Visit Mao Dun’s former residence on Reading Day
? In China, everyone who likes literature knows the literary giant Mr. Mao Dun. Even if some people have not read Mao Dun's works, they know that there is an award in China called the "Mao Dun Literature Award." This award was established based on Mr. Mao Dun’s last wish and donated his 250,000 royalties. It is the highest literary award for Chinese novels. Lu Yao's "Ordinary World", Chen Zhongshi's "White Deer Plain", Alai's "The Dust Has Settled", Liang Xiaosheng's "Human World" and other famous works have received this award. It can be said that Mr. Mao Dun has made great contributions to China's literary cause.
With great admiration for Mr. Mao Dun, I decided to visit Mao Dun’s former residence in Beijing early on Saturday morning. I was still very excited. I remember that when I was in school, I learned Mr. Mao Dun's prose "Praise to the Poplars" in class, which praised the tenacity and hard-working farmers through the poplar trees that "stand tall, unyielding, and resist the northwest wind." Having studied the writer's life, I know that Mao Dun is a pen name, but his real name is Shen Yanbing, a Zhejiang native who graduated from Peking University. Two years ago, I read Mao Dun's novel "Lin's Shop" and was moved by the twists and turns of the fate of Boss Lin, a small businessman in turbulent times. Among them, the writer's vivid description of Miss Lin, "There was a hint of smile in her tears," has left a deep impression on me to this day. It is a pity that I have never read Mao Dun's masterpieces "Midnight" and "Spring Silkworms". I decided to buy a set of books from his former residence and bring them back. If I read them carefully, I will definitely feel different from the books I bought elsewhere.
? Mao Dun’s former residence is in Houyuanensi Hutong, Dongcheng District, Beijing. Anyone familiar with Beijing knows that there are many courtyard houses in this area. If you walk around casually, you can see many royal palaces and Baylor Mansion left over from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Even though some corner doors look small, looking through the cracks in the door, you can see that there are pavilions and pavilions in the courtyard. This is definitely not a large courtyard where ordinary people live. This area is a place where dignitaries and wealthy businessmen are concentrated. As you can see from the map, Zhang Zhidong, Chiang Kai-shek, and Qi Baishi all had their former residences here. The west side of the alley is connected to the famous Nanluogu Alley, and not far away is Houhai, a famous bar area where you can go boating on the water and enjoy singing and dancing all around. The houses in Houyuan'en Temple Hutong are places where you can find peace and quiet in the bustling metropolis.
? The gate of Mao Dun’s former residence is not eye-catching, neither tall nor big nor wide. From a distance, it looks like the gate of ordinary people’s homes. The shape of the door is a typical Ruyi door in Beijing folk houses. The two painted red doors seem to have been freshly painted, and the shine is noticeable. Placed on both sides of the door are not the common stone drums and stone lions, but two square door pillow stones. On the left side of the gate is a slate sign with black characters on a white background, engraved with the words "Beijing Cultural Relics Protection Unit-Mao Dun's Former Residence". On the right wall is a four-corner carved bronze plaque with Chinese and English words on it. The content is: "Mr. Mao Dun lived here from 1974 to 1981. Mao Dun's original name was Shen Dehong, whose courtesy name was Yan Bing. He was a native of Tongxiang, Zhejiang, and a famous modern writer. His former residence is a second-in courtyard, and the "Former Residence of Mao Dun" is written on the screen wall. The four characters are on the plaque inscribed by Deng Yingchao. The west wing of the front yard is the living room and library, the east wing is the dining room, and the backyard is Mr. Mao Dun's studio and bedroom. "
? It says on the door, with a ticket. visit. There was a window next to the gate that was the ticket office. I hurriedly walked over, only to find that the window was closed and there was no one on duty inside. Returning to the gate, I tried to push it in, but found that the gate was bolted on the inside. Knocking a few times with my hand, I saw a figure moving in the crack of the door, and a cold voice came from inside: "Due to the epidemic, the museum is closed. Look at the announcement posted at the door." Only then did he realize that there was a white paper written on the side of the door. However, due to the epidemic, the former residence was temporarily closed in November last year. My heart suddenly felt cold.
? Just as I was about to turn around and leave with disappointment, an old man pushing a bicycle came over, glanced at me, and asked, "Are you here to visit the former residence?" I nodded in agreement. The uncle came to the door of his former residence, stretched out his hand, and knocked on the door several times, but the impatient voice still came from inside. The uncle said loudly: "Open the door. People will come all the way and ask them to take a picture of the words on the screen wall before leaving." The door was opened inside, and I suddenly felt a light in my heart.
Between the two doors, a head wearing a security hat appeared. He looked the old man up and down, and said in a sinister tone: "Who are you? It's closed. If it doesn't work, it won't work!" After saying that, the door was closed completely with a "bang".
The old man turned around and smiled at me and said, "Let's go, come back after a while." I said thank you and turned around. The old gentleman pushed his bicycle forward with me.
? "Our family and Mao Dun are neighbors in an alley. Mr. Mao Dun has a good temper. He has served as Minister of Culture and Chairman of the Writers' Association, but he has no airs. I often came to his house when I was young. I even played chess with him every time I came here. His calligraphy is very good. I still have two calligraphy paintings he gave me at home. By the way, you know how Mao Dun got his pen name. "Yes?" The uncle stopped and asked me. I shook my head. The uncle continued: "This pen name was changed for him by Mr. Ye Shengtao. When Mao Dun wrote the novel "Disillusionment", he used the pen name "Conflict" to submit it. Mr. Ye Shengtao happened to be the editor of that publication. He thought the novel was very well written. Okay, but the author's name was Conflict, which was too sharp and not suitable for the environment at that time, so he changed it to Mao Dun on his own initiative. "The uncle was very familiar with my husband's past and explained it to me with great emotion as he walked. Unfortunately, This Hutong Ensi Alley is indeed too short. At the entrance of the alley, the uncle said he still had something to do, so he got on his bicycle and turned away, leaving only me who was still unfinished and reluctant to leave.
? The visit to the former residence was unsuccessful, so I will come back another day, hoping to meet the uncle again.
? Next to the alley, there is a bookstore called "Niche Study". On the dazzling bookshelf, I saw "Midnight" by Mr. Mao Dun. On the black back cover are comments from several famous writers. Yu Dafu said, "Mao Dun has been engaged in writing for a long time. However, he has a profound knowledge of the world, so he never forgets society. His thoughtful observation and clear analysis are among the best in modern prose. The most common way of writing... If China wants to make social progress and make articles relevant to real life, it will be better to add prose like Mao Dun's..."