One day at noon, his wife gathered up his winter coat, put a note on it, and hanged himself from the beams of the house.
Dongrun: I'm sorry, I'll go first, the money is in my pocket. ”
So, what happened to Zhu Dongrun and his wife?
Zhu Dongrun and his wife and son.
In 1900, an ordinary family in Taixing County, Jiangsu Province, welcomed a daughter, Zou Lianfang (fǎng).
She is like a green lotus flower in a pool, elegant and refined, but there is tenacity and wisdom hidden inside.
At the age of 19, under the arrangement of her eldest brother, she married her fellow countryman Zhu Dongrun, who was 4 years older than her.
Zhu Dongrun studied in the United Kingdom. After returning from school, he taught English at Nantong Normal School. He is very knowledgeable and has a gentle personality.
Because it is an arranged marriage with "the order of the parents and the words of the matchmaker", the love of the husband and wife begins with marriage.
The family environment of the Zhu family is quite special. Zhu Dongrun not only has to support his mother, but also his younger brother, who is in his 40s and has no job, as well as his wife and children.
After Zou Lianfang married into the Zhu family, she did not complain at all. On the contrary, she retreated to advance, and won the respect and harmony of her family with her diligence and virtue.
The days passed like water, and Zhu Dongrun became more and more respectful and loving for his wife.
The two had a total of 7 children and formed a lively family.
Zhu Dongrun. In 1930, at the age of 34, Zhu Dongrun was hired as a professor at Wuhan University.
This means that he lives farther and farther away from home, and he has fewer days to be with his family.
However, Zou Lianchang firmly supported her husband's career, and she left it to him to pursue:
I will carry the burden of the family! ”
Wuhan University has a total of 18 weeks from the beginning of the semester to the end of the holiday.
Zhu Dongrun looks forward to the holidays week after week.
He hopes to return to a loving and warm home as soon as possible to reunite with his beloved wife.
After the exam, it's like being released, you can see Lianfang as soon as possible, it's a kind of infatuation, but besides Lianfang, who will this infatuation be dedicated to? The old society was not without the warmth of emotion. ”
Although the two were in an arranged marriage, they developed a trickle of mutual admiration.
In 1935, Zhu Dongrun celebrated his 40th birthday.
Zou Lianchang traveled thousands of miles from Taixing to Wuhan to celebrate her husband's birthday.
That month, Zhu Dongrun spent most of his time at home with his wife in addition to classes.
The husband and wife each occupied a wicker chair and sat facing each other for three or four hours.
Time seemed to stand still at this moment, enjoying each other's company and serenity.
One day, a colleague witnessed this scene and couldn't help but laugh:
Your relationship with your wife is like reading a famous painting. ”
This sentence aptly describes the tacit understanding and harmony between Zhu Dongrun and Zou Lianchang.
Zhu Dongrun is a scholar, and the life he yearns for is actually very simple, nothing more than silent dependence in ordinary life.
He once wrote affectionately in the text:
The ideal life is to sit idle, which is a kind of happiness, a happiness to pursue all your life. ”
Both of them are already middle-aged, and it stands to reason that many of the illusions of their early years should be shattered.
But when they sat silently opposite each other, another fantasy was set off:
Are we just sitting quietly, face to face forever? ”
However, this ordinary happiness was soon shattered by the Japanese invasion!
After the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, Wuhan University decided to move to Leshan, Sichuan.
Zhu Dongrun was faced with a difficult choice:
On the one hand, he was eager to contribute to the war of resistance in the rear;
On the other hand, he can't worry about his elderly mother, beloved wife and young children.
Pain tormented his heart.
Zou Lianchang saw her husband's predicament and resolutely said:
You go to Sichuan, I will take care of everything in your house. ”
With the encouragement and support of his wife, Zhu Dongrun finally made up his mind and traveled westward alone.
Unexpectedly, the couple has been separated for 89 years!
When her husband went to Sichuan, the burden of the whole family fell on Zou Lianfang.
There are seven children in the family, the youngest is only two months old, and the eldest is 16 years old, but he is not sensible and has nothing to do with her.
As for my mother-in-law, she lives with the eldest brother of the Zhu family and has to pay alimony there every month.
In those years, Zou Lianchang gave up almost everything. She opened her own grocery store to make ends meet while also taking care of all aspects of her family.
Once, Zou Lianchang was unfortunately infected with a serious plague and his life was in danger.
She was so strong that she was ready to face death alone
Unable to afford it, she changed the side door of the stove into a coffin and buried her nearby.
Fortunately, Zou Lianchang survived!
Mr. Zhu's contact with his family was limited to vague letters.
In those war years, although the mail could still arrive, sometimes once every twenty days, sometimes once every three months.
Through his eyes, Zhu Dongrun still felt that "the heartbroken man is the end of the world".
There is a deep love in his eyes, and he misses his family endlessly.
In this irresistible yearning, Zhu Dongrun chose to devote his energy to the writing of biographical literature.
In 1943, 47-year-old Zhu Dongrun wrote "The Biography of Zhang Juzheng".
Zhang Ju was the powerful prime minister of the Ming Dynasty. He was a figure who made important efforts for the survival and development of the country in the midst of intricate political entanglements.
In the most difficult period of the Anti-Japanese War, Zhu Dongrun wrote about characters like Zhang Juzheng, which undoubtedly has the significance of boosting morale and sharpening fame!
After the publication of "The Biography of Zhang Juzheng", Zhu Dongrun did not forget to thank his wife Zou Lianchang in the preface:
In my more than 20 years of life, I have developed the habit of not caring about my family and children, wandering alone in a different place, rarely going back during winter and summer vacations, and never paying attention to the handling of my family. "Things, children's upbringing, the handling of the environment, now I am more concerned, falling on the shoulders of a person, I have not heard complaints, nor have I heard credit, especially after the fall of my hometown, the local situation is even worse, a huge county, the situation is the most complicated, only the families of the wanderers at the ends of the earth raise their eyes, although I have no relatives, but I have never heard any resentment and complaints. It is precisely because of the people who are dedicated to the family that I can devote myself to my work, and my own achievements are only this, but when I count these words, you still can't forget the deep boudoir thousands of miles away. I think of all my accomplishments, this is my partner. ”
In 1944, Zhu Dongrun's daughter Zhu Qingyu moved from Taixing to live with her father, hoping to be admitted to university.
When she came, she was holding a jar of crab oil made by her mother tightly in her hand, weighing about 1 kilogram.
For Zhu Dongrun, this jar of crab oil is not only a delicacy to improve his diet, but also a symbol of his deep friendship with his wife Zou Lianchang.
So, he couldn't bear to eat more, so he let the crab oil mold in the jar and then cook it again. Again and again it got moldy, and he dragged it off for a month or two to eat.
In 1945, the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression was won.
Zhu Dongrun was in a hurry to go home, but he couldn't find a boat to go back.
With so many people, there are only a few ships in total, loaded one after another, and it is not possible to complete it in a few months. ”
So, the rumors came.
Taixing neighbors said to Zou Lianfang:
When will Dongrun come back? Haven't come back yet? I heard that he married someone in Sichuan and had more children. ”
However, Zou Lianchang always believed in her husband and responded with a smile to those unfounded speculations:
It doesn't matter, Whisper was still with her father not long ago, and there will be no problem. ”
Lianfang didn't have the slightest suspicion about me, just as I didn't have the slightest suspicion about Lianfang. ”
In 1946, Zhu Dongrun finally returned to his wife and children, and the family was reunited and lived a happy life.
In 1952, Zhu Dongrun was admitted to Fudan University in Shanghai.
After that, he taught at Fudan University for 36 years and served as the head of the Chinese Department.
At that time, most of the many children in the family were already adults and independent.
Zou Lianchang, who is in his fifties, accompanied her husband to the bustling city of Shanghai.
Not only did she quickly adapt to life in the big city, but she also actively cooperated with the chefs of Fudan University to set up the first canteen.
Seeing that his wife didn't want any remuneration and was busy every day, Zhu Dongrun couldn't help but joke:
You were freed from the small pot and the small stove, and now you have fallen into the big pot and the big stove again. ”
Zou Lianchang happily responded:
The small pot and small stove are for themselves, and the big pot and big stove are for everyone and serve the people. ”
Zhu Dongrun deeply admired her open-mindedness and selflessness.
As time went on, they returned to their hometown in Taixing less and less.
So, after the two discussed, they dedicated the six old houses in Taixing, the new house and the nearly two acres of land behind the house to the public.
In 1965, Zhu Dongrun ushered in his 70th birthday.
This year, Zou Lianchang, as always, carefully prepared his birthday celebration.
With a twinkle of anticipation in her eyes, she suggested
Why don't we go to Nanxiang Town that day? There is an old garden in the town. ”
Zhu Dongrun readily agreed.
So, on a sunny early winter day, the couple got on the bus and started their romantic journey.
After a two-hour drive, they arrived at Nanxiang Ancient Town.
I saw that every house on the street was clean and tidy.
Although it is early winter, this is Jiangnan after all, and what people feel is not the rustling sound, but the fresh residual temperature, and the grass and trees exude some quiet fragrance. ”
The couple visited the Guyi Garden with great interest, and ordered two small steamed buns at the Guyi Garden Hotel to taste them slowly.
On this day, Zhu Dongrun and his wife bathed in the warm winter sun, appreciated the charm of the water town in the south of the Yangtze River, and completely immersed themselves in this picturesque scenery.
Industrious and healthy working people are preparing for a new era of prosperity. ”
Little did he know that this trip would become the last trip of his life with his wife.
Later, Zhu Dongrun was ruthlessly involved in the hurricane of the times.
The stubborn old man refused to admit his guilt and held his head high.
He usually said:
One cannot be proud, but one cannot be without pride. ”
Due to his stubborn personality, Zhu Dongrun suffered a lot.
Zou Lianfang's heart is like a knife. She complained about her husband. She recounted in detail how Zhu Dongrun worked so hard and selflessly, not thinking about his own affairs at all. He's a good guy.
However, Zou Lianchang's struggle did not lead to results, but was implicated.
They gave her a bamboo broom and told her to sweep the floor.
At that time, most of the children of Zhu Dongrun and his wife were scattered all over the country.
With them was only a 16-year-old granddaughter, Zhu Bangwei, who also went to the countryside.
The two old men are preparing to live alone and endure hardships and stand hard work.
Zou Lianfang, 68, suffers from high blood pressure and heart muscle problems.
Every day after cleaning the dormitory, she would go home and lie in bed.
72-year-old Zhu Dongyun once begged those people for his wife:
My wife has severe high blood pressure and I am willing to give her a scan every day before going to work and then go to work, I promise not to miss anything. ”
However, he was responded with a loud shout:
No, let her do it herself! ”
In the end, Zou Lianchang couldn't endure the mental and physical torture and had suicidal thoughts.
It's November now, and it's getting colder, so you need to wear cotton clothes.
One day at noon, when Zhu Dongrun went out, Zou Lianfang picked up his padded jacket and smiled faintly at him.
Zhu Dongrun didn't think much about it, and went to work as usual, working in the morning and studying in the department office in the afternoon.
At night, he dragged his tired body out of the school gate and met his son Junmai face to face.
The son led his father around in a big circle, from Handan Road to Guoqing Road, and then from Siping Road to Guoquan Road.
In this way, he turned around and finally returned to the dormitory on Guonian Road.
Finally, the son spoke with difficulty:
Calm. "Why be calm?
Zhu Dongrun's heart tightened, his head buzzed, and he immediately understood what was going on.
When he returned home, Zou Lianchang was gone, leaving only the rope to commit suicide.
Zhu Dongrun's padded jacket was neatly packaged, and a note was written on it:
Dongrun: I'm sorry, I'll go first, the money is in my pocket. ”
Soon after, Zou Lianchang was cremated, and even his ashes were not left.
As a housewife, Zou Lianchang dedicated his life to her husband and children;
As a strong and capable woman, from a small county town to a big city, she has always done her part for the society.
Zhu Dongrun loved and respected his wife very much throughout his life.
He liked her gentleness and virtue, and respected her strength and decisiveness.
The depth and durability of his feelings is beyond imagination.
Now that the building is empty, the stubborn and lonely Zhu Dongrun has begun to write a biography of his wife, regardless of the danger of being checked at any time.
In the dead of night, the old man would spread out the paper dye under the lonely lamp, and see his deceased wife's ...... through the dense text
In 1970, Zhu Dongrun wrote "The Biography of Li Fangzhou".
In the book, Zhu Dongrun's pen name is Song Dunrong, and Zou Lianfang's pen name is Li Fangzhou. "Ark" is two parts of the word "Fang".
The end of the book does not end with the death of Zou Lianfang, but with the day of Zhu Dongrun's 70th birthday, the day when the couple visited Nanxiang Guyi Garden together
After lunch, Ark and Dun Rong strolled to a lounge with sofas and rattan chairs. Sunlight slowly shines in through the west window, making you feel deeply comfortable.
Listen. Fang Zhou pointed at Dunrong and told him to listen carefully. Out of nowhere, there was a sound of the piano, accompanied by a highly skilled female artist, singing melodiously:
I remember the first time I met you face to face, when we got off the bus, we bowed to each other and looked beautiful.
Born in the same room and dying in the same hole, like a brilliant sun shooting into the sky.
He claimed that he would be protected forever, but he knew that overnight, the wind and smoke would destroy him.
Alas, although this body is still there, how can I make up for it? When I'm old, I'll cry like a spring.
Working hard all day and doing household chores at home is a waste of time.
Relying on you to betray me and say goodbye to me, how do I get rid of **and**?
Looking down, the sun is setting, and when I look up, I don't know how high the sky is and the clouds are light.
Woo, dreams in heaven are not enough, my life is like a feather to me.
A violent roar suddenly rose from the bottom of Qingping, and neither heaven nor earth reacted.
Broken branches howled wildly against the grid, and dead leaves flew at the mausoleum.
The ghost shown below does not have rhinoceros horns, but coincidentally both the white and black ones have flies.
Woo, you are reluctant to abandon me, why do you bet your life on the green silk rope!
The wind shook the heavens and the earth, and the aftermath returned to the poor countryside.
Who knows how to cherish destruction? If you don't come, you'll feel the dust on the bed.
The turtle hairpin and pearl have long been abandoned, and the box of Rayamamaru fans is empty.
Wow, who knows that the jade bone has been set to fly fire, and the dust still has a lingering fragrance.
You went to the empty house I left behind, and I hurriedly chased you, hating you to the bone.
If you take the first step to say goodbye, you have no face in the world.
The poor idiot kept saying, I wish my old father He Tianlu.
Alas, the Longevity Palace is closed forever, if only he could see his confidant again.
The lyrics of this female artist were actually written by Zhu Dongrun for his wife Zou Lianfang.
He recalled his first encounter with her, lamented the vows of life and death, and expressed his endless thoughts and guilt for her.
The lyrics are like a poignant elegy, which is touching.
In 1978, Zhu Dongrun was rehabilitated and resumed his position as head of the Chinese Department of Fudan University.
In 1979, Zou Lianchang was also rehabilitated.
At that time, the children were crying, but Zhu Dongrun's expression was serious and he did not shed tears.
Later he said: intellectuals should work for the future of the country, and he has no right to cut ties with the country and stop working for the future of the country.
Just follow the arrangement of the state. Personal gains and losses are too delicate to worry about. ”
In May of the same year, Zhu Dongrun joined the Communist Party of China under the guidance of the organization.
For the rest of his life, Zhu Dong continued to write and wrote tirelessly.
During his lifetime, he wrote 9 biographies, including "The Biography of Zhang Juzheng", "The Biography of Lu You", "The Biography of Mei Yaochen", "The Narrative of Du Fu", "Chen Zilong and His Times", "The Biography of Yuan Haowen", "The Biography of Li Fangzhou", "The Autobiography of Zhu Dongrun" and "The Biography of Wang Shouren", becoming a pioneer of modern Chinese biographical literature.
Most of the historical figures selected by Zhu Dongrun for biography are those who actively use the world to serve the country and society regardless of personal gains and losses.
Therefore, when reading Zhu Dongrun's biography, you will always feel the power of personality and the shock of spirit.
Zhu Dongrun often said in his later years
After I die, as long as people say, 'My country's biographer Zhu Dongrun is dead!' I hope that's enough. ”
On February 10, 1988, Zhu Dongrun died of illness at the age of 92.
The children sent his ashes to his hometown in Taixing for burial. Unfortunately, Zou Lianfang was unable to leave the ashes, so they had to put the 40th wedding anniversary photo in the urn.
This is Zhu Dongrun's will before his death:
Let me and Lianfang be together forever and never be separated again. ”
Related books: 1] "The Biography of Li Fangzhou" - Zhu Dongrun.
2] "Zhu Dongrun's Autobiography" - Zhu Dongrun.