The first wife of Xu Zhimo, Zhang Youyi

Author: Ding Yanzhao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: There is a kind of woman like this, she is not beautiful, and she has already left us, but people have not forgotten her, because she is so strong, brave, and tolerant, self-respecting, self-reliant, and self-improving, and has created a wonderful career. Also, because she was once the wife of a celebrity, she received much attention from the media and the world. Zhang Youyi is such a woman. It briefly records the kind, lonely life of Zhang Youyi, the first wife of the famous poet Xu Zhimo. The author interviewed Zhang Youyi's relatives and friends on the mainland and disclosed some previously unknown first-hand materials. Zhang Youyi came from a prominent family, with both beauty and wisdom. In 1915, she married Xu Zhimo at her hometown in Jiaxing, Zhejiang, as arranged by her parents. The following year after the marriage, Xu Zhimo went abroad to study. The Xu family was a wealthy merchant family in Jiangnan, and the well-educated Zhang Youyi dutifully served her in-laws and helped her father manage the family finances. From before the marriage to after the marriage, Xu Zhimo despised Zhang Youyi so much. The first time he saw a photo of her, he lowered his mouth with disdain and said in a disdainful tone, "A rustic country bumpkin!" He never looked at Zhang Youyi directly after the marriage. In winter 1920, Zhang Youyi went abroad to reunite with her husband. Soon after, Zhang Youyi became pregnant, but at that time, Xu Zhimo was obsessively chasing Lin Huiyin and had no time for her. Upon hearing the news, he said, "Abort the child." Xu wanted to divorce immediately, but when Zhang refused, he simply left. In desperation, Zhang Youyi wrote to her second brother, Zhang Junli, for help, came to Paris, and later went to Berlin, where she gave birth to her child. Only when processing the divorce papers did she find herself in Berlin. After giving birth, Zhang Youyi quickly recovered from her grief and enrolled in Pestalozzi College, specializing in early childhood education. Upon returning to China, she founded Yun Chang Company and led the Women's Savings Bank, both of which were successful. She finally became a new woman who attracted attention.