Cold night

Author: Ba Jin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-10-01
Features: Ba Jin can be said to be an expert in trilogy, he has written "Love Trilogy," "Torrent Trilogy," and "Revolution Trilogy." The monumental work "Fire" is also known as "War Trilogy" because it is divided into three volumes. Now his "Rest Garden," "Fourth Ward," and "Cold Night" are collectively known as "Human Trilogy." "Cold Night" is the climax of the trilogy, with a length of nearly 200,000 words. In "Cold Night," Ba Jin masterfully portrays human nature. The female protagonist is infatuated with the pursuit of her single-minded superior, abandoning her jealous mother-in-law, her weak and sick husband, and her son who resembles her husband, and leaves home; her husband earnestly pleads with her, but she refuses. The cold wind clears the withered leaves from the branches, and the blizzard of winter is about to arrive. However, when she accidentally encounters her husband, who is drunk and vomiting wildly on the street at night, she immediately rushes forward, avoiding the stench, takes him home, and cannot resist the pitiful eyes of her husband, returning again to that dim and cramped nest with a poor stove fire. Here, the cold winter snow suddenly scatters, revealing the brilliance and joy of early spring. But when the days of spitting blood continue, her mother-in-law's scorn and jealousy pierce her heart, and she finally leaves that home, following her pursuing superior to Lanzhou. On the day the male protagonist spits out the last mouthful of blood and dies, the sound of victory's "extra edition" is heard in the alley. The widowed mother laughs tears streaming down her face, shouting, "Xuan, you won't die! You won't die! Victory means no more deaths should occur!" How magnificent a stroke! Freeing himself from all conventions and formulas, he writes with a fresh perspective, depicting concrete life, the intertwining of good and evil, love and hatred, joy and sorrow. Ba Jin demonstrates extraordinary talent and a solemn artistic spirit in "Cold Night." He nods without speaking, signs in, and then heads towards the staircase. "You should take a day off, don't overwork yourself!" Elder Zhong said with concern. He stops at the staircase, turns around, smiles helplessly, and replies softly, "You know how much salary I can deduct!" "At a time like this, you're still worried about deductions! You still have to work yourself to death for the company! Do you know how many more days we can eat at the company!" Elder Zhong scolds somewhat agitatedly. "What can I do! Since we're eating the company's food," he replies tiredly. He wants to laugh but can't. "Eating the company's food? This isn't a iron rice bowl," Elder Zhong sneers. He is startled and quickly approaches Elder Zhong's desk, asking softly, "Did you hear any news?" "The Japanese have taken Guilin and Liuzhou, and they're advancing fiercely. I hear the general manager has said that if the enemy enters Guizhou, the company will move to Lanzhou, and he has already called to find housing there. If we really move to Lanzhou, everything will be ruined. People like us will just have to pack up and leave!" Elder Zhong complains again. "Is there really such a thing!" He stares blankly. Darkness fills his vision. He shakes his head tiredly, saying, "No, it can't be. It can't be." "It's possible. But they're the kind of people who can do anything. Take the company, for example: some people do nothing but take high salaries; like you, who works yourself to the bone, yet only earns a little—really, it's so little!" Before Elder Zhong finishes his sentence, Zhou Director strides in, and he quickly changes the subject, whispering to him, "Why is he here so early today!"