Reading "The Date Tree on the Cliff", I would like to ask how to understand the "tacky" in "shaking off the tacky"

Reading "The Date Tree on the Cliff", I would like to ask how to understand the "tacky" in "shaking off the tacky". The full text is as follows:
It was a high and steep stone cliff in northern Shaanxi. It was so steep that it could not be any steeper. It was straight up and down, as if it was cut by a knife. There was very little soil and grass on the cliff. However, it was unknown when a jujube tree suddenly grew on the cliff in a crack that could not be seen clearly. Normally, the jujube tree would not have any nutrients and water. It would be good enough if it could squeeze out a few leaves and show a little green, but it was contrary to common sense and grew strong and vigorous. Every August and September, red, green, and half-red, half-green dates filled the branches and leaves of the jujube tree, pressing the entire crown down like a colorful waterfall.
Every autumn, this tree of dates was always red and tempting, decorating a large part of the sky. Those who carried baskets and hoes could only raise their necks and sigh at the dates. The people from the city came to travel in bumpy cars. When they suddenly saw the dates, they became excited and jumped out of the car. In the end, they could only raise their necks and sigh at the dates. Their mouths were salivating, and every nerve of theirs was trembling from the teasing, but there was nothing they could do.
There was a stone carving processing site at the foot of the cliff. There were skilled craftsmen from several counties gathered at the site, including old men and young people. The stone lions that they had carved and were currently carving were all vivid and cute, and they were placed everywhere. These folk artists were like a pavilion near the water, so they naturally wanted to pick the good dates from that tree. It was said that a young man among them had extraordinary physical strength. He had once used his full strength to throw a stone into a jujube tree, but only managed to hit two or three dates. "This date has really become the heavenly peach of the Queen Mother!" He cursed as he stared at the jujube tree. As for the jujube tree, it looked at the exasperated young man and shook it three times as if it was deliberately angering him.
A jujube tree had refreshed so many people's eyes, touched so many people's hearts, and swept away so many people's spirits. Some people would still think about it on the way away. People had no way to figure out its background, let alone figure out whether it was frivolous or noble.
When I saw this jujube tree with my own eyes that year, I couldn't help but stop and raise my neck. My hat slipped off my shoulder because of the high angle. My friend said,"What's the use of just looking? If you really want to try it, we can climb up the cliff from the back of the mountain when we have time." Then we really went. After walking for seven or eight miles in a roundabout way, they were sweating profusely and their shirts were completely soaked. Only then did they see the jujube tree at a close distance. Perhaps it was because of our excitement, or perhaps it was the reflection of the dates, our faces were as red as a cloud. That jujube tree really made us want to cheer. The wind on the cliff was very strong, and the sunlight was also very abundant. The wind and sunlight passed through its rough bark and leaves year after year, filling it with alluring vitality. Therefore, the fruit was big and colorful, like a gem. Although we could see every date on the tree clearly and even see a few big ants climbing on the dates, the terrain was too steep. We still couldn't move closer to it. It was a pity that we could only turn back and leave resentfully.
Many years later, when I couldn't help but think of that jujube tree again, I finally stopped being resentful. That was because I reread the Book of Songs:
The reeds and reeds are green, and the white dew is frost. The so-called Yiren was on the other side of the water. The road is long and difficult. Go up the river and follow it, and it's in the middle of the water.
I thought of a modern folk song from northern Shaanxi:
Goat belly towel yo three blue, we meet face to face easy talk difficult. One was on the mountain, while the other was in the ditch. If they couldn't talk, let's wave. I saw a village, but I couldn't see a person. My tearful eggs were thrown into the desert wormwood.
Wasn't the situation created by these immortal folk songs the same as the situation caused by the jujube tree?
Thinking of this, I suddenly felt my life tremble and shake off some of my worldliness. You see, that jujube tree is so beautiful, so tempting, but it is always difficult to touch, always enviable; it always teases you, summons you, but always stays away from you; it is a beauty, a beauty like a flower in the clouds. It was a real jujube tree, but it brought people the realm of poetry, romantic feelings, and aesthetic scenes. It reminds me of the "admiration situation" named by Mr. Qian Zhongshu, which makes me recall it for a long time.

Answer 1

The meaning of the sentence "shaking off the tacky" in "The Date Tree on the Rock Cliff" needed to be understood in context.

Usually,"tacky" referred to the vulgar, vulgar, mediocre, ordinary, etc. in society, while "shaking off" meant getting rid of, eliminating, or weakening this kind of atmosphere. In the novel,"tacky" might refer to the mediocre, cliché, and unoriginal characteristics of the protagonist's life, the people he came into contact with, and the ideas he came into contact with.

Therefore,"shaking off the tacky" could be understood as the protagonist getting rid of the vulgar, vulgar, mediocre, ordinary atmosphere in society through some means such as experience, thinking, reading, etc., becoming unique, novel, valuable, and meaningful, thus becoming an existence different from ordinary people. The whole sentence could be understood as the protagonist shaking off the tacky society through his own efforts to become more unique, outstanding, and valuable.