Miao Ruolan (simplified: 苗若兰, traditional: 苗若蘭, pinyin: Miáo Ruòlán, jyutping: miu4 joek6 laan4), also known as Lan’er (兰儿), was the beautiful and intelligent daughter of Miao Renfeng and Nan Lan in Jin Yong’s Flying Fox of the Snowy Mountain. Despite the bitter feud between their families, she fell in love with Hu Fei, the Flying Fox of the Snowy Mountain.
Biography
Early life
Miao Ruolan was born to Miao Renfeng, the “Golden-faced Buddha” and one of Li Zicheng’s four bodyguards, and Nan Lan, an aristocratic woman. When Miao Ruolan was still a child, her mother left her father for Tian Guinong, leaving Miao Renfeng to raise their daughter alone. Despite this abandonment, Miao Renfeng doted on his daughter, giving her ten times the love he might have otherwise shown.
Unlike her father, Miao Ruolan did not learn martial arts. Instead, she was raised as a refined young lady, skilled in music, poetry, and the arts. She possessed a gentle and elegant demeanor, with a scholarly air that set her apart from the rough-and-tumble martial artists who frequented her father’s world.
Meeting Hu Fei
When Hu Fei arrived at Jade Brush Peak to confront her father, Miao Ruolan was the only one who did not flee in fear. Instead, she calmly welcomed the legendary Flying Fox, serving him wine and playing the qin (古琴) for him. Despite Hu Fei’s fierce appearance—with a thick beard and wild hair—Miao Ruolan was not intimidated.
The two quickly fell in love, sharing poetry and music. Miao Ruolan revealed that she had been thinking about Hu Fei since she was seven years old, when her father first told her the story of Hu Fei’s parents’ tragic death. She had always hoped that the “poor child” had survived and vowed to care for him if he did.
The family feud
Miao Ruolan’s love for Hu Fei was complicated by the century-old feud between their families. Her father, Miao Renfeng, still believed he had killed Hu Fei’s father, Hu Yidao, in a duel. When Miao Renfeng discovered Hu Fei and Miao Ruolan together, he misunderstood the situation and challenged Hu Fei to a duel.
Despite the conflict, Miao Ruolan remained steadfast in her feelings. She told Hu Fei that she wanted to be like his mother—a woman who would stand by her husband through anything—rather than like her own mother, who had abandoned her family.
The ambiguous ending
The novel ends with Hu Fei and Miao Renfeng engaged in a climactic duel on a crumbling cliff. Hu Fei has the opportunity to kill Miao Renfeng but hesitates, torn between his desire for revenge and his love for Miao Ruolan. The novel deliberately leaves the outcome ambiguous, with Miao Ruolan waiting in the snow, holding a bundle containing Hu Fei’s mother’s belongings, wondering if Hu Fei will return to her.
Personality
Miao Ruolan is portrayed as gentle, refined, and intelligent. Despite her lack of martial arts skills, she possesses great inner strength and courage. She is not afraid to stand up for what she believes in, even when facing legendary martial artists. Her love for Hu Fei transcends the family feud, demonstrating her ability to see beyond inherited enmity to the person beneath.
She is also portrayed as compassionate and empathetic, having thought about Hu Fei’s plight since childhood and vowing to care for him. Her character represents the possibility of reconciliation and love overcoming hatred.
Relationships
- Miao Renfeng (Father): Miao Ruolan deeply loves her father, who raised her alone after her mother’s abandonment. She respects his martial arts prowess but does not share his world of violence.
- Nan Lan (Mother): Miao Ruolan’s relationship with her mother is complicated by Nan Lan’s abandonment. Miao Ruolan explicitly states she does not want to be like her mother.
- Hu Fei (Lover): Miao Ruolan falls in love with Hu Fei at first sight, despite their families’ feud. She represents hope for reconciliation between the two families.
Legacy
Miao Ruolan stands as one of Jin Yong’s most gentle and refined female characters. Her character demonstrates that love and understanding can transcend generations of hatred. The ambiguous ending of Flying Fox of the Snowy Mountain, with Miao Ruolan waiting for Hu Fei’s return, has become one of the most discussed aspects of Jin Yong’s work, symbolizing the eternal question of whether love can truly overcome revenge.