Such stars and such moons: Qian Zhongshu and Yang Jiang's unparalleled love

Chapter 17 The Pulse of the Times: The fate of the country depends on the fate of the individual (1)
New Era

On October [-], [-], our beloved Chairman Mao solemnly declared on the Tiananmen Gate that the People's Republic of China was established!After more than ten years of war, the dust has finally settled, and the Chinese people have entered a new era hand in hand with the resounding "Dongfanghong".

At the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China, a thousand wastes were waiting to be rebuilt, and the people who were completely liberated enthusiastically devoted themselves to the construction of socialism.The Communist Party of China focuses on restoring the national economy and developing socialism in an all-round way. In the field of education, it also gradually accepts and transforms the original domestic higher education.

Of course, the well-known Tsinghua University in China is no exception.Takeover, restoration, rectification, curriculum reform, meetings, publicity, mobilization, learning and education, they are all involved in Tsinghua University without exception...

This is the alma mater of the two, but it is not what it used to be.Tsinghua University in the new era is glowing with a different light than before. They teach and educate people here, adapting to growth. Qian Zhongshu once again used his extraordinary talent and extensive knowledge to conquer students.

A student at that time recalled: "His amazing memory was widely circulated among the students. Once a student from the Chinese Department returned to the dormitory from the library and yelled: "It's incredible!Incredible! "Everyone was surprised and asked what happened. It turned out that this classmate was studying Tang poetry. In order to research an allusion, he searched all over the library but couldn't find it. He happened to meet Mr. Qian Zhongshu and asked him for advice. Mr. Qian smiled at him He said, you can find this allusion in that book when you go to that shelf. This student found this allusion as expected, so he was very surprised."
If memory is a kind of talent, then his talent is close to legend.In the final book report he assigned, a classmate cobbled together the contents of dozens of books.The witty and humorous Qian Zhongshu did not say a word, but only marked the sources for him one by one.He treats people generously and often makes jokes, but he always makes people awe inadvertently because of his profound knowledge and sharp pen.

He is still addicted to books, and he has a photographic memory.At that time, he didn't publish much of his works, but quietly immersed himself in the world of books, enriching himself.In their empty living room, there are only two chairs and a long table stacked with books. Every afternoon before going to bed, the husband and wife sit opposite each other and read quietly.

In January [-], Huang Shang, a well-known reporter and writer at the time, visited.He said: "I only have one acquaintance among the famous professors who live in Tsinghua University, and that is Qian Zhongshu."Qian Zhongshu was very happy, and talked about the old art and literature, which made Huang Chang forget his identity as a reporter.

Then, they talked about their work and life since liberation. Qian Zhongshu, who started the conversation, said that the atmosphere in the school was lively, the teachers and students were very enthusiastic, and the atmosphere was completely new.But later, he changed the subject and said bluntly that there were too many meetings, which delayed the teaching time of professors, and college students were too enthusiastic about publicity activities, which impacted their studies, and so on.

His words are straightforward and reasonable, but in this sensitive age, he inevitably deviates from the mainstream of society.As Yang Jiang said: "After liberation, China has a new look and has become a new China. But our husband and wife are always "intellectuals from the old society."
They have always been law-abiding and law-abiding citizens, and they never utter sharp words easily.After regaining his senses, he was afraid that Huang Chang would be slandered after reporting the incident, so he wrote:

It's a great joy to meet three times from the north.My brother's poetry, love and thought are all like an abandoned well.On the way home, I suddenly received a couplet as a gift. (Omitted) Fortunately, it is appropriate and complete, but forgive its abruptness.If there is a report, please leave a little room for brother Yu.The elder brother's pen is full of wind and frost, cute but also fearsome. (If there are many meetings, students are less interested in literature, etc. please omit) Mr. Zhao Jiabi begs for my younger brother, thank you...

Huang Chang respected him, and the interview report "Huaiju Ciren" written specially for him has not been published for a long time, and the backlog has been more than 30 years.It wasn't until the end of the "Cultural Revolution" that the "Gang of Four" was completely smashed that he made it public with "Huai Ju Poets—A 30-year Backlog of Reports".

Thanks to Huang Shang.If such explicit remarks were published in the newspapers, he would probably die during the "Cultural Revolution" without a burial.

Before leaving, Huang Chang also invited Qian Zhongshu for a manuscript, but he politely declined.In this turbulent new era, he didn't want to cause trouble, so his resignation was inevitable.To express his apologies, he gave him a copy of an old poem he wrote around [-]:
The clothes are scattered and lying down, almost like a silent monk in the deep forest.

Pounding musk deer and obsessing lotus is not enough, breaking the hairpin and splitting the mirror is hard to rely on.

There are no many roads in Chatong Bihan, dreaming of the first floor of the Red Mansion.

Already cowardly branch wind lazy twelfth lunar month, the small garden high pavilion sells itself to condense.

This year, Qian Zhongshu, who was well-educated and well-educated, was also hired by the central government as the chairman of the English Translation Committee of "Selected Works of Mao Zedong".In life, he has a childlike innocence, and his gestures are full of uninhibited celebrity demeanor, but in academics, he is tireless and looks like a serious scholar.

The translation work of Mao Zedong's works is related to the spread of Mao Zedong Thought in the world and the construction of China's socialist revolution, and there is no room for mistakes and negligence.For this reason, Qian Zhongshu studied "Selected Works of Mao Zedong" carefully, and did not let go of the trivial issues easily, and he did his part in the translation of academic issues, and refused to easily agree.

He is already demanding perfection in academics, not to mention such a long and arduous task.Once, he pointed to a passage of Mao Zedong's original text and said: "Sun Hou'er has never got into the belly of the Bull Demon King." After hearing this, Xu Yonghuan asked his superiors for instructions, so Hu Qiaomu called up various versions of "Journey to the West" to check. Facts have proved that Qian Zhongshu is right.After Chairman Mao learned of it, he specially revised the original text.

Premier Zhou Enlai's secretary said: "Since [-], Qian Zhongshu has served as the chairman of the "Selection of Mao" committee, and has won the appreciation and care of the party and state leaders... Presiding over the English translation of "Selection of Mao" is Qian Zhongshu has indeed received a great honor for his long-term important work."
Maybe, Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, Hu Qiaomu and other national leaders really cared and supported him.Because of this amulet-like identity and the protection of these central leaders, he was not classified as a rightist during the thought remolding movement, nor did he receive a major impact.

He is knowledgeable and has profound attainments in foreign languages, so leaders often ask him for his views on some foreign-related matters.Therefore, there are even more rumors that he is Chairman Mao Zedong's English secretary and diplomatic adviser.But the rumors were just rumors, "There is no such thing at all. He is not a member of the Communist Party, so how could he be qualified to be Mao's secretary?" Xia Zhiqing said.

Although he has a status like a talisman, the work of English translation is not so easy. His seriousness is always enviable, and difficulties and troubles are unavoidable. "A sick horse is chasing after ten horses, and a sinking boat is afraid of touching a thousand sails." At that time, he should have been anxious and tired. He said to his wife: "This is not easy to do. I don't want to be meritorious, but I want to be innocent. "
Later, Yang Jiang wrote: ""No merit, no fault", he thought he had done it. Even so, he did not escape the knife in the back. If it were not for the "Cultural Revolution", the materials in the archives He still doesn’t know what he’s guilty of after publishing the big-character poster.”
Everything is an afterthought.From [-] to [-], he only wanted to do his job well, silently translating "Mao Xuan", because of his high efficiency, he could save some time to read and write, and cultivate his own piece Garden.And in life, he still retains that rare infatuation.

When they were at Tsinghua University, they raised a kitten with a lot of spirituality.Once a naughty cat climbed up a tree, but didn't dare to climb down. Zhong Shu rescued it, and it put its small cat's paw on his wrist softly to express its gratitude.

There is a Western proverb: "Hell is full of ungrateful people." Zhong Shu saw the kitten's sense of perception, and he liked it very much. He was especially precious on weekdays.He arranged a comfortable and warm nest for it, and let it crawl around in his own bed, which can be described as "a feline obsession".

Later, the kitten grew up and always fought with the neighbor's cat in the middle of the night.Zhong Shu felt distressed, and every time he heard the cats meowing, he got up from the warm bed and picked up a special long bamboo pole to help his cats.

At that time, the cat fighting with his cat was Ms. Lin Huiyin's treasure - "Focus of Love".At that time, Lin Huiyin and Liang Sicheng lived next to them. Yang Jiang was afraid of hurting the harmony between them, so he quoted a sentence from his article "Cats", saying: "It depends on the owner's face when beating a dog. Then, when beating a cat, it depends on the owner's face." The housewife is here."
And our clever Mr. Zhong Shu is going to carry the shame to the end.He smiled and replied: "Theories are made by people who don't practice."
This is his job, this is his life.

In this new era after liberation, there are worries and joys.After work, he always stays at home, thanking guests behind closed doors, teasing his daughter, playing with cats, and then galloping in the ocean of books with his wife, carefree.

woman who understands life
Some people say that life is the cloth on the loom, which slides off piece by piece and is connected piece by piece.In [-], for the finalization of the English translation of "Selected Works of Mao", Qian Zhongshu went to the city and only returned to Tsinghua University on weekends, leaving only Yang Jiang and his daughter A Yuan.

Yang Jiang still teaches "part-time" in the Department of Foreign Languages ​​and Literatures of Tsinghua University, and translates the famous Spanish literature "Little Lame" in her spare time.She is a humorous and intelligent woman, and her translation is full of humor and fun just like her personality.

At that time, Madoka was thirteen years old, already a grown child.Yang Jiang originally wanted to send her daughter to the middle school attached to Tsinghua University, but the school insisted that Ah Yuan start from the first year of junior high school. In addition, junior high school students always have meetings in the afternoon. The textbooks for the third grade of junior high school, I taught her mathematics, chemistry, physics, English grammar, etc. by myself.

Although Ah Yuan did not go to school, she was not lonely living in Tsinghua Garden.When her father was around, she helped him do some odd things like registering student scores, and she was very contented.She is as careful as silk, and because the two textbooks use distinctive purple ink, she can guess that the two classmates are boyfriend and girlfriend.

Yang Jiang said: "A Yuan didn't go to school, so she broke away from her classmates. But she is not alone. She is alone in Tsinghua Garden, very happy." She inherited Zhong Shu's "juvenile idiot" and also Yang Jiang's "delicacy and intelligence", such a child is naturally sensible and happy.

When Zhong Shu went to the city, he didn't ask Yang Jiang to take good care of A Fang, but told his daughter to take good care of her mother, and A Fang agreed like a grown-up.Once when it snowed heavily, she carried her mother in the snow to clean up the cat feces in the briquettes, because she knew that her mother was afraid of touching cat feces.Regarding this, Yang Jiang said very distressed: "Her tender fingers shouldn't catch cold, Zhong Shu should tell me to take care of Ah Yuan."
If there is a woman like this, what can a husband ask for?She is happy because she has such a sensible daughter.She suddenly discovered that as long as she was by her side, no matter how dark the night road was, or how barren the wilderness was, she would not be afraid, as if she was accompanied by her husband.

Once, Ah Yuan had a fever, and Yang Jiang forced her to go to bed early, but the little girl still missed her mother: "Mom, you still have to go to Wende's house to listen to music."
When Zhongshu is not around, Ah Yuan is always with her.In order to let her daughter have a good rest, Yang Jiang said: "I will go by myself."
Ah Yuan hesitated, she knew that her mother was afraid, but she didn't say it out loud: "Mom, aren't you afraid?"
Yang Jiang immediately put on the airs of an adult: "Don't be afraid, I will go alone."
This time, Ah Yuan didn't say anything, and went to bed obediently, but she didn't sleep, she was still worried about her "stubborn" mother.

Yang Jiang went out.When she was alone, she was afraid. When she got to the small bridge near the wasteland, she dared not go there. After wandering for a long time, she finally turned back.When she got home, Yuan was still awake.Later, Yang Jiang jokingly said: "Zhong Shu still has his reasons for instructing his daughter to take care of her mother."
As for the homework, Yang Jiang became more and more lazy as she watched the maths become more and more complex, so she said to A Yuan: "Mom can't keep up, you can do it yourself, can you?" A Yuan is very good, Then do it yourself without a teacher.Later, Yang Jiang, who was worried, asked her daughter if she could learn by herself, and A Yuan said confidently, yes.

So, Yang Jiang bought her additional reference textbooks and let Ah Yuan learn by herself.In the autumn of [-], Ah Fang was admitted to the first grade of No. [-] Girls' High School and got full marks in mathematics.I don't know what kind of expression I will have when I see my daughter's impressive results in the Zhongshu exam, which is only [-] points.
A Yuan went to high school, went to live in the city, and went home on weekends like Zhong Shu.As a result, Yang Jiang was the only one left in that small family of three.

In the winter of this year, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China issued instructions against corruption, waste, and bureaucracy, and the "Three Antis" movement started mightily. Thought remolding.

The so-called ideological remolding is to let the literati show their own ideas and get rid of the old "feudal" or "bourgeois" decadent ideas. Yang Jiang vividly called it "take off your pants, cut your tail" or "take a bath." ".

At that time, Tsinghua University's Department of Foreign Languages ​​had three "dangerous courses"—poetry, drama, and novels, which were later changed to electives.What Yang Jiang teaches is foreign literature, which belongs to the most obvious and serious category of "bourgeois thinking", but the British novels she teaches still have students as electives, so she has to bite the bullet and continue teaching.

It takes courage to teach such a class, and if you are not careful, you will be criticized by your "leftist" friends.There is a foreign professor at Tsinghua University named Wen De, who is very open-minded. He once participated in anti-American and anti-KMT government demonstrations, and publicly accused the United States. However, he was once criticized by his colleagues who taught him to use Lectures from Marxist-Leninist viewpoints.

Wen De was very angry and said to Yang Jiang: "When I advocated Marxism, he was still breastfeeding! He "taught the old woman to suck eggs"!" Later, this colleague also criticized Yang Jiang's lectures for being too old-fashioned. , and to teach her.Naturally, Yang Jiang did not accept it with humility. She only taught her class, starting with art analysis and comparison, and trying to avoid those ideologies that might be accused.

However, choosing which novel to teach has also become a difficult problem.In such a radical era, many western novels have been labeled as "bourgeois ideology". If you are not careful, you will be criticized.In the end, she chose Dickens's novel "David Copperfield", because Dickens had been praised by Marx and was recognized as a progressive writer in society.

It's just that this so-called progressive writer has some elements of disappointment.He is class-conscious and does not want to associate with workers, because in his mind, workers are "inferior people".Moreover, his novels are filled with a lot of romantic content, which was quite explicit in China at that time, and people with good deeds would inevitably make a big fuss.

There was no way, those words were printed in black and white on the book, and she had no way to cover up for Dickens, so she had to pick out the "progress" part and explain it carefully, and let the students browse the rest after class.Only in this way, the content is no longer coherent. The intensive content always needs to be linked to the context, and there is always a place to involve the relationship between men and women. She can only criticize it as "cliché" and get away with it.

She carefully dealt with one problem after another, and finally there were no mistakes.Later, she recalled: "Zhong Shu is as obedient as Ah Yuan. He went back to school to attend various meetings with me and studied hard. He took a medium-sized bath, and I took a small-sized bath. Both passed in one go." ."
Then came the "Loyalty and Honesty Movement".Yang Jiang is very honest and honest, no matter whether it is a problem or not, she will honestly explain everything, which is well received by everyone.

It's just that there are endless forms of sports, and everything is not over. There is still a so-called "brewing accusation conference" waiting for her.At the "preparation meeting", her classmates all said that her lectures were good, and she didn't say anything out of the ordinary. She was neither a typical "climbing up" nor a typical "doing nothing". The sense of ownership in society is not strong."

She passed the inspection without incident.That night, the "complaint conference" began. She thought she had no problem, so she went to the conference with a relative in a relaxed and happy manner.

In the auditorium of Tsinghua University, a solemn meeting began.The chairman of the conference first talked about the malignant tumors of bourgeois ideology, and then began to accuse them one by one.Yang Jiang in the audience listened casually, but unexpectedly heard her own name:

"Mr. Yang Jikang does not talk about workers in class, but only talks about love.

Mr. Yang Jikang taught us that in love one should not be able to eat or sleep.

Mr. Yang Jikang taught us that when meeting a lover, one should turn pale and have weak legs.

Mr. Yang Jikang even taught us that married women should also fall in love. "
She raised her head, only to see a girl she had never seen before, standing on the stage, complaining about her "poisoning" through gritted teeth.There are not many female students in her class, and she knows them all, but this one is the only one on stage.

Under the accusation of the girl's incomparable hatred, thousands of pairs of eyes were shot at her in the auditorium. Even the relatives who had been snoring since the beginning of the meeting stopped snoring and stared at her with wide eyes.

But how could our Yang Jiang be killed by this insinuating eyes.She was sullen and sat silently, as if she was not talking about herself.She listened to the girl melodiously adding words from Dickens' novels out of context to her, and she couldn't help wondering, how did she pass the day's review without mentioning "love" at all?

The accusation was over, and amidst the noisy discussions, the crowd slowly dispersed. Yang Jiang stood up, and suddenly found that the relatives who had come with her had disappeared.

She laughed dumbfounded and walked out of the auditorium silently.On the way home, no one came to talk to her, and no one was willing to go with her. She felt that she was a devil who had just come out of hell, and everyone kept away. She even heard a lesbian comment indignantly: "Cough! It's not as good as us being incompetent!"
At this time, Professor Wu Dayuan, the director of the Department of Foreign Languages, came over and asked quietly, "Did you really say that?"
Yang Jiang replied, "Think about it, can I?"
Professor Wu Dayuan immediately said: "I believe you will not."
He knew her well. This woman is serious in class and speaks well. How could she say such nonsense?Hearing what he said, Yang Jiang was very grateful, but in order not to hurt him, she kept a distance from him very carefully.

(End of this chapter)