Xu Beihong (1895-1953) was born in Yixing, Jiangsu, and his father was a famous painter. When Beihong was a teenager, he studied painting with his father. At the age of 2, he sold paintings in Shanghai. In 1918, he was hired by Cai Yuanpei as a tutor of Peking University Painting Research Association. He went to Paris to study in the following year, and then transferred to Berlin and Belgium to study sketch and oil painting. He likes the classical paintings of the European Renaissance and beyond very much, and he forgets to eat and sleep carefully. After returning to China in 1927. He served as Dean of Beiping Art College, Director of Art Department of Nanjing Central University, and President of Beiping Art College after the Anti-Japanese War. After liberation, he served as president of the Central Academy of Fine Arts and chairman of the National Artists Association until his death.

He is full of wisdom and a patriotic heart

Xu Beihong has been devoted to art education for a long time. He discovered and United many famous people in the art world. Among the students he trained, many of them have become famous artists and the backbone of China art circles. His outstanding contribution to the construction of the fine arts team in China and the development of the fine arts cause in China is unparalleled and far-reaching.

On September 26th, 1953, Xu Beihong died of cerebral hemorrhage at the age of 58. According to Xu Beihong's wish, his wife, Ms. Liao Jingwen, donated more than 1,2 pieces of his works, more than 1,2 pieces of works of famous painters and calligraphers in Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing and modern times, and more than 1, pieces of books, picture albums and inscriptions to the country. The following year, Xu Beihong's former residence was turned into a memorial hall for Xu Beihong, and his works were preserved and exhibited. Premier Zhou Enlai personally inscribed the "Former Residence of Beihong".

Xu Beihong and Liao Jingwen

However, Xu Jingfei deeply loves her stepmother Liao Jingwen, who is only six years older than her. From her acquaintance with Liao Jingwen in the 194s to the present, during more than half a century's ups and downs, she has established a deep affection with this affectionate, kind-hearted and profound stepmother. In particular, what impressed Xu Jingxie was that although her stepmother was 28 years younger than her father, she greatly respected her father's character and paintings, and made great sacrifices for her father, devoting her whole life's energy and painstaking efforts.

Xu Beihong

Daughter loves her father and wife loves her husband. Although their love is essentially different, they are interlinked. Their heart-to-heart friendship, like spring breeze and rain, has an eternal beauty.

1943 was a difficult period for War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression.

Nanjing Central University, taught by Xu Beihong, has already moved to the mountain city of Chongqing in order to avoid the disaster of war. Xu Jingfei followed him to Chongqing and studied in the middle school affiliated to Central University in Shapingba. At that time, Xu Beihong couldn't stand Jiang Biwei's endless difficulties and noise. They had been separated for seven years.

The summer vacation is coming, and Xu Jingfei wants to go to his father very much. At that time, Xu Beihong was sketching in Qingcheng Mountain, Guanxian County, Sichuan Province with the graduate students of the newly-established China Academy of Fine Arts. Therefore, Xu Jingfei went to his father's place for a holiday happily with his brother.

Liao Jingwen and Xu Beihong when they were young

In Qingcheng Mountain, Xu Jingfei often saw a beautiful young girl sitting under a big ginkgo tree, absorbed in reading. She is wearing a purple cloth cheongsam, with short black hair and little words. This girl is Liao Jingwen.

Xu Jingfei has heard from her mother that Liao Jingwen and her father are in love, and that a beautiful young girl like her can fall in love with someone 28 years older than her, either for money or profit. However, Xu Jingfei is in the Qingcheng Mountain, which is covered with green mountains and towering ancient trees. He only thinks that Liao Jingwen is quiet and studious, dignified and beautiful, and has no frivolity and vulgarity. She really likes this girl who is only a few years older than herself.

Xu Beihong's figure paintings (2) In 1944, due to hard material life and overwork, Xu Beihong unfortunately suffered from severe hypertension and chronic nephritis and was admitted to the Central Hospital more than 1 kilometers away from Shapingba. After hearing the news, Xu Jingfei trudged for more than three hours regardless of his broken leg and rushed to the hospital to visit him.

When she stood panting at the door of the ward, she saw Liao Jingwen sitting in front of her sickbed, reading the newspaper for her father seriously. Somehow, at that moment, Xu Jingfei's heart suddenly flooded with a grateful heat flow.

"Dad, I'm coming to see you!" Xu Jingfei gave a yell, and tears could not help rolling down his cheeks.

Liao Jingwen got up and asked her to sit down. Then, she silently brought a biscuit box, took out yellow fried rice candy from it and handed it to Xu Jingfei, watching her eat silently.

Xu Beihong is still in a critical period. The hospital issued a critical notice a few days earlier, so their mood is very heavy and they are too depressed to speak. The whole ward was filled with silence and sadness. Liao Jingwen's hair was messy, her eyes were black, and she was tired and haggard. As you can imagine, for the sake of sorrow, she has survived many sleepless nights ...

When Xu Jingfei left, Liao Jingwen kept taking her to the hospital gate. When shaking hands, Liao Jingwen said to her with concern: "It's getting dark, so be careful when you walk!" Xu Jingfei nodded hard, a warm heart, tears again. She thanked Liao Jingwen in her heart: "My father thanks to you!"

at that time, Liao Jingwen worked as a librarian beside Xu Beihong, and devoted himself to his career and life. After she returned to Chongqing from Qingcheng Mountain, she was admitted to Jinling Women's University, which moved from Nanjing to Chengdu. However, shortly after entering the school, she left the school resolutely and returned to Beihong's side in order to assist Beihong's career and take care of his weak life. Now, sad hong's condition is so serious that she insists on guarding her bed day and night. Is this for?