The love of the educated youth generation

When we are without love, let us look forward to the time when we enjoy love; when we are in love, let us cherish it; and when we lose love, let us reminisce!

What kind of love did the educated youth generation experience? Perhaps people today are not very clear about how, in those difficult years, love served as a lighthouse in the vast ocean, guiding young individuals to overcome the hardships of life and work. It may have been the shared circumstances and mutual reliance that made their young hearts fragile and helpless, drawing them closer to one another for support and solace.

When people talk about love, they often ask the question: "Do you believe in love?" This is perhaps a scenario that appears countless times in many novels and films. In an era dominated by material desires and the prevalence of instant gratification, love has become akin to a disposable condom—used and discarded. The romantic notions of fleeting moments and beautiful nights have become mere clichés, and quick marriages are no longer a novelty.

People often say that love that has endured hardships is the most precious and the most enduring. However, throughout the history of the "Down to the Countryside Movement," there are those who achieved lasting love, yet the generation of educated youth remembers more tragic love stories: political movements, recruitment, military service, schooling, and returning to the city, all of which repeatedly staged tragedies of love.

This article touches upon the love of educated youth, but does not elaborate much on it. It seems to focus more on the experiences of those born in the 1980s. I believe it would be better for everyone to explore more positive and interesting topics.

I know a well-educated youth from Shanghai, who is fair-skinned and refined in demeanor, clearly different from the local farmers. She married a local man, had children, and settled in the village, fulfilling her vow made in front of Chairman Mao's statue years ago. Her life is relatively happy.

However, the 1970s were not entirely as innocent and romantic as depicted in Jiang Wen's "In the Heat of the Sun" or Du Liang's "Bloody Romance"; they were largely filled with hardships. The physical and spiritual torment left many educated youth haunted even after returning to the city. Today, people enjoy the freedom to love, and issues surrounding early romance have become commonplace, yet in the early years of that era, dating was elevated to a question of loyalty. "Pushkin" was considered a dangerous influence, and the love between young men and women, who were just beginning to awaken their feelings, was destined for tragedy. Without cars, houses, or money, a small, drafty room next to a cattle shed could still be regarded as a paradise for two. Children cried for milk powder, and a spoonful of sugar water was a rare treat, while there was not a hint of green in their own bowls.