Eileen Chang and Hu Lan Cheng

Author: Wang Yixin
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2001-09-01
Features: Hu Lan Cheng showed his thesis to Zhang Ai Ling, who said, "This is so systematic, it would be better to disband." Hu Lan Cheng accepted it and further explained, "To command all things like an army, it is better to let all things shed their armor and return to their fields, with joy along the way." I also hope this book can have such scenery. Hu Lan Cheng's lack of loyalty in love deeply hurt Zhang Ai Ling's spirit, leading to accusations from those who pitied Zhang Ai Ling. I often ask myself such questions while writing: If Hu Lan Cheng had only loved Zhang Ai Ling, meaning Zhang Ai Ling was the last in Hu Lan Cheng's love life, what would have happened? With Zhang Ai Ling's standards of judgment and love, she would likely have followed Hu Lan Cheng to the very end. At that time, whether Zhang Ai Ling was a "cultural collaborator" would no longer be controversial and would be settled as a fact! Even if she were not pursued by the government for obstructing justice, the public criticism she would face would be unbearable. So we should be grateful for Zhang Ai Ling. Although history cannot be rewritten, sometimes imagining alternatives can cool one's temper. After writing this book, I often think of a common saying: "If a man isn't bad, a woman won't love him." This saying is indeed vulgar but can be interpreted in many ways. Women probably wouldn't be foolish enough to love a man only if he was bad. The original intent of the saying likely wasn't that she loved his bad traits alone. As for Zhang Ai Ling and Hu Lan Cheng, even though he was bad, she still couldn't help but love him, with love mixed with hatred, yet still love despite the hatred. The fickle nature of fate is evident in this.