Winter 1914, Taiyuan, Shanxi. Yan Xishan, 30, stood in front of the door of his new house, feeling uneasy. Inside the door, the 14-year-old bride Xu Lansen is waiting for his arrival. How will this marriage change his life? Where will his relationship with his wife Xu Zhuqing go? A complex emotion spanning half a century has begun.
From cloth clothes to warlords, Yan Xishan's rise road
Yan Xishan was born in an ordinary merchant family in Shanxi, and with his talent and skill, he climbed to the top of power step by step. When he was 15 years old, he met Xu Zhuqing, who was 6 years older than him, and the two fell in love at first sight and soon became husband and wife. Xu Zhuqing is gentle and virtuous, and is deeply loved by the Yan family.
Yan Xishan relied on his business acumen and political skills to gradually gain a firm foothold in Shanxi. After the outbreak of the Xinhai Revolution in 1911, he was elected governor of Shanxi and became a prince. In just a few years, the Yan family has become the richest man in Shanxi. But at this time, a serious problem was in front of Yan Xishan - there was still no child under his knees.
In order to pass on the lineage, Yan Xishan decided to take a concubine
Although Yan Xishan has a deep love for Xu Zhuqing, the pressure to pass on the lineage is increasing. Xu Zhuqing also realized the seriousness of the problem and offered to let her husband take a concubine. Yan Xishan was reluctant at first, but with the persuasion of his family, he finally agreed to this plan.
In 1914, through the introduction of a matchmaker, Yan Xishan married Xu Lansen, who was only 14 years old, as a concubine. On the day of the wedding, Yan Xishan refused to enter the cave room for a long time, and it was not until Xu Zhuqing repeatedly persuaded him that he reluctantly agreed. This seemingly detached marriage is destined to set off a storm.
Undercurrents in triangular relationships surge
Although Yan Xishan married Xu Lansen, he always thought about his wife Xu Zhuqing. He often takes Xu Zhuqing out to play, and he will also buy her expensive gifts during festivals. In order to curry favor with Xu Zhuqing, he even changed Xu Lansen's surname from "Xu" to "Xu".
However, as time went on, Xu Lansen gave birth to five children for Yan Xishan, and the family's status gradually rose. Although Xu Zhuqing is nominally the eldest lady, in fact, all the affairs of the family are handled by Xu Lansen. This subtle shift in power has made the relationship between the three more complicated.
In 1930, Yan Xishan was defeated in a warlord melee and fled with his family. On the difficult escape road, Xu Zhuqing cared for the five children, which moved Yan Xishan very much. However, the good times were short-lived, and an accident soon upset the balance.
The truth is revealed, and the family crisis erupts
One day, Yan Xishan took Xu Zhuqing out, leaving Xu Lansen and the children at home. The eldest son, Yan Zhigong, got carried away for a while, and called Xu Lansen "mother" in front of the servants. This secret soon reached Yan Xishan's ears.
It turned out that the kind-hearted Xu Zhuqing felt sorry for Xu Lansen and secretly allowed the children to call her mother. Although this decision was well-intentioned, it completely angered Yan Xishan. He was furious, reprimanded Xu Lansen severely, and ordered her to "think about it on the wall" for ten days.
Xu Lansen was aggrieved and returned to his parents' house in a rage. She complained to her father Xu Yijing about her grievances, and Xu Yijing was furious after hearing this, and scolded Yan Xishan for being an ungrateful villain. Although Uncle Xu Yiqing persuaded peace, Xu Yijing was still angry.
This family turmoil caused a stir, and Yan Xishan's reputation was seriously affected. Xu Zhuqing was caught in the middle, and finally had to move out and live alone. This farce has completely unbalanced the already complex triangular relationship.
In 1949, Yan Xishan fled to Taiwan in defeat, taking only his youngest son Yan Zhihui with him. Xu Zhuqing and Xu Lansen stayed on the mainland. However, fate made people, Yan Zhihui later fell in love with his second sister-in-law Zhao Xiujin and gave birth to two children. This astonishing news reached Yan Xishan's ears, causing this former tyrant to completely collapse.
In his later years, Yan Xishan was lonely and lonely, playing with his grandson all day long. At the end of his life, he made an unexpected decision - to leave his entire fortune to Xu Zhuqing. This decision sparked a protracted lawsuit that did not settle until Xu Zhuqing's death.
Yan Xishan's complex emotional experience reflects many social problems of that era. Under polygamy, women have a low status and are often reduced to tools for inheritance. And the temptation of power and wealth has also caused many people to lose their hearts.