Lao She is a famous modern novelist and dramatist in the literary world. He graduated from Beijing Normal School in 1918 and once taught in primary and secondary schools in Beijing. In 1924, he went to England and taught at the Oriental College of London University. Returning to China in 1930, he served as a professor in cheeloo university and Shandong University successively; During the Anti-Japanese War, he presided over the All-China Association of Literary and Art Circles against the Enemy; After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, he went to the United States to give lectures and write. Laoshe, a native of Beijing, has experienced the ups and downs of Beijing for decades and the changes of the times, and has created a large number of works reflecting Beijing’s social life, such as Camel Xiangzi and Four Generations under One roof. His language is popular, humorous, mellow and powerful, and he is known as the "master of language". His works are well-known, with a strong flavor of life, and are deeply loved by the people. Camel Xiangzi and Teahouse are still playing for a long time on the stage of drama and the screen of film and television.
When people mention Lao She, they will think of his classic works. Little did they know that Lao She grew from a progressive patriotic writer to a revolutionary people’s artist under the care and influence of Zhou Enlai. The deep friendship between him and Zhou Enlai is widely read in the literary and art circles.
Go under the anti-Japanese banner
Zhou Enlai was Lao She’s earliest contact with the Communist Party of China (CPC) leader.
After the "July 7th Incident", with the Japanese army advancing step by step, Shanghai and Nanjing fell one after another. At that time, 700 or 800 cultural figures retreated to Wuhan from all over the country. At that time, Zhou Enlai was carrying out anti-Japanese national united front work in Wuhan, and implementing the second cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party.
In order to make the intellectuals gathered in Wuhan unite more closely and resist Japan with greater strength, Zhou Enlai instructed the Communist party member Yang Hansheng and others to prepare and organize an all-China literary and art anti-enemy association. At the end of 1937, Yang Hansheng first organized a "Literary Association" in propose to create in his own name, which immediately received enthusiastic response from all sides. Just at this time, Lao She also came to Wuhan. After Zhou Enlai, Wang Ming and General Feng Yuxiang discussed together, they are going to invite Lao She to preside over the work of "Literary Association". Although Lao She had no connection with the Communist Party of China (CPC) before, he was a famous writer with great sense of justice and patriotism. After the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, he declared: "I am not the Kuomintang, nor communist party. I will go with whoever really fights against Japan, and I am an anti-Japanese faction."
After more than a month of intense preparations, on March 27, 1938, the All-China Anti-Enemy Association of Literary and Art Circles was formally established. Lao She was elected as the executive director and director of the General Affairs Department of the Literary Association (because the Literary Association does not have a chairman and president, the director of the General Affairs Department actually bears the overall responsibility, representing the Literary Association externally and meeting with the domestic prime minister), and Zhou Enlai was elected as the honorary director of the Literary Association. From then on, for a common goal, Zhou Enlai’s contacts with Lao She gradually increased. They cooperated sincerely and respected each other, and carried out their work in a colorful way.
Zhou Enlai led many aspects of work in the Kuomintang-ruled areas, shouldering heavy responsibilities and busy work, but he still often took time out to come to the "Literary Association" to meet and talk with everyone, understand the situation, and give concrete guidance and help to the work of the "Literary Association". Every time he comes, he will "make people feel warm and draw strength from it" (Lao She’s language).
In May, 1938, the "Literary Association" held the second Council, and Zhou Enlai was invited to attend. The meeting was warm and fruitful. In his conference report, Lao She gave a wonderful account of the scene at that time. He wrote: "… it’s Mr. Zhou Enlai’s turn to speak. He is very happy to sit and eat with so many literati, not just for the sake of eating, but for everyone to work together so intimately and with such concerted efforts. He said that we must try to get some money for the Literary Association, so that everyone can write more articles and make the conference more developed. Finally (with tears in his eyes), he said that he would be excused, because the old father will arrive in Hankou at ten o’clock tonight! (Applause) Violent enemy forces us to suffer losses and misfortune. Violent enemy forces my old father to come to the south, and life and death are all due to the aggression of violent enemy, but life and death have strengthened our unity. "
Zhou Enlai’s sincere emotional contagion impressed everyone present. Lao She further learned that Zhou Enlai is not only an outstanding, patriotic and charismatic leader of the Communist Party of China, but also a passionate man with flesh and blood, full of emotion and great appeal.
Lao She’s wife Hu? Qing later recalled: "During this period, although Lao She was still wandering in the fog, he was deeply proud of knowing such an outstanding proletarian revolutionary with a patriotic and sincere heart."
Through many cordial contacts with Zhou Enlai, Lao She gradually deepened her understanding of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and finally "became a loyal and reliable friend of communist party" without hesitation and conviction. He once said with emotion, "This is communist party, nothing else. Is selfless, for the country and for the people! Enthusiastic attention to everyone, eyes everywhere! "
Under the influence of Zhou Enlai, Lao She made the work of "Literary Association" fruitful. Later, the "Literary Association" was further developed, with branches all over the country and many activities, which lasted until the victory of the Anti-Japanese War and became the predecessor of the National Literary Federation and the National Writers Association. It made two historical contributions to the victory of the China Revolution: First, it united a large number of patriotic cultural figures. The Anti-Japanese War was one of the best periods for China literati to unite in history. The second is to make literature popular and popular. When the "Literary Association" held its inaugural meeting, the slogan hanging on the streets of Wuhan was "Articles Join the Army, Articles Go to the Countryside". It should be said that these two slogans have greatly influenced the trend of China literature since then. There is nothing but the painstaking efforts of Zhou Enlai and Lao She.
Recall for the motherland
After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, Lao She and Cao Yu accepted the official invitation of the United States to give lectures in the United States, engaged in cultural exchanges between the two countries, and kept on writing. After the expiration of one year, the civil war broke out in China, and Lao She stayed in the United States. During this period, Zhou Enlai has been trying his best to achieve domestic peace, and then he planned and dispatched troops to defeat the Kuomintang reactionaries.
In spite of this, Zhou Enlai has never forgotten Lao She, a literary giant who made great efforts for the Anti-Japanese War. In 1949, when Beiping was peacefully liberated and the national literary and artistic workers were reunited, Zhou Enlai first thought of Lao She, who lived abroad. He knows Lao She’s yearning and yearning for the new China, and his pain and depression in a foreign country.
On July 6, 1949, the National Congress of Literary and Art Workers was held in Beijing. At the meeting, Zhou Enlai said with deep emotion to the gathered writers: "Now Mr. Lao She is the only one, so please ask him to return to China anyway."
After a lapse of three months, Lao She, who was in new york, received a personal letter from Zhou Enlai inviting him to return home, which made Lao She overjoyed. Regardless of his weakness after the operation, he quietly prepared to return to China. On December 12, 1949, Lao She overcame many difficulties and finally returned to his long-lost motherland, missing day and night, and began a new page in his life.
The day after his arrival in Beijing, Lao She went to visit Zhou Enlai, accompanied by Yang Hansheng, regardless of the fatigue of the journey. I haven’t seen you for years. The two reunited old friends shook hands as soon as they met and refused to let go for a long time.
After returning to Beijing, facing a brand-new world, Lao She was filled with joy and passion. He obeyed Zhou Enlai’s orders, except to visit his old friends, and he was immersed in reading and writing. After reading Mao Zedong’s Speech at Yan ‘an Forum on Literature and Art, he realized that to be an artist, he must serve the workers, peasants and soldiers and the people. Zhou Enlai also mentioned this on the day he talked with himself. As a writer of the old times, if he wants to write about the new era and new life, and he doesn’t have enough ideological reform and experience of the new social life, if he writes rashly, he will make mistakes. Later, when talking about the feelings of this period, Lao She said: "In the past, I could rely on’ inspiration’, with a wave of my pen, and I only wanted to be happy for a while, but I was irresponsible to readers. Now, I am responsible for political thoughts and readers. Being eager for success will make me give up from disappointment. "
New works are multiplied in concern.
Zhou Enlai loves literature and art and has a high literary and artistic accomplishment. Zhou Enlai has seen almost all the plays written by Lao She, not only watching them, but also helping to give advice and help to modify them, and some even directly participated in the creation from beginning to end. Lao She admired Zhou Enlai’s noble character, noble sentiment, outstanding talent and extraordinary ability, and he drew infinite strength from this mentor.
In May 1950, Zhou Enlai attended the inaugural meeting of the Beijing Federation of Literary and Artistic Workers. At the meeting, Lao She was elected as the chairman of Beijing Federation of Literary and Art Circles. Lao She is very familiar with all aspects of Beijing society. He knows everything that his eyes can see, his ears can hear and his nose can smell, especially the dark side of old Beijing.
At noon on July 24th, Zhou Enlai hosted a banquet for Lao She, encouraging him to create more works for the people, and to write more about his familiar Beijing and its changes. Zhou Enlai is very concerned about Lao She’s creative plan. Lao She told Zhou Enlai that he was going to write a drama about the changes of Longxugou, praising Chairman Mao, communist party and the new government by comparing the old and new society. Zhou Enlai was very happy to hear that. When Lao She said that he had made an appointment to go to Longxugou for a field interview the next day, Zhou Enlai repeatedly said, "Yes, yes, I must go and wait to see your new play."
Laoshe’s drama Longxugou reflects the change of a slum in the southern suburbs of Beijing, which is an indictment of the old society and a praise of the new society. After the script of "Longxugou" was written, when it was about to be staged, some people had concerns. First, it was fashionable to play foreign dramas at that time, and it was afraid that playing "Longxugou" would not suit people’s interests; Second, at the time of resisting U.S. aggression and aiding Korea, the performance of Longxugou was afraid of being divorced from reality. Zhou Enlai did not agree with this view. He thought Longxugou was of great practical significance and was of great benefit to establishing the prestige of the new regime. Not surprisingly, Zhou Enlai expected that "Longxugou" was very popular with the audience after it was staged, and it was popular all over the country for a time. Lao She also won the honorary title of "People’s Artist". Zhou Enlai not only enjoyed the play Longxugou himself, but also recommended this excellent work to Mao Zedong. One night in the spring of 1951, Mao Zedong and other party leaders watched the performance of Longxugou in Huairentang, Zhongnanhai.
In the fresh and warm atmosphere of new China, Lao She was inspired by many works, and his artistic talent was fully exerted. In the process of his creation, Zhou Enlai has always given him enthusiastic attention. He encouraged Lao She to write more familiar things, and gave specific guidance from the creation plan to the creation content. Whenever a new play by Lao She is staged, Zhou Enlai always takes time out of his busy schedule to watch it, and puts forward many pertinent opinions from the script to the performance.
Lao She was constantly guided by Zhou Enlai, especially when he created political works that he was not familiar with. When Lao She wrote the script Chun Hua Qiu Shi, he felt that it was very difficult to write because he was unfamiliar with the social class described, and he could not grasp it easily. To this end, Zhou Enlai helped him to analyze and find out the problems one by one, and they often discussed them until late at night.
Chun Hua Qiu Shi reflects the duality of China’s national bourgeoisie under socialist conditions. Zhou Enlai explained the Party’s policy towards the national bourgeoisie to Lao She in detail, and pointed out that we should not ignore the capitalist’s willingness to accept transformation after struggle under the socialist system because we emphasized the struggle and restriction on capitalists. He also reminded Lao She that the play must not be turned into political propaganda. He hoped that Lao She would write according to his own style and use humorous language tricks that he was good at. He said that what the masses need is a play of flesh and blood, a real work of art.
Zhou Enlai also often reminds and encourages Lao She to make new writing plans. It is often heard that Lao She said to the comrades in the theater, "The Prime Minister has given me a new topic again." Often this will lead to a new drama. It can be said that the birth of each of Lao She’s works is permeated with Zhou Enlai’s painstaking efforts.
Among Lao She’s later plays, Zhou Enlai admired Teahouse the most. He especially appreciated the first act, thinking that the plot was moving, the performance was wonderful and the artistic appeal was strong. He said that the younger generation should be shown Teahouse to let them know the darkness of the world in old China. He believes that young people should have an image of the old society, and it is not enough to rely on reason. A few years later, Zhou Enlai watched Teahouse again. After the break, he invited Lao She and the actors together to bring up the issue of educating young people. He said that the play should give young people an inspiration: ask them to think about what is the driving force of history and who is the hero of history. Although the script was later revised to add scenes of student movements, Zhou Enlai felt that it was not ideal. He said that it is still worth studying what events to choose as a typical stage in modern history, and he especially hopes that Lao She will carefully consider it. Unfortunately, neither of them cared about it later.
Zhou Enlai not only knows Lao She’s inner world very well, but also his personality characteristics are very clear.
On one occasion, Zhou Enlai held a symposium on cultural work in Ziguangge, Zhongnanhai. At the meeting, Lao She talked about his desire to live in Shihezi Junken Farm in Xinjiang for a few days and experience life. Out of concern for his health, Zhou Enlai immediately chimed in and said, "You are old, your legs and feet are inconvenient, and the conditions in the border areas are more difficult, so you are afraid that you will not adapt. You don’t have to run so far to experience life. You can choose a place closer, or you can’t kneel down. It is also a way to take a quick look. " When the words were spoken, Zhou Enlai immediately felt that he had interrupted Lao She’s words and immediately apologized: "Oh, I interrupted your speech. I’m sorry, please go on." Lao She glanced at Zhou Enlai, raised his voice and said with a smile, "I’ve finished talking to you, what else can I say!" In a word, everyone laughed.
Zhou Enlai and Lao She are always honest with each other. When he hosted a banquet for a Korean friend, Lao She was so drunk that he was unconscious. When Zhou Enlai found out, he criticized him rudely. As soon as Lao She got home, he said to his wife, "I got a good criticism today." Since then, Lao She has never been drunk. Of course, there are also times when Lao She "will" Zhou Enlai. At a meeting of the National People’s Congress, Lao She took the stage and spoke bluntly, saying that too many meetings were a disaster, which squeezed the writing time and asked him to be relieved of his social part-time job, so that he could calm down and write more scripts. Zhou Enlai later said at a meeting of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference: "Comrade Lao She once gave me an army at the National People’s Congress and asked him to arrange some time for business. We should take care of these comrades and don’t be too nervous. "
Zhou Enlai’s association with Lao She is also reflected in his meticulous care in life. Zhou Enlai frequented Lao She’s residence "Dan Persimmon Yard" to talk about creation and life with him. One afternoon in 1959, Zhou Enlai just arrived at Lao She’s yard and asked Lao She’s wife Hu? Qing: "How is Mr. Lao She recently?" Danghu? When Qing told Zhou Enlai that she had suffered from a severe bronchitis the other day, Zhou Enlai immediately asked her to talk about the situation in detail and asked, "Has Lao She been in the hospital? Are you cured now? ….. "After hearing hu? After Qing’s answer, Zhou Enlai said, "I’m going to criticize you now. Why didn’t you report this to me?" Hu? Qing embarrassedly admitted that she didn’t think of it. Zhou Enlai then said very seriously: "In the future, no matter what illness the old man is willing to give up, you should report to me immediately." Then, Zhou Enlai walked into the room and talked with Lao She. Both of them are talkative people, and Lao She is full of anecdotes, which is playful and funny. On that day, they seemed to have endless words, and they were still in the mood at dinner.
After a while, Zhou Enlai shouted Hu? Green’s name, crying hungry, went down to the kitchen to find food in person. Lao She and his wife had long wanted to invite Zhou Enlai to dinner, but they were unprepared at the moment and couldn’t come up with anything to entertain them. Now they are embarrassed to see Zhou Enlai looking for food. When Zhou Enlai saw this situation, he quickly said, "You don’t have to prepare specially. I will eat whatever you eat." Say that finish, he continued to talk with Lao She. Not long after, Hu? Qing hurriedly served a plate of scrambled eggs and a plate of dried fish. Zhou Enlai was happy at first sight and smiled at Hu? Qing said, "Like Xiao Chao, you are an intellectual and you are not good at cooking."
Zhou Enlai’s meticulous care and help made Lao She deeply moved and turned it into a driving force for progress. From the founding of New China to the outbreak of the "Cultural Revolution", Lao She achieved fruitful results in his creation and made gratifying achievements in publishing 21 plays. Among them, Camel Xiangzi, Teahouse and Longxugou are famous in China’s modern literary world for their unique features and high artistic value.
Sad memory, friendship lasts forever
As Lao She eulogized the Communist Party of China (CPC) heartily, eulogized the people’s new life and prepared to contribute more spiritual food to the people, a sudden storm swept through and threw him into the abyss.
In the first few months of the "Cultural Revolution", Lao She was dragged by the Red Guards to attend one criticism meeting after another. He was charged with "reaction" and advocated the restoration of capitalism …
About August 24, 1966, Lao She couldn’t bear the inhuman insult and torture, so he threw himself into the lake in anger and fought to death. When Lao She was insulted by her personality and was extremely indignant, Zhou Enlai was the first thing that came to mind. The only sentence he left was "The Prime Minister knows me best, and the Prime Minister knows me best …"
Unfortunately, at this time, Zhou Enlai was busy coping with and dealing with all kinds of thorny problems brought about by this "storm" that even he didn’t expect, and he was unable to stop the tragedy.
When Zhou Enlai learned the news of Lao She’s disappearance, he was worried and sent someone to look around. Zhou Enlai was shocked and indignant when he learned the bad news of Lao She’s death. He once stamped his feet in front of the staff around him and said, "How can I explain to the society after getting Mr. Lao She to this place?" He immediately instructed the relevant departments to investigate. However, what Zhou Enlai has done is too late after all. Lao She has thrown himself into Taiping Lake in the northern suburbs with full of doubts and anger. Zhou Enlai cone heart to cry, shock, guilt, regret, indignation … all coming to him, he can’t help but ponder: Why? Why?
After Lao She’s accident, Zhou Enlai immediately worried about Lao She’s wife Hu? Green’s mood and safety. He asked Wang Kunlun, vice mayor of Beijing, to visit Hu on his behalf. Green, and ask Wang Kunlun to learn more about Hu? Green’s situation.
In the days to come, every once in a while, Hu? The imprisonment around Qing was removed. The first thing to unfreeze is Lao She’s contribution deposit. The bank was ordered to inform Hu? Qing said that the money can be freely controlled by her and her children. Hu? Green know, it is Zhou Enlai that giant hand in quietly moving all this, do both clever and expressionless. She was moved to tears.
In the next few years, the situation became even more difficult to control. Zhou Enlai was always in trouble, and it was too late to rehabilitate Lao She. However, he tried his best to break through all kinds of obstacles and protect a large number of outstanding talents on the literary and art front.
In the late period of the "Cultural Revolution", when Zhou Enlai was seriously ill and admitted to the hospital for treatment, he never forgot his old friend. He chose the anniversary of Lao She’s death, that is, August 24th, and came to Beihai Lake with a heavy heart to solemnly mourn the soul of Lao She.
Zhou Enlai looked at the clear water in front of him with a dignified look, lost in thought, and bowed his head for a long time. Suddenly, he asked the medical staff accompanying him for a walk by the lake, "Do you know what day it is today?" The medical staff replied that they didn’t know.
Zhou Enlai looked serious and lamented in a low voice for a long time: "Today is the memorial day of Mr. Lao She!" After a little hesitation, Zhou Enlai asked again, "Do you know how he died?" The medical staff replied: "I have heard about it, but I don’t know …"
"I know!" Zhou Enlai said firmly, "I’ll tell you in detail." ……
During the long silence, Zhou Enlai lamented the loss of an excellent people’s artist in New China, or was he deeply saddened by his failure to fulfill his responsibility of protection? These ingredients seem to be there, but, "one thing seems to be certain, his thoughts have flown back to his old friend Laoshe (in Shu Yi, the son of Lao She)."
On June 3rd, 1978, two and a half years after Zhou Enlai’s death, friends from the literary and art circles in Beijing and the whole country held a grand symbolic ceremony for Lao She to lay her ashes. Mao Dun, chairman of the Chinese Writers Association, said in his eulogy: "Mr. Lao She is a famous patriotic writer … His works have been warmly welcomed and loved by the people and enjoyed a high reputation at home and abroad." Ba Jin, a famous novelist, published an article in the newspaper, praising Lao She as a model of China intellectuals. Ba Jin said: "I am really ashamed of not being able to save him, and I am ashamed of my generation."
That day, Deng Yingchao came very early. She held Hu? Green’s hand, the first sentence is: "If En Lai is still alive, he will come first today!" " Deng Yingchao also said: "The Prime Minister often mentioned Lao She’s name before his death, and he missed Lao She very much. ….. I also came here in advance on purpose today, in order to attend Lao She’s memorial service on behalf of En, and to salute him. " (An Yuying Meng Hong)
Editor: Fan Jing
