In 1967, a quiet afternoon on Long Island in the United States was suddenly shattered by the honking of ambulance horns. An 87-year-old Chinese man was rushed to the hospital. He is Kong Xiangxi, a prominent member of the Kuomintang and a financial tycoon. At this time, he is already a candle in the wind. In the last moments of his life, the former powerful man revealed his deep concern about his family's legacy.
Kuomintang bigwig Kong Xiangxi: From the peak of power to a foreign country
Kong Xiangxi was a prominent figure in the Republic of China, not only serving as Minister of Finance and Executive Yuan, but also Chiang Kai-shek's brother-in-law. During the Anti-Japanese War, he single-handedly controlled the financial lifeblood of the Nationalist Government. But the good times did not last long, and after the victory of the Anti-Japanese War in 1945, he was dismissed by Chiang Kai-shek.
Since then, Kong Xiangxi's life has started a wandering journey. first lived a crowded life in Nanjing, and then went to United States. But he never let go of his attachment to his homeland, and in 1947, he returned to his hometown in Shanxi to worship his ancestors.
In the decades that followed, he traveled back and forth between the United States, Taiwan, and the United States, never finding a true sense of belonging.
The Fall of the Wealthy: Kong Xiangxi's Crisis in His Later Years
In his later years, Kong Xiangxi faced two major crises: one was that his health was deteriorating, and the other was that there was no successor. This once called for wind and rain, but now he can only cough on the sickbed. What made him even more anxious was that although he had many children, none of them could satisfy him.
The eldest daughter Kong Lingyi is too willful, and the second daughter is even more gay. The eldest son Kong Lingkan spends all day drinking, and the youngest son Kong Lingjie is promising, but he married a foreign daughter-in-law. In Kong Xiangxi's view, none of these children are reliable and cannot inherit his family business and incense.
Descendants of the Confucian family: the children of the Confucian family and the elite returnees
Kong Xiangxi's children have their own ways of living. The eldest daughter, Kong Lingyi, has been a rude and willful lord since she was a child, and when she grew up, she didn't listen to her parents, so she found a wishful husband. The second daughter was even more different, not only wearing men's clothes, but also having homosexual tendencies, which was a shocking thing at the time.
The two sons are even more interesting. The eldest son, Kong Lingkan, is simply a model of a gentleman, who knows how to eat, drink and be merry all day long. The youngest son, Kong Lingjie, was a bit promising, worked as a diplomat, and later started an oil business in United States and made a lot of money. But he married an United States star as his wife, which made it difficult for the old Kongtou.
Kong Xiangxi originally thought that as long as his sons could keep the family business he left behind. But the reality slapped him in the face hard, the eldest son had no children, and the younger son gave birth to a mixed-race grandson, but this could not be regarded as a serious "Kong family" in Kong Xiangxi's eyes.
Homesickness: Kong Xiangxi's last days
In 1960, when Kong Xiangxi celebrated his 80th birthday in New York, his heart was already full of longing for his hometown. He and his wife, Song Ailing, often discussed whether to return to China, but they were worried that they would be arrested if they returned. The elderly couple was caught in a dilemma.
In 1962, the two finally made up their minds to return to China. But they can only go to Taiwan, not their hometown in Shanxi. When he arrived in Taiwan, Kong Xiangxi found himself like an outsider. Chiang Kai-shek offered him a vacant position, but he knew he had been completely marginalized.
After living in Taiwan for three years, Kong decided to return to United States. At this time, he was 86 years old and his health was deteriorating. His family persuaded him not to toss, but he and his wife still insisted on leaving.
In February 1966, Kong Xiangxi and his wife embarked on a flight to United States again. They knew in their hearts that this would probably be the last long trip. After returning to the United States, Kong Xiangxi's physical condition deteriorated sharply.
In 1967, Kong Xiangxi was admitted to the hospital. On the hospital bed, he finally expressed the regret in his heart: "Is the incense of the Kong family going to break?" This sentence silenced everyone present.
Kong Xiangxi's concern is not unreasonable. His eldest son had no children, and the younger son, although he had grandchildren, was a mixed race. In Kong Xiangxi's view, this grandson cannot be regarded as an authentic descendant of the Kong family at all. He was worried that after his death, no one would be able to return to his hometown in Shanxi to worship his ancestors and inherit the traditions of the Confucian family.
At the last moment of his life, Kong Xiangxi finally understood that the power and wealth he pursued in this life had become meaningless in the face of death. The only thing he can't let go of is the attachment to his homeland and the worry about his family inheritance.
Kong Xiangxi, to put it bluntly, is a typical bureaucratic capitalist. During his reign, he was corrupt and amassed a great deal of wealth. But in his later years, he found that no amount of money could buy a sense of belonging.
He spent his life in pursuit of power and wealth, only to end up in exile. He tells us that money and status do not lead to true happiness. In contrast, family and cultural heritage are more cherished.
Today's young people may think that Kong Xiangxi's ideas are old-fashioned. But from another perspective, his dedication to family inheritance actually reflects the unique cultural genes of Chinese. In the era of globalization, we must not only keep pace with the times, but also remember our roots. #头条首发大赛#