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

Chapter 3 Thoughts of Innocence·Scholarly Haunted Childhood (2)
The father did not choose this house because a woman told them that she had been ill since living in this house and had never fully recovered.Later, Qian Zhongshu guessed that it might be his aunt who said this.The world is so wonderful, and everything seems to have been arranged long ago.

In the end, Yang Yinhang chose a house in Sha Lane, but he only lived there for half a year.It wasn't long, but it left Yang Jiang with indelible memories.

This house has a completely different view from Beijing. The high walls and blue tiles in Beijing are rarely seen in this gentle city, and the small bridges and flowing water here are also not available in Beijing.Standing in his own yard, he can watch the boats come and go, as if living in a painting. Yang Jiang is very interested in this.

My father likes to eat the local "shrimp", which is a small live shrimp directly salvaged from the river near his home. Simply wash it, pour the sauce on it, and eat it directly after a while. The family likes this kind of shrimp. Only Yang Jiang doesn't like fresh food. She is really not interested in watching the hopping shrimp.

After staying for a period of time, the family began to feel unwell one after another. Except for Yang Jiang, everyone else fell ill, and my father was the most serious.It was also said before that several previous residents of this house had typhoid fever, probably because they ate too much raw shrimp. After simple treatment, the others recovered slowly, but the father did not improve, and the family began to worry about Yang Yinhang. body of.

My father, who had stayed abroad, believed that western medicine could treat his problems. Unfortunately, there was only one western medicine doctor in Wuxi at that time, and the equipment and facilities were not complete. He had to take blood and stool and send them to Shanghai for testing. It has been a week since we got the test results. The father was getting weaker and weaker, but the results of the examination did not diagnose anything.

Seeing her husband's condition getting worse and thinking of her second daughter who unfortunately passed away before, Yang Jiang's mother became worried, so she had to find a Chinese medicine doctor on her own initiative.The doctor of traditional Chinese medicine came, but told his family that it was typhoid fever as soon as he took the pulse, and refused to prescribe medicine for Yang Yinhang, implying that it was irreparable.

Everything came so suddenly, it seemed that the sky was tilted all of a sudden.Later, Yang Jiang recalled that in those few days, many relatives also came to see her father overnight. The lights in the house were always on, and people came and went. Everyone had the same expression and sighed on their faces, as if something big was about to happen.

At this time, Yang Yinhang was unconscious, had a fever and kept talking nonsense.He is the head of the family, the pillar of support, and also has to bear the life of some other relatives in the family who have no financial resources. If he collapses, the whole family will collapse.

Mother Tang Xulai didn't want to give up her husband just like that, so she went to invite Mr. Hua Shifu, an old friend of Yang Yinhang's.He is an excellent Chinese medicine doctor, Tang Xulai felt that if he couldn't save Yang Yinhang, it would be his fate.

When Mr. Hua came, he took a closer look at Yang Yinhang's condition. He actually felt that there was no hope, but he still agreed to Tang Xulai's request to "treat a dead horse as a living horse doctor" and prescribed medicine for him.

In order for Yang Yinhang to accept the treatment method of traditional Chinese medicine, Tang Xuxuan took painstaking efforts to disguise all the prescribed Chinese medicines as western medicines, emptied the capsules of western medicines he bought, stuffed the Chinese medicines inside, and buckled them again.In order to have the best effect, Tang Xulian also ground her dowry pearls into powder for Yang Yinhang to eat.

The family seemed to be favored by fate, and Yang Yinhang's health gradually recovered, and he snatched his life back from the hands of death.However, Yang Jiang felt that it was all due to her mother that her father was able to escape from death. If it wasn't for her mother's insistence, if it wasn't for her mother's careful care, maybe his father would really be gone. Companionship is always a good medicine for life.

My father always thought that he survived by his own will, and no one told him this little secret of happiness.

After experiencing the early death of her second sister and her father's life hanging by a thread, the little Yang Jiang understood the meaning of life and death early, and also understood the preciousness of family members.She likes to rely on her parents, even if she just listens to them and watches them do things, because in her heart, everyone is at home.When they first moved to their new home, the family arranged Yang Jiang and his younger brothers to the nearest school—Dawangmiao Primary School.It was a very simple school, which was transformed from a temple called Dawang. There were more than 80 students, big and small, but there were only two teachers, one of whom was the principal.

Such simple conditions can't stop the children's romantic and innocent nature. The children are divided into four grades. Because there are not enough teachers, even if they are divided into grades, they still attend classes together.

Yang Jiang has a deep memory of this combination of a principal and a teacher.The teacher's surname is Sun, and I don't have any memory of his name, but he clearly remembers the nickname "Sun Baldhead" that his classmates gave him. He always carried a pointer in his hand, and walked from one side of the classroom to that, and then from there. Here, what I love the most is to hit the students' heads with the pointer in my hand.

In Yang Jiang's memory, the students were beaten almost all over the place. Only these children from the Yang family didn't have such "treatment", probably because they were the dolls who came back from Beijing. The real reason has been lost.His prestige at the beginning was not consistent with his knowledge. A passage in a textbook once read: "Zi said: You must know the age of your parents..." The "Zi yue" he said was "Son said" , Thinking about it today, it's really funny.

The headmaster doesn't beat students, but he only beat one, his own son, who was still young, whose crotch pants were ripped off, and big red handprints were printed on his little buttocks. In the end, it was "Baldy Sun" who persuaded him to come down... …

Although these Dawangmiao memories were scattered, they clearly illuminated the memories of her entire childhood.

In Yang Yinhang's mind, all children, regardless of boys or girls, have to go to school and receive the latest and best education.He always believed that the teaching quality of Shanghai Qiming Girls' School was very good. His eldest daughter graduated there with honors and stayed as a teacher at the school. He said that he could bring his third and fourth sisters to study in Qiming.

After experiencing so many things, the mother is reluctant to part with her daughter, especially the little Yang Jiang, who has always been by her side and never left.Although Yang Jiang is small, her heart is as clear as a mirror. She knows that going to Qiming to go to school is what her father expects, so she will go.

That day her mother asked her: "Have you made up your mind?" Yang Jiang said: "It's made up." Although she said it was her own wish, she still cried, and the tears flowed quietly.She turned her face away, not wanting her mother to see it. She was very sensible at that time and would take into account the feelings of everyone in the family.

The mother prepared the luggage for each child, and prepared a small box for Yang Jiang, and let Yang Jiang decide what to bring there.The mother also gave her a shiny silver dollar, which was Yang Jiang's treasure. It was put together with her favorite red handkerchief and hidden deeply in the left pocket of her clothes.Although she was reluctant to give up, she had to carry her father's expectations and walk towards her brand new future.

The first silent teardrop smudges the trajectory of growth

Every child will grow up slowly, in his own way, and one day he will bid farewell to the wings protected by his parents and learn to fly alone.

In February [-], Yang Jiang came to Qiming and started a new life.In the golden autumn of that year, the whole family moved to Shanghai to live.

In the later work "The Three of Us", Yang Jiang recalled the time when she was studying in Qiming, and described it calmly and beautifully.

This is a Catholic school. Compared with the Dawang Temple, it is simply spectacular. Many classrooms are lined up, with paved roads and beautiful lawns. The most popular one is of course the big playground, where there are swings. , there is a seesaw, and there is the most laughter in the whole school.

Here, nuns take care of the children, and the children call them "sisters". Yang Jiang is very fond of sisters.For Mumu, the children are afraid but also kind, and even more curious.What is curious about Mumu's clothes and hats are so special, the children often discuss behind the scenes, how many are there such tall hats and such thick skirts?
The opportunity came. Every year when Catholics went up to the mountain to celebrate, Yang Jiang followed her up the mountain. A child of her age was not allowed to go with her, because she was very smart and well-behaved. Sleeping together, this is a good opportunity for "reconnaissance", and it is also the highest honor, at least she has always been very proud.

Mumu took care of everyone and went to bed to rest before getting ready to rest. In order not to be discovered by her mother, Yang Jiang curled up under the quilt, pretending to be asleep, breathing lightly.Later, she knew the answer to her heart's content. There are three layers of hats and three skirts. They guessed that Mumu's skirts had seven as many skirts...

There is a sister who teaches Gezhi class. Gezhi class is a proposition in ancient Chinese epistemology. superior.The mother who teaches Gezhi class will call Yang Jiang "Tongkang", which is the name of Yang Jiang's deceased second sister.

At home and at school, no one has mentioned the name "Tongkang" for a long time, and they are afraid of getting sad.When the second sister was in school, she studied very well and was very smart, and she was very fond of Gezhi's mother. When she saw Yang Jiang, she would always think of her "Tongkang", and Yang Jiang didn't correct her, so she kept calling it that. And she loves the class even more.

When I was in school, the school had a special holiday on the first day of every month.There is also a special name for this holiday—the first month worship.On this day, local students will be taken home by their parents.The children who go home that day will all be dressed neatly, carefully dressed, and then go home happily with their parents.

Yang Jiang is one of the few children who can't make it to this holiday. She feels wronged in her heart, and she also wants her parents to pick her up and stay with her family.The mother in charge of the cafeteria is a careful person. Seeing the disappointed expressions of the children left behind, she tried different ways to make them happy and gave them sweets. What kind of delicacy is this on weekdays, but everyone Still can't cheer up.It wasn't until the whole "monthly worship" passed, and the students came back one after another, that these left-behind little birds became happy.

One day after a few "weeks of the first month", the eldest sister came to Yang Jiang and the third sister and said that she would take them to see their father. At that time, Yang Yinhang was invited to the Shanghai Declaration Office as the chief writer.

Yang Jiang and the third sister were very happy. The eldest sister helped them arrange their clothes and went to see her father in high spirits. This was the first time she had stepped out of school since she started school.The three sisters took the tram and walked for a while before arriving at the declaration office.

The father, who had just recovered from a serious illness, became thinner and thinner. Yang Jiang sat tightly against his father, held his father's hand, and listened to his father talking to his sister, feeling happy and sad in his heart. , had a great time chatting.

My father said that he would take everyone to have a big meal. In the past, "eating a big meal" had a meaning, which meant that he had made a mistake and would be punished.Yang Jiang had never eaten this real big meal, and she was still a little nervous.

Yang Jiang didn't know how to use a knife and fork, so she just stared at how her father ate and used it, and learned it by herself.But there was still a little joke. She didn't know that the soup had to be finished in one go, so she drank it slowly, and ate something else in between. When removing the plate, she took a few more sips, and the waiter went back and forth several times without removing the plate from Yang Jiang's hand.

On the way back, this incident became the laughing stock of the other three. His father asked Yang Jiang which one was the tastiest after eating so much. The ice cream is delicious.

The father kept a low profile all his life and had his own way of disciplining the children.He never beat or scolded, but he never pampered children. Boys and girls were treated equally in this family, and he tried to solve problems from their perspective in everything.

His father's knowledge and experience were highly respected at that time. Yang Jiang was very curious, what would his father be like when he was as old as himself?She thought for a long time, but she couldn't think of it, so she asked her father directly, and her father's answer was: "Just like an ordinary child." The father, who was used to keeping a low profile, gave an answer that Yang Jiang didn't expect.

With such a father, the children in the family were somewhat afraid of him and did not dare to offend him.Yang Jiang described his father in this way, saying that he is "dignified and powerful". Even Qian Zhongshu was a little daunted by such a prestigious father when he first met him, but later he said "father is" as if he looked at him, and he was warm afterward. "", let people respect from the heart.

Father seldom took family members to visit friends, but one time the sisters were all impressed. That time, father's friend drove a special trip to pick up Yang Yinhang's family.Yang Jiang had never been in a car before, which was extremely unforgettable for her.

When I arrived at my father's friend's house, I found that it was not only that.It is very luxurious here, with well-dressed servants, tree-lined gardens, and uniquely decorated bungalows...everything you see is fresh, and the three sisters who came together felt so novel that When I got home, I couldn't stop sighing at what I saw.

Their conversation was overheard by their father, who just said lightly: "The standard of living should not be too high."
Father's words are always like this, faint, but impressive, like the truth in the world is so simple and plain.

This sentence is often said by the father. He hopes that the children can live a simple life like him, and don't be fooled by complicated things. After all, there are still many people who don't have enough food and clothing.My father is kind, he always strictly demands himself to be the "good person" he wants to be.

The father's love for the children is equal, except that he loves Yang Jiang more. Once after lunch, everyone planned to disperse separately, but the father stopped Yang Jiang and said: "Actually, I like to be accompanied by others, but don't Make a sound." Since then, Yang Jiang has become the only child who stayed with her father on a lunch break, and she just read a book quietly, not making a sound, and not disturbing her father.

Sometimes my father was writing on the sidelines, and Yang Jiang watched from the sidelines, and then picked up the pen used by my father to practice calligraphy. She could write well.Her hands are also skillful, peeling and peeling chestnuts, she does everything decently, and she doesn't even make a sound when adding coal to the stove, which makes the sisters admire them very much.Yang Jiang was very well-behaved and sensible when she was four or five years old. She peeled a lot of melon seeds and put them in a small wooden bowl for her mother to eat.

Like all mothers, mothers who eat delicious food will eat closely with their children, so in order to make children happy, mothers will pretend to eat a few pills, or simply make a gesture to represent eating.Yang Jiang carefully looked at her mother's mouth this time, and held her tightly with her hands, wanting to make sure that her mother had really accepted her "gift of love". Looking at Yang Jiang's flickering eyes, her mother read her daughter's longing, Simply eating every grain left, Yang Jiang was extremely happy, that kind of happiness was so profound and irreplaceable.

Yang Jiang studied in Qiming for more than three years, and her life during this period was enjoyable and smooth.She later chatted with her husband Qian Zhongshu many times about the interesting stories and details, and even the catchphrase of a sister at that time became a sentence in "The Besieged City" later.

That period of life played an important role in Yang Jiang's growth.When she was a teenager, she learned the most important judgment and self-control. Once the teacher needed her to help deliver a letter to her mother. The letter was not sealed, but simply folded and handed to Yang Jiang.As a young girl, she was naturally very curious about the contents inside, and she would not be found when she opened it.But she still controlled her curiosity and gave up the idea.

She also learned how to get in touch with the group, integrate into it to live, and how to deal with small frictions in interpersonal relationships. These are all things that a person needs to learn when growing up. After learning some of the ways, she created her later character, and also decided what kind of person she will be in this life.

Following the guidance of her soul, she found the direction of her life.This road is not only a road of growth, but also a road of learning. There are inevitably bumps and muddy roads, but because of the persistent belief, I have kept moving forward.

Youth is the most beautiful adjective, symbolizing the coexistence of energy and hope.The hardships of growing up have become a glass of fine wine in that memory because of the company of family members, making people intoxicated in a daze.When faced with countless forks on this road, choice becomes the only key, leading you to unlock the doubts in your heart and the obstacles in the future.Yang Jiang's father is wise. He knows that the correct attitude towards life is the weapon that his daughter should hold in his hands. He has been accompanying his daughter's growth, giving him a direction, an answer, and a word of encouragement when facing problems.The cared Yang Jiang is also like a budding rose, ready to face greater wind and rain and more beautiful sunshine.

(End of this chapter)