The Path of Wisdom — A Generation of Philosophers, Ai Siqi

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X. Deep Affection for Nie Er
When Ai Siqi organized a drama troupe performance at No. 1 High School, he invited Nie Er's band to play music before the show. The pieces performed were Chinese folk music, such as "Plum Blossom in Three Parts," "Little Peach Blossom," and "Autumn Sorrow," among others. These performances enhanced and energized the atmosphere of the theater.
Shared Musical Interests Nie Er, originally named Nie Shouxin, was from Yuxi, Yunnan, and came from a poor family. Born in 1912, he was two years younger than Ai Siqi. Between 1925 and 1928, Nie Er studied at the Joint Middle School and the Advanced Department of Yunnan Provincial Normal School in Kunming. From a young age, he had a deep love for music. In primary school, he learned to play the flute under a carpenter teacher. Later, he studied the erhu, sanxian, and yueqin with a music teacher from a neighbor's elementary school. In high school, he organized a small band, playing various instruments himself while also serving as the band director. He was also elected president of the student self-governing association. Through social activities, Ai Siqi and Nie Er met and gradually became close friends. Ai Siqi also loved music and encouraged Nie Er to pursue his passion. Knowing Nie Er's family was poor, Ai Siqi used his birthday money to buy a flute for him as a gift. Ai Siqi's uncle, Li Riquan, had a accordion, and he took Nie Er to his uncle's house to practice playing it. In his free time, Ai Siqi and Nie Er often gathered to play ball, swim, and perform together. Nie Er frequently invited Ai Siqi and other music-loving classmates to his home for small concerts, performing pieces like "Zhaojun Crossing the Desert" and "Su Wu Herding Sheep."
Inspiration for Nie Er Seeing that Nie Er also loved reading, Ai Siqi often lent him popular books and magazines of the time, such as Student Magazine, Oriental Magazine, Novel World, World Weekly, Lu Xun's Wild Grass, The Wandering, and The Call. Sometimes, Ai Siqi would share with Nie Er the basics of Marxist theory and instill in him the ideas of anti-imperialist and anti-feudal democratic revolution. Once, Ai Siqi earnestly advised Nie Er, "I suggest you compose some music that can inspire people. Write your own compositions instead of just playing other people's tunes." These words had a great impact on Nie Er. When Ai Siqi returned to Kunming from Japan in 1928, he provided Nie Er with some books, including biographies of world composers, and brought him famous musical pieces like "The Internationale," "The Marseillaise," and "Volga Boatman's Song." Ai Siqi translated these from Japanese to Chinese, and Nie Er taught them to others. These moving songs quickly spread among friends and were popularized in Kunming.
Interactions in Shanghai Later, Nie Er moved to Shanghai, and so did Ai Siqi. Nie Er's uncle, Zheng Yili, was a classmate and friend of Ai Siqi in Japan, and through him, they established contact in Shanghai. They often exchanged ideas and information, encouraging each other. Nie Er was exceptionally diligent in Shanghai. To create "The Song of the Open Road," he spent days and nights experiencing life among the workers at the Waibaidu Pier. He rented a small apartment near Xifeng Road, where he composed music or practiced the violin and piano after work. His meager salary from working at the Mingyue Dance Troupe and Lianhua Film Company barely covered rent and piano rental, leaving him with little money and financial difficulties. Ai Siqi often helped Nie Er financially. Nie Er composed many inspiring revolutionary songs like "The Song of the Open Road" and "March of the Volunteers," and Ai Siqi was delighted. He often hummed the tunes Nie Er composed. When Nie Er tragically died abroad, Ai Siqi was deeply grieved. He took a photograph next to Nie Er's portrait as a way to mourn him. After the liberation, Ai Siqi often spoke of Nie Er to us, but he never mentioned their friendship. He only expressed deep sorrow for Nie Er's untimely death. Whenever he talked about Nie Er, his grief was evident in his words.