Huang Yongyu Chronology

Author: Wang Huailin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: In 1937 (the 26th year of the Republic of China, Dingchou), at the age of 13, Huang Yongyu followed his relatives to Changsha, the provincial capital, to join his father, Huang Yushu. This decision was mainly made out of consideration for Huang Yongyu's continued studies, and secondly, due to financial difficulties. Before leaving, Huang Yongyu kowtowed to his elderly grandmother and bid farewell. His grandmother said she would not die until he returned, but little did she know it would be their last meeting! The journey began from Bai Fenghuang, passing through Geshengying (his grandmother's home) to Qianzhou, then via Yuanling and Changde, taking four days and nights to reach Changsha. Upon reunion, Huang Yushu was filled with sorrow upon hearing about the family's situation. During his stay, his father took him to visit Yuefu Academy several times. This renowned cultural sanctuary ignited a mysterious reverence in the young Huang Yongyu's heart. Later, during his years of wandering and drifting, the elegant courtyards and corridors of Yuefu Academy brought him much solace and inspiration. In summer, Huang Yushu received a letter from his, Huang Yuxi (styled Cunsheng), from Xuancheng, Anhui, informing him that he would return to Jimei School in Xiamen to take up a position. Huang Yuxi had graduated from Peking University, majoring in agriculture, and had previously worked at Jimei School but left due to factional struggles within the school. He had since taken a teaching position at a school in Xuancheng, Anhui, as an English teacher. Upon learning that Huang Yuxi had turned his fortunes around and would return to Jimei School as the of the board of directors, Huang Yushu considered entrusting his son to him. In late summer, Huang Yongyu accompanied his father to Wuhu, Anhui, where he met his, Huang Yuxi, and his, Huang Yugu. A few days later, Huang Yongyu set off for Xiamen with his. The separation of brothers and the parting of father and son led to a group photo being taken of the four of them. However, Huang Yongyu had no idea that this would also be his last meeting with his father! In September, Huang Yongyu entered the first grade of junior high at Jimei School in Xiamen. Jimei School was founded by the patriotic overseas Chinese Mr. Tan Kah Kee and implemented modern education, primarily recruiting students through examinations from Fujian and other provinces, though many overseas Chinese students also attended. The school had advanced facilities, a rich library, and a strong faculty, making it truly one of the best in China at the time. Tan Kah Kee "invited renowned scholars and experts to teach there with the highest honors, providing them with garden residences and even cemeteries" (Huang Yongyu, "Honey Tears"). Upon enrollment, Huang Yongyu wore a brand-new school uniform and took a photograph, sending it to his mother and younger brothers in the hometown. On the back of the photo, he wrote: "If there is water in the picture, don’t touch it, or it will be ruined." At Jimei School, apart from art, Huang Yongyu had little interest in other subjects. The content of the Chinese textbook had been mostly covered in primary school, and subjects like mathematics, physics, chemistry, and English required too much mental effort to memorize, which he believed would be useless in the future. After enrollment, his art teacher was Guo Yinglin. Guo had graduated from the Paris Academy of Fine Arts and was skilled in oil painting. "He could paint both figures and landscapes. I respected him because I didn’t understand oil painting, and most of the foreign painters he mentioned were unfamiliar to me. He had originally graduated from Jimei School before going to Paris. His speech had a strong accent, and he wore a stylish outfit. Following him to the art museum, walking through the shaded paths of curry trees and silk trees, I felt quite proud. The corridors were hung with large oil paintings he had copied from Paris, framed in gold" (Huang Yongyu, "Notes on Simple Matters"). In December, Huang Yushu coincidentally met his, Shen Congwen, in Changsha. Shen was then employed at Peking University and had already gained considerable fame in literary circles, while Huang, still in the military, was just an ordinary military aide, struggling with his career and fate. His demeanor seemed somewhat despondent, having lost his past and unrestrained nature, though his large, bright, and spirited eyes still remained. Inviting him to have a meal at the famous Li Hesheng in Changsha, Huang Yushu learned that he no longer drank alcohol. When asked if he still smoked, Shen replied, "I no longer smoke by choice, but I can easily break the habit if I want to." However, Huang noticed his fingers were yellow, indicating he could easily resume smoking. Shen had once been fond of smoking and knew a great deal about different types of cigarettes. On his second visit, he brought two large boxes of Luzong cigar tobacco from fellow townspeople to give to Shen. When Shen saw them, his weary and yellowed face showed rare joy and surprise, but he only shook his head, whispering softly, "Brother, brother, this is too generous of you. Just recently, I saw someone give the headmaster such two boxes, and even American generals couldn’t afford them!" Reflecting on their old days together a decade earlier, everything seemed like yesterday yet also like a distant memory. They fell into a moment of silence, then burst into laughter again (Shen Congwen, "The Skill of a Legend"). At that time, Huang Yongyu’s mother, Yang Guanghui, was teaching at a rural primary school in Wushu, Yuanling, with three children by her side. In winter, the flames of the Anti-Japanese War reached the coast of Fujian, and Jimei School moved inland to Anxi. Soon after, the original school buildings were destroyed by the war. P12-14