Chapter 41 Why is Zeng Xianzi so "infatuated"?
When I first arrived in Hong Kong, I was “moved” everywhere in this society and this group of people. Among all the “movements”, there must be the novelty of “Grandma Liu entered the Grand View Garden” and a sudden “civilized feast” , so that I, a hungry person, couldn't eat for a while, and I packed a bag, showing off everywhere, and thinking about it.However, although Hong Kong is the most remote island in southern China, it has been under the impact of Western thought and ethics for more than a hundred years, but the "compatriots" here have a strong sense of "self-consciousness" towards the East and the nation. I didn't think about it at all, and it seems that I never counted on it.
At the beginning of 2006, I was once again commissioned to interview a rich man in Hong Kong who is not considered a "big rich" - Zeng Xianzi, a member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.Mr. Zeng, the earliest impression of him in the mainland is "Goldlion", and I am only familiar with the advertisement of "Goldlion-a man's world" to Mr. Zeng.But when I came to Hong Kong, I happened to see a book about Zeng Xianzi's biography, and I read it casually all night. After reading it, I realized that "Goldlion" was not a top brand in Hong Kong. He is not the richest person in Hong Kong, but this Hakka who grew up in Meixian, Guangdong, has supported the motherland for decades, especially the "gratitude" he has embraced throughout his life, which is admirable——
In the 1950s, the mainland economy was still in a very difficult period. Zeng Xianzi grew up in poverty and his father passed away prematurely. "At that time, the cadres who came to the countryside from the county saw that I was very eager to learn and I was not stupid, so they persuaded the local school to accept me to study for free, so that when I was in high school, I was taller than other students in the class. one end."
Mr. Zeng told me in an interview that the reason why he has not become illiterate in his life is that the leaders of his hometown saved him, and the party and the country cultivated him along the way: he was allowed to go to elementary school and middle school for free, and then let him finish reading for free the University.So Mr. Zeng can't forget the motherland.
In 1963, Zeng Xianzi had just worked in the mainland for a year after graduating from university. His uncle needed him to inherit his business and part of his estate in Thailand, and Mr. Zeng agreed.He told me that when he came to Shenzhen that year and left the motherland through Luohu Port, the last thing he saw before leaving was the five-star red flag flying over Luohu Port. One gouging made Mr. Zeng understand what guilt is, and he thought of the motherland and raised him all the way. However, he had just graduated and had not had time to make much contribution to the country, so he took the whole family to a foreign land.At that moment, he covered his bleeding heart with his hands, turned to face north, and made an iron oath to the sky.
I don’t know if I’m not in Hong Kong. Half a century ago, Hong Kong’s local population was actually small. Now about two-thirds of the permanent residents are actually old immigrants who migrated from the mainland.Many Hong Kong "compatriots" still have a strong sense of "individuality" towards the mainland until today. That is their root and the source of their blood. Therefore, they recognize the Chinese nation, and it is impossible not to deny it.
My daughter came to Hong Kong to visit my mother after I was resident in Hong Kong, and one day she asked me such a question: "Mom, there are so many rich people in Hong Kong, how do these rich people get rich? Did they all inherit the inheritance?" I laughed at my daughter, but in fact, I just realized not long ago: the vast majority of rich people in Hong Kong today did not rely on inheritance, but started from scratch in their early years, relying on their own hardships Entrepreneurship, desperate struggle.After Mr. Zeng went to Thailand in 1963, his uncle had an inheritance, but he didn’t inherit it. He didn’t want to make his uncles and nephews lose their affection because of the division of family and money.With only 6,000 Hong Kong dollars, he brought his family to Hong Kong. He raised his three sons in Hong Kong by making ties by hand, and made his reputation as "Goldlion" famous. " ranks.
Who would have thought that the tie workshop rented by Zeng Xianzi when he first came to Hong Kong was less than ten square meters?
Who would believe that in order to support his family, Mr. Zeng wears stars and wears the moon, and carries a burden to sell in the streets every day. He makes ties in many places and goes out to sell them during the day. He sells 6 dozen a day and earns 50 yuan. Even if the moon is closed, he can’t go home. ?
When I interviewed Mr. Zeng that day, the old man told me unabashedly: Before 1972, he understood that success is to be honest with others first.At the beginning of the street stall, he wanted to ask someone to allocate a small space for him to sell ties, but he had to tell the truth to the uncle and aunt, saying that he could not sell many ties, and my family had no rice the next day Afterwards, in order to make the well-known big merchants at that time fancy his handmade products, the big guys were chatting and playing cards on the boat, while he was watching tea and handing cigarettes...
None of the real "big money" in Hong Kong today did not leave behind a series of ups and downs and sorrows when they started their business. However, people climbed out of the suffering, some regarded wealth as their life, and were stingy, while others did not forget to be kind and considerate. world.Most of the wealthy people in Hong Kong belong to the latter. I don’t know why. Compared with the situation in the Mainland, the Mainland’s reform and opening up has a history of nearly 30 years. Batch after batch of rich people have rounded their stomachs and opened up good cars. Cars and living in luxury houses, but every time a disaster occurs, the rich in Hong Kong donate generously one by one, but the "big bellies" in the mainland have long since disappeared.
After 1972, Zeng Xianzi's "Goldlion" became a household name in Hong Kong with the advertisement "Men's World", and wealth began to quietly open a door to him. However, almost at the same time, he left Luohu ten years ago, turned to face north, The "iron oath" I made to God - I must repay the motherland, so I started to fulfill it:
In 1978, regardless of whether the business has been stable since then, regardless of the storm, according to the regulations he made for himself: he must spend a certain amount of money every year to support the construction of his hometown and donate to education in the mainland.Since then, Mr. Zeng until today, there has never been a year or a time when "what you say doesn't count".
Why does Mr. Zeng always feel motivated to work hard to start a business and make a fortune, as if it is not all for himself, for the good life of his family?During the interview, Mr. Zeng was overjoyed to hear my doubts. He said, "You really asked my heart when you asked such a question. Being rich alone is not the pursuit of happiness in my entire life. My family has food, I have clothes to wear, a car, and a house, but when I see my folks, they are as old as me, and every time I go home, I will see that they are still farming in the fields, and I am worried. If there were no People help me find a way to finish school, read books, and gain knowledge. I am afraid I will be like them today? So when I have a little savings in Hong Kong, I must help others, especially to repay the kindness In my hometown and country..."
After leaving Mr. Zeng, I meditated in my heart for a few days: Zeng Xianzi is not like the rich people I remembered when I was a child. Once a person becomes rich, his heart changes.Most rich people in Hong Kong are willing to lend a helping hand when they see others in poverty. What kind of power is used to educate and influence this general social atmosphere?If kindness cannot be summoned by some power, but must be germinated and established through one's own experience, then I have found a basis, and this "foundation" is the "rich people" in Hong Kong. Most of them rely on their own hard work and With the help of others, I got rid of the embarrassment step by step from poverty. No one here "gets rich overnight", and no one gets rich because of special policy benefits or unexpected "benefits" such as "system changes". "Fishing in troubled waters" and "ingenious workmanship", so they know how to "do not forget to be kind and show compassion to the world".
After all, infatuated devotion is not a charity, let alone a hobby, but a tube of blood and deep affection that is constantly drawn from the bottom of the heart of a person who knows how to repay his kindness...