In her dreams many nights, Ms. Chen would return to the colorful social scene of Shanghai, where she was once the queen.
At that time, she was not Ms. Chen, but Miss Chen. Her Chinese name was Chen Mingzhu, the pearl of the Chen family and also a shining pearl in Shanghai.
Her girlhood was so brilliant.
At that time, her mother was the most famous lady in Shanghai, her father held an important position in the government, and she was very close to her brothers and sisters.
At that time, they were still a family.
Chen Baozhu's life was so happy.
Except for that little flaw.
All the outstanding men in Shanghai felt sorry for her, wondering why her family arranged such an old-fashioned marriage for her. Yes, she was sent to a boarding school for girls in the United States when she was young, and received the most open Western education. Why did she have such an old-fashioned marriage
After she returned to China, she was so disgusted with this marriage that she repeatedly blamed her late grandfather in her heart for arranging a marriage for her. At that time, Chen Baozhu actually saw not only the decline of the Rong family, but also the old-fashioned family with a gloomy atmosphere. The seventeen-year-old Rong Yang was not as elegant and calm as he would be in the future, but more like a young skeleton born from an old-fashioned and decadent family. Through his thin and hard skull, Chen Baozhu seemed to see herself being dragged into the mire and unable to escape.
Such an ill-matched marriage.
These two people are in heaven and on earth.
How can they be husband and wife
At that time, Rong Yang longed for her like a suffocating person longing for a breath of fresh air.
Young Rong Yang even used his family's last financial resources to apply to the Commerce Bureau for a ridiculously simple cosmetics brand - Siqing.
Chen Baozhu saw this sincere desire, but she didn't take it to heart.
At that time, many talented, handsome and well-born men offered their true hearts to her, which was easily within her reach, but she did not take it to heart.
At that time, she was so shining, who would not like her, who could not like her
Her favorite novel, "A Doll's House", says that for the sake of her marriage and her future happiness, she should fight for her own marriage and happiness just like Nora resisted the patriarchal society.
What's more, there are so many people supporting her.
Chen Baozhu had made many preparations to cancel the engagement, but it was surprisingly easy. Rong Yang didn't even feel awkward and directly agreed to her request. They were the first engaged couple in Shanghai to jointly declare a friendly cancellation of the engagement. Unlike the ugly divorce of the great poet a few years later, the cancellation of her engagement with Rong Yang, although it was also a sensation, was a good gesture for both of them and was regarded as a role model for the time.
When Rong Yang left Shanghai, he asked her out for a date, but she was unwilling. She was so fashionable, wearing clothes designed by French designers and using cosmetics from European brands, but what about Rong Yang? He was as gloomy as the moss on the corner of the wall that had not seen the sun for a long time, but his eyes were frighteningly bright. He was silent and dull, and he was doing a ridiculous and money-losing cosmetics business.
If it weren't for her courtesy towards her ex-fiancé, Chen Baozhu would not have gone to the appointment. Her high-heeled leather shoes and western-style dress were so incompatible with the old Chinese teahouse that Rong Yang had arranged to meet her. Rong Yang didn't say anything else, he just said a few words, but these few words became the annotation of her later life.
Rong Yang's voice was always clear, but Chen Baozhu at that time could not understand him. Because he said, "Miss Chen, what is a socialite? It is family background, origin, education, talent, and beauty. Only one of them can be missing to be a socialite."
"Like this pot of purple peony, planted in a bamboo pot and earthenware pot, it will wither in this lonely bamboo building. If it is replaced with a high-quality official kiln porcelain container and placed in a tall building, it will naturally bloom in its best season if it is carefully nurtured every day. Even if the flower season is over, as long as someone takes good care of it, there will still be another flower season next year. A socialite is like a famous flower, Miss Chen, I am leaving Shanghai. I once loved you so much, and I really hope that you can have a life of everlasting flowers. I wish you find your good match."
If Rong Yang hadn't been talking about peonies, Chen Baozhu might not have noticed the small pot of peonies on the windowsill of the bamboo building. Wei Zi is a famous peony, and it should be gorgeous. But this pot, the branches are thin and the flowers are dull, really don't catch Chen Baozhu's eye. Not to mention Rong Yang's incomprehensible words, and what "good match" is there? Nowadays, it's all modern marriage, Rong Yang is still living in the old days of "good match", no wonder the Rong family is in decline now.
Rong Yang left quietly.
The social scene in Shanghai is still the home turf of socialites, and her famous peony, which is in its most splendid blooming period, must find a home for itself.
Chen Baozhu is not a noble person. A noble person cannot be a socialite. She does not mind marrying the best person in her best years. Who would mind such a good thing
Marry the best person at the best age of your life and move from one peak to another.
At that time, she firmly believed that this was how her life would be.
But in fact, whether it is a pottery basin or a precious porcelain, the fate is no different after falling to the ground.
Her fall began with her calm return to Shanghai.
She could hardly believe her eyes. In just a few years, Rong Yang returned home from overseas with wealth and success. He had such a demeanor, such a look, such a temperament, and was so successful. Rong Yang was a new rich man in Shanghai, and the husband she chose for herself, no, even her family and her husband's family were polite to Rong Yang now.
Without anyone whispering, she already knew the reality she would face in social situations.
She was blind.
A socialite who has lost her sight is no longer a socialite, but a laughing stock.
Rong Yang's glory is her loneliness, not to mention that Rong Yang's demeanor is first-class, far better than her past and present.
Many people would attribute the defeat of her family to Rong Yang's revenge, but Chen Baozhu knew that was not the case. A socialite is not a vase, Chen Baozhu knew that it was just normal political struggle and fighting. It was just that her family was defeated.
What is a good match
When Chen Baozhu put on her wedding dress, she was absolutely convinced that she had found her life partner. Perhaps, people like them are born with masks. However, her misfortune in marriage was greatly forgiven by her family, which was her life comfort for a long time.
But life is so long, who can know the calculations behind this consolation
Just like she once thought she was the jewel of the Chen family, she once thought her parents loved her more than her brothers and sisters? Confucius once said, "When the granaries are full, people know etiquette; when they have enough food and clothing, they know honor and disgrace." In fact, there is another thing, "When there is enough money, there will be friendship." Many friendships that were once mistakenly thought to be priceless are actually priced. Many faces that you think are pure and warm are just because they have not yet revealed the sharp teeth under the smile.
When a family fails, they must seek to make a comeback.
The little family heritage she had left was a tool, the dowry she got back in the divorce was a tool, and even she was a tool.
She thought Rong Yang liked Peony. After the Chen family moved to Beijing, Rong Yang flew to Beijing again and again. Her family had high hopes for her, but Rong Yang's current methods were no longer comparable to those of ordinary people. He was no longer the thin and hard boy. His bright and sharp eyes were now as clear as warm water. She had been to Rong Yang's residence in Beijing. The exquisite courtyard was as antique as the Rong family mansion in the past.
However, there was not a single peony in the courtyard, but plum blossoms were planted in front of and behind the house. She said casually, "The climate in Beijing is not as warm as that in the south of the Yangtze River. How can plum blossoms survive outdoors?"
Rong Yang didn't care. "There are flower growers taking care of it. They will build a greenhouse in the winter. It's not a big deal."
She smiled and said, "Mr. Rong is so meticulous about flowers."
Rong Yang said casually, "It's just some flowers and trees, nothing fancy."
Just some flowers and trees.
She was shocked, and finally understood Rong Yang's words that "famous ladies are like famous flowers". No matter how beautiful a flower is, it is just a pot of flowers. Or, in the eyes of those who admire them, famous ladies like them are just pots of flowers. Today they like peonies, but tomorrow they may prefer winter plums. They bloom like that, and all they want is a compliment from the flower-viewing people. But her pot of flowers has already faded and withered.
The author has something to say: ps: Good night!