Tears and Laughter is one of Zhang Henshui's representative works and the novel that had the greatest impact of all his writings. It blends romance, martial arts, and social commentary into one story. Fan Jiashu, the young master of a Hangzhou family living in Beijing, falls in love with Shen Fengxi, a young woman who sings drum ballads at the Tianqiao market, and helps pay for her education. Meanwhile, the modern young woman He Lina and the chivalrous heroine of the martial world Guan Xiugu fall in love with Fan Jiashu in turn. While Fan Jiashu is back in his hometown visiting relatives, Shen Fengxi, lured by a luxurious lifestyle, marries General Liu, a warlord, who later abuses her until she loses her mind. Caught between three women with very different personalities, Fan Jiashu is trapped in an impossible dilemma, torn between laughter and tears.
The novel centers on a love triangle involving one man and three women. Through ingenious plotting and a series of dramatic, gripping twists, it portrays the dark and turbulent society under the rule of the Beiyang warlords. It also explores a recurring theme in Zhang Henshui's novels: the clash between modern urban life in China and traditional moral values. The work's populist outlook and critical stance toward society, its vivid characterization, and its repeated psychological narration expand the bounds of the old chaptered novel. It also moves beyond earlier popular fiction, in which entertainment had outweighed ideas, and has become a landmark of modern popular fiction from the Republic of China era.
When I was reading Zhang Henshui when I was a kid, I wondered if he hated women. Leng Qingqiu was seduced by money, and Shen Fengxi was seduced by money. Why are they all like this?
Now that I have grown up, it is not like this. The tragedy of Shen Fengxi is not because she worships money, but because she has no independent personality. First, Shen's mother and Uncle Shen couldn't wait to let her climb the Fan family tree. Later, Uncle Shen designed to give his niece to Liu Dezhu as his concubine. It really makes people think of Yuanyang's brother and sister-in-law who can't wait to send her to be a concubine.
She is also a widowed mother + uncle, but Leng Qingqiu's mother is more far-sighted and understands human nature. She knows that money temptations are unreliable. She understands "Qi Dafeiqi". Leng Qingqiu has her own self-esteem besides vanity. Mother Shen only sells her daughters for glory. She only knows how to please one man after another to make ends meet. So in the end Leng Qingqiu was able to become independent again, while Shen Fengxi could only spend the rest of his life in madness.
Is that all Mother Shen's fault? The Leng family had a small income, and the Shen family had nothing. Originally, her family relied on her daughter's singing, but Fan Jiashu's rescue pushed her into a deeper abyss.
The Shen family suddenly became rich and poor in pursuit of wealth, Liu Dezhu died in pursuit of sex, Shen Fengxi was greedy for vanity and went crazy all day long, Fan Jiashu dealt with three girls but was thrown around by Xiu Gu, Xiu Gu was heartbroken and wandered around again in the end, He Lina played and indulged but retreated to the mountains and forests.
I can't cry, I can't laugh, everything is wrong. This is the cause of laughter
I like Xiu Gu, this is what a chivalrous woman should be.
From the very beginning, when Mrs. Tao poked the head of her chopsticks, the image of a rich lady from the Republic of China came to mind.
The teacher recommended it! It goes without saying that it looks good!
I think this book is very interesting! Zhang Henshui wrote the characters vividly, like Shen Fengxi, who was quite likable at first, but later changed her character due to her greed for vanity, making her quite annoying. But the roles of He Lina and Guan Xiugu are quite good. And the plot in the story is very attractive, it feels like it is happening around you. Zhang Henshui is really amazing, showing all the social aspects of that era. This book is well worth reading!
Zhang Henshui's books are free of cultural baggage and fascinating. He is worthy of being the number one writer in the Republic of China.
When I was reading Zhang Henshui when I was a kid, I wondered if he hated women. Leng Qingqiu was seduced by money, and Shen Fengxi was seduced by money. Why are they all like this? Now that I have grown up, it is not like this. The tragedy of Shen Fengxi is not because she worships money, but because she has no independent personality. First, Shen's mother and Uncle Shen couldn't wait to let her climb the Fan family tree. Later, Uncle Shen designed to give his niece to Liu Dezhu as his concubine. It really makes people think of Yuanyang's brother and sister-in-law who can't wait to send her to be a concubine. She is also a widowed mother + uncle, but Leng Qingqiu's mother is more far-sighted and understands human nature. She knows that money temptations are unreliable. She understands "Qi Dafeiqi". Leng Qingqiu has her own self-esteem besides vanity. Mother Shen only sells her daughters for glory. She only knows how to please one man after another to make ends meet. So in the end Leng Qingqiu was able to become independent again, while Shen Fengxi could only spend the rest of his life in madness. Is that all Mother Shen's fault? The Leng family had a small income, and the Shen family had nothing. Originally, her family relied on her daughter's singing, but Fan Jiashu's rescue pushed her into a deeper abyss. The Shen family suddenly became rich and poor in pursuit of wealth, Liu Dezhu died in pursuit of sex, Shen Fengxi was greedy for vanity and went crazy all day long, Fan Jiashu dealt with three girls but was thrown around by Xiu Gu, Xiu Gu was heartbroken and wandered around again in the end, He Lina played and indulged but retreated to the mountains and forests. I can't cry, I can't laugh, everything is wrong. This is the cause of laughter I like Xiu Gu, this is what a chivalrous woman should be.
From the very beginning, when Mrs. Tao poked the head of her chopsticks, the image of a rich lady from the Republic of China came to mind.
The teacher recommended it! It goes without saying that it looks good!
I think this book is very interesting! Zhang Henshui wrote the characters vividly, like Shen Fengxi, who was quite likable at first, but later changed her character due to her greed for vanity, making her quite annoying. But the roles of He Lina and Guan Xiugu are quite good. And the plot in the story is very attractive, it feels like it is happening around you. Zhang Henshui is really amazing, showing all the social aspects of that era. This book is well worth reading!
Zhang Henshui's books are free of cultural baggage and fascinating. He is worthy of being the number one writer in the Republic of China.
Classic Romance Novels of the Republic of China