Chapter 131 In Memory of Zhenduo

It was already twenty years ago! One evening in late October 1958, at a mass meeting in Moscow welcoming Asian and African writers, Comrade Ba Jin, who was sitting next to me on the guest stage, suddenly lowered his head and said softly to me: "Tell you An unfortunate piece of news, don’t be sad! Comrade Zhenduo’s plane crashed, and he died in Kazan on the 18th.” Shocked and in pain, I couldn’t speak—but, but how could I not be sad ? It was in that year—1958—on the National Day viewing platform, Zhenduo and I were still standing together, leaning on the railing, happily watching the majestic and orderly parade while talking talk.He said he was going to take a cultural delegation to Nepal.I said that I would also like to join a delegation to the Soviet Union.

He laughed and said, "Don't you like my mother's Hokkien cuisine? When we all come back from foreign countries, I will definitely invite you to my house for a full meal." How about a conversation full of enthusiasm and wit? Among the many literary and art friends I know (except my classmates), Comrade Zhenduo is probably the earliest one.That was during the May 4th era, in the "Fujian Province Anti-Japanese Student Union".At that time, I was still a first-year student in the preparatory course of Xiehe Women's University. I only held meetings with college students from our school, Peking University, Women's Normal School and other universities, and wrote some promotional materials and fundraising work.Because of my young age, during meetings, I spend more time listening quietly and less time speaking. I don't know many people, and others don't know me either.But I saw from Zhenduo's impassioned speeches and the long letters that Zhenduo wrote to several college students at the Women's Normal University; Vertical and horizontal, full of enthusiasm.Therefore, although I have not talked with him directly, I know his sincere, upright, and straightforward character very clearly, which makes me have a good impression of him.

After that, he went to Shanghai and participated in the editing work of "Novel Monthly". I also keep writing articles for the "Novel Monthly", but we still haven't communicated directly. We really became acquainted, and after he went to teach at Yenching University in Beijing in the autumn of 1931, our contacts became very close.He has a wide range of contacts and often introduces me to some friends, such as Mr. Lao She.Zhenduo had a huge collection of books. In those years I was in poor health and often fell ill, so he would lend me books to read. While on the sick bed, I read the hundred or so chapter novels he had collected.All I can remember now are "Marriage Awakening the World", "Ye Sou Exposes Words", etc., all of which I have never seen.During my time of "leisure due to illness", Zhenduo was a good teacher and helpful friend in the reading of old Chinese novels, which I will never forget.In those years, he was still collecting famous papers from Beijing, and co-edited and printed "Shizhuzhai Jianpu" with Mr. Lu Xun.He gave me a copy of all the notebooks he collected, and after the notebooks were printed, he signed and gave me a copy, saying, "The first part of this notebook belongs to Mr. Lu Xun, and I keep the second one myself." Download it, and the third part will be given to you."

This precious souvenir, as well as those scattered precious Beijing letterheads, were lost during the Anti-Japanese War! Zhenduo taught at Yenching University and was very popular with progressive students. The classmates who visited my home were very excited to tell about Mr. Zheng's fascinating lectures and tireless progressive talks.When they said that Mr. Zheng's conversation was very humorous, it reminded me that in 1934, when we were invited by the Pingsui Railway Bureau to travel along the Pingsui Railway Bureau, there was a receptionist in Datong named It was called "Qu Longshen", and Zhen Duo laughed and said, "This name is very interesting." He suddenly laughed again and said, "This name is for Zhang Fengju." Match our own name with the names of the people at that time or the ancients, "Zheng Zhenduo" is right for "Li Mingzhong" (an officer of the Northwest Army at that time), Mr. Chen Qitian in our tour group is right for "Zhang Zhidong" Ms. Lei Jieqiong is right "Zuo Liangyu", "Fu Zuoyi" is right "Li Zongren" and so on.Of course, we did not include these tidbits in the "Travel Notes along the Ping-Sui Road", but at that time, everyone was very happy to travel along the road because Mr. Zhenduo was included.

Zhenduo taught at Yanda University, and because he was welcomed by the progressives, he was of course rejected by the diehards. Therefore, when we went to the United States again in the autumn of 1936, he had already returned to Shanghai.He specially invited friends to give us a farewell party.According to my memory, I met Comrade Mao Dun for the first time at that banquet.Comrade Hu Yuzhi also told me that he met us for the first time at the farewell banquet. It was also at that banquet that I first tasted Fujian cuisine cooked by Mrs. Zheng herself. In the Pacific boat, I wrote a letter to Zhenduo, which said: "Thank you for giving us a 'grand' farewell party, so that we can meet many famous friends who have never met...More We thank the old lady, her craftsmanship is really brilliant! We talked a lot that night, facing the table full of delicacies, but we didn’t eat well. Facing the tasteless Western food on the ship for two weeks, I always regret it, why? Don't put your head down and eat as much as you can that night."

After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, I first returned to Shanghai from Chongqing, and then visited his home. I saw that his bookshelves were still full of books, and the tables and window sills were full of large and small pottery figurines. .I laughed and said, "We've migrated several times, and we've left nothing behind. You're still keeping and collecting all these things, which is really enviable." He smiled and said, "This is my temper, and I can't change it in my life." !" When I returned from Japan in 1951, he was one of the first friends who came to see me.I think the founding of New China has made him more energetic, courageous and imaginative.He danced and said that under the leadership of Chairman Mao and the Communist Party, he contributed all his strength to promote the development of Chinese literature and art that he wanted to do but could not do for many years before liberation.

He's just such an energetic and passionate guy.Although Ba Jin advised me not to be sad that night (in fact, I know he was also sad), can I not be sad?I am sad not only because I have lost a good teacher and helpful friend, but also because our Chinese literary and art circles have lost a brave warrior! During the time when the four pests were rampant and the roads were sideways, I often thought of Zhenduo, and I was also grateful for his early death!I think that a person like him who is very familiar with the situation of Shanghai's literary and art circles in the 1930s and who is upright and upright will inevitably meet the sad fate of Lao She or Ba Jin.Now that the "Gang of Four" has been overthrown, the sky is full of spring, and old trees are blooming. If he is still alive today, I know he will still write many good articles and do many useful things!I remember that our beloved Premier Zhou once said in front of all of us that he, Lao She, Zhenduo, and Wang Tongzhao were all born in the year of the Reform Movement of 1898 (1898).They are two years older than me.I am still alive!I was far, far behind them, but when I think of them, I deeply feel the preciousness of life. In order to mourn my respected friends, I must do my best to do what the people want me to do. Do everything I can still do.November 17, 1978 (This article was originally published in the sixth issue of "Literary News" in 1978, and was later included in "Wan Qing Ji".)