Old things in the south

Chapter 80 A Brief Note on Several Letters from Mr. Liang Shiqiu

A few days ago, I received a letter signed by Yu Guangzhong and Yan Xian, which is to solicit the authentic letters of Mr. Liang from more than 20 former friends of Mr. Liang Shiqiu, and they plan to publish a collection of Mr. Liang's letters.After receiving the letter, I recently searched for it in my collection of letters, because my collection of letters is arranged with the names of the letters in phonetic symbols ㄅㄆㄇ, so it was easy to find a batch.I selected a few letters from it, all of which were letters from Mr. Liang after he went abroad for the first and second time; I also found relevant photos, and gave a brief note to each letter.

Haiyin:

Received Pure Literature, thank you.Reading Chinese magazines overseas is like meeting old friends in a foreign country, which is a special taste.You wrote the wrong address on the envelope, it is 35th Ave., not 3tb Ave., but fortunately, it has the words 98125, the postman knows the name, and the delivery is still correct.The content of this issue is very rich, and it took me a day to roughly read it.Taipei Customs does not check the luggage of outbound passengers at all, but Seattle Customs is very strict. I brought a package of dried tofu. The Yankees insisted that it was meat products and intended to confiscate it. After repeated explanations, it was invalid. Finally, a commissioner from the Ministry of Agriculture was invited to appraise it and let it go. .Their attitudes are not bad, they check strictly and always have a smile on their faces. While confiscating other people's things, they are joking and joking without frowning. This is the cuteness of Americans.Seattle is very cold. It's [-] to [-] degrees in the morning, and the hottest one is only in the [-]s.

The clothes we wear are spring, and the climate here is severe winter!Apart from chatting at home, we just go to the street to buy things—not so much buying as watching.The U.S. market is full of beautiful things, and I really want to buy it after seeing it. When I think about the [-]kg luggage limit, my heart turns cold.What to eat, there are not many delicious ones, and our domestic ones are better—but the little carrots are really good, tender, sweet and juicy, and they seem to be better than our Beiping ones.I don't know if you agree or not?I didn't dare to disturb anyone this time, but "Central Daily" published a small piece of news, and the overseas edition also published it. Zhong Lusheng saw it, and once he publicized it, it immediately became news.I'm taking a break in Seattle and thinking of going east.My wife got very dizzy when getting on and off the plane, and I feared that my trip to Europe might have to be cancelled.Fortunately, Shakespeare has passed away, and it is not very interesting to pay tribute to the former residence, so it is worth noting.We are overseas, our hearts are in Taiwan, and we miss our dirty and messy homeland!

best wishes
Liang Shiqiu bows his head and his wife waits

70.4.30
This is the letter from Mr. and Mrs. Liang (Ms. Liang's wife, Ms. Cheng Jishu) who went to the United States for the first time. They went out in March 1970. The so-called "Pure Literature" magazine was received in the April issue (Volume Seven, No. Phase IV).This issue happens to be when I first set up the "Pure Literature Writers Column", that is, there are several writers in each issue of "Pure Literature", all of whom have written for "Pure Literature".At this time, the magazine has run the total No. 3 issue, and there are nearly 40 people who have written articles for this magazine. Please write an article about the author's life, life, Personality, and attach a photo.This is what readers like to read, and each person only takes up one page with photos and text.This time it opened, there was "Liang Shiqiu's Little Events" written by Chen Zuwen, a professor of Normal University.Chen Zuwen is also a colleague and friend of Mr. Liang, and they both research and teach Western literature.They are also family friends. This time, Mr. and Mrs. Liang asked Mr. and Mrs. Chen to take care of the empty house, so Mr. Chen knew the Liang family very well, and probably found everything, so he saw a roll of waste rope in the drawer, so he wrote Got this little thing.Mr. Chen is also the author of "Pure Literature". He specializes in translating English poetry and researching translation issues. His writing style is clear and humorous.This photo was taken by Liang and his wife when they went abroad. I took them at the airport (it was still at Songshan Airport at that time). Now it is a commemoration, because only Mrs. Chen is left in the photo today.

Mr. Liang observes the world very thoroughly. He wrote that the US Customs is serious but still has a smile on his face, which is not like Taiwan.But no matter what, he still "misses our dirty and messy home"!
The origin of Mr. Liang and "Pure Literature" began with "United Supplement". His first work for "United Supplement" was the essay "Walking" on December 1961, 12.I founded the monthly "Pure Literature" in January 21. He wrote the prose "Old" at the beginning, and later wrote and translated "Recalling Lao She", "Bing Xin's Poems", "The Song of the Old Sailor", etc., "Pure Literature" is his favorite magazine, and several important articles on recalling the past - recalling Lao She and Bing Xin - were published here.Not long ago, Lao She’s son, Shu Yi, also found Liang’s famous residence in Beibei, Sichuan, and the famous book "Ya She".

Haiyin:

We flew to the United States today, it was cloudy and rainy and we had a cold, so we couldn't leave and beg for forgiveness.

In the twilight years, far away in a foreign country, you can imagine how you feel.This is the tribute to Daan
Hello brother Cheng Ying
Liang Shiqiu paused, my wife added a note
72.5.26
This is the only letter written by Liang in my collection. The letter is short but meaningful. Seeing him say "In his old age, he is far away in a foreign country, and his mood can be imagined".They went to Seattle, USA this time because their second daughter, Wen Qiang, lives in another country. Seeing that their elders live in Taipei, they can't settle down day and night, so let's go!I happened to have a trip to visit relatives in the United States in 1973. When they knew about it, they invited me to take a trip to Seattle.I have been here for two months, and of course I have some time to go to Seattle at the end of September.I was invited by the U.S. State Department to go to the United States in 1965. I traveled to more than 20 states. I have never been to Washington State alone, so I am also happy to go from San Francisco.Like San Francisco, Washington State is a bay and hillside land, so the car goes up and down, and the night roads see the lights of the mountains and bays, which is extremely beautiful, and Lake Washington can be viewed from a high position.Sand gull is a special product. Peng Ge translated a book titled "Heaven and Earth One Sand Gull", which is really wonderful.There are still some acquaintances in Seattle, such as Zhong Lusheng, Chen Shaocong, He Zhaonan, Luo Qing, Brenda and Luny Foster who were in the "Mandarin Daily".

Liang's residence is full of flowers, including peonies that Mrs. Liang kindly planted. They are of course happy to see an old friend from Taiwan.I lingered for two days, talked endlessly, took pictures, and then headed back to my daughter's house in San Francisco.

Haiyin:

Received your letter, three photos, well taken, well developed, but two of them are old and ugly.I wash my face every morning and dare not look up in the mirror, but, however, what can I do!A few days ago, I received a three-page long letter from Wang Jieru. The handwriting was a little slanted. It seems that the illness is not serious.According to her, she will rest for several months.

Xie Bingying also received a letter, and it was reported that she did not plan to operate again.I think she is so unfortunate, and I sympathize with her.She is a very kind person.Recently, I received a letter directly from the mainland, which was sent by one of our nephews from Tsinghua University. This is the first time I have received a letter with that kind of stamp in these years.Many relatives and friends on the mainland have passed away!My mother passed away ten years ago at the age of [-]. I didn't know it until today, and it hurts my heart!Mr. Gu sent me a letter (without answering my question). He took his wife and son-in-law back to visit relatives. Mr. Gu copied the newspaper and photos for me.The letter said that my wife had cancer and went to visit, so it is not true.It's snowing here, but it melts as soon as it hits the ground, and it's not cold enough.Your daughter and grandson will return to Taiwan with you, and the house will be full of excitement.There is no news about my PR, who said that foreigners are quick to do things, and the inconvenience to the people cannot be added.this is the song

Mr. Da'an He Fan is a good wife

Liang Shiqiu paused 73.11.10
The above is a letter from Mr. Liang after I returned to Taiwan and sent the photos I took in Seattle.The recent living conditions mentioned in the letter, as well as the news they received when they started correspondence with the mainland, were not pleasant, which shows that they are far from the state of mind of a foreign country.He said in the letter that Mr. Xie Bingying told him that he did not plan to have another operation on his injured leg.Mr. Bingying slipped on a ship and injured her leg when she went to the United States for the first time. There was no cure in the vast ocean, and she had to go ashore in the United States to have surgery. For more than 20 years, her legs have not recovered well, and she is still limping.But Mr. Xie has lived with perseverance all her life. She still lives alone in a San Francisco nursing home.It's amazing.Among the older female writers in our country, there are several female writers who lived to be over [-] years old and are still alive today, namely Xie Bingxin from the mainland, Su Xuelin from Taiwan, and Xie Bingying from the United States.

Mr. Gu mentioned in the letter refers to Mr. Gu Yiqiao. The so-called Mr. Gu did not answer his question is a question that Mr. Liang talked to me before. I have forgotten what the question is so far.

Haiyin:

Unfortunately, the wife went out for a walk on the morning of April 4 and was injured by a painted iron ladder falling down on the roadside.After emergency surgery, he failed to wake up from anesthesia and died.At the age of 30, he was buried in the cemetery on May 74.My friend Pu Jialin came from New York and Chen Zhifan came from Houston after hearing the news, which is very touching.Legal procedures are underway.I was hit suddenly, what a pity and pain, what can I say!I'm flustered, so I won't write much.Congratulations

Mr. Da An Chengying is the same
Liang Shiqiu paused 74.5.5
This is a letter from a bolt from the blue!The old couple took a good walk in the morning, how could they be knocked down by the iron ladder and never return!Beijingers often say that people are only a layer of window paper away from Lord Hades!That's not a bad thing at all, especially for those who have come and gone due to accidents.Mrs. Liang is a gentle and kind wife and mother. She always smiles and welcomes people. She has beautiful big eyes and double eyelids.She likes to plant flowers and draw flower pictures, and she likes to make a few delicious pasta dishes for Mr. Liang to eat.Mr. Liang used to be a big drinker, but later he got diabetes and stopped drinking.Every time I go to Liang's mansion to stay for dinner, the exquisite wine, food and vegetables are brought out. Only Meng Yao and I, who can also drink, appreciate it. I saw Mr. Liang guarding a large bowl of cold lettuce of various colors, chewing and chewing raw, as if it is very fragrant of!But when we stopped chopsticks, he frowned and pointed at us angrily and said, "Eat! You eat!" Mrs. Liang and us both laughed, not knowing what he was thinking!He often does this, and once I smiled and said, "Why! Why are we so anxious to eat!" Later we studied his mental state, probably because he was angry because he couldn't eat enough!
Of course, such days are gone.

After Mrs. Liang passed away, our friends Chen Zuwen and his wife in Taipei set up a funeral hall in Shandao Temple in May to hold a Buddhist memorial service for Mrs. Liang. Mr. Liang’s colleagues, students, and literary friends all came to pay respects.I took some photos that day and sent them to Mr. Liang as a souvenir of my condolences.

Haiyin: I am very grateful for the benefit book and eight frames of photos.Seeing the scene of the mourning hall, of course I was sad, but I still wanted to see it.Weep while watching.Tomorrow is "Broken Seven", I have to go to the grave, and I will go irregularly in the future, and I have arranged a flower shop to send a bouquet every week.Over the past month or so, I have been more stable on the surface than before, but the pain in my heart has never ceased or ceased.Wen Qiang is on summer vacation, so she doesn't have to go to school.For more than a month, I have often been alone at home all day, making lunch by myself, which is really unpleasant.There were a few days when the two children came back to eat with me, and I felt very sad.The flowers in the yard are more prosperous than last year, I dare not look at them, I will be very sad when I see them.There are flower arrangements or potted plants in the dormitory all year round, and they will be exempted from this in the future.I can no longer see flowers, and when I see flowers, I just want to pick them off and send them to the grave!Attached are two photos, which were taken last year. Before this year, Xihua people have been buried in the ground for a long time!Hurry up
Daan
Liang Shiqiu paused 74.6.14
Please tell Mr. Chengying, I thank him for publishing the news in Guoyu Daily, and Chen Zuwen has sent the clippings.

Copying Mr. Liang's function envelope, it can be regarded as a commemoration!

(End of this chapter)