Fanny's smile

Author: Wang Zhebin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-03-01
Features: This novel is based on a real-life story. In July 1931, twelve Chinese students enrolled at the Vienna Police Academy. The daughter of the academy's commander, Fanny, fell in love at first sight with one of the students, Ma Yunlong. They made a promise to each other, vowing to be inseparable, life and death, forever. Later, Fanny traveled far and wide and came to Ma Yunlong's hometown—a small mountain village surrounded by rivers. They endured the hardships of war, the struggles of life, and the trials of political movements together. Over the years, Fanny transformed from a beautiful Viennese girl into a true Chinese farmer's wife. They relied on each other and walked through half a century. In 1990, Dr. Susan, a woman who had traveled from Vienna specifically to find Fanny, came to this remote village and asked Fanny to return to Vienna with her. By then, Fanny was already in her advanced years. She led Susan to Ma Yunlong's grave. She had originally thought that one's roots were in their homeland, but now she realized that a person's roots might not be in any place but in a person themselves. She chose to stay there, to sleep in the same grave as Ma Yunlong.
Background of the Story: An Austrian woman with blonde hair and blue eyes married into China and rooted herself in Chinese soil for 56 years, spending over 40 of those years in Huchang Village, Shanglu Township, Dongyang. Her name is Gertrude Wagner, and her Chinese name is Hua Ziping. Throughout her life journey of more than half a century, though she encountered many storms and twists and turns, Ms. Hua Ziping loved her husband with unwavering devotion. Upon her return from a visit to Austria, her first act upon arriving back in Huchang Village was to go to her husband's grave, offering a bouquet of white silk flowers and lighting candles she had specially brought back from Vienna. She called out with deep emotion, "Chengrong, I'm back!" This daughter of a well-educated Vienna police officer met and fell in love with Mr. Du Chengrong, who was studying in Austria on a government scholarship, in 1933. In early 1935, she came to China alone and married the Du who had returned earlier. After that, she followed her husband as he moved from place to place, enduring the hardships of war and displacement. In 1949, Du Chengrong returned to his hometown in rural Dongyang, and Hua Ziping began her life as a rural housewife. With her husband's tender care and the help of her neighbors, she learned to raise chickens, pigs, and rabbits, mastering many farming skills. Though life was hard, her bond with her husband remained strong—never a fight, always mutual respect and support. During the difficult period in the early 1960s, Hua Ziping's mother and brothers in Austria sent her money to return home, but she stayed for her husband and children. Although her three younger brothers repeatedly urged her to settle in Austria, and her husband had already passed away, after spending about 100 days in Vienna, Hua Ziping still returned to rural Dongyang. When asked, "Why didn't you stay in Vienna?" she replied, "China is where I have my home, my husband's grave, and my children are waiting for me. I have to go back." In the country that refused to give her much warmth, she carried the vow she had made back then.
In July 1931, twelve Chinese students enrolled at the Vienna Police Academy. The daughter of the academy's commander, Fanny, fell in love at first sight with one of the students, Ma Yunlong. They made a promise to each other, vowing to be inseparable, life and death, forever.