In the history of modern Chinese literature, the marriage of Xu Zhimo and Zhang Youyi is a focus that cannot be ignored. Although Zhang Youyi later studied abroad and became a prominent female leader after returning to China, and even amassed a huge fortune, she never came out of the shadow of her marriage to Xu Zhimo.
For Xu Zhimo, people's evaluation seems to stay in the impression of the past. Whenever the couple is mentioned, most women will not hesitate to accuse Xu Zhimo of infidelity: "This man is so ruthless." ”
It is true that if you deeply observe Xu Zhimo's words and deeds in marriage, you will find that he is cold and even cruel to Zhang Youyi.
Zhang Youyi's marriage to Xu Zhimo was arranged by their parents, however, even in this case, Xu Zhimo's attitude towards Zhang Youyi after marriage is still confusing.
Zhang Youyi gave birth to two sons for Xu Zhimo, although there is no love, but at least there should be a sense of family responsibility. However, Xu Zhimo doesn't seem to be good enough in this regard.
I'm not against this marriage, but I can't accept this kind of marriage based solely on interests. This may be Xu Zhimo's true thoughts. He is a person with a habit of cleanliness in his thoughts, and he thinks that the marriage of the Zhang family is just an exchange of interests between the families.
In the social background at that time, the Haining Xu family was a business giant, but it was not prominent in social status, which was why Xu Zhimo's father decided to marry the Zhang family, which was rich in political and economic resources.
Xu Zhimo has a strong resistance to this kind of marriage, which also affects his life after marriage with Zhang Youyi. In addition, the serious disagreement between the values of the two is also an important reason for the failure of the marriage.
Their views diverge on many issues, and over time, these differences gradually escalate into quarrels and contradictions, which eventually lead to the breakdown of the marriage.
The door is right"This old concept has left its mark on the long river of history. There is a certain truth in this term, that couples from the same class are more likely to share common values and lifestyles, which is very important for the stability of marriage and family.
Let's take a look at the marriage of Xu Zhimo and Zhang Youyi, although it seems to be a good match on the surface, but in fact there are deep differences in class and values. The Xu family, as a typical civil and business family, is in stark contrast to the Zhang family's official and business background.
Zhang Youyi's fourth brother, Zhang Jiaxuan, once served as vice president and general manager of the Bank of China, and his political and economic resources far exceeded those of the Xu family. In the eyes of outsiders, although the two families were both merchants, they actually belonged to completely different social classes.
This difference is vividly manifested in Xu Zhimo and Zhang Youyi. Xu Zhimo, as the eldest grandson of the family, lived a rich and leisurely life, cultivating his romantic poetic temperament.
Zhang Youyi, on the other hand, is more affected by the supremacy of the family's practical interests.
Xu Zhimo once said that his marriage was nothing more than a transaction of interests between the two families. This is in stark contrast to Zhang Youyi's realistic attitude to life. As time passed, the difference in values between the two gradually emerged, and Xu Zhimo began to consider leaving Zhang Youyi.
Although Xu Zhimo has been blamed for this, few people have delved into the real reason for his divorce. Is he really a ruthless person? The emotional and social context behind this can be more complex.
The clash of values is just a matter between them, but on the larger social stage, the differences between the two are just as significant. Xu Zhimo actively participated in the May Fourth Movement in her youth and was deeply disgusted by the greed and materialism of the bourgeoisie, while Zhang Youyi's performance during the Anti-Japanese War shows her pursuit of profit.
In the summer of 1926, Zhang Youyi returned to China after completing her study career in Germany. After returning to China, she taught German at Soochow University, and with the support of her fourth brother, Zhang Jiaxuan, she became the vice president of Shanghai Women's Commercial Bank and successfully ran her own clothing company.
In 1934, Zhang Youyi ventured into politics again, managing the finances of the National Socialist Party.
Zhang Youyi's business acumen was vividly displayed in the Anti-Japanese War. She foresaw the business opportunities brought by the war, especially when the army was in dire need of uniform uniforms, and she hoarded dyes in large quantities and made huge profits.
At the same time, she also excelled in the trading of cotton and **, but behind this business behavior, it showed her disregard for her family and country. With the outbreak of the "Lugou Bridge Incident", North China became the main area of the battlefield, and cotton production suffered heavy losses.
After the fall of North China, the Japanese army controlled a large amount of cotton resources, resulting in a nationwide shortage of cotton. This is a huge challenge for China, which is in the midst of a harsh winter.
The army is in dire need of cotton clothes to withstand the bitter cold, and the people are also facing the dilemma of being unclothed in the cold winter. However, Zhang Youyi does not seem to take these things seriously. She once again used her funds and family resources to hoard a large amount of cotton and sell it at dozens of times the **.
Although she made a huge profit, she left many soldiers and civilians struggling to survive in the cold wind.
It's my greed that drives me, but is it really the right path? Zhang Youyi may have never been so introspective. The success of the cotton trade gave her confidence and made her eyes aim again.
At that time, China was in dire need of foreign exchange to buy war materials, and the depletion of foreign exchange made ** a key trading currency. Zhang Youyi sharply perceived this business opportunity, invested a huge amount of money in hoarding, and then made huge profits from it.
These moves by Zhang Youyi seem commercially sensible, but they have sparked strong moral controversy. She uses her family's resources to seek personal gain when the country is facing a crisis, which is regarded by many as ** behavior.
What she earned was not only money, but also the blood, sweat and tears of the people in the Anti-Japanese War. The tragic images of soldiers frozen in the cold trenches and people shivering in the bitter cold did not seem to touch Zhang Youyi's heart.
As a businessman, she may be proud of her success, but her actions have left a stain on history.
The breakdown of Xu Zhimo and Zhang Youyi's marriage is a direct reflection of the difference in values and outlook on life. Many people think that Xu Zhimo's departure was due to his empathy for Zhang Youyi, but from his poems, words and deeds, it can be seen that his dissatisfaction with Zhang Youyi goes far beyond the emotional level.
In Xu Zhimo's heart, Zhang Youyi may be a person who is too realistic, pursues material interests, and lacks patriotic spirit. This is in stark contrast to his romantic feelings and strong patriotism.
On the contrary, the heroic performances of Lin Huiyin and Lu Xiaoman during the Anti-Japanese War fully reflected the tenacity and patriotism of Chinese women. When Lin Huiyin faced the invitation of American friends, he firmly stated that he would share the suffering with the motherland, and even if he was seriously ill, he never chose to escape.
Faced with her son Liang Congjie's worries, she once said: "If the Japanese really called, wouldn't there be an old way for Chinese scholars?" It's the Yangtze River. During her tenure as a diplomatic assistant in Beiyang, Lu Xiaoman fearlessly fought back in the face of the rude remarks of foreign powers, winning respect for the country's diplomatic image.
During the Anti-Japanese War, compared with Zhang Youyi's self-interested behavior, Lin Huiyin and Lu Xiaoman's patriotic feelings were more deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. Zhang Youyi chose to flee to Hong Kong with her wealth, and such a decision seemed to negate her character in Xu Zhimo's view.
However, each person's values and choices have their own unique reasons and historical backgrounds, and cannot be generalized. But from Xu Zhimo's point of view, the separation between him and Zhang Youyi may not only be a transfer of feelings, but also a deep-seated disagreement of values.
The patriotic spirit of Lin Huiyin and Lu Xiaoman is in stark contrast to Zhang Youyi.
Xu Zhimo's emotional experience is not only a staggering of individual emotions, but also a reflection of the social contradictions and conflicts of that era. His decision may have been the result of his search for a balance in a complex social environment and personal beliefs.
Reading this history may lead us to think deeply about the social values and the multifaceted nature of human nature behind it. If you like our channel, don't forget to like and follow it.