubled, decided to write to Mao Zedong again, hoping to directly state his situation and misunderstandings, and strive for a clear and unambiguous explanation.
In the letter, he described in detail his plight and his loyalty to the revolution, emphasizing that he had devoted his life to the cause of communism and felt deeply bitter and unfair about the accusation that he was slandered as a "foreign enemy".
The letter was sent through a specific channel, and Li Lisan hoped that the letter would reach Mao Zedong so that his voice would be truly heard. However, no reply was sent back, and for two days, the situation did not turn around, but became more tense.
In such a depressing and hopeless situation, on June 22, Li Lisan made an extreme decision, he chose to take a large amount of sleeping pills, and ended his life full of hardships.
On Li Lisan's desk, a suicide note was left. This suicide note clearly expresses his despair and desire for innocence. In his suicide note, he wrote that he had never betrayed the party and the revolution, and had never had illegal exchanges with foreign forces, and he hoped that the party Central Committee would thoroughly investigate the matter and return his innocence.
The handwriting in the suicide note is firm and clear, and every word reveals his pursuit of truth and his desire for justice.
The discovery of the suicide note shocked Li Lisan's family and friends. His wife, Lisa, and two daughters are in extreme grief, and the reactions of those around him to the incident are also mixed.
Some are deeply sympathetic, while others remain silent because of the political climate. Li Lisan's death sparked a series of discussions and investigations, but in the political environment of the time, it was difficult to fully uncover the truth.
It was not until 1980 that many unjust, false and wrongful convictions began to be re-examined as the political situation changed. Li Lisan's case was also included in the review.
After a thorough investigation and evidence gathering, Li Lisan was indeed confirmed to be a loyal revolutionary, and all his charges were cleared. That year, Li Lisan's reputation was restored, and his efforts and sacrifices for the communist cause were finally recognized.
References:[1]Li Sha, Li Yingnan, Zhou Kui. The revolutionary romance of Li Lisan and Li Sha[J].Civil Aviation Today,2009(Z1):104-109