The first time I heard Shen Congwen's name was when I was reading Border Town, but it was soon forgotten, so it was not profound. What really impressed me was my three-year experience in Yunnan.

It was the first class for freshmen in the history department, and the professor of Yunnan ethnic history once again mentioned this familiar name. His topic began with a book "Yunnan Watching the Party". Later, I learned that it was a book about life written by Mr. Shen when he was in Yunnan. It is called looking at clouds, but in fact it looks at all kinds of life.

When it comes to the clouds in Kunming, it's actually no different from other places. But there is one thing I want to say. In wenshan city in the southeast of Yunnan, especially on clear nights, the sky is always purple. There will be a big discount on rainy days. I wonder if Mr. Shen has been there. If not, it would be a pity. So I often look up at the sky countless times in three years, thinking of Mr. Shen's Spectator Collection, Cui Cui in Border Town, and Shen Congwen who was ridiculed by the real professor. Maybe at that time, I fell in love with this maverick countryman from the bottom of my heart.

Starvation is small, literature is big.

Like many young people with boiling blood, a person who loves reading will run amok on this road without hesitation if he has an ideal. Even if you hit the south wall, you won't look back. Shen Congwen is such a young man. He is the most stubborn and sincere one.

1923, 2 1 year-old Shen Congwen and his friends went to Beijing from Xiangxi with the intention of studying. But we know that a place like Beijing, even a hundred years ago, was out of reach for a countryman. Although Shen Congwen can't say that he is completely from the grassroots, he is actually almost less. Judging from this young man's reading experience, it is even worse than some poor children!

When he first arrived in Beijing, he planned to be an undergraduate at Peking University. But for a teenager who often plays truant in the market, it is too difficult. I don't want to go to school, and I can't help it. I can only find a place to live first, and then find a way to go out.

He lives in a small and moldy rental house. Except for two meals a day, daily life gradually degenerates into one meal. I have never thought about buying any clothes, let alone luxury goods. The only expense may be buying books. Eating two cold steamed buns and drinking a bowl of boiled water every day is a supplement to the day. In this case, he indulged in the library and read Chekhov's novels.

Winter has come, as the works in my mind gradually enrich. From the beginning of the article, I had the idea of changing a pen in my hand for some steamed buns. He often sits in bed until midnight and then falls down exhausted. Wait until the next day to carefully revise the copied manuscript, hoping to send it to the post office. But soon, this hope was broken by the heavy reality. His manuscript was either forgotten by the editor or thrown into the trash can quickly. As an author, I can feel the blow. Once upon a time, I also wanted to earn some living expenses by contract. However, after more than a hundred refusals, I finally realized that if I want to survive on the manuscript fee, it will not lend a helping hand until I starve to death.

Shen Congwen was too hungry to shout. He tried to write something, and his nose bled again. He wiped his nosebleed with waste paper, thought about it, and finally came up with a way to get a pen and write a letter. This is a letter to Mr. Yu Dafu. He knew that Yu Dafu was enthusiastic, so he tried his best to tell his tragic experience and persistent pursuit of dreams to this literary elder. Yu Dafu was deeply moved and came to see him when he received the letter.

When a thin man wrapped in a gray scarf appeared at the door, Shen Congwen immediately realized that he was Yu Dafu. Yu Dafu looked at the scene before him, which seemed even more miserable than described in the letter. The room is wet and dark, and there is no stove. The young man was curled up by a coat, and the blood on his nose was still vivid.

"You, please sit down." Shen Congwen said excitedly that he unconsciously wanted to stand up. Yu Dafu tidied him up and put his scarf on the stiff young man. The two began to talk. After a while, Yu Dafu took him to the restaurant and ordered some meat dishes and some pies. Mr. Yu wolfed down his food, paid the bill and returned the three yuan and three cents to him. With money in his hand, his heart is as warm as the summer sun.

March into the literary world and make a name for yourself.

Yu Dafu not only invited Shen Congwen to eat a meal, but also gave him living expenses. He also published an article in the newspaper, "Exposing a Literary Youth". If you ask me, some statements in today's public statement are not exaggerated. After reading this open letter, Shen Congwen understood his inner expectation from the superficial allegory. Yes, this is his only way out, either dead or alive. Since this is the case, why not write something with the living expenses given by Teacher Yu?

This time, because of Yu Dafu's recommendation, Shen Congwen's two articles "In the Apartment" and "An Unpaid Letter" were quickly published in the morning paper. This is undoubtedly a good medicine for a young man with high creative enthusiasm but repeated defeats. This man who has been wrapped in trouble for a long time, because of this ideal spark, the whole life began to burn. Shen Congwen did it, and he officially embarked on the road of creation.

With the published articles appearing in newspapers and periodicals many times, I made some like-minded friends from the articles. Among them, Ding Ling has a great connection with his life. Ding Ling is a talented woman like Zhang Ailing and a revolutionary avant-garde. The initial friendship between her and Shen Congwen began with literature, and the final farewell was due to political views.

In 1930s, Ding Ling, Hu Yepin and Shen Congwen were good friends. Ding Ling was angry at Chiang Kai-shek's massacre of the people. Seeing Shen Congwen's article published in newspapers and periodicals, she finally started writing. It took her a few days to finish her first novel, Monk. Because of Mr. Ye Shengtao's appreciation, this novel was published in Novel Monthly. This made Ding Ling famous and gained great confidence. Then, her articles with strong revolutionary colors were born smoothly.

A few years later, these three people raised money to start a periodical in Shanghai. Shen Congwen's personal creation has also reached a peak, publishing more than 40 articles every year. This kind of life was promising, but it was soon forced to stop publishing because of the political environment. Not only did I not make any money, but I also got into huge debts. It is the bitterness from the heart of literature. Life seems to be unable to see him at all, but I don't know where the way out is. At this time, Xu Zhimo extended a helping hand to him.

A "university teacher" who graduated from primary school.

One day a few years ago, Shen Congwen was lucky enough to attend a famous wedding in modern history. The protagonists are talented poet Xu Zhimo and Lu Xiaoman, one of the four talented women in the Republic of China. In addition to the special status of both men and women, the guests present this time are also academic leaders. Hu Shi is the host of the wedding, and Liang Qichao is the witness.

I have never seen Mr. Liang speak in public, so I am very excited. But after a while, I only heard him standing on the rostrum and saying in a solemn voice, "Xu Zhimo, you are impetuous, so you have no achievements in your studies." You are a person who is not good at feelings, so you divorce and remarry ... You are all experienced people, divorced and remarried, and neither of you is an expert in feelings. In the future, repent and turn over a new leaf! May this be your last marriage! "

Xu Zhimo is a genius once in a century. Mr. Liang likes him very much, but he is also merciless when criticizing him. Xu Zhimo said that he would definitely change, but he hoped the teacher would rest assured. As for his motto, many people often talk about it: "I will visit my only soul mate in the vast sea of people, I will be lucky, but I will die, that's all." Mr. Liang really wants to throw up after hearing this. Xu Zhimo is a talented person, but divorced from reality and addicted to fantasy. Love and marriage are two different things. If Xu Zhimo only pursues love and doesn't get married, how lucky it will be.

Just when Shen Congwen's life was unsustainable, Xu Zhimo wrote to Hu Shi and recommended him to teach at Shanghai Public School. This matter was handled by Hu Shi. Shen Congwen, a "student" who graduated from primary school, has also successfully become a university teacher.

On this day, the classroom was crowded with men in black who came to be curious about the new teacher's lecture. Shen Congwen brought neither lesson plans nor textbooks. The lake, which has already accumulated into the sea of Wang Yang, can't pour a drop for a while. He was so nervous that he wrote a sentence on the blackboard: Please wait for me for five minutes. Five minutes later, he still couldn't say a word, when a female student in front reminded him. He summoned up his courage and dismissed the class without saying a few words.

Needless to say, how to take this class. Because most people who have been teachers have had similar experiences. We are talking about the girl who reminded him. She was none other than Zhang Zhaohe, the woman who was crazy about it later.

Only loved one person of the best age.

One day, Shen Congwen came to resign from Hu Shi, and Hu Shi asked, "Didn't you do a good job?" The students love you very much. Tell me, what happened? "

The article says, "Mr. Suit, have you ever loved a woman?" Hu Shi smiled in his heart: "One? You also look down on me. " Then I asked him what the specific problem was. Shen Congwen expressed his pursuit of Zhang Zhaohe. Hu Shi said, "This girl is not easy to chase. But as long as the family problems are solved, there will be no problems from her. Of course, I can take care of my family. Their family is a noble family, and I am a little humble. " Shen Cong has repeatedly expressed his gratitude.

A few months later, Zhang Zhaohe came to the principal's office with a love letter written by Shen Congwen.

"I am so distressed now ... Teacher Shen said that if I can't catch up, I will only die. I don't like him and I don't want to have anything to do with his death. " Zhang Zhaohe said with grievance.

Hu Shi comforted: "Don't worry, since you don't like it, I will persuade him to accept it slowly. But to tell the truth, Mr. Shen is a brilliant writer, and I'm afraid few people can match him at present. I advise you to try to get to know him. "

"Teacher Shen is excellent. I am very happy to be friends with him, but I am afraid that he will continue to misunderstand." Zhang Zhaohe said firmly.

"In that case, write to him and express your opinion."

Zhang Zhaohe didn't write to Miss Shen. Shen Congwen, on the other hand, has been taking pains to send several heavy letters at intervals, but Zhang did not reply after receiving them. A few years later, when Mr. Shen was teaching at Qingdao University, he suddenly received a letter from. When I opened it, it was a manuscript of a novel. I asked him to help me revise it. Teacher Shen carefully revised it and published it in a magazine. Signed three three.

Later, when I read one of his novels called Sansan, I realized that the lively and innocent little girl he wrote was a metaphor for Zhang Zhaohe.

Seeing that my novel was revised and published, I sent a thank-you letter to Mr. Shen. Teacher Shen said while the iron is hot, "Can I go to your house to play?" Zhang Zhaohe said, "The leg is on you. Who can stop you from going where you want to go? "

Oh, my god, the Millennium iceberg has finally melted! Teacher Shen's mood believes that every successful man can gain insight. He clenched his fist excitedly and knelt on the ground, tears streaming down his face.

After Shen Congwen visited the Zhangjia family in Suzhou, he was recognized by his father. Her sisters were ecstatic. It seems that he is not the brother-in-law he just met, but his brother who has been away for many years. After being caught by Zhang's father, Shen Congwen finally got engaged to Sansan.

A few years later, Zhang Zhaohe asked him, "Why do you bother so many beautiful women but always haunt me?" . I am not a beauty, I am ordinary, honest and not naughty. "

Shen Congwen expressed his views on beauty. After a long time, he said affectionately, "I have walked many roads, crossed many bridges, seen many shapes of clouds and drunk many kinds of wine, but I have only loved one person at the right age."

? The painting Border Town is a beautiful scenery.

"From Sichuan to Hunan, there is an official road to the east. When this road came to a small town called' Tea Cave' near the border of western Hunan, there was a small white tower beside the stream, and a family lived under it. There is only one old man, one girl and one yellow dog in this family ... "So the story begins very simply.

What a clever man! What a lovely little mountain city. As Shen Congwen later said in his letter to Zhang Zhaohe: "Because it is isolated from the city, everything is extremely wild, everything is not universal, and the lifestyle and attitude are a bit primitive." The description of Cui Cui is like a stroke of genius. He said: clear as mountains and green waters, a pair of eyes as clear as crystal. Because I loved it very much, I followed suit later. Probably landscape writing. One of them is that in the face of such a beautiful woman, any nearsighted glasses will become clear. Compared with Mr. Shen, this is extremely dull.

He put all his innocence and all his good humanity on Cui Cui. But after all, she is a young girl and will fall in love sooner or later. When she is in love, she is faced with two suitors with flesh and blood and affection. Maybe what she wanted was always clear, but she hurt two suitors by mistake. Tianbao was unfortunately killed, Nuo was sent away from home, and the old boatman died in resentment. Only Cui Cui and Huang Gou are guarding the dilapidated White Pagoda.

At the end of the novel, Shen Congwen said, "In winter, the collapsed white tower was repaired again. However, the young man who sang under the moon and made Cui Cui's soul float gently in his sleep did not return to the cave. This person may never come back, maybe' tomorrow'! "

I remember the first time I finished reading this novel, I said a slightly vulgar sentence: "The whole text is dull, the pace is slow, even the plot is' artificial', and there is no big bright spot. However, the last sentence came out, and sure enough, your uncle is still your uncle! " This sentence is not enough as a comment on this classic. However, I can still remember clearly today, which shows that the green mountains and green waters at that time have been deeply engraved in my mind.

Teaching a gifted student?

When I wandered around Kunming and walked into the former site of National Southwest Associated University, I often fantasized: If only those professors were still here! If you can listen to them for a lesson, the benefit should be lifelong. At that time, Shen Congwen and others were having classes in a small hut with earth walls. Almost all the elites of China at that time gathered here. But in this way, Shen Congwen's status is low.

The first person to criticize publicly was Liu Wendian. Liu Wendian, an old member of the League, was the head of the Tsinghua University Literature Department. He is proficient in Chinese and western languages and has a deep study of ancient literature. The most admirable thing is his title of "Half Zhuangzi". He once said: "There are two people in the world who can read Zhuangzi, one is Zhuangzi himself, half is all the people who study Zhuangzi in the world, and the other half is me!" Even Mr. Chen Yinque agrees with this statement. It can be seen that he can afford the title of master. But as a teacher, peer criticism is also merciless.

He once said at the meeting, "Chen Yinke won 400 yuan, I won 40 yuan and Zhu Ziqing won 4 yuan. Shen Congwen gave him too much hair. " Literally, I am speechless.

Later, once the Japanese dropped a bomb, when the alarm sounded, teachers and students rushed to the bomb shelter. Shen Congwen passed by Mr. Liu in a panic and heard him yell, "Why are you running?" I ran to protect the quintessence of Chinese culture. Students run to keep the next generation. Damn you, why did you run? "CongWen speechless again.

Actually, as Shen Congwen's teacher, I don't think it is necessary for Liu Wendian to look down on him because of his academic qualifications. Just as Liang Qichao criticized Xu Zhimo for being too impetuous and failing to achieve academic results, Mr. Liu criticized Shen because he was not enthusiastic about politics at first, and secondly because he loved to write some vernacular novels. Shen Congwen only teaches the skills of novels. This is almost useless to Mr. Liu. But if Mr Liu Can sees his research on the history of clothing, will he change his mind?

After talking about Mr. Shen Congwen, it is time to talk about Mr. Shen Congwen. Professor Shen Congwen's novel creation is not without achievements, but he unexpectedly taught another genius. He is the last master of modern China-Wang Zengqi.

Wang Zengqi doesn't talk much in class. After class, Mr. Shen was leaving, so he ran after him and handed him a stack of paper. When Shen Congwen opened it, it turned out to be a novel and was overjoyed. The two began to forget the time of conversation. After the revision, Mr. Shen said excitedly: "In the future, we should stick to the characters when writing novels. Whether it is the environment or the action, we should start with the character and thinking of the characters. This writing is not only natural, but also very tasty. " Wang Zengqi devoted himself to writing and published many good works.

The master stopped writing and studied clothes.

After the founding of New China, under the background of "a hundred flowers blossom and a hundred schools of thought contend" in the literary world, the old writers stopped writing. He worked as a handyman in the museum and began to study ancient Chinese costumes. After surviving for many times in 1973, Shen Congwen finally finished the research on the history of Chinese clothing as the representative of his academic achievements, but it was not published until 1979 after many twists and turns.

With 250,000 words and 700 images, this book is undoubtedly a must-read for fashion designers in film and television dramas. Speaking of TV series, the most classic version of A Dream of Red Mansions (version 87) contains characters and costumes from the textual research of Teacher Shen. At this time, he was 83 years old, and he also served as a crew consultant. Together with Cao Yu and Zhou, he was famous on the silver screen. The audience was surprised to find that apart from being excited and moved, they were more moved.

And just one year before his death, the State Council gave him an allowance: he enjoyed ministerial treatment, his salary rose to 300, and he was picked up by a special car when he went out. But what's the point for a dying old man? One day, his beloved student Wang Zengqi came to visit, and Shen Congwen simply said, "I have nothing to say in this world."

Is it disappointment or joy? I don't think so. Such a person who is keen on what he is doing, the surrounding environment is meaningless to him. And his life, until the exhaustion of painstaking efforts, can be attributed to dust.

1988 In May, a generation of writer Shen Congwen passed away. His wife whispered in front of ordinary people who came to mourn, "Don't cry, he doesn't like people crying." However, when close relatives and friends mentioned the past a little, she couldn't help but burst into tears. Such people are sincere and affectionate!

Then, for several years, people kept writing poems in memory of Shen Congwen. Most of these words are sincere. And his widow carved four words on the stone in front of the tomb: never follow, the stars are full of words; Kindness also allows that the child is a man. Together, it is four words-let people follow the text!

I don't know whether to call him a master or an ordinary farmer in western Hunan. However, the name "Cui Cui" is destined to be the most unforgettable person for me to wander in the mountains and rivers of Xiangxi!

About the author: Dacker. Love life, love literature and love poetry. A simple literary youth; A red fan who is hard to extricate himself; An ethereal ancient poetry writer!