A few days ago, when I wrote an article introducing Luo Feng, an old writer in northeast China, I thought of another famous old writer in northeast China, Shu Qun. The trajectories of the lives of these two writers overlap and similarities: they are both sons of Baishan Heishui, both are old revolutionaries and famous writers who joined the party very early; after the fall of northeast China, they fought side by side in Harbin, using pens as knives and guns to unite Xiao Jun, Xiao Hong, and other progressive writers to resist the cultural rule of Japanese and pseudo-slavery; in 1935, they arrived in Shanghai, joined the camp of left-wing writers, and created works with wide influence; after the outbreak of the War of Resistance, they ran for propaganda to resist Japan, and finally rushed to Yan'an; after the victory of the War of Resistance, They returned to the northeast and all served as leaders of the literary and artistic circles; in the end, they all settled in Beijing. On October 24, 1991, Luo Feng died of illness at the age of 82, and two years ago, on August 2, Shu Qun also died of ineffective medical treatment at the age of 76.
Shuqun in his later years
Shu Qun has been out of this world for 32 years. However, the scene of my two visits to Beijing is now clearly in my mind, and the image of his loyal elder is vividly remembered, which makes me feel infinite reverence and nostalgia in my heart.
When I was in college, I knew that Shu Qun was an influential writer in the history of modern literature in China, and his debut novel "Children Without the Motherland" published in Shanghai was widely praised by people because it profoundly revealed the theme of anti-Japanese resistance, and was translated into many languages and introduced abroad. After half a century of literary career, in the spring of literature and art, he did not grow old, and wrote such a masterpiece as "Young Chen Girl", which won the National Outstanding Short Story Award in 1981. I also know that Shu Qun had published articles under the pseudonym "Black" in Changchun Datong Bao as early as 1933, and in 1946 he became the general manager of the Northeast Film Company (the predecessor of Changying). Therefore, I would like to have the opportunity to visit this old writer from the Northeast.
Young Shuqun
In the early spring of 1984, I borrowed the opportunity of entering Beijing to compose a manuscript and found Shu Qun's home in the dormitory of the China Federation of Literature and Literature in Hufang Bridge. I was about to knock on the door when I suddenly noticed a small note on the door that read, "Seriously ill patients are not welcome." Seeing this "thank you order", my raised hand froze in the air. Knock on the door, too impolite, leave, and reluctant, it is really a dilemma, the situation is embarrassing. Just then, the door opened and out came an old woman with a kind eyebrow. "Who are you looking for?" She asked politely. "I came from Changchun to ask to see Comrade Shuqun, but..." She saw me staring at the note and smiled: "Listening to your accent, I know that it is a northeastern fellow." Shu Qun is in better health today, it is not easy for you to come, I will ask him. "I guess she's Mrs. Shuqun." She turned and entered the house, and soon came out, followed by an old man in a cotton jacket. The old man shook my hand and introduced himself, "I am Shu Qun." Although there is a disease, the doctor is not allowed to receive guests, but the hometown should be an exception, please come into the house and sit down!"
From the left, Shu Qun, Luo Feng, and Xiao Jun
Our conversation started with an engagement. I asked Shu Qun to write an article for the "I Love Changchun" column of Changchun Daily, introducing his experience in Changchun. "I wanted to write, but in recent years I have been in poor health and unable to do so. That history is indeed worth a book! Speaking, Shu Qun excitedly recalled the past, "When I entered Changchun in April 1946, the city had just returned to the hands of the people, the smoke of the battle had not yet been extinguished, the corpses of the Kuomintang soldiers were still lying on the street, and the buildings around Datong Square (now People's Square) were full of bullet marks. On April 18, Shu Qun came to the Northeast Film Company with the order signed by Zhou Baozhong, commander of the Northeast Democratic United Army, and officially took over the machinery and equipment of "Manying" on behalf of the party and the people, and was appointed by the Propaganda Department of the Northeast Bureau of the COMMUNIST Party of China as the general manager of the Northeast Film Company. After arriving at the post, he closely relied on the progressive employees in the company and did a lot of work to unite the masses.
In May, the situation changed, and the film factory received instructions from its superiors to move to the rear. Under his meticulous organization, most of the equipment and personnel of the "East Shadow" were safely transferred before the battle began. However, due to the responsibility of the driver, the car broke down, and Pu Ke, Li Ying and others failed to retreat in time. Decades later, Shu Qun still regrets it. He said: "I have never said the name of this driver. It also involved two other women. If you talk about it, you will harm them. The matter is over, so why pursue it? ”
When Shu Qun said these words, his mood was very calm, and he did not have the slightest intention of complaining about the world. You know, what a great responsibility he had taken on at that time! Strict self-discipline and leniency toward others, what a loyal elder!
Seeing Shu Qun's tired face and leaning on the pillow, I hurried to bid him farewell. He wrote in my notebook the following passage: "I hope that the leading comrades in Changchun will organize their forces, tap the huge literary and artistic potential of the locality, and make greater contributions to socialism in our country." ”
4 years later, I visited Shuqun again, and his health was not as good as before, but he still warmly received me. He asked with concern: "The '5.23' great evacuation in Changchun in 1946 was a very remarkable and successful operation. Now while many people are still alive, we must earnestly grasp it! When I told him that some old comrades such as Zhang Songru (Gongmu), Xu Xing, etc. had written articles, Shu Qun smiled happily. People who know Shu Qun said that he was a man who did not smile and wrote extremely seriously. So, that smile left a deep impression on me. Who knows, this is the last smile of this old writer I have seen!
The Scythians are gone, and the writings will remain forever. Chunfeng Literature and Art Publishing House published many volumes of "Shu Qun's Collected Works", which I placed in the most eye-catching position on the bookshelf, and often took them down and read them to draw nourishment and inspiration from writing.