After watching for several days, I finally finished watching "Love in Beijing." There is one sentence I've wanted to say all along: reality is truly f*cking real. Throughout the entire plot, there has been one person who has consistently led me, and that is Shi Xiaomeng. I hoped he would eventually turn back and reclaim his brotherly bond, but in the end, he was still so resolute... Some classmates used to say that they despised Shi Xiaomeng the most. For such views, perhaps I cannot say much. But in this drama, only Xiaomeng is truly realistic; only he represents the shadow of those who drift in Beijing. We can despise him for abandoning Shen Bing for profit, we can despise him for disregarding brotherhood for his own desires. Any of us can despise him because he is a selfish and self-serving person... But have we ever thought about his circumstances? He comes from a small mountain village, the only hope for his family, missing by seven points to enter Tsinghua University. He strives with all his might not to let his family down, to earn the respect of others. He must stay in Beijing... Only those from other places living in Beijing can understand such hardships. After three years of struggle, he still cannot afford the down payment. To give his loved one a home of her own, he humbles himself, he pleads with Hu Rongqiang, but reality will not let you succeed so easily. Your harvest must come at a certain cost, and perhaps such a cost will haunt you for life, but how could the cruelty of life sympathize with an ordinary drifter in Beijing? Life forces them to compromise with reality, because your persistence may cause you to lose your dignity, even the right to survive... Reality is before your eyes. You can choose to compromise, but always remember to find your original self. Only then will you not go insane. Xiaomeng lost everything because he never got out of his inferiority complex. He constantly gave himself a shell, a shell of inferiority compared to others. From beginning to end, he never broke free from it. It was this shell that gave him endless pressure, and then led to his tragic ending...
Sometimes, I really want to ask, was it Xiaomeng who was wrong, or was it this society? We despise Xiaomeng, admire the unreserved love of Fengzi and the simple kindness and perseverance of Wu Di... But how many people have thought about how far away they are from our lives? Fengzi's father is a chairman, even if Wu Di loses everything, he doesn't have to worry because he has a wealthy elder brother and Xiao Wu who loves him. How many drifters in Beijing have such backgrounds? But what about Xiaomeng? Alone, for the sake of his father at home and his girlfriend, whom can he rely on? He can only strive with all his might, yet his efforts are a hundred times more than Fengzi's, but he was not born with a golden spoon in his mouth... Can effort alone bring harvest? Not necessarily! As Hu Rongqiang said, you may have strength, but can strength alone suffice? All those who have watched this play will remember Xiaomeng's words: "We are all on the fringes of this city. Before we truly wish to integrate into this city, some sacrifices are necessary. This may very well include our love, even if from now on we can no longer possess pure love, that is merely the inescapable fate of people like us." This so-called fate may be his fallacy, but under such immense pressure, does it not also become an eternal truth in the hearts of many?! We lament for Xiaomeng, feel it is not worth it, but we cannot curse this cruel society, because cursing it would make us seem even smaller, even more laughable. The only thing we can do is lower our heads and get to work.
Of course, Xiaomeng's tragedy lies in his wrong choices, while others can still live happily.
Wu Di, a kind, genuine, simple, loyal, and brotherly person, an image that can be called perfect. He has also experienced a hard life, but in his heart, it seems to have left no mark. He still does as he pleases, doing what he believes is right. He persists in the sincerity and straightforwardness of human nature. He sticks to his values and outlook on life. He can jump off a building for Yang Zixi, accept Yang Zixi's betrayal, and even after her betrayal, he can still be good to her, regardless of Xiao Wu's feelings. For the sake of his brothers, he breaks ties with his older brother. For the sake of justice, he repeatedly hurts Xiao Wu. He has always been admired by many as a man of integrity. But have we ever thought, if it weren't for his brother's care, Wu Mei's tolerance, and Yang Zixi returning to his side, what would happen? And if he were in Xiaomeng's situation, with a poor family, struggling for three years and still unable to pay the down payment, facing Hu Rongqiang's greedy face, what would he do? Some say, it's his nature to still live happily. Alright, maybe this is really his nature!
Fengzi, a genuine rich second generation, a spoiled son. He boldly pursues true love, disregarding everything for Shen Bing, and receives praise. Indeed, we are moved by his love, but was his approach right? Loving someone is fine, even if it's your friend's wife. Love has no right or wrong, but taking your friend's wife is wrong. Fengzi says, "I can't control myself, I love her." But have you considered, doesn't Xiaomeng love her too? Could he control himself from loving her? But Xiaomeng eventually compromised and gave up Shen Bing. Why? Because he is an ordinary person from a mountain village. He isn't as rich as Fengzi, who has everything without doing anything, being a rich second generation, a child. He can abandon everything for love because he owns "everything," but Xiaomeng doesn't even have the opportunity to give up everything, because besides Shen Bing, he has nothing, so in the end, he gives up Shen Bing. Fengzi can chase Shen Bing to Yunnan, do things for his godmother, donate to primary schools, and relentlessly pursue Shen Bing, but if it were Xiaomeng, he might even have to borrow money for food. He can't afford love without bread!
Lin Xia, a girl who persistently pursues love, lively and cheerful. She acts crazy, fights and plays around, cries and laughs, a sincere and pure-hearted girl towards her friends. She is my favorite female protagonist. She is infatuated, deeply and persistently in love with Fengzi. Her love is bold and persistent, but when she realizes she can no longer hold onto Fengzi, she doesn't act childish—yelling and screaming at Fengzi—but instead chooses to silently bless him and then seek her true love again. Her love moves everyone, and the phrase "I love you, it has nothing to do with you" truly becomes both the pain and joy in the hearts of many. But at the same time, Fengzi and Lin Xia also tell us a reality: a girl, no matter how much she likes someone, if he doesn't like her, they will not end up together, just like Lin Xia and Fengzi. And when a boy likes someone, even if he chases her and treats her kindly, although she may not like him, even despise him, the result can still be good, like Fengzi and Shen Bing. Perhaps this is the difference between male and female perspectives on love...
Yang Zixi, a reality-based gold-digger, giving up a beautiful life for her so-called dreams. But she doesn't realize that dreams aren't achieved through youth and beauty; they require one's own effort and struggle. A woman who completely relies on a man will lose her self-respect and basic value. When she chooses to cry in a BMW rather than smile in a Panda car, we lament the reality of this society. But when she returns to Wu Di later, and Wu Di is still so good to her, we must criticize this dreamlike plot. Few people are as lucky as Yang Zixi, meeting someone like Wu Di. As Wu Di said, some people, some things, can never go back.
Shen Bing, an image that couldn't be more perfect, unrestrained by worldly conventions, possessing a wise view of love. Once chosen, she won't give up, unless that person no longer wants her, then she will let go appropriately and choose again. Not bound by past love, wisely dealing with everything. Perhaps such a person should be praised and emulated.
Wu Mei and Wu Wei, two people destined not to be together. Two strong individuals together won't have a good outcome, which also determines that Wu Mei will fall in love with the "silly" and "naive" Wu Di. Maybe love indeed requires complementarity... This is similar to many people in real life. Two people together, mutually liking each other, but you change their flaws to make them better. When they truly change and lose those flaws, they are no longer the ones you love. Wu Wei is a great person. He makes himself stronger for Wu Mei. He guards the long-distance love between New York and Beijing with his loneliness and solitude. But when he truly becomes strong and loses Wu Mei, he doesn't cling desperately. For the sake of his younger brother and lover, he makes sacrifices because he is rational and deeply loves Wu Di and Wu Mei.
After watching "Love in Beijing," we feel both sorrow and joy. We rejoice in their beautiful love, but grieve over the harsh realities. As children of the 90s and 91s, "Struggle," "Snail House," "Naked Marriage Era," and "Love in Beijing" have accompanied us step by step in our growth. In the previous dramas, we see Wen Zhang grow from a naive and immature young boy into a mature and steady good man in his thirties. Wen Zhang's image also grows in our hearts step by step. From the idealism and youth in "Struggle" to the reality of society in "Snail House" and "Naked Marriage," we grow step by step. In "Love in Beijing," the life drama that is both dreamlike and realistic tells us that when we are young, we need to strive and fight, but while we are striving and fighting, we must not forget the original meaning of life: in life, we have family, lovers, and friends, and it is their interweaving with us that constitutes life. If we give up one thing for another, we will lead a painful life, and happiness and joy will distance themselves from us.
Youth, strive, but don't forget to take your family, lovers, and friends with you!
Wu Di's life is ideal because he has a good attitude towards life. Maybe in reality, we don't have as good a fate and life as Wu Di, but we must carry a "Wu Di"-heart, live sincerely, and feel sincerely.
For family, always care and be concerned;
For love, respect your feelings;
For friends, be genuinely face-to-face.
Finally, quoting Wu Wei's words:
To be able to put aside noise and restlessness
And pursue a calmness of mind
Is no easy feat.
Once you find it,
Happiness is not far away.
Appendix: Classic Excerpts
1. Money is a good thing. You like it, it likes you back. (Hu Rongqiang)
2. When the person you like appears, even if you're mature and a seasoned player, you'll still be nervous, or even silent, just quietly looking at her. (Fengzi)
3. High salaries are always the most effective way to retain talent. Believe that the value you create is far more than these. (Hu Rongqiang)
4. Wu Di: I think she still thinks of me often;
Fengzi: Not often, just occasionally, only when her current boyfriend is bad to her will she think of you.
5. You are capable, but is capability alone enough? (Hu Rongqiang)
6. It's especially hard for one person in Beijing. Going out depends on friends. These years in Beijing, I've always relied on them. Without them, I would have gone back long ago. (Shi Xiaomeng)
7. Life is based on happiness, marriage is based on mutual benefit. (Wu Mei)
8. I love you, it has nothing to do with you. (Lin Xia)
9. Good women belong in the kitchen, bad women travel the world. (Wu Mei)
10. Don't dwell on past mistakes, focus on future events. (Wu Mei)
11. The less hope you see, the more you should actively create hope. (Wu Mei)
12. Try your best before giving up, at least your heart will be at peace. (Wu Mei)
13. An invitation is not as good as a chance meeting. (Wu Mei)
14. Doing business is like dating, just treat your clients like partners, and business won't be difficult. (Wu Mei)
15. Men can be hit anywhere, except their face. (Wu Wei)
16. Whenever you're ready, I'll always be waiting for you in the same place. (Wu Di)
17. No matter how reckless or wild a man was in his youth, once he truly loves a woman and builds a home, he should wholeheartedly love her and the home. (Fengzi)
18. Maybe there is no one in this world you can count on. (Xiaomeng)
19. Not every man has the courage to pick up what he has lost.
20. I love you, but I'm sorry! (Yang Zixi)
21. No matter how strong a woman appears outwardly, her heart is soft, and she needs a man to cherish her. (Wu Mei)
22. To have bread, you must give up on love. (A Dong)
23. We are all on the fringes of this city. Before we truly wish to integrate into this city, some sacrifices are necessary. This may very well include our love, even if from now on we can no longer possess pure love, that is merely the inescapable fate of people like us. (Xiaomeng)
24. Wise men seize opportunities, sages create opportunities. (Liang Shu)
25. Life in this world revolves around transactions. (Cheng Zong)
26. Women are just the face of men, wealth and status are the backbone of men. A man without women is still a man, but a man without money and status is like a mollusk without its backbone, unable to stand, unable to straighten his back. (Liang Shu)
27. The sign of a man's maturity is knowing how to let go, knowing how to choose. (Liang Shu)
28. Life is a competition, some people don't even have the qualification to enter. (Xiaomeng)
29. Men come in two kinds, one kind likes sex, the other kind likes sex a lot.
30. Material goods are the oxygen of love.
31. I don't believe love doesn't need bread. (Liang Shu)
32. Success means nothing if there is no one to share it with. (Liang Shu)
33. Leave a face for others, why meet death? (Hu Rongqiang)
34. Love is not a rational thing, or rational things are not love.
35. Thugs are not scary, thugs without education are scary.
36. Feelings can only be watered by time, but love is the opposite.
37. After going around in circles, besides a body full of scars, I got nothing. (Yang Zixi)
38. With money leading the way, all obstacles are overcome.
39. Tell me, if I need you, will you appear? (Yang Zixi)
40. Women look at the present, men look at the future.
41. I am a man, she is a woman, I am unmarried, she is unwed. Why can't she be the mother of my child? (Qin Huang)
42. Fool, kiss me. (Wu Mei)
43. A person who keeps dwelling on memories, that shows, he's old.
44. Unmarried men are all children. (Wu Mei)
45. My heart is too small, it can only hold you. (Wu Di)
46. Shi Xiaomeng, starting from July 6, 2006, you are the most important person in my life. Whatever kind of life you lead, I will accompany you. Wherever you go, I will follow you. You are the first man in my life and the last. As long as you don't personally say 'I don't want you' or 'I don't love you', I will never leave you. Nothing can separate us. (Shen Bing)
47. Lin Xia, next life I will definitely marry you as my wife. (Fengzi)
48. Except in dreams, I am always thinking about her. (Fengzi)
49. Things that can be bought with money, even if you want to keep them, you can't. Things that cannot be bought with money, even if you want to take them, you can't. (Shen Bing)
50. When a man has nothing, what can he use to say 'love'? (Xiaomeng)
51. You are in New York, I am in Beijing. In this long separation, I only do one thing - professionally love you. If love could be a profession, how wonderful that would be. I will never quit early, I will never switch jobs. The term is a lifetime. The happiest job in the world is to be your professional lover. (Wu Wei)
52. Some people, some things, can never go back. (Wu Di)
53. To be able to put aside noise and restlessness and pursue a calmness of mind is no easy feat. Once you find it, happiness is not far away. (Wu Wei)
54. Time passes like this. Do you remember yourself ten years ago?