Chapter 2 preamble
Ms. Hu Xin, a well-known writer and professor of the Chinese Department of Nanchang University, wrote a biography for me. This was decided after many meetings and talks with her.Of course, I have read Professor Hu Xin's works, and they were specially introduced by President Pan Jiluan of Nanchang University, and I highly recommend Ms. Hu.But I was a little hesitant at the beginning, because I had contacted Chinese and English writers, and several of them wanted to write about my life, but I didn't agree.The main reason is that I am more pragmatic in my life, and I don’t like self-promotion; the other is the work I have done for more than 30 years, the major premise of the state that I have promoted, and the economic, cultural, and political aspects of the United States and abroad. Negotiations on this aspect are inevitably complicated, and besides the initial contact between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, which led to Taiwan compatriots returning to the mainland to visit relatives, cross-strait trade cooperation, etc., I silently pioneered the way. This is to avoid confusion and to avoid envy.People who don't do things can't make mistakes, and those who want to do things can't avoid mistakes.It is best not to talk about doing something and completing a job, and let others take the credit.For more than 30 years, I have been able to occupy a place in the United States. Although I have seen all the vicissitudes of life, the vicissitudes of life, and the ups and downs of my career, I can continue to work with a high profile as much as possible.In the United States, there are several college students who want to write their doctoral dissertations with me as the theme. I only agreed to one, a doctoral researcher in the History Department of Washington University in Missouri. The title of the thesis is "Chen Xiangmei's Political Career and Its Influence" is still under research.
As a woman of Chinese descent, it is not easy for me to gain a foothold and achieve success in the United States.I can say one thing frankly: I did not live in vain.
I was born in Beijing, and I spent my primary, middle and university years in the turmoil and displacement of China.My mother died young, and I had my grandma, grandparents, and my elder sister to help my four younger sisters. I have experienced national difficulties and family difficulties, and grew up amid hardships. This year, 1995, marks the 50th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and China's Anti-Japanese War. As a student in exile during the Anti-Japanese War, I feel the deepest emotion about this historical moment, and I cannot forget the past. Although the Anti-Japanese War ended in 1946, the Chinese Civil War followed. At that time, I was already the first female reporter of the Central News Agency. I witnessed the division of China and the disasters of the common people. I made a wish to myself that I would have a little success in the future. If it is successful, we must make some contributions to the suffering Chinese people. In the winter of 1947, I married General Chennault, the leader of the American Flying Tigers and the commander of the Fourteenth Air Force of the United States, in Shanghai.Although this Sino-American marriage lasted only a short ten years, and he was more than 30 years older than me, our union is full of indescribable affection.After his death, I wrote a marriage story in English. The book became one of the top ten bestsellers recommended by the New York Times immediately after it was published in January, and 22 editions were published in the United States.Later, there were several Chinese translations, titled "A Thousand Springs".In the 1970s, Taiwan Television Company produced a series based on the Chinese translation, which was broadcast in prime time, with a total of 20 episodes, and was well received.Ms. Wang Zhilei, a well-known singer, was responsible for singing the theme song "A Thousand Springs" written by me, and won a grand prize for singing this song. I have lived in Taiwan for ten years, and I have had joys and sorrows, so I won't repeat it here, and others will comment on it.
Since I settled in Washington, USA in 1960 and participated in politics, I have experienced many battles, with extraordinary achievements, legends with ups and downs, and ordinary people's experiences, pains and joys.I myself have written many Chinese and English books describing these ordinary or extraordinary stories.I once said: Throughout the ages, emperors, pawns, heroes and beauties have always been unable to escape the turbulent waves of the world situation, nor can they escape the marks of the years. Only shallow affection and endless love are the most soul-stirring.Touching stories are always inseparable from the joys and sorrows of the world, personal joy and sorrow, and sometimes they are also a portrayal of historical fragments. I am an ordinary woman, but I have many extraordinary experiences. I think these experiences may arouse readers' curiosity and even resonance. Although Ms. Hu Xin and I have only known each other for more than two years, we had the opportunity to meet and talk in Nanchang and Beijing. Last year in Nanchang, we went to Jinggangshan together to trace the traces of history.Get together for a few days, get on the road in the car, have breakfast, lunch and dinner, they can be said to be inseparable.Ms. Hu Xin brought a tape recorder and a notebook, and sometimes they chatted for two or three hours.And lying on the bed late at night and talking on the phone with her, she asked me and answered, very congenial.One night, probably in Nanchang, we talked on the phone for two or three hours, and I remember it was three o'clock in the morning when I hung up the phone.Life is destined.Ms. Hu Xin writes earnestly and well, and I can say that I have fully cooperated. Over the past ten years, he has visited China several times every year.In fact, it is not just a visit, but to spare no effort, energy and time to assist the four modernizations of the motherland from all aspects.Accumulating my life's experience, I deeply feel the urgent need to promote China's education cause, which is the basis and key for the dragon to take off, and we must have a long-term vision.So far, ten cities in China have established my Chen Xiangmei Education Fund. Every year on Teacher's Day, I go to each city to present awards in person from the beginning of September to the end of September.Excellent teachers, professors, and outstanding students can receive medals and bonuses of several thousand or even ten or twenty thousand yuan.This is throwing bricks to attract jade, hoping that the Chinese will pay attention to education, and it will take ten years to cultivate trees and one hundred years to cultivate people.In the past five years, the achievements have been gratifying, and I am also very pleased. The Chinese are an amazing nation.Although I live and work in the United States, I have the opportunity to travel around the world, and I have a lot of time to visit and research in Asia. I have frequent and close contacts with both sides of the Taiwan Strait. China is my motherland, where my roots are, and my blood is connected. I have never been separated from journalism and writing, so I have a deeper understanding of China and the trials and challenges faced by the Chinese people. Ms. Hu Xin wrote my life. I think her main purpose is to share with the readers the ordinary and extraordinary struggles and experiences of my life. Looking back on the journey a woman has traveled in seventy years, joys and sorrows, Success and loss are intertwined, but I can say that I have no regrets.The editor of the Writer's Publishing House once asked me, how well did Ms. Hu Xin write about you?I replied that I wrote seven or eight points.Perhaps readers can get some inspiration and empathy from her words. On the occasion of this book, I thank Ms. Hussin and the editors at Writers Press for their efforts.
I was born in Beijing, and I spent my primary, middle and university years in the turmoil and displacement of China.My mother died young, and I had my grandma, grandparents, and my elder sister to help my four younger sisters. I have experienced national difficulties and family difficulties, and grew up amid hardships. This year, 1995, marks the 50th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and China's Anti-Japanese War. As a student in exile during the Anti-Japanese War, I feel the deepest emotion about this historical moment, and I cannot forget the past. Although the Anti-Japanese War ended in 1946, the Chinese Civil War followed. At that time, I was already the first female reporter of the Central News Agency. I witnessed the division of China and the disasters of the common people. I made a wish to myself that I would have a little success in the future. If it is successful, we must make some contributions to the suffering Chinese people. In the winter of 1947, I married General Chennault, the leader of the American Flying Tigers and the commander of the Fourteenth Air Force of the United States, in Shanghai.Although this Sino-American marriage lasted only a short ten years, and he was more than 30 years older than me, our union is full of indescribable affection.After his death, I wrote a marriage story in English. The book became one of the top ten bestsellers recommended by the New York Times immediately after it was published in January, and 22 editions were published in the United States.Later, there were several Chinese translations, titled "A Thousand Springs".In the 1970s, Taiwan Television Company produced a series based on the Chinese translation, which was broadcast in prime time, with a total of 20 episodes, and was well received.Ms. Wang Zhilei, a well-known singer, was responsible for singing the theme song "A Thousand Springs" written by me, and won a grand prize for singing this song. I have lived in Taiwan for ten years, and I have had joys and sorrows, so I won't repeat it here, and others will comment on it.
Since I settled in Washington, USA in 1960 and participated in politics, I have experienced many battles, with extraordinary achievements, legends with ups and downs, and ordinary people's experiences, pains and joys.I myself have written many Chinese and English books describing these ordinary or extraordinary stories.I once said: Throughout the ages, emperors, pawns, heroes and beauties have always been unable to escape the turbulent waves of the world situation, nor can they escape the marks of the years. Only shallow affection and endless love are the most soul-stirring.Touching stories are always inseparable from the joys and sorrows of the world, personal joy and sorrow, and sometimes they are also a portrayal of historical fragments. I am an ordinary woman, but I have many extraordinary experiences. I think these experiences may arouse readers' curiosity and even resonance. Although Ms. Hu Xin and I have only known each other for more than two years, we had the opportunity to meet and talk in Nanchang and Beijing. Last year in Nanchang, we went to Jinggangshan together to trace the traces of history.Get together for a few days, get on the road in the car, have breakfast, lunch and dinner, they can be said to be inseparable.Ms. Hu Xin brought a tape recorder and a notebook, and sometimes they chatted for two or three hours.And lying on the bed late at night and talking on the phone with her, she asked me and answered, very congenial.One night, probably in Nanchang, we talked on the phone for two or three hours, and I remember it was three o'clock in the morning when I hung up the phone.Life is destined.Ms. Hu Xin writes earnestly and well, and I can say that I have fully cooperated. Over the past ten years, he has visited China several times every year.In fact, it is not just a visit, but to spare no effort, energy and time to assist the four modernizations of the motherland from all aspects.Accumulating my life's experience, I deeply feel the urgent need to promote China's education cause, which is the basis and key for the dragon to take off, and we must have a long-term vision.So far, ten cities in China have established my Chen Xiangmei Education Fund. Every year on Teacher's Day, I go to each city to present awards in person from the beginning of September to the end of September.Excellent teachers, professors, and outstanding students can receive medals and bonuses of several thousand or even ten or twenty thousand yuan.This is throwing bricks to attract jade, hoping that the Chinese will pay attention to education, and it will take ten years to cultivate trees and one hundred years to cultivate people.In the past five years, the achievements have been gratifying, and I am also very pleased. The Chinese are an amazing nation.Although I live and work in the United States, I have the opportunity to travel around the world, and I have a lot of time to visit and research in Asia. I have frequent and close contacts with both sides of the Taiwan Strait. China is my motherland, where my roots are, and my blood is connected. I have never been separated from journalism and writing, so I have a deeper understanding of China and the trials and challenges faced by the Chinese people. Ms. Hu Xin wrote my life. I think her main purpose is to share with the readers the ordinary and extraordinary struggles and experiences of my life. Looking back on the journey a woman has traveled in seventy years, joys and sorrows, Success and loss are intertwined, but I can say that I have no regrets.The editor of the Writer's Publishing House once asked me, how well did Ms. Hu Xin write about you?I replied that I wrote seven or eight points.Perhaps readers can get some inspiration and empathy from her words. On the occasion of this book, I thank Ms. Hussin and the editors at Writers Press for their efforts.