On September 25, 1964, the modern ballet "Red Detachment of Women" officially rehearsed at Tianqiao Theater. Liu Qingtang plays the male protagonist Hong Changqing, who is 32 years old. The play "Red" jumped from Tianqiao Theater to Zhongnanhai Auditorium. Mao Zedong applauded them for their revolutionary innovation of this Western court art, and said two sentences: "The direction is correct, the revolution is successful, and the art is also good." Cultural Revolution, "Red" The play became a revolutionary model opera, and Jiang Qing designated it as "a battle flag in the world ballet world." Liu Qingtang was promoted from deputy leader of the core group of the Central Ballet to party secretary, and in 1974, vice minister of the Ministry of Culture. He took off his dancing shoes at this time, feeling satisfied. There is a folk jingle "The Red Army's 250,000-year long march is worse than dancing a ballet", which refers to his dancing in the sky. On October 6, 1976, the "Gang of Four" collapsed, and on October 21, Liu Qingtang was formally detained. On November 2, 1983, the Criminal Tribunal of the Beijing Intermediate People's Court confirmed that he "actively participated in Jiang Qing's counterrevolutionary group, incited the overthrow of party and state leaders and leaders at all levels, fabricated false cases, and made false accusations and frame-ups" and sentenced him in accordance with the Criminal Law. He was sentenced to 17 years in prison and deprived of political rights for 4 years. The sentence shall be calculated from the date of detention. In the spring of 1986, Liu Qingtang suffered from esophageal varices, and the Ministry of Public Security approved his medical parole. At this time, he was still 8 years short of his 17-year sentence. The guarantor of bail is his second brother Liu Qingmeng.
Liu Qingtang's esophageal varices was caused by cirrhosis of the liver, which he acquired in Qincheng Prison. Before this, he was in good health. He had been practicing regularly when under investigation or in prison, and would do basic exercises when conditions allowed. One day, his first wife Xu Jie came to the prison and asked for a divorce. He disagreed and asked Xu Jie to forgive him. But Xu Jie was resolute and gave him the divorce judgment from the court a few days later. This was a fatal blow to him. He tore up the verdict without reading it carefully. This was the end of 1983. Liu Qingtang had three children. His eldest daughter Ying was 24 years old, his second daughter Hong was 15 years old, and his son Zhong was 12 years old. When he was imprisoned in 1976, he lost everything. While clearing his political guilt, he lost his family at the same time. Finally, he was so sad that his liver was injured and he vomited blood.
People who know the relationship between Liu Qingtang and Xu Jie said that Qingtang hurt Xu Jie when he was proud, and it was an emotional injury. Xu Jie took advantage of Liu Qingtang's political misfortune to completely settle the matter.
In 1958, Liu Qingtang was the deputy captain of the dance team of the Central Song and Dance Theater. He had outstanding image, dancing skills, temperament and character. He began to attract national attention after starring in "Swan Lake". At that time, Xu Jie was leading the dance "Lotus Dance" at the Central Song and Dance Ensemble, and he was also very dazzling. When people of their generation wanted to get married, it was a time when revolution and class struggle were in full swing. Liu Qingtang later said that he married Xu Jie for two reasons. First, she was from a good background and was a party member, which was very rare among young and beautiful actresses at that time. Second, Xu Jie had achievements in folk dance. Later, Liu Qingtang became famous because of "Red Detachment of Women", and he despised Xu Jie even more. The "Gang of Four" collapsed, and many people who had been harmed by Liu Qingtang refused to let him go. Xu Jie also reprimanded Liu Qingtang in public.
After vomiting blood several times, he went to the hospital for a diagnosis and it was confirmed that he had esophageal varices. Esophageal varices is a cancer-level disease that is impossible to eradicate. If the bleeding is not stopped in time, death will occur at any time. The Ministry of Public Security reported Liu Qingtang's condition to the central government in a timely manner, and the central government quickly issued an approval document "agreeing to be released on medical parole". He proposed to return to his hometown for medical treatment, and the public security department and the Ministry of Culture agreed.
Liu Qingtang’s hometown is in Guangrong Village, Taiyangsheng Township, Gai County, not far from the county seat. There are four dilapidated tile-roofed houses on the hillside of Liujiayi. At one end is the widowed father, and at the other end are the third brother Qingshi and the fourth brother Qingzhe who are over 40 and unmarried. Their mother died of a heart attack in 1983. During the ten years of the "Cultural Revolution", Liu Qingtang brought glory to this family, this township, and even the entire Gaixian County. The big still of Hong Changqing giving party lessons to the Detachment of Women stands in front of the train station. Both adults and children know that this Hong Changqing is from Gaizhou. He has not returned to his hometown for 20 years, and no one in Gaizhou can recognize this pale old man.
During his 10 years in prison, Liu Qingtang had dreamed of returning home thousands of times. Now that he had actually returned to the old house where he was born and raised, he was not only happy but also filled with desolation.
The next day, he went to his mother's gravesite. He kowtowed three times in front of his mother's monument and cleared away the weeds and rocks on the grave. Due to depression and fatigue, he had bloody stools again in the afternoon. He didn't tell anyone. In the afternoon, he wrote a long letter to his second daughter Xiaohong in Beijing and his eldest daughter Xiaoying who had just moved to Hong Kong. In the evening, he wrote a letter to Han Zhen, his good friend from the Baishan Art School in his early years. letter.
Han Zhen is the choreographer of the Dalian Song and Dance Troupe. He and Liu Qingtang were both students of the Baishan Art School. Because of their similar interests, they have been friends for many years. After Liu Qingtang was imprisoned, he lost contact with Han Zhen. There is this passage in Liu and Han Zhenxin:
Flash forward 40 years, we are all in our old age. We have played out all the comedies and tragedies of an era, and we can all rest, but I still can’t I'm afraid I won't be able to leave even if I die... Now, I am a prisoner of crime and I dare not have any arrogant thoughts. All I can hope for is the love I had for my friends back then who never gave up.
After receiving his letter, Han Zhen rushed to Gai County immediately. Dalian is about 400 miles from Gai County. It was almost evening when Han Zhen found his home. Under the straw shed, above the friendship, he never enjoyed it when he was brilliant on the ballet stage or when he was proud on the political stage. Both drank and shed tears.
On the third day, Han Zhen led Liu Qingtang to Dalian.
Baishan Art School was founded in 1946 in the early days of the Liberation War by Bai Ying, Tian Shaobo, Tian Feng and others, who were army literary and art workers from the Lu-Jin-Cha-Hebei Liberated Areas, in accordance with the central government’s request to establish a Northeast revolutionary base. A revolutionary educational and cultural school. The school was located in Dandong and later moved to Wafangdian. Baishan Art School has been running for two and a half years and has trained three batches of students, and Liu Qingtang is in the third batch.
Han Zhen brought Liu Qingtang to the circle of comrades in Baishan, Dalian, and Liu Qingtang was very excited.
On the afternoon of December 16, Han Zhen led the way to meet Sha Yin, a female student in the second phase of Baishan Art School. Regarding Shayin, Liu Qingtang had an impression that he was a member of the Baishan Music Band. He played the erhu, had small eyes, was very fair, and was dressed in Lenin uniform. He seemed aloof from a distance, and easy-going up close. He was not surprising or dizzy. Han Zhen told Liu Qingtang the most about Shayin, about how her husband died three years ago and is now a widow with two bedrooms. Liu Qingtang was eager to meet Sha Yin.
Shayin’s real name is Chen Qi, and Shayin was the stage name she used in Baishan Art School. After the Baishan Art School was reorganized at the end of 1948, Shayin was assigned to the Liaonan Municipal Party Committee to do women's work, and was later organized into the Southbound Work Group. She gave up art for the needs of the revolution.
Han Zhen taking Liu Qingtang to Sha Yin's house was sudden for Sha Yin. As soon as Han Zhen entered the door, he said: "Shayin, look, who did I bring here?" Liu Qingtang called her Sister Shayin, but Shayin stared at Liu Qingtang, unable to recognize her.
Later Shayin said, I am a second-term student, Qingtang is a third-term student, and I don’t pay much attention to the third-term students. Later, when Qingtang became famous, people pointed to the photo and told me that Liu Qingtang was this little boy, and I had an impression. He was very beautiful then, with his hair parted. On the day he arrived, I saw that he was very thin, very pale, and his eyes were very dry. I hate the various aspects of the "Cultural Revolution" deeply, but when I saw him that day, I felt something special in my heart.
Liu Qingtang remembered Shayin in more detail. He told many stories about Shayin's voice and appearance at Baishan Art School. When Han Zhen was away, Liu Qingtang immediately asked Shayin if he could give him a solo photo of her. Sha Yin pointed out that he could choose from the photo albums at will. He picked out many and finally chose one.
On the morning of the third day, it was a light snow day. Liu Qingtang went to look for Shayin alone. He only remembered that it was a very steep hillside, but he did not know the house number. He asked many people but could not find it.
On this morning, Liu Qingtang wrote in his diary:
I was overjoyed and moved. Her conditions in all aspects are much better than mine. I love her! I need to! So will she. I have been excited and tired recently, and I have bloody stools. The taste of life, the taste of marriage, the taste of politics, all kinds of things can be said to be full.
Liu Qingtang returned to his hometown in Gaixian County. The old and dilapidated house could not withstand the wind and cold. There was a stove burning, and the room temperature was as high as 8°C. In the early morning, the room temperature was below zero. Fortunately, my brother and sister helped nail the windows with film and got some coal. The old father watched the fire and added firewood and coal for him all day long.
According to Han Zhen's instructions, he sent Xu Jie a text message telling him about his condition.
Please ask her to take her children back to her hometown of Gaixian County during the Spring Festival and have the whole family reunited. This letter is intended to remarry. Xu Jie quickly wrote back, saying that Gaixian County was not her hometown and she would never go back.
Liu Qingtang felt guilty and sad, and his heart was like a cicada. This is his first free Chinese New Year after 11 years in prison. Before the Spring Festival, the eldest daughter Liu Ying received a letter from Hong Kong and sent 500 yuan. Xiaoying talked about the relationship between her parents in her letter: "As for the matter between you and your mother, my opinion is to let it take its course. I have no right to ask either of you to obey the other, because it is you and not me who really live together."
But the appearance of Shayin in his life meant a chance of life. He wrote to Dalian again: "I am very willing to work in Dalian, and at least I want to recuperate and travel frequently. Next time I go there, I will definitely try to stay a few more days, and I will also stay at my sister's house a few more days. , do you agree? I miss you." He wasn't sure whether Sha Yin had the courage to open the door for him.
On the morning of New Year's Eve, the township deliveryman brought a package to Liu Qingtang. They were two calendars sent by Sha Yin from Dalian, as well as some food and a letter. There were only two sentences in the letter: "We met by fate. If you come to Dalian for me, I will wait for you at home and let you stay as long as you want." Liu Qingtang didn't believe it. He later recalled that it was "with joy and excitement." I watched it three times in a row and cried with joy."
He wrote a reply to Shayin overnight: Sister Shayin: Thank you for your letter and calendar. That picture of the ballet star made waves in my heart. Thank you for understanding me. I am completely alone now. You have given me all the desires of my life and soul. I just want to fly to you. I will go now. I will not disturb others when I go this time. You pick me up at the station and go directly to your home without going anywhere.
Shayin did not receive the telegram he sent. It was already evening when he got off the train in Dalian.
That night, Liu Qingtang quietly stayed at Sha Yin's house.
Shayin longs to get married. But Liu Qingtang pondered for a long time and told her that he had no right to get married. my country's Marriage Law stipulates that criminals who have been sentenced to prison are not allowed to marry. Liu Qingtang is a criminal serving his sentence outside prison, and this is also covered by the regulations. He was still seven years away from being released from prison.
Liu Qingtang said, I do not have the legal conditions for marriage. In addition, I should tell you something I want to hide from you. My illness is not as mild as you think. My esophageal veins are like worn-out rubber tubes that bleed at any time and may die at any time.
Shayin asked, where are you going from here?
Liu Qingtang said that he would return to his hometown and wait until his sentence is completed in 1993. When I can, I will come to you. When I can't, you can bury me. I will be grateful to you in the underworld.
Shayin said, don’t think so far ahead.
That night, Shayin called his son Xu Lixin and daughter Xu Hong home, introduced them to Liu Qingtang one by one, pointed at Liu Qingtang and told his children that this is my old comrade in Baishan, and he will live in our house from now on.
Liu Qingtang underwent major surgery and his spleen was removed. Liu Qingtang was very moved and said, Shayin, I survived the catastrophe and it was you who saved me.
Liu Qingtang made friends with the hospital director. The dean told him that the best outcome for esophageal varices is to maintain the status quo and prevent esophageal vein bleeding. Once bleeding occurs, life and death are on the line.
Later, Liu Qingtang had three major hemorrhages and escaped death each time. By 1992, he and Shayin were both over 60 years old. After their eldest daughter, Xiaoying, moved to the United States, she gave up dancing and worked to make a living; her second daughter, Xiaohong, also left the Beijing Song and Dance Troupe and opened an advertising company; his son, Xiaozhongkao, After entering Beijing Computer Institute, I found my own path.
At this moment, he suddenly discovered Kong Li. Kong Li was a student in the first batch of Baishan Art School and rehearsed small plays with Liu Qingtang. Kong Li was not pretty, with a wide forehead and a square mouth, which probably affected her future development in artistic performances, but her intelligence and will were far beyond what ordinary women could match, which was why Xie Liming, the director of the Literature Department of Baishan Art School at the time, was particularly fond of her. for her reasons. After liberation, Xie Liming went to Beijing to serve as the editor-in-chief of "Popular Films", while Kong Li remained unknown. At that time, Liu Qingtang often went to their home and received a lot of help from Xie Liming in his art. Xie Liming also loved this handsome student.
Not long after the "Cultural Revolution", Xie Liming died of illness, and Liu Qingtang helped arrange the funeral. In 1989, Kong Li pulled out a team from the Beijing Performance Company to establish an individual performance department and entered the "sea". Now, Kong Li still cares and advises Liu Qingtang like a "teacher's wife", and casually gave him a "Goldlion" shirt.
The next day, Kong Li came to Sha Yin's house, hugged Sha Yin with mixed emotions, and said, thank you for taking care of Liu Qingtang for so many years for his comrades in Baishan. I thank you on their behalf. Shayin heard the implication.
Liu Qingtang was naturally very happy, and he even persuaded Shayin to accept Kong Li.
He sent a letter to Kong Li, saying that his condition was not good and he wanted to go to Beijing for treatment, and asked her if she could help contact the Naval General Hospital. Kong Li quickly replied and said everything would be no problem. Liu Qingtang mentioned to Shayin that he was going to Beijing. This time he was going to deal with matters related to his release after serving his sentence, and secondly to get medical treatment. He wanted to live in Beijing for a period of time. He said that this was because Kong Li sympathized with him and wanted to help him, and there was nothing else. meaning. Shayin agreed.
This was September 27, 1993, and he never returned.
He later wrote 12 letters to Shayin, and each letter had a slight change, from comfort to explanation to confession, from kindness to seriousness to ignoring.
Liu Qingtang lived in Kong Li’s house for a year and a half.
On March 20, 1995, Liu Qingtang’s younger brother Liu Qingshi came to Sha Yin’s house and said, my brother asked me to tell you that because he and you can’t get along emotionally, he asked you not to wait for him. He asked me Take his stuff away. The things Liu Qingtang was talking about were his letters and diaries over the years, as well as various photos from the past and present. This was what he was most worried about.
Shayin came to Beijing again. She went to the National Ballet of China and found Xu Jie. Xu Jie, who was once a dancer, has been tortured to death by rheumatoid arthritis. The sound of sand stirs up emotion when touching the scenery, and tears well up in sadness. Xu Jie said calmly, it should not be you and me who are crying, but Liu Qingtang. His heart and soul have been thrown into hell, and he will never be at peace until his death; he is an elf, who is in creation and creation. Flying about in deception, shining brightly, but he fell to hell. If he can save himself, let him save himself!
In May 1995, Liu Qingtang and Kong Li registered their marriage.