1. Your problem mainly lies in thinking too much and not reading enough.
2. Walk the path you choose, not the easy path, and you will find your true self.3. The most beautiful scenery in life is the calmness and composure within… We once so longed for external recognition, only to realize in the end: the world is our own, and has nothing to do with others.
4. Hopes will eventually come true, but the hope that comes true is always tainted. – *Six Chapters from My Life in the Cadre School*
5. Although man is insignificant and life is short, man can learn, man can cultivate himself, man can improve himself; man's value lies within himself.
6. The smiles of old friends are like the trees in the courtyard, growing thinner with each passing autumn wind.
– Yang Jiang, *Drinking Tea*
7. I caress the post road I have walked step by step, the whole way filled with the sorrow of parting.
– Yang Jiang, *We Three*
8. Fame may be useful to oneself while alive, but after death it can only be used by others.
9. He vowed, "From now on, we will only be separated by death, never by life." — *We Three*
10. I once had a little dream, blaming him for leaving suddenly without a word. Now he deliberately walks slowly, letting me see him off step by step, trying to spend as much time together as possible, stretching a small dream into a long, endless dream. I'm willing to do this. Seeing him off a bit, saying goodbye, means seeing him again. Does a prolonged separation increase or decrease the pain? I can't tell. But the farther I accompany him, the more I fear never seeing him again.
11. The best things in this world are not lasting; colorful clouds easily disperse, and glass is fragile.
12. My father said there's no right or wrong; just study what you like best. But I'm not at ease. Is it right to only ask what you like? I like literature, so I'll study literature? I love reading novels, so I'll study novels? My father said that what you like is what suits you best.
13. A person, through different degrees of training, gains different degrees of refinement and different degrees of benefit. Like spices, the more finely ground and crushed, the stronger the aroma. We once so longed for the ups and downs of fate, only to discover in the end that the most beautiful scenery in life is the tranquility and composure within our hearts… We once so yearned for external recognition, only to realize in the end that the world is our own, and has nothing to do with others!
14. The ways of the world and human relationships are more flavorful than the bright moon and gentle breeze; they can be read like a book, and watched like a play. The descriptions in books and the performances in plays, even if lifelike, are ultimately just works of art; human relationships and the ways of the world are innocent and natural expressions, often exceeding reason and logic, so novel that they are shocking and astonishing, giving people a deeper benefit and a more wonderful entertainment. Only those in humble positions have the best chance to see the truth of human relationships and the ways of the world, rather than artistic performances for an audience.
15. "I'm only afraid that people are not as easy to deal with as books. They will look down on you, bully you, or be jealous of you, or both..." — Yang Jiang, *Bathing*
16. I often wonder why some people, after receiving my father's help, are so grateful that they kowtow to my mother and never forget it. Why some people, after receiving over a thousand acres of good land with my father's help, still haven't forgotten the advantage they gained twenty years later; disregarding my father's old age, illness, and poverty, they still exploit his mental labor, and then express their gratitude with two glutinous rice balls. Why are there such great differences between people? — Yang Jiang, *Drinking Tea*
17. "If humans are sentient, conscience-driven animals, then a person's life is nothing more than knowing oneself, refining oneself, and consciously and willingly transforming oneself, unless one is willing to be no different from beasts. But how easy is that?" — Yang Jiang, *Bathing*
18. It is said that friendship is often built on mutual misunderstanding. Love is probably the same. —Yang Jiang, "Bathing"
19. Heaven doesn't concentrate all happiness on one person. Gaining love doesn't guarantee money, possessing money doesn't guarantee happiness, gaining happiness doesn't guarantee health, and possessing health doesn't guarantee everything will go as planned. —Yang Jiang, "Reflections at 100"
20. Those inside the city want to escape, while those outside want to rush in. Marriage, career—most of life's desires are like this. —Yang Jiang
21. He vowed, "From now on, we will only be separated by death, never by life." —Yang Jiang
22. My father said there's no right or wrong; just study what you like best. But I'm not at ease. Is it right to only ask what you like? I like literature, so I'll study literature? I love reading novels, so I'll study novels? My father said that what you like is what suits you best. —Yang Jiang, "Drinking Tea"
23. The ways of the world and human relationships are more flavorful than the bright moon and gentle breeze; they can be read like books, and watched like plays. The descriptions in books and the performances in plays, however lifelike, are ultimately just works of art; human relationships and the ways of the world are natural expressions of innocence, often exceeding reason and logic, surprising and astonishing, providing a deeper benefit and more wondrous entertainment. Only those in humble positions have the best chance to see the true nature of human relationships and the ways of the world, not artistic performances for an audience. —Yang Jiang, "Drinking Tea"
24. Only those in humble positions have the best chance to see the true nature of human relationships and the ways of the world. A person who does not aspire to high positions is not afraid of falling, nor does he need to engage in infighting or exclusion; he can preserve his innocence, be natural, and wholeheartedly accomplish what he can do. —Yang Jiang
25. Youth is playful, young adulthood is infatuated with love, middle age is eager for fame and fortune, and old age is content with self-deception. How long is human life? How much refined gold can be forged from stubborn iron? We once so longed for the ups and downs of fate, only to discover in the end that the most beautiful scenery in life is the tranquility and composure of the heart; we once so yearned for external recognition, only to realize in the end that the world is our own, and has nothing to do with others. —Yang Jiang, "Reflections at One Hundred"
26. Heaven will not concentrate all happiness on one person. Having love does not guarantee wealth; having wealth does not guarantee happiness; having happiness does not guarantee health; having health does not guarantee everything will go as planned. A contented and joyful mindset is the best way to temper the mind and purify the soul. All enjoyment of happiness belongs to the spirit; this kind of happiness transforms endurance into enjoyment, a victory of the spirit over matter. This is the philosophy of life. —Yang Jiang
27. Our family is very simple; the three of us are very simple. Therefore, we have no desires, no conflicts with others, only the desire to be together, to stay together, and to each do what we can. When we encounter difficulties, we share them, and the difficulties cease to be difficulties; we accompany and help each other, and even the most bitter and arduous things become sweet. Even the slightest joy becomes immense joy. —Yang Jiang, *We Three*
28. I am willing to be a "zero," even if others don't treat me like anything, I can see right through those who look down on me. —Yang Jiang
29. Yao Mi's eyes brightened, like lightning piercing through the dark clouds before the thunder even sounded. —Yang Jiang, *Bathing*
30. Sitting and studying all day, even our "worker masters" who are "re-educating" us are getting tired of it. One young "master," around twenty-two or twenty-three years old, muttered, "I used to work in front of the furnace every day refining steel and didn't feel tired, but now sitting all day, my buttocks hurt, my head hurts, and I feel uncomfortable all over." Clearly, refining people is more laborious than refining steel; "sitting on the sidelines" is also a form of hard work. —Yang Jiang, *Six Chapters from My Life in the Cadre School*
, 31. "I had no choice. I think this is just how it is. An ugly person might admit they are ugly, a stupid person might admit they are stupid, but who would admit they are bad? —I'm not referring to doing something wrong, I'm not referring to 'faults and mistakes,' I'm talking about 'bad' in the sense of 'inferior.' Everyone believes they are a good person! Despite having this or that shortcoming or mistake, they are essentially good people. Recognizing one's own shortcomings is a very painful process. I imagine that sages cultivate themselves diligently, starting only with this. Only when a person deliberately cultivates themselves and strives for goodness will they see their own shortcomings. Then, out of shame, they will repent. Repentance doesn't necessarily mean change. One must strive tirelessly to change for the better…" —Yang Jiang, *Bathing*
32. The soul, encased in flesh, is also vulnerable to the vicissitudes of life and cannot withstand setbacks. —Yang Jiang
33. I think of the eve of liberation, when many people fled abroad in panic. Why did we refuse to take several paths? Were we progressive in thought? Were we highly conscious? Mo Cun often quoted Liu Yong's poem: "My clothes grow looser, yet I have no regrets, for I am wasting away for her." We simply couldn't bear to leave our motherland, couldn't abandon "her"—that is, "us." Although the hundreds of millions of "us" are strangers, we are ultimately one, sharing joys and sorrows, inextricably linked, all an inseparable part of ourselves. —Yang Jiang, *Six Chapters from My Life in the Cadre School*
34. At first, I pretended to be strong, but later I truly became strong. —Yang Jiang
35. "Her conditions weren't demanding, just subtle. For example, she wanted her husband to be completely loyal, obedient, and to follow her every command. He couldn't be a good-for-nothing; at least, he had to be presentable and qualified. He couldn't be a talented man admired by others, nor could he be too young or too handsome; ideally, he should be someone most women wouldn't be interested in. He also had to be like a shrewd housewife's maid, preferably without any burdens or worries." —Yang Jiang, "Bathing"
36. "Our country is a weak nation burdened with national humiliation. We don't want to go abroad and be subservient to others, becoming second-class citizens." —Yang Jiang
37. "Unfortunately, what can be bound and protected with thick ropes are only heavy luggage like wooden or iron boxes; these wooden and iron boxes are indeed not as durable as flesh and blood." —Yang Jiang, "Six Chapters from My Life in the Cadre School"
38. "In a few days, it will be Mo Cun's sixtieth birthday (by the traditional Chinese age reckoning). We've agreed that we'll have a birthday noodle feast to celebrate." "If we wait until our seventieth birthday, I'm afraid it won't be our turn." —Yang Jiang, *Six Chapters from My Life in the
Cadre School* 39. Yancheng hurriedly said, "Luo Hou is a capable man, very promising. He's courageous, insightful, and extremely honest. I like him very much." Mrs. Yao said, "He's a bit wild, but he has his own ideas. He admires you so much! He doesn't want anyone to act as a matchmaker, always saying he wants to marry a rough woman who can fight him. Recently, after his aunt visited, I asked him if he had found a rough woman yet, and he said he wasn't looking anymore, and would ask Mr. Xu to find him a partner in the future." —Yang Jiang, *Bathing*
40. There's an old Chinese saying: "Handwriting is a treasure." People judge you based on your handwriting. In New China, "speaking" is a "treasure." People judge you based on your speech. —Yang Jiang, "Bathing"
41. I remember seeing passengers boarding small ferries on ocean-going ships, and those seeing them off would throw colorful paper ribbons at the small boats; as the small boats slowly sailed towards the larger ships, the colorful paper ribbons would snap one after another, and the people on the shore would clap and cheer. Some people even shed tears amidst the cheers; the snapping ribbons seemed like the snapping of parting emotions. If the parting emotions between the advance team on the train and the relatives seeing them off could be seen, they would certainly not be colorful, nor could they be snapped so easily. —Yang Jiang
, "Six Chapters from My Life in the Cadre School" 42. So-called poverty simply means not owning property and having to earn a living through one's own labor. Earning a living through one's own labor offers no security; one cannot afford to be sick or old, nor can one freely control one's time to do what one likes or is good at. —Yang Jiang, "Drinking Tea"
43. Does a prolonged separation increase or decrease the pain? I can't tell, but the farther I accompany him, the more I fear never seeing him again. —Yang Jiang, *We Three*
44. We once so longed for external recognition, only to realize in the end: the world is our own, and has nothing to do with others. —Yang Jiang, *Reflections at One Hundred*
44. An important component of creation is imagination. Experience is like a fire lit in the darkness, and imagination is the light emitted by that fire; without fire there is no light, but the reach of the light far exceeds the size of the fire's flame. —Yang Jiang, *Drinking Tea*
45. Shame often makes people forgetful; we are always unwilling to remember things that are shameful or embarrassing, and therefore they easily slip through the sieve of memory. —Yang Jiang, *Six Chapters from My Life in the Cadre School*
46. He patched a pair of trousers, and the seat resembled a globe covered with lines of longitude and latitude, and was as thick as a tortoise shell. Mo Cun appreciated it, saying it was excellent; wearing it was like carrying a seat with you, and you could sit down anywhere. He said there was no need to prepare too much; just wait for me to go down, and I could take care of him. As for family reunion, we'll wait until A-Yuan and De-Yi settle down in the countryside, then they
can come and take care of her. —Yang Jiang, *Six Chapters from My Life in the Cadre School* 48. I still lack at least one hand, so I had to use my teeth. I tied the end of the thick rope with a thin rope, held it in my teeth, and then bound the bed into three parts, writing Mo-Cun's name on each part. The small bed, disassembled into several parts, was like a family in the chaos of war, afraid that once they left home, they would be separated and never reunited. According to Mo-Cun's letter, the three parts were indeed reunited, which had caused him considerable trouble in searching for them. —Yang Jiang, *Six Chapters from My Life in the Cadre School*
49. Yancheng shook his head and said, “I just feel that this kind of ‘bathing’ is useless—it’s a complete waste of water.” “Recognizing one’s own shortcomings is a very painful process. Only when a person cultivates himself and strives for goodness can he see his own faults. Then, out of shame, he will repent. Repentance doesn’t necessarily mean he will change. He must work tirelessly to improve even a little. Now, under the pressure of the movement, the masses help us recognize our own shortcomings, and we can’t deny them anymore, so we have to admit them. So-called self-awareness and voluntariness are forced out. Is what’s forced out truly self-awareness and voluntariness?” —Yang Jiang, *Bathing*
50. Those waiting to go to the cadre school in Beijing were naturally concerned about life there and often asked me to tell them stories. The story everyone loved to hear most was about Comrade He Qifang eating fish. The local area was overfishing, so the canteen improved the food, offering braised fish. Comrade Qifang hurriedly took his large mouthwash cup to buy some; but the taste was very strange, and the more he ate, the stranger it became. He picked up the largest piece to try it out, and saw that it was a piece of medicated soap that hadn’t been properly soaked and had fallen into the mouthwash cup. Everyone
laughed heartily after hearing this, filled with boundless sympathy. They also told me a joke: Qian Zhongshu and Ding XX, two first-level researchers, couldn't boil a pot of water in half a day! —Yang Jiang, *Six Chapters from My Life in the Cadre School* 51. Years have passed, and I gradually understand: it was the guilt of a fortunate person towards an unfortunate one. —Yang Jiang, *Old Wang*
52. Disappearing among the crowd, like a drop of water contained within the sea, like a tiny wildflower hidden in the grass, not seeking "forget-me-not," not seeking "to rival the peony"
Yang Jiang's main life achievements:
1. Yang Jiang loved reading. She was already captivated by books in her teens. Once, her father asked her, "Aji, what would you do if I didn't let you read for three days?" She said, "I wouldn't be able to bear it." "And what about a week?" She replied, "A whole week would be wasted." 2.
Yang Jiang, born into a prestigious family and with a mind full of Western literary classics, was a pampered "fourth young lady" from a wealthy family. Yet, in her married life, she silently learned all the mundane chores expected of a daughter-in-law in a large family: respecting the elderly, caring for the young, and being tolerant in all matters, without the slightest grievance or complaint. She even had to complete her plays by the stove. Therefore, Qian Zhongshu exclaimed that he had married "the most virtuous wife, the most talented woman," and "a unique combination of three incompatible roles: wife, lover, and friend." During their 63 years together, Yang Jiang and Qian Zhongshu competed in reading and scholarship, went on outings together, and endured criticism together. Their souls stood on a completely equal footing, supporting each other through thick and thin, sharing both glory and hardship. True love is not only about the romance of "the moon rising above the willow branches, a rendezvous after dusk," but also about the tacit understanding and steadfast commitment of "though we have no wings to fly together, our hearts are connected by a single thread of understanding."
3. In 1997, her beloved daughter Qian Yuan, whom Yang Jiang called "my only masterpiece in life," passed away, plunging her into the pain of losing a daughter. In 1998, Qian Zhongshu passed away, leaving her with the grief of losing a husband. "The best things in life are fragile, like fleeting clouds and brittle glass." Thus, in this vast world, she was left alone for 18 years. Yet, the hardships of life could not break her; her composure and wisdom made her even stronger, serene and detached, like a chrysanthemum. At the age of 92, she wrote "We Three," recalling the happy yet difficult days, the love and pain, of her family of three. Qian Zhongshu's numerous sacks of seemingly incomprehensible manuscripts and notes in both Chinese and foreign languages, totaling over 70,000 pages, were taken over by Yang Jiang and meticulously organized. In 2003, three volumes of *Rong'an Hall Notes* were published, along with 178 volumes of foreign language notes. The 20-volume *Collected Manuscripts of Qian Zhongshu: Chinese Notes* was also published in 2011.
4. According to the Tsinghua University Education Foundation, in 2001, Qian Zhongshu and Yang Jiang donated their lifetime royalties and fees to their alma mater, Tsinghua University, to establish the "Good Reading" scholarship. To date, the scholarship has accumulated to nearly 20 million yuan, benefiting hundreds of undergraduate and graduate students.
5. Yang Jiang lived in a dormitory complex belonging to the State Council in Sanlihe, Beijing. Her home was the only one among hundreds of households without an enclosed balcony or interior decoration. She never left after her family moved in in 1977. After the passing of her only daughter Qian Yuan and husband Qian Zhongshu, she has lived a secluded life, and now "the three of us are no longer separated by life or death."
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