Talking about Mr. Zhang
Two months later, Xu Xuanming and Huo Shangzhi joined forces to recapture Beiping, gradually driving out the Japanese army and regaining the initiative in the war.
Dai Zining also returned to Beiping and, together with a group of patriotic young students from Peking University, founded the Xingjing Daily in Beiping. The newspaper collected articles by patriotic people on how to revitalize the country and called on the Chinese people to work together to resist foreign invasion.
The founding of the Xingjing Daily received a very positive response throughout the country, and countless people of goodwill stood up again and stood on the front line where they were most needed.
Mid-December, Beiping Guowen Newspaper Office.
Dai Zining handed the latest issue of the Xingjing Daily to Liang Weisheng, asking him to publish and print it.
Liang Weisheng took it, sensing that she had more to say, so he stayed where he was and waited.
“I’m going to write a book, so I probably won’t have much time for the Xingjing Daily for a while. You and your classmates should keep a close eye on things and pay close attention to the outside world.”
After Dai Zining finished speaking, Liang Weisheng nodded in agreement: "Don't worry."
Liang Weisheng was a student in the Chinese Department of Peking University and one of Dai Zining's favorite students since she began teaching. Although he was young, he was mature, progressive, and loved literature and socialism. Dai Zining always regarded him as her last disciple.
Since the founding of Xingjing Daily, Liang Weisheng has always been there to handle all matters, big and small, with her.
Therefore, Dai Zining felt at ease handing the Xingjing Daily over to him at this critical juncture.
Dai Zining secluded herself to focus on literary creation, and neither people from the newspaper nor any organization were allowed to disturb her—this was her principle.
So it wasn't until she emerged from seclusion at the end of December and published the book that she learned of Liang Weisheng's sacrifice.
One of her subordinates gave her a book, which was the very book she had just finished writing and published, titled "Talking about Mr. Zhang".
After Zhang Chenglin's sacrifice, she woke up in Shanghai and started writing this book. She wrote it for more than three months, and that month of seclusion was just to polish the ending.
The subordinate handed her the book and then said, "A week ago, after the latest issue of the Xingjing Daily published this, many more people joined the organization and went to the front lines. The Japanese were furious and burned down the newspaper office and arrested Liang Weisheng."
"The Japanese wanted to recruit Liang Weisheng for their own use, and they wanted him to publish content related to the Japanese in the Xingjing Daily. Liang Weisheng refused to yield even unto death. Perhaps the torture he endured by the Japanese was too torturous, because on the third day after he was imprisoned, Liang Weisheng bit off his tongue and committed suicide."
Dai Zining remained silent for a long time before saying, "He's still just a child. He's had a hard life."
After Dai Zining finished speaking, she closed her eyes and prayed in her heart that she could have a happy, fulfilling, joyful and peaceful life in her next life.
——
Within three days of its publication, "Talking about Mr. Zhang" sold out in Beijing, Shanghai and other places. Bookstore owners were eager to stock the book and tried every means to put it in their stores.
Just three days later, the book suddenly disappeared, major bookstores removed it from their shelves, printing plants destroyed the original copies, and refused to publish it again.
After learning about this, Dai Zining simply nodded and dismissed her subordinates without saying anything.
She knew better than anyone who was behind this, after all, there were very few people in the world who dared to mess with her.
But Xin Jie still couldn't give up and investigated the matter in Shanghai. However, some things are better left unknown; once you find out, it's always disheartening.
In order to control the thoughts of the Chinese people, the Japanese cut off all channels and spiritual incentives for Chinese patriots to serve the country.
The Communist Party left does not acknowledge Zhang Chenglin's contributions and insists on viewing him as a villain and a parasite on the country.
In order to consolidate their own positions, Kuomintang officials Zhuang Yanbin and Jiang Rusu did not allow any information about Zhang Chenglin to leak out.
Thus, the only written record of Zhang Chenglin in the world has also disappeared.
He came into this world in a rush, and left in vain.
In her book "Talking about Mr. Zhang," Dai Zining wrote about Zhang Chenglin's sacrifice: "He will soon be able to see the dawn."
It's a real shame that in the end, many people joined forces to bury him in darkness forever.
Never to be seen, never to be known.
His contributions are insignificant, while his shortcomings are magnified infinitely.
They were scorned and nailed to the pillar of shame.
*
In mid-to-late December, Shanghai finally saw its first snowfall of the year. The heavy snow, along with the white banners fluttering in the wind, weighed heavily on people's hearts.
Jiang Xiaoxiao was sent to Switzerland by Jiang Yuanxing for more than two weeks because of company matters, but she rushed back as soon as she heard about the situation at home.
White banners hung everywhere in the Jiang family's vast mansion, blending with the heavy snowfall, creating a somber and suffocating atmosphere.
After entering, I didn't even have time to rest before being led into the mourning hall.
Jiang Guanyu, dressed in white, knelt on a prayer mat in the center of the mourning hall, sobbing softly, his shoulders trembling.
Those around them felt a pang of sympathy.
Jiang Xiaoxiao went to offer incense, and when she came out of the mourning hall, she saw Xu Wenwan. She pulled him aside and asked softly, "What happened? You were fine before, weren't you?"
“Not all women have to go through the ordeal of childbirth.” Xu Wenwan sighed, a hint of sadness on her face. “Some people pull through, and everyone is happy; others don’t, leaving their loved ones with a lifetime of regret.”
“Yesterday was an auspicious day, and Ayu even went to someone to have his fortune told. They said Yuecheng is very lucky and will definitely be safe with her baby.”
"It was all good at first, but then she suddenly got stuck and lost oxygen halfway through giving birth. Yuecheng held on for a while, but in the end she couldn't hold on."
Jiang Xiaoxiao looked at the fear and apprehension that Xu Wenwan couldn't hide when she spoke. For many years to come, she would think more than once that the reason why she and Jiang Qingju had been so loving for decades but never had a child of their own was because of this day.
Lu Yuecheng and Jiang Guanyu's marriage was arranged by their parents and a matchmaker; they were forced together for the sake of their respective families' prosperity.
So when they first got married, the two treated each other with the utmost respect, just like most couples in the world, as if they were just living together as a couple.
Unlike Zhang Chenglin and Jiang Qingju, Jiang Guanyu has his own ideals and ambitions. He is a person who likes a simple life and has loved poetry and songs since childhood. He is someone who can give everything for romance.
Compared to ordinary young ladies who prefer gold hairpins and jewelry, Lu Yuecheng preferred books and calligraphy. Because of this, she and Jiang Guanyu lived a very happy life while maintaining a respectful relationship.
When Jiang Guanyu and Lu Yuecheng had developed feelings for each other, they had a child. Unfortunately, as time passed and everything changed, neither Lu Yuecheng nor the child could accompany Jiang Guanyu for the rest of his life.
Jiang Guanyu and Zhang Chenglin are the same age, and Jiang Xiaoxiao has been the one who spent the most time with Jiang Guanyu since they were little.
Jiang Xiaoxiao looked at Jiang Guanyu kneeling in the center of the mourning hall from a great distance, and felt waves of pain in her heart.
How exactly can one achieve a perfect ending?
She and Yan Jiangshang separated for the sake of the country and the people. He went to realize his ideals and ambitions, to achieve a great cause that might only be for himself. It was the general trend, and she understood and accepted it.
Zhang Chenglin and Feng Yue both had their future and ideals in their hearts. One of them stayed by their side while the other went far away, and then broke his promise.
Jiang Xiaoxiao used to think that Jiang Guanyu and Lu Yuecheng were so lucky to be together, only having to worry about daily necessities and having their loved ones by their side every day.
How can even such a simple hope not be tolerated?
In this chaotic world, what can still be tolerated?
"Can you two talk badly about people behind their backs?" Jiang Qingju's voice suddenly rang out from behind, startling Xu Wenwan and Jiang Xiaoxiao.
"What do you mean by talking badly about someone?" Xu Wenwan asked, frowning, her tone full of incomprehension.
“Exactly,” Jiang Xiaoxiao and Xu Wenwan always stood united in front of Jiang Qingju: “What do you mean by talking badly about someone? You’re clearly concerned about Ayu.”
"I really didn't believe you two." Jiang Qingju never thought the two of them could have anything good to say together, so he pursed his lips and stepped into the mourning hall.
"You're sick." Jiang Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes at Jiang Qingju's retreating figure.
“Exactly!” Xu Wenwan echoed her sentiments, showing no sign of siding with Jiang Qingju.
But for some reason, as if she had lost her mind, Jiang Xiaoxiao suddenly said, "It's all because you spoiled her."
"Jiang! Xiao! Xiao!" Xu Wenwan was stunned for two seconds when she heard her words. After realizing that her best friend was indeed complaining about her, she gritted her teeth and called out to her word by word.
Jiang Xiaoxiao chickened out quickly, waving her hands repeatedly and saying with a grin, "Let's talk this out, let's talk this out..."
Funerals are not like weddings. Not many invitations were sent out. Only close family members and very close colleagues came to pay their respects. Then, an auspicious day was chosen for the burial.
For a long time afterward, the entire Chiang family was immersed in a very somber atmosphere.
Outsiders can hardly understand how a mere daughter-in-law could have such a significant impact on the Jiang family.
But Jiang Xiaoxiao and other members of the Jiang family knew that what was causing the Jiang family's downturn was not only Lu Yuecheng, but also Zhang Chenglin.
If Lu Yuecheng isn't that important, then Zhang Chenglin is Jiang Yuanxing's lifeline.
Even though Jiang Yuanxing is over seventy, he still has a head of thick, black hair, which has always been the envy of his colleagues and friends.
But the day he learned of Zhang Chenglin's sacrifice, his hair turned white overnight, and now he has a full head of white hair and looks much older than before.
Since then, Jiang Yuanxing has gradually relinquished power, arranging a board meeting for Jiang Xiaoxiao one day and a merger and acquisition deal for Jiang Guanyu the next. In just over two months, Jiang Xiaoxiao and Jiang Guanyu have gained absolute control over the Jiang family's businesses.
The weather in Shanghai isn't too cold yet; the snow melts after each snowfall, leaving behind puddles and potholes everywhere.
To welcome the Gregorian New Year, the Chiang family has replaced their lanterns with light gray ones.
Jiang Qingju sat with Jiang Yuanxing in the courtyard, basking in the sun, while Jiang Xiaoxiao and Jiang Guanyu handled official business in the study.
Everything was quiet all around, and the lively scenes of the past, when everyone was still around, during holidays and festivals, were gone.
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