What was the story between Zhang Ailing and Hu Lancheng? How did they meet?
Zhang Ailing and Hu Lancheng were the most famous figures in modern Chinese literature. Hu Lancheng was a scholar with rich literary experience and political background. He had served in many government and military positions during the Republic of China and achieved high achievements in literature. He met Zhang Ailing in 1944, when Zhang Ailing was escaping the bombing of the Japanese army in Shanghai. Hu Lancheng was a literary critic at that time. He saw Zhang Ailing's talent and literary potential and began to have a strong interest in her. He often went to Zhang Ailing's residence to communicate with her and gradually established a deep relationship with her. In 1945, Hu Lancheng was sent to Hong Kong while Zhang Ailing stayed in Shanghai to continue living. Due to the unstable situation in Hong Kong, Zhang Ailing had to leave Hong Kong to study in the United States. During this time, Hu Lancheng had been silently supporting Zhang Ailing to provide her with financial help and spiritual encouragement. When Zhang Ailing and Hu Lancheng met again during their studies in the United States, their feelings for each other deepened. In 1952, Zhang Ailing returned to China and decided to marry Hu Lancheng. Although Hu Lancheng already had a wife at that time, he still pursued Zhang Ailing enthusiastically. In the end, Zhang Ailing agreed to Hu Lancheng's proposal and the two held a wedding in Shanghai in 1953. Since then, the two of them have experienced an important period in the history of modern Chinese literature and have made great achievements in the fields of literature, politics and culture.
