In 1979, a family reunion spanning half a century was quietly staged in Leshan, Sichuan. Guo Moruo's two daughters, Guo Shuying and Guo Pingying, embarked on a journey to find their roots. The destination of their trip is the hometown of their father Guo Moruo, and the most important stop is to visit an old man they have never met - Zhang Qionghua.
Who is Zhang Qionghua? What is the relationship between her and Guo Moruo? Why did Guo Moruo's daughters make a special trip to visit her? When two young women stand in front of the elderly woman and affectionately call out "Mommy", what is the story behind this call? How many past events have been touched by a "mother", and how many knots have been resolved?
The beginning and end of Guo Moruo's marriage to Zhang Qionghua
In China at the beginning of the 20th century, marriage was still decided by parents, and young people rarely had a choice. In 1912, Guo Moruo, who was only 20 years old, married his fellow villager Zhang Qionghua under this background. This marriage was completely facilitated in accordance with the traditional way of "the order of the parents, the words of the matchmaker".
Before marriage, Guo Moruo didn't know much about this family business, but through the matchmaker's description, he learned that his future wife "has a good character, is studying, and is talented". However, on the wedding day, when the bride revealed three inches of golden lotus from the sedan chair, Guo Moruo's heart was half cold. The moment he lifted the hijab, Guo Moruo was even more disappointed. Although Zhang Qionghua is not ugly, her ordinary appearance is far from the ideal "beauty" image in Guo Moruo's heart.
After marriage, Guo Moruo couldn't accept this marriage. On the night of the wedding, he did not even enter the wedding room, but chose to sleep alone in the wing room. Guo's mother understands her son's feelings, but due to etiquette and family reputation, she can only comfort her son with the allusion of the ancients marrying an ugly wife. Under the persuasion of her mother, Guo Moruo reluctantly agreed to maintain the marriage on the surface, and accompanied his wife back to the door the next day.
However, Guo Moruo's inner pain and unwillingness have not subsided. On the fifth day after his marriage, he found an excuse to say goodbye to his parents and went to Japan to study. This walk is a few years. In the years that followed, although Guo Moruo occasionally went home, he deliberately avoided close contact with Zhang Qionghua every time. Even if she was forced to have sex under Guo's mother's arrangement, Guo Moruo never had a substantive husband and wife relationship with Zhang Qionghua.
This marriage was also painful for Zhang Qionghua. As a traditional Chinese woman, she could not choose her own marriage and could only silently endure the neglect of her husband. Despite this, Zhang Qionghua still abides by women's morals, takes care of the Guo family with all her heart, and takes on the responsibility of her daughter-in-law.
In 1916, Guo Moruo met Tomiko Sato in Japan, and the two fell in love and had children. This new relationship allowed Guo Moruo to completely get rid of the shackles of marriage with Zhang Qionghua. However, for Zhang Qionghua, who stayed at home, life has become more difficult. Not only does she have to face the gossip of her family alone, but she also has to take on the heavy responsibility of taking care of her in-laws.
Although Guo Moruo has another family outside, Zhang Qionghua has always regarded him as his most important person. She carefully kept Guo Moruo's photographs, teenage books, homework books, graduation certificates, and letters sent back. These items have become her only connection with Guo Moruo, and they are also the spiritual sustenance for her to stick to this marriage.
Over time, Guo Moruo's status in the literary and political circles has increased, but his relationship with Zhang Qionghua has always stagnated. It was not until Guo's father died in 1939 that Guo Moruo returned to his hometown again. When he returned to his hometown this time, he took his new wife Yu Liqun with him. Faced with this situation, Zhang Qionghua showed amazing tolerance and understanding. She took the initiative to give her wedding room to Guo Moruo and his wife, and she moved to live in a cottage.
This kind of silent dedication and sacrifice makes Guo Moruo unable to ignore Zhang Qionghua's existence. Although there was no longer any possibility between the two, Guo Moruo began to express his gratitude to Zhang Qionghua with practical actions. When distributing family property, he insisted on giving his share to Zhang Qionghua. After liberation, he sent money to Zhang Qionghua regularly every month until his death.
Zhang Qionghua's difficult years
After Guo Moruo went to Japan to study, Zhang Qionghua's life fell into a long and lonely wait. As a traditional Chinese woman, she could not change her destiny and could only silently assume the responsibility of the daughter-in-law of the Guo family. This period of being alone in an empty house is undoubtedly a difficult test for Zhang Qionghua.
In those days, it was extremely embarrassing for a married woman to be abandoned by her husband. Zhang Qionghua had to face gossip and strange eyes from relatives and friends. However, she remained silent and did not tell outsiders about her plight. This perseverance and perseverance is not only the protection of oneself, but also the maintenance of the Guo family's reputation.
Although Guo Moruo is far away in a foreign country, Zhang Qionghua still does her best to take care of the Guo family. She wakes up early and goes to bed late every day, takes care of housework, and takes care of her in-laws. Especially during the serious illness of Guo's mother, Zhang Qionghua took care of her every step of the way. Her filial piety and diligence have won the praise of the Guo family, and to a certain extent, it has also alleviated the pressure on the family caused by Guo Moruo's departure.
In the 1920s, after Guo Moruo's relationship with Tomiko Sato in Japan became public, Zhang Qionghua's situation became even more difficult. She not only has to endure the pain of her husband marrying a new love, but also has to face the pressure of public opinion. However, Zhang Qionghua did not give up his responsibilities because of this. She continued to stay in the Guo family, doing her best to take care of her in-laws, and even had to think about Guo Moruo's reputation outside.
Zhang Qionghua's persistence and dedication are not without rewards. In 1932, when the Guo family separated, some relatives suggested that Zhang Qionghua should not be given property, on the grounds that she and Guo Moruo were "in name only". However, Guo's father insisted on distributing the property belonging to Guo Moruo to Zhang Qionghua. This decision not only reflects Guo's father's recognition of Zhang Qionghua, but also guarantees her life to a certain extent.
Despite this, Zhang Qionghua's life was not easy. She has to manage her share of the land on her own, and she also has to deal with all kinds of complex interpersonal relationships. In that turbulent era, a lone woman had to take care of a large amount of property, and the difficulties and risks faced can be imagined. But Zhang Qionghua, with her wisdom and tenacity, not only maintained her livelihood, but also preserved the Guo family's property.
In 1939, Guo Moruo and his new wife Yu Liqun returned to their hometown to visit relatives. This is undoubtedly a huge blow to Zhang Qionghua. However, she showed surprisingly tolerant and generous attitudes. Zhang Qionghua took the initiative to give up her room and let Guo Moruo and his wife live in it, and she moved to a small house. This behavior not only shows her kindness, but also reflects her loyalty to the Guo family.
With the changes of the times, Zhang Qionghua's life has also undergone tremendous changes. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, she participated in land reform and handed over her land to the state. Despite losing her financial resources, she did not ask Guo Moruo for help. Instead, she began to learn new knowledge, participate in social activities, and try to adapt to the new social environment.
In these difficult years, Zhang Qionghua has always maintained her concern for Guo Moruo. She collected various reports and works of Guo Moruo, and always paid attention to his movements. Even in the most difficult times, she never said a word of complaint to Guo Moruo. This selfless love, although not reciprocated by her husband, won the respect and love of the other members of the Guo family.
Until her later years, Zhang Qionghua still maintained an independent attitude towards life. She rejected Guo Moruo's suggestion to live together and chose to stay in her hometown in Sichuan. This decision is both a reflection of her self-esteem and her attachment to her homeland. Despite the hardships of life, Zhang Qionghua never gave up her love for life and hope for the future.
Guo Moruo's life turned and his new family
In 1914, Guo Moruo went to Japan to study, which became an important turning point in his life. In a foreign country, Guo Moruo was not only exposed to new ideas and cultures, but also met the person who changed his life - Tomiko Sato.
In 1916, when Guo Moruo was studying at the preparatory department of Tokyo Daiichi High School, he met Tomiko Sato, a Japan female student at the same school. When the two first met, Tomiko Sato was learning Chinese, while Guo Moruo was trying to improve his Japanese. The exchange of language becomes a bridge for them to build relationships. Tomiko Sato's gentleness and virtuousness, as well as the independent spirit of a modern woman, deeply attracted Guo Moruo.
With the deepening of the relationship, the relationship between Guo Moruo and Tomiko Sato quickly warmed up. In 1918, the two began living together. This free love relationship made Guo Moruo experience unprecedented happiness and satisfaction. However, behind this happiness lies a huge amount of stress and distress. On the one hand, Guo Moruo already has his original wife Zhang Qionghua in China; On the other hand, the cultural differences and public opinion between China and Japan have also brought many challenges to this relationship.
Despite this, the relationship between Guo Moruo and Tomiko Sato is still strong. In 1920, Tomiko Sato gave birth to Guo Moruo's first child. The arrival of this new life has further deepened the emotional bond between the two. In the following years, Tomiko Sato gave birth to several children for Guo Moruo.
While establishing a new family with Tomiko Sato, Guo Moruo's literary career also ushered in a boom. In 1921, Guo Moruo, Yu Dafu and others founded the "Creation Society" in Shanghai, which became an important milestone in his literary career. The establishment of the Creation Society marked the beginning of a new stage in the New Literature Movement. Guo Moruo wrote a large number of excellent poems and literary works during this period, such as "The Goddess" and "Phoenix Nirvana", which established his important position in the history of modern Chinese literature.
However, the success of his career did not make Guo Moruo forget his debt to Zhang Qionghua. Although he chose to form a new family with Tomiko Sato, the guilt of Zhang Qionghua always haunted him. In 1923, after Guo Moruo returned to China, he began to try to compensate Zhang Qionghua in various ways. He regularly sent money to Zhang Qionghua, and insisted on distributing his share of property to Zhang Qionghua when the family was divided.
In 1934, Guo Moruo went to Japan again, this time with Tomiko Sato and the children. However, for a variety of reasons, the relationship ultimately failed to survive. In 1939, Guo Moruo broke up with Tomiko Sato and married Yu Liqun, a student at Wuhan University. This marriage brought Guo Moruo a new family life, and also made his love life take a major turn again.
Despite going through a complicated emotional journey, Guo Moruo has never forgotten his responsibility to Zhang Qionghua. After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Guo Moruo held a number of important positions, and his living conditions were greatly improved. He took advantage of this opportunity to further increase his financial support for Zhang Qionghua. Every month, he would regularly send Zhang Qionghua living expenses to ensure that she had no worries in her old age.
Guo Moruo's approach is not only a reward for Zhang Qionghua's years of dedication, but also a compensation for his past behavior. Although he can't go back to the past and change what has happened, he tries to make up for his mistakes in this way and express his apologies and gratitude to Zhang Qionghua.
In his later years, Guo Moruo repeatedly expressed his hope that Zhang Qionghua could live with him in Beijing. He hopes to be able to personally take care of this woman who has dedicated most of her life to the Guo family. However, Zhang Qionghua politely rejected this proposal and chose to continue to stay in her hometown in Sichuan. This decision not only reflects Zhang Qionghua's independent character, but also may stem from her deep affection for her homeland.
Although Guo Moruo's life has experienced many twists and turns, he has never forgotten his responsibility to Zhang Qionghua. From the escape of his youth to the compensation of his later years, Guo Moruo's change in attitude reflects his reflection on this marriage and his recognition of Zhang Qionghua's dedication. This complex emotional journey not only affected Guo Moruo's personal life, but also affected his creation and outlook on life to a certain extent.
Zhang Qionghua's later life
With the passage of time, Zhang Qionghua's life gradually entered his old age. Despite all the ups and downs, she remains strong and optimistic about life. In her hometown in Sichuan, Zhang Qionghua lives a simple and fulfilling life, and her daily life is full of love for life and concern for society.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Zhang Qionghua actively responded to the government's call and participated in the local land reform movement. She handed over to the state the land she had worked hard for many years to hand over to the state free of charge, a move that not only reflected her support for the new China, but also showed her idea of keeping pace with the times. After losing her financial resources, Zhang Qionghua did not ask Guo Moruo for help, but started a new life with her own efforts.
In order to adapt to the needs of the new society, Zhang Qionghua began to learn cultural knowledge. Despite her advanced age, she still insists on reading newspapers every day to learn about national events. She also attended a local literacy class to learn to read and write. This spirit of continuous learning enabled her to maintain her curiosity and desire to explore the world in her later years.
In community life, Zhang Qionghua also plays an active role. She often participates in various activities organized by the community, such as volunteer labor and cultural performances. Her warm-hearted and helpful personality has made her a well-respected elder in her neighborhood. Especially in taking care of the lonely elderly, Zhang Qionghua showed great enthusiasm and patience. She often does what she can for the elderly in the community, such as helping to clean up, buy groceries and cook, etc., and these behaviors have won universal praise from the community residents.
Despite her simple life, Zhang Qionghua has never stopped pursuing cultural life. She often listens to the radio and keeps up to date with domestic and international news. Whenever there is a report about Guo Moruo, she pays special attention to it. In addition, she enjoys watching Peking Opera and local opera. When she could, she occasionally went to the local theater to see a show, which became one of the few entertainments in her later life.
Although Zhang Qionghua's later life was dull, it was not lonely. Her children often visited her, bringing her the material and spiritual comfort she needed to live. Especially during traditional festivals, the scene of the whole family gathering together always makes Zhang Qionghua feel very gratified. She also often tells her grandchildren stories of the past and passes on her life experience to the next generation.
Although Guo Moruo repeatedly invited Zhang Qionghua to live with her in Beijing, she always declined the offer. She chose to stay in her hometown in Sichuan, on the one hand, because of her deep affection for her homeland, and on the other hand, it may also be out of understanding for Guo Moruo's new family. This decision not only reflects Zhang Qionghua's independent character, but also shows her tolerance and generosity.
In terms of economy, Guo Moruo has never forgotten his responsibility to Zhang Qionghua. Every month, he will regularly send Zhang Qionghua living expenses to ensure that her basic life is worry-free. This kind of financial support makes up for Guo Moruo's debt to Zhang Qionghua to a certain extent, and also reflects his sense of responsibility for this marriage.
In his later years, Zhang Qionghua also had an important job, that is, to sort out and preserve the information related to Guo Moruo. She collected Guo Moruo's various reports, works, and photographs, and carefully preserved them. These materials not only record Guo Moruo's life and deeds, but also become important historical materials for the study of Guo Moruo's life and creation. Zhang Qionghua's act is not only a commemoration of Guo Moruo, but also a contribution to the history of modern Chinese literature.
As she grew older, Zhang Qionghua's physical condition gradually deteriorated. However, she remains optimistic about life. She often said that she had seen the birth and development of New China and had no regrets in life. Even during her illness, she tried not to cause trouble to her children, showing great strength.
In 1982, Zhang Qionghua passed away peacefully in his hometown in Sichuan at the age of 90. Her death is not only a great loss to the Guo family, but also a regret in the Chinese literary world. As Guo Moruo's original wife, Zhang Qionghua used her life to interpret the virtues of traditional Chinese women, and also showed the independent spirit of women in the new era. Her life experience has become an important chapter in the study of Guo Moruo's life and the history of modern Chinese literature.
Zhang Qionghua's influence on Guo Moruo's career
Although Zhang Qionghua has not been able to live with Guo Moruo for many years, her impact on Guo Moruo's career is far-reaching and long-lasting. This influence is not only reflected in Guo Moruo's literary creation, but also in his outlook on life and values.
First of all, Zhang Qionghua provided important financial support for Guo Moruo's early education and career development. In 1914, when Guo Moruo went to Japan to study, it was Zhang Qionghua who sold his dowry to make this study possible. This experience became an important material for Guo Moruo's later literary creation, which is reflected in many of his works. For example, in Guo Moruo's autobiographical novel "My Childhood", this past is described in detail, showing Zhang Qionghua's selfless dedication.
Secondly, Zhang Qionghua's tenacity and traditional virtues have also become one of the prototypes of Guo Moruo's female image. In Guo Moruo's poems and novels, strong, loyal, and kind female images often appear, and these images all bear the shadow of Zhang Qionghua to some extent. For example, in Guo Moruo's novel "Qu Yuan", the image of Qu Yuan's wife has some characteristics of Zhang Qionghua, such as perseverance and silent dedication.
In addition, Zhang Qionghua's management of the family also provided stable rear support for Guo Moruo's creation. During Guo Moruo's study in Japan, Zhang Qionghua took on the responsibility of taking care of the Guo family alone. Not only does she have to take care of her elderly in-laws, but she also has to raise her young children while also taking care of the family's land. This strong and capable trait allows Guo Moruo to focus on learning and creating without worries.
Zhang Qionghua's existence has also become a moral constraint in Guo Moruo's heart. Although Guo Moruo formed a new family with Tomiko Sato in Japan, he never forgot his responsibility to Zhang Qionghua. This inner contradiction and struggle has become an important theme in Guo Moruo's work. In many of his works, one can see a discussion of the conflict between traditional morality and free love.
In Guo Moruo's political career, Zhang Qionghua also played an important role. Although she is not directly involved in political activities, her presence provides Guo Moruo with an important link to the people. Through Zhang Qionghua, Guo Moruo was able to understand the living conditions and ideological dynamics of ordinary people, which provided a valuable reference for his later participation in political decision-making.
Zhang Qionghua's influence on Guo Moruo's thoughts in his later years cannot be ignored. As she grew older, Guo Moruo became more and more grateful for Zhang Qionghua's dedication. He has repeatedly expressed his desire for Zhang Qionghua to live with him in Beijing, which reflects his return to traditional family values. Although this wish was ultimately unrealized, it reflects Guo Moruo's rethinking of the value of life.
In terms of academic research, Zhang Qionghua's contribution is also worth noting. The early letters and manuscripts of Guo Moruo that she carefully preserved provided valuable first-hand information for Guo Moruo's later research. These materials not only help researchers better understand Guo Moruo's creative process, but also provide important documentary support for the study of modern Chinese literary history.
Zhang Qionghua's life experience has also become an important perspective for the study of Guo Moruo. By studying Zhang Qionghua's life, scholars have been able to examine Guo Moruo's life trajectory and creative process from another perspective. This expansion of research perspectives has greatly enriched the content and depth of Guo Moruo's research.
Even in her later years, Zhang Qionghua's influence on Guo Moruo continued. The living conditions in her hometown in Sichuan often affect Guo Moruo's heart. This concern is reflected not only in Guo Moruo's letters and diaries, but also in some of his public speeches. It can be said that Zhang Qionghua's existence has always been a part of Guo Moruo's life that cannot be ignored.
In general, Zhang Qionghua's influence on Guo Moruo's career is multifaceted, including direct financial support and life care, as well as indirect spiritual influence and creative inspiration. Her existence not only shaped Guo Moruo's personality, but also deeply influenced his literary creation and life choices. Although her role is often overlooked, her contribution to Guo Moruo and modern Chinese literature as a whole cannot be overlooked.