Chapter 43 Section five

Zhang Ailing married Hu Lancheng, but one is still a golden boy and the other is a jade girl.Hu Lancheng said that he did not want to involve Zhang Ailing in all his political actions, nor did he change her life in various ways; and Zhang Ailing seldom went to Hu Lancheng's home in Meiliyuan, and occasionally went to Nanjing. Stay for a long time. Once Zhang Maoyuan suddenly asked her: "What if I have a child?" Ai Ling smiled and said: "He said that if there is a child, Qingyun will take care of it." She looked very confident. But fortunately, I have never been pregnant, maybe because I am busy - I am really busy, publishing books, rehearsing dramas, and doing both.

The success of Zhang Ailing encouraged Zhang Ailing, who advocated "strike while the iron is hot", so in December she published her first collection of essays "Rumours", with many illustrations by herself. "Rumours" are words written on water, and they are also the expression of legends. They are all born from the tip of the tongue, spread and repeated on the tip of the tongue, and are spoken by one person's mouth to another person's ear.The so-called protagonist is usually not an ordinary person, and mediocre things are not worth talking about, they just pass by and leave no trace.Therefore, when people spread rumors and gossips, in addition to curiosity and voyeurism, it is inevitable that there is no sense of envy in their tone-it is called a legend, and it is naturally a bit shocking and surprising.Maybe that person was originally ordinary, but because of the rumors, there was also an extraordinary legend.Or a woman's extraordinary love makes a certain man special, or a man's extraordinary status makes a certain woman a legend.

——All the "legends" in history are nothing more than "rumors" of some men and women. Rumors drifted in the wind, and the wind took shape and color, becoming fragrant and enchanting.Whether it is a rumor or a legend, its source is speculation, and the channel is hearsay. As a result, sometimes three people become tigers, and sometimes painting tigers can't become anti-dogs. Gossip, used well, can be a weapon, and a contradictory weapon at that.When used to deal with the enemy, they can become a sword, and it is a sharp sword that kills people invisible, the so-called "crushing people under the tongue" is enough; when used to protect oneself, it is a good shield, which can release smoke bombs Bluffing can also be used as a shield to steal beams and pillars, borrow arrows from straw boats, or fish in troubled waters, talk honey and hide swords, prosthetically prosper and convict others, clever words and tricks, and destroy bones. Almost none of the thirty-six strategies can be completed with the help of rumors.If you are a dragon, rumors are the finishing touch; if you are a tiger, rumors are like wings; even if you are just a stubborn stone, rumors can make you a gold that makes everyone talk about gold.

——For the title of the book, "Rumor" is destined to succeed, not to fall behind its older sister. There are also three frames of photos in the book, among them is the one taken by director Yan Ying when they were newly married, which is a commemoration of their marriage. In the photo, she is wearing a contemptuous smile, with the inscription next to it: "But now it is still as clear as water." I should be happy in autumn that is as bright as a mirror." She once again declared to the world her happiness and her regrets. ——Putting yourself up so strongly, you know you will be criticized one day in the future, right?

Printing photos is more troublesome than imagined, either blurred or too fake, it looks very strange.She smiled again and again, and begged the master to help correct it; she went to the printing factory to look at the proofs, and saw scattered blue photos hanging on the wooden racks, and a large roll of paper was printed on each machine. I can't help but feel warm and intimate, as if I could live here. The printing workers stopped working to look at her, and greeted her familiarly, "Hey! Miss Zhang, they are printing your book and are rushing it for you." She couldn't help laughing and said, "Really? I'm so happy!" She felt that they were as kind as her own family.

A staff member said: "The electricity is out, and I need to use a pedal machine. Do you know how many pedals it takes to print such a picture?" It was obviously complaining, but the tone was smug, as if reporting a shocking secret. Ailing wanted to laugh again, so she had to ask, "How much?" "Twelve times." "Really?" Aileen sighed.In fact, she had no idea how many times she stepped on it, and she didn't really care, but so many people were busy with her affairs, as if they were all her relatives and friends, which made her feel warm and moved.

Standing in the big gray room of the printing office, standing on the uneven concrete floor with small wooden bridges, the strong popularity is blowing in the face, the sound of gunfire and air defense sirens outside is far away, only this noisy and full of printing workshop It is real, and only these sweaty and smiling compositors are amiable. ——Later, she arranged for her man to work in a printing factory, and she really liked that environment. After "Rumor" was published, it was the same. It was sold out in the month, and it was reprinted in one edition. Be famous as soon as possible, and if you are late, it will be too late.

While publishing her anthology in full swing, Zhang Ailing personally wrote the adaptation of the play, and Ke Ling led the way to introduce it to the Dazhong Theater Troupe for rehearsal.Director Zhu Duanjun, together with Fei Mu, Huang Zuolin, and Wu Renzhi, was known as the "Four Great Directors" in the Shanghai drama industry. The play is divided into four acts and eight scenes. The background of the first act is Bai Liusu's home. At the beginning, there is a low-pitched and continuous sound of huqin, which flows out like weeping, flooding the whole theater.The third master, the fourth grandma, and others were playing cards, and Bai Liusu was hiding alone in a dark corner piercing the soles of her shoes—at this time, she was lonely, timid, cold, but also stubborn, in forbearance and silence Waiting for one's own opportunity to come, is the kindling hidden under the ice.

The second scene is the Repulse Bay Hotel in Hong Kong. The whole room is orange-yellow, together with orange tassels. She and Fan Liuyuan talk under the orange-yellow moon. The third act returned to the Bai mansion, and the fourth act returned to Hong Kong, but it was already the house rented by Fan Liuyuan and Bai Liusu. When the war broke out, the calendar card was hung on the wall with Liusu's hands, and the lights read "December". Eight Days", giving a strong background of the times. The last scene is Liuyuan and Liusu's long kiss without any scruples on the street. They embrace each other tightly; the surrounding is surrounded by a group of turbulent people, who are surprised, laughing, gossiping and ridiculing. Ignore it, immersed in love, only see the other party, no world.

——This is the most eye-catching highlight.Later, it caused mixed reviews, thinking it was bold.However, for Eileen Chang, it's not just a "gimmick", "business eye", she wants the hero and heroine to announce to the world for her: I love myself and what I love, ignoring the ridicule of the world. Rehearsal at the Lyceum Theatre.During the rehearsal, Zhang Ailing was present almost every day, just like ordinary movie fans, paying attention to the casting of actors and actresses, and happily revealed that the heroine Bai Liusu was played by Roland, the heroine Fan Liuyuan was played by Comfort, and the rest were Duan The fourth grandmother played by Mulan Xin, Chen Youxin's third master, Fengwei's Mrs. Xu, and Haitao's Indian princess are all famous stars at one time, and the hero and heroine are even more popular.

Even Su Qing secretly asked her about the inside story, and when she heard that the heroine was Roland, she heaved a sigh of relief and said, "This is the most suitable." It was the first time I saw Roland rehearsing a play. She was wearing a blue burqa. She had a timid figure, red cheeks, high eyebrows, drooping eyes, and a flutter-like voice.Zhang Ailing watched and couldn't help being startled, thinking all the way: If I had seen her earlier, the novel could have been written better. In the scene of returning from a blind date in the third scene of the first act, Bai Liusu slipped through the door with her head bowed, and the director said: "Don't be stern...and don't be stern. You know what I mean... "Roland immediately understood: "Proud?" When he came again, he still lowered his head and ran in behind the people, but there was a shimmering high-spiritedness that was extremely difficult to express.Walking behind the scenes, Roland shook his head and smiled exaggeratedly, saying, "Proud! I am proud!" Everyone laughed too. Eileen Chang watched and was very encouraged. When she got home, she immediately wrote "Writing the Honest Truth about "Love in a Fallen City"" and "Roland's Views", expressing her wishes frankly: "Because it's my first attempt, I try my best to make it stable, and I always hope that it will perform smoothly and be able to reach many people." If I say yes, I have to hurry up and get ahead of others." "I hope that the audience will not regard it as a distant legend, it is your personal people and things." And Su Qing also wrote "Reading "Love in the Fallen City"" immediately, and commented sincerely: "I know a divorced woman who seeks a home more than love. This time Liu Yuan married her, she can finally feel at ease, so although she knows that it is too difficult to please Liu Yuan However, she still smiled. The author described these ordinary stories and ordinary characters so movingly, it is an extraordinary style of writing, and it is expected that after being adapted into a script, it will still be very moving." "What's more important, this article is full of desolation, depression and sadness. I hope that it will not be lost in the theater performance, and it will be strengthened. This is a cowardly daughter who was forced by her family to come out. An adventurous love story, she will not light a torch to vent her enthusiasm, but will only babble along with the Huqin of life, making people feel desolate, but also arousing The compassion of the audience." Eileen Chang and Su Qing were both called the most popular female writers in Shanghai, so they joined forces to make a big splash, which naturally attracted attention.Before the play was staged, Shanghai's publicity media had already started, and there were many reports. Some wrote poems to wish the performance a success, and some reported frivolous news, creating a lot of momentum. On the day of the premiere on December 16, 1944, the tickets for the Xinguang Theater in Shanghai were sold out early in the morning, and the tickets for several consecutive days were also sold out in advance. The weather was extremely cold that night, the dripping water turned into ice, and the theater was even more bone-chillingly cold. The audience was wrapped in their coats and dared not take off, but their enthusiasm was still high, and the applause was like thunder. The famous journalist, poet, filmmaker Chen Dieyi and director Sang Hu watched it on the night of the premiere, and they all praised it while watching it. From then on, Sang Hu began to cooperate; An article praised the wonderful performance, and jokingly said that he "took a step on the ice when he went home and fell, but the cold and the fall did not cool or drop my good impression of the show." At one time, the newspaper received rave reviews, and Bai Wen, Shuang Ye, Sima Bin, Dong Leshan, Tong Kai, Wuji, Zuo Cai, Jin Changfeng, etc. all wrote articles and commented, expressing their opinions. Sha Cen commented: "The director's handling of the play and the arrangement of the locations are very witty, and the little moves are especially good. As for the music, there is no achievement at all. The purpose of the music is to emphasize the plot so that it is difficult to express the plot. The power of music can be expressed. The installation and lighting are very good, and the four scenes of the installation all have very good results." Ying Ben said: "From the novels, we have an impression of the Bai family as a dilapidated house that still retains its style. But the ready-made installations can only show a middle-of-the-road family." Zuo Cai also said: "As for the stage installation, the first act and the fourth act are very good, especially the fourth act is indeed a residence of a 'foreign style' family, and the colors are also very beautiful. The second act is Liuyuan The hotel room for Tassel is not gorgeous enough, it should be more elegant, at least the wardrobe is necessary and useful. As for the lighting and music, there is nothing wrong with it." Liu Cunren (Liu Yusheng), a master of Sinology, said: "I feel that there are a few scenes with Hong Kong as the background, and I feel that there are slight shortcomings. People who have been to Repulse Bay, Repulse Bay Hotel, Hong Kong, and read the original will all imagine That hotel is not like this. Even in terms of furniture and decoration, it lacks a sense of generosity and magnificence." He was given a ticket to the night show on the 17th by Zhang Ailing, but he was eager to see it first, and he couldn't wait to see it himself on the 16th day and night. Out of pocket to buy tickets to enter. However, all these people, including Eileen Chang herself, had unanimous praise for Roland's acting skills.Today, I am so curious that I can't scratch my heart. I wish I could see with my own eyes how Roland reproduced the coolness and cleverness of the white tassel. Under the premise that there was a shortage of scripts in Shanghai at that time and the drama was in a downturn, it performed 80 shows in a row, and the shows were all sold out. It must be called a "legend"!However, this scene failed to remain in the modern history of Chinese drama in the form of words. The most special thing among the many comment articles is that the indifferent Zhang Maoyuan also changed his indifferent and irrelevant attitude, signed "Zhang Aigu", and wrote an article in the tone of Liusu and Liuyuan, which is probably the most Something that makes Aileen happy—— "Tausu's words: Everyone thought it was me. All the relatives and friends saw me with knowing smiles, as if they had discovered my secrets here and there. Actually, it happened that I was married in Hong Kong at that time. , I don’t think I’m the only one. And we’re married when we’re married. How can there be those wordy and unclear things in novels? How can the third person know what two people say behind their backs? My people should know, where do I have the eloquence of Tassel? How can I say her witty words? Liu Yuan's words: My wife read it and was very angry, because everyone said it was describing her, so she also said it was describing her.I said, why bother? I'm asking for anger. How could it be that I'm arranging you?I never read novels, but later I read them carefully.Irrelevant - how could it be us? ——Even if it is, isn’t it very romantic, isn’t it good?It doesn't matter anyway.whatever! " Zhang Ailing felt unprecedented enthusiasm and success in the theater, but she was still lonely when she returned home. In the severe cold weather, the house was as cold as an ice cellar. She put on a leather jacket for the first time and sat alone by the brazier. She still felt cold and shivered. Occasionally, she touched the tip of her nose, which was icy cold, like a stray puppy.How about the applause of thousands of spectators?In the world of mortals and the vast sea of ​​people, she is still alone. The charcoal in the brazier was ignited little by little, and it became dim—"when it was red, it turned to ashes", did she look like herself? "The fall of Hong Kong fulfilled her. But in this unreasonable world, who knows what is the cause and what is the effect? ​​Who knows, maybe because of her fulfillment, a metropolis collapsed. Thousands of people Thousands of people died, and thousands of people suffered, followed by earth-shattering reforms... the legendary people who overwhelm the country and the city are probably like this." "Legends are everywhere, but there may not be such a happy ending. Huqin babbles and pulls, in the night of thousands of lights, pulls back and forth, endless desolate stories-don't worry about it!" Why ask?She has already predicted the future of herself and Shanghai in her writings. At the same time, she seems to have never longed for the so-called "full life" of ordinary people. With a compassionate tone, he commented on how rare it was: When she was old, Qiqiao thought proudly, "If she picks one of them, after a long time, after giving birth to a child, the man will be more or less sincere to her." Condescension, self-deception to make up the number; In the movie, Liuyuan "promises" to Bai Liusu: "One day, our civilization will be completely destroyed, everything will be finished—burned, blown up, and collapsed, maybe this wall will remain. Tassel, if we Under this wall, I met... Liusu, maybe you will have a little sincerity to me, and maybe I will have a little sincerity to you.” ——The truth here is at the price of destruction, because of boredom, exhaustion, and the rest of life, And see a little bit of heart. Her own love is just like this, witnessing the times and being witnessed by the times. This was the end of 1944, the year of "Zhang Ailing", and the success of the drama was her last glory in Shanghai. Although there were also excellent works from time to time, which caused waves, they were always mixed. go hand in hand. The wheel of the times has gradually crushed all the dark fragrances and splendors into dust, and turned them into mud, beyond recognition.