I recently read a story from Shanghai about Guo Wanying’s life, and from a certain angle, it is a microcosm of the entire era.

Born in Australia in 1909, she was the daughter of Guo Biao, a Chinese overseas entrepreneur. Later, he and his brothers founded Yong’an Department Store, turning it into a landmark on Nanjing Road. Guo Wanying studied at a noble girls’ school, Zhongxi Nüxue (Western Girls’ School). She was a schoolmate of the three sisters of the Song clan. At 19, she refused the marriage arranged by her family and insisted on going north to study psychology at Yenching University. It was this streak of independence that later led her at Yenching University to meet Wu Yuxiang, a descendant of Lin Zexu—an outstanding student from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who would become her husband.

In 1934, the “Shanghai wedding with 100 tables” caused a sensation. But after the wedding, her life did not turn out as smooth as she had imagined. Wu Yuxiang was flirtatious and fond of gambling; he even had an affair during her pregnancy and also left behind a debt of 140,000 taels in great arrears. Guo Wanying chose to be understanding and to hold the marriage together, yet she carried the weight of the marriage alone.

In 1949, the family moved far away to the United States, but Guo Wanying did not go with them. She was attached to her homeland and chose to stay in Shanghai. In 1957, her husband died of illness, leaving behind debts and two children. As a “capitalist’s miss,” her salary fell sharply from 148 yuan to 23 yuan, and she was sent to do hard work such as repairing roads and scooping manure. Living in a draughty hut of only 7 square meters, after the 23-yuan monthly wage, she deducted 15 yuan for her son’s living expenses; then she got by on just 6 yuan, often having scallion noodles in plain broth that cost only 8 fen as meals.

She sold her belongings to repay the huge debts; even when her wedding dress was confiscated, she did not complain. Her children later went to the United States. When Guo Wanying was over 80 years old, she lived alone in a room without heating, yet she always insisted on keeping herself neat and tidy. When foreign media tried to use her suffering to make headlines, she refused. She brewed tea in an enamel mug and steamed cakes in an aluminum pot, living her days with dignity.

In 1998, at the age of 89, Guo Wanying passed away. She donated her body and left no ashes. From the Yong’an fourth young lady to a woman who cleared mud, through wind and rain, she held on to her integrity and character. True nobility has nothing to do with wealth; it lies in calm composure and steadfastness when facing hardship. Guo Wanying spent her whole life giving meaning to these words, and she also became an immortal legend of Shanghai.