The most virtuous wife, the most talented woman: the biography of Yang Jiang

Chapter 22 Talking about fleeting years·There will always be sunny days after the rain (2)
"There are many people who are famous and right and wrong", sometimes people say that they are noble and lonely.The two old people who were misunderstood laughed and did not want to argue.Once a prestigious person went to Qian’s house to pay New Year’s greetings, and it was Qian Zhongshu who opened the door. The person who came had just said “Happy Chinese New Year”, and Qian Zhongshu, who was across the door, responded: “Thank you! Thank you! We are very happy Busy, thanks!"
When the famous artist Huang Yongyu talked about Yang Jiang, he recalled that the two families lived very close to each other. When they returned to their hometown, they would bring back some bamboo shoots and local products from western Hunan. When sending them to Yang Jiang’s house, they would just knock on the door Putting it down and leaving, they took it in when they opened the door, and they couldn't bear to waste their time, time was more precious than treasure to them.

The two kept a low profile all their lives, and tried their best not to participate in some occasions that they could participate in or not. If there was a door-to-door visit, Yang Jiang would directly refuse at the door. She laughed at herself as Qian Zhongshu's "blocker", this kind of rejection of others Most of the things are done by Yang Jiang.

Qian Zhongshu's younger brother described his sister-in-law as saying: "She is like a tent, covering both elder brother and Qian Yuan inside, and she can withstand the external wind and rain. She always wants to cover the family and prevent elder brother and them from suffering a little bit." "Everything at home, no matter how big or small, is taken care of by Yang Jiang, even Qian Zhongshu's dress is her responsibility, so as to ensure that he appears decently in front of guests every time.

The Qian family once raised a cat. Once the cat in the family had a fight with Lin Huiyin's cat. Qian Zhongshu saw it and quickly grabbed a wooden stick beside him, wanting to help, Yang Jiang pulled him back.She told Qian Zhongshu that the cat of Lin Huiyin's family was the "focus of love" in their family. As the saying goes, "It depends on the owner to beat a cat." How can you beat it with a stick?Yang Jiang has always been better than Qian Zhongshu in dealing with personnel matters. She is calm and thoughtful, and will take care of other people's feelings. Thanks to her as a bridge between Qian Zhongshu and the outside world, Qian Zhongshu has endured a lot in a low-key manner. "Difficulties".

After meeting and chatting with Qian Zhongshu, a famous professor of American literature in the West said "I am ashamed" on the way back.He said, "Everything I know, he can do. But he has a world, and that world I know nothing about."
In Yang Jiang's heart, everything about Qian Zhongshu is more important than his own.She seldom mentioned things about herself, and seemed to only mention opinions, which was Mr. Qian's "wife honor".Qian Zhongshu is very satisfied with Yang Jiang, this kind of satisfaction includes all aspects, whether it is life or work.He not only recognizes his lover, but also appreciates his friends and confidants.

One day in [-], Qian Zhongshu was chatting at Xin Di's house, and when he returned home, he told Yang Jiang with a smile that his friends laughed at him for his obsession with defaming his wife.Yang Jiang asked: "Have you praised me?" Qian Zhongshu replied: "I have." "What have you praised me?" Qian Zhongshu said three things: "One is the performance of the drama "Satisfactory" , became famous overnight in Shanghai, but you are still the same as before, you haven't changed at all, you still cook and wash clothes." "There was another time when the Japanese arrested you, you calmed down, led them into the living room, poured tea by yourself, three steps and two steps. I went upstairs and hid the manuscript of "Talking Art Records". The Japanese told you that you would go to the gendarmerie headquarters for interrogation the next day. I was very worried, but you were very calm." Gao, there are dry firewood all around, when you come here, you have an idea, grab the urine jar next to it and put it on, the pillar of fire will be extinguished immediately."
Yang Jiang said with a smile: "Stop talking about it, "Stay big"."
Qian Zhongshu didn't lie, he really admired Yang Jiang's talent.He said: "Yang Jiang's prose is inherently good, and no one can learn it." Qian Zhongshu also said to Yang Jiang: "As usual, I should be jealous of you, but I admire you most."
The two are very humble towards others, no matter who they are, they have always maintained a state of courtesy.Qian Zhongshu once turned down a British lady who wanted to see him on the phone: "If you eat eggs and feel good, why do you need to know the hen that lays eggs?"
Both of them are old and spend most of their time studying at home. Qian Zhongshu taught Yang Jiang to write big characters, and assigned homework every day, which must be completed on time.He will also make serious corrections, marking where it is good and where it needs to be improved with a pen.Yang Jiang attaches great importance to Qian Zhongshu's comments, and she will be very happy if she gets a high evaluation. Qian Zhongshu understands her thoughts, and deliberately does not give so many good comments, picking out bad ones to write.

The neighbor taught them Wild Goose Qigong, and the two often went out for a walk, "exploring" like they did when they were young, but now they can't walk that far, every time they walk for more than 20 minutes, they are already tired, but they exercise together whenever they have time. Live an ordinary life.

Concentrate on learning

In [-], Ah Yuan successfully obtained a scholarship to study in the UK. Before that, she had no confidence in herself. One was that she was originally a Russian teacher and then transferred to the English department, and the others had been preparing for a long time. , she just used her usual breaks to study. She expressed her concerns to her mother, but she inherited her parents' talent and diligence in language learning, and successfully won this scholarship.

In the year when Ah Yuan went abroad to study, Yang Jiang and Qian Zhongshu missed their daughter very much, and were also worried about whether their daughter could take good care of themselves in a foreign country. The opportunity to see and broaden their horizons, but they still miss it very much. They were worried for a few years after Ah Yuan studied abroad for a few years.

In [-], Ah Yuan went to Britain for a half-year visit.Because of her excellent performance in work, the number of times she went abroad continued unabated, but she really liked to stay in China and be with her family, and she didn't want to bear the feeling of missing her.

Next, let’s talk about Yang Jiang’s academic situation.In [-], Yang Jiang's "Six Records of Cadre Schools" was published.Because everyone has a common memory of that era, it immediately aroused great repercussions in the society, and was translated into multiple languages. Some American scholars called it "the most prominent part of English translation of Chinese literary works in the [-]th century." department".

Writing hope in adversity will always be Yang Jiang's main theme. "Six Chapters of Cadre School" makes people who have read it always reflect from a relaxed state. The simple and subtle writing style makes people feel peaceful. Although the unpretentious narrative style cannot change the world, it can calm the heart.Lu Ling commented on Yang Jiang and said: "Yang Jiang's prose is flat, calm and full of meaning. It can be said that "without writing a word, it is full of romance."
During the time in the cadre school, Yang Jiang also created many works. After returning, she compiled what happened during this period into "Six Records of the Cadre School", which recorded the "dim" era in plain language. There are too many descriptions of hardships and hardships, and more humorous ways are used to record some interesting stories reflected in the hardships. Even a puppy at that time, she dedicated a chapter to describe it.

This book won the "National Excellent Prose (Collection) Award in the New Era" in February 24 because of its narrative style of "resentment but not anger, sorrow but not sadness, lingering, and truth". Ranked first among the award-winning works.Yang Jiang, who got the news, said with a faint smile: "In Chinese history, most of the top scholars are not excellent writers."
Yang Jiang's writing has never been cloudy or sunny, neither great joy nor great compassion, nor compassion for others, but it can make people see through the desolation and cruelty of the times.

In the same year, because Qian Zhongshu's "Fortress Besieged" was very popular, the publishing house approached Yang Jiang and wanted her to write about Qian Zhongshu and "Fortress Besieged", so "Remembering Qian Zhongshu and "Fortress Besieged" was published.The things recorded in the article are all real events. Even Qian Zhongshu wrote a paragraph to prove the authenticity of the content: "The content of this article is not only the truth, but also a "secret". Ask me, and write down diligently. There are many things that I have almost forgotten. It goes without saying that the family of writing and writing. support".

Yang Jiang's works during that time included "Recalling My Father" and "Recalling My Aunt" in memory of relatives, long documentary prose "Bingwu Dingwei Chronicle-Dark Clouds and Phnom Penh", "Will Drink Tea", and a collection of essays "Miscellaneous Memories and Miscellaneous Writings, as well as "Remembrance of Mr. Wen De" and "Remembrance of Father Shi Hua" in memory of friends.

As a younger sister, Yang Bi is also very good. Yang Bi's translation of "Vanity Fair" is also a model of translation works. My sister Yang Jiang once wrote an article "Remembering Yang Bi" to commemorate this younger sister.

After some special life experience before, Yang Jiang's works have been improved as a whole, and are more simple and unpretentious.Describe the most ordinary things with the simplest language, and face the cruelest life with the calmest attitude.

Yang Jiang is good at using simple vocabulary to create different effects, for example, changing the word order, although it is not in line with the convention, but it is very interesting to read.This is her way of narrating and her attitude towards life. She seeks change amid oppression, finds happiness in tranquility, the writing is simple but not rigid, and the story is bitter but not depressing.

Yang Jiang's prose likes to write about "little people" and "little things", like things that happen around everyone.In [-], a prose "Lao Wang" was selected into the Chinese teaching materials. It told the story between the intellectual Yang Jiang and the tricycle driver Lao Wang in the "turbulent era" at that time.In just a few short stories, the relationship between people in that era is very clearly portrayed, and it also makes people feel the most sincere warmth and kindness of human nature in a cold society.

Lao Wang was a person at the bottom of the society at that time, possessing all the characteristics of a small person, simple and honest, kind, straightforward and simple.Because of the torment of poverty and disease, the old Wang gave people the impression of being thin and vicissitudes.

Lao Wang never bullied Yang Jiang's family, which is different from others.And he will take the initiative to drop by to deliver ice to Yang Jiang's house. Although the ice is better than before, he doesn't ask for more money, and "half the fare".Yang Jiang can't take advantage of this, because he is also a poor and good person.Once Qian Zhongshu fell ill, Yang Jiang asked Lao Wang to take him to the hospital by bicycle. He refused to ask for money, but Yang Jiang insisted on giving it. He was afraid that there would not be enough money for Qian Zhongshu's medical treatment.

Knowing that Pharaoh could not see at night, Qian Yuan gave him a large bottle of cod liver oil to treat his night blindness.He always wanted to repay his kindness to others. After a serious illness, he came to deliver sesame oil and eggs to Yang Jiang's family, but died the next day.

Recalling the last time Lao Wang came and stood stiffly at the door, Yang Jiang always felt uneasy.Maybe it's a pity that I didn't invite him in for a glass of water at the end. People say that a friend in need is a friend. In that poor era, the most sincere love between people was revealed. There was no other purpose, just being kind to others, human nature is still Preservation is a great good.

Old Wang was seriously ill, but he gave the eggs and sesame oil to Yang Jiang. Yang Jiang wanted to give him money, but he refused. Maybe it was because of this behavior that Yang Jiang thought it was "taking money to insult him" in retrospect. Right, so she will feel guilty too.At that time, many things could not be measured by money, and there was no so-called disparity in status. She wrote this article just to commemorate that simple old friend and that period of simple feelings.

The article is still Yang Jiang's steady way of narration, calm and gentle, without redundant expressions and exaggerated words, just telling you what happened at that time. This is the power of her words, which makes everything fade away and be simple and unpretentious.

Nine out of ten people who are unsatisfactory in life, the peace gained through experience makes people unable to bear to let go.Concentrating on learning has always been the wish of Yang Jiang, Qian Zhongshu and their daughter's family. The translation of "Don Quixote" is another great achievement of Yang Jiang. She has worked hard for it for several years, just to do one thing well, and she did it.

The successive illnesses of relatives are the greatest tribulation given to this elderly man by God.Life is a battle, seeking victory between detours, but the result is doomed to leave.The departure of the two close relatives left her to clean the battlefield alone. She was not sad because she knew that they were waiting for her. She had to do the work that Qian Zhongshu had entrusted to her so that she could reunite with them in peace.

(End of this chapter)