On this day, Deng Xiaoping hosted a banquet for the American delegation at Diaoyutai.
After exchanging pleasantries, everyone entered the banquet hall, and Deng Xiaoping specially invited a good-looking Ms. China to sit at the head of the American delegation. This woman is Chen Xiangmei.
At that time, Chen Xiangmei, as the special envoy of President Reagan, went to China with the American delegation. This time, she brought a personal letter from President Reagan to Comrade Deng Xiaoping. Reagan said in the letter: "I will continue the China policy of previous American administrations, and the Taiwan Province policy will not change much. Please rest assured the China government. "
Deng Xiaoping smiled when he saw the letter. He insisted that Chen Xiangmei sit on the head of the American delegation and humorously said, "There are one hundred senators in the United States, but there is only one Chen Xiangmei in the world."
Then, as a native of China, how did Chen Xiangmei become the confidant of the President of the United States in that turbulent era of international relations? How did you devote your life to Sino-US cooperation? What kind of feelings does she have for her motherland?
Today, I will introduce Chen Xiangmei to you, a "first-class woman".
1925 On June 23rd, a baby girl was born in Peking Union Medical College Hospital.
The baby girl's name is Chen Xiangmei.
Although she was born in a turbulent era, she was lucky to be born in a well-off family. Chen Xiangmei's grandfather was in business when he was young, and he was in high spirits in the market. He used to be the director of China Merchants Bureau in China, and met Liao Fengshu, Chen Xiangmei's grandfather.
The two are like-minded and hit it off at first sight. It happened that their wives were pregnant at that time, so the two sides agreed to get married if there was a man and a woman in the future. Later, Chen Jia's son was named Chen Yingrong, and Liao Jia's daughter was named Liao Xiangci.
Chen Yingrong lost his father at the age of thirteen and was sent by his mother to study in London, England. When he was young, he was modest and enterprising, and his academic performance was excellent. He first obtained a doctorate in law from Oxford University, England, and then a doctorate in philosophy from Columbia University, USA.
Liao Xiangci went to school in Europe with his brother and sister since childhood, studied music and painting in England, France and Italy successively, and fell in love with Europe.
It can be seen that both of them have experience in studying abroad.
Chen Yingrong suffered a lot when he was young. He was sensible early, so he was able to save money. However, Liao Xiang's ci was spoiled from childhood and never indulged in spending money. He often spends a lot of money in casinos.
They have completely different values, so they are not suitable to live together as a family. But as adults, they got married under the arrangement of Liao Fengshu.
After marriage, Chen Yingrong and Liao Xiangci had six children. When the eldest daughter Chen Xiangju (later renamed Chen Jingyi because she didn't like the name) was born, her family didn't care about gender, only cared about happiness, and regarded it as the apple of her eye.
However, when the second daughter was born four years later, Chen couldn't see a happy expression on his face, because feudal thoughts were still bound, and he longed for a boy who could "carry on the family line".
On the contrary, Chen Yingrong and Liao Xiangci gave birth to six children, all daughters. Gossip has spread to Chen from time to time, saying that Chen has six "black sheep".
Chen Xiangmei remembers clearly that when six sisters were born, Father Chen Yingrong came to their room and said sadly, "Your mother gave birth to another sister."
Chen Xiangmei disliked his father's feudal thoughts, but he was too young to say anything to refute them.
Because of this, Chen Xiangmei was disliked by his father since he was a child, and Chen Yingrong would find fault with Chen Xiangmei from time to time.
And this unfair treatment makes Chen Xiangmei more motivated. She works hard at school and wins the first place everywhere. She is a headmaster. She just wants to prove to her father with her own practical actions that women are better than men. During this period, Chen Xiangmei fell in love with literature and had a good English foundation.
Later, his father, Chen Yingrong, was appointed consul in San Francisco and went to the United States, leaving only seven mothers and daughters at home. I thought life would go on like this, but soon, the quiet life was swallowed up by the war.
1on July 7, 937, Japan provoked trouble and launched a war. Beijing soon fell, Chen Xiangmei's home was no longer safe, and seven mothers and daughters fled to Hongkong. Four years later, Hong Kong was occupied by the Japanese army, and my mother died at this time. Chen Yingrong, far away from the other side of the ocean, said that during the war, his leave from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was not approved, and he didn't even see his wife for the last time.
Since then, Chen Xiangmei and her five sisters have been on their own.
At that time, Hong Kong was no longer a safe place to live, so they took the time to get the exit permit. 1In June, 942, they boarded a ship from Hong Kong to Macau, returned to the mainland again, and then traveled to many places, passing through Zhanjiang, Yulin, Guilin and Chongqing, and arrived in Kunming with the help of their father and good friend Chennault.
The flight was difficult and tortuous. Chen Xiangmei contracted malaria and dysentery in the process of tossing and turning, but she drank Chinese medicine several times and survived with tenacious perseverance. Chen Xiangmei deeply felt that everyone is responsible for the rise and fall of the world, and the life and death of an individual is closely related to the life and death of a country. She is determined to serve her motherland.
After coming to Kunming, Chen Xiangmei entered Lingnan University for further study. After graduation, she became the assistant editor of Kunming Branch of Central News Agency, responsible for collecting and writing cultural and educational information, and was then sent to the front to interview the US military.
In this interview, love also came quietly.
Chennault is an American, a tenacious man with outstanding military talent. 1936, Song Meiling appointed Chennault as China air force consultant to help establish China air force. Under Chennault's leadership, the Flying Tigers won many battles and created many outstanding achievements. People call him "Flying Tiger".
Chen Xiangmei was very nervous about interviewing such a soldier with outstanding military achievements, but when she arrived at the scene, she threw her nervous thoughts out of her mind because she was deeply attracted by Chennault's words.
Chennault greeted Chen Xiangmei with a smile. He didn't talk about military and work, but talked about the dark castle. He said that Chen Yingrong recently wrote to herself asking about the recent situation of her sister Jing Yi. Chen Xiangmei remembered that Chennault was a good friend of his father, and he had taken care of him. Sister Chen Jingyi also works as a nurse in the 1st14th Air Force.
Chen Xiangmei didn't expect the high-ranking general to remember himself and his family, and the tense string in his heart slowly loosened. Chen Xiangmei communicates with Chennault in fluent English. This time, they talked very well and made an appointment to have tea together next time.
With the first experience, the interview went smoothly and the contact between the two became frequent. Chen Xiangmei gradually learned about Chennault's life experience and personality. The more Chen Xiangmei knows, the more he admires this humorous, brave and heroic man.
And Chennault's heart also gives birth to a different feeling. The lively, lovely and knowledgeable girl slowly took root in her heart. Chen Xiangmei knew that Chennault had a wife and children abroad, so he never dared to express his inner love directly.
1In July, 945, Chennault retired from the US Army. Many people came here to say goodbye to Chennault, and Chen Xiangmei was the last one to interview Chennault. Chen Xiangmei choked back unspeakable feelings and sadness, bowed his head and said to Chennault, "General, I will see you off at the airport tomorrow!"
Chennault stepped forward to hold Chen Xiangmei's hand tightly and whispered meaningfully, "But going somewhere else may not be the best way."
I haven't seen each other for months, and they already miss each other very much, holding hands tightly.
That night, Chennault invited Chen Xiangmei to dinner, and Chen Xiangmei nodded with a smile. Night enveloped Shanghai, and the two of them had dinner in an international hotel. Chennault suddenly let go of his hand, gentle eyes moving with light waves. He stared at Chen Xiangmei, his lips slightly parted, he breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Xiang Mei, I have something important to tell you. I am already a free man. "
Chen Xiangmei was surprised and said strangely, "You mean you and your wife ..."
"Yes, we divorced because we lived in different worlds for a long time." Chennault suddenly got up. He held Chen Xiangmei's hand tightly and said excitedly, "Now I can tell you that I think you must know that I love you and I want you to marry me."
Chen Xiangmei suddenly felt dizzy. In the months with Chennault, she has seen her heart and realized that she has fallen in love with this man. But when she heard Chennault's confession, she was deeply troubled. She lowered her eyes and whispered, "Please give me some time, General. I need time to think about it. "
Chen Xiangmei has to worry. In China in the 1940s, it was unthinkable to marry a foreigner. What's more, Chennault is 32 years older than himself. Even if he doesn't care about the age gap, can his family accept it?
Chennault knew Chen Xiangmei's concerns. He encouraged Chen Xiangmei to regard marriage as a challenge and try to change the attitude of his family. Chennault knew it was difficult to get the consent of his friend Chen Yingrong, so he changed his direction and planned to "attack" Chen Xiangmei's grandfather and grandmother.
So Chen Xiangmei took Chennault to the place where his grandfather and grandmother lived. Knowing that Chen Xiangmei's grandfather likes to play bridge, Chennault often plays bridge with the old man. Chennault plays bridge well, but he loses to the old man on purpose every time.
After a long time, Chennault's perseverance and gentleness touched Chen Xiangmei's grandfather and grandmother, and finally agreed to Chennault's marriage with Chen Xiangmei.
Chennault and Chen Xiangmei are getting married, and the news reached the ears of Chen Yingrong on the other side of the ocean. He heard about it and came back from America without saying anything. He went straight to his daughter, left Chennault aside and said with an expression, "I won't allow you two to be together!" " You two are too different in age to be suitable! "
Chen Xiangmei didn't change her face in the face of her father's reprimand. She knew that her father would turn against her because of the age difference, but she still said in a low but very firm tone, "I would rather spend five years or 10 years with someone I love than spend my whole life with someone I'm not interested in."
When Chen Yingrong heard her daughter's words, she knew she couldn't change her mind, so she bowed her head and silently agreed.
1947 1 February 2, 20081day, Chen Xiangmei and Chennault got married in Shanghai. Married life is very happy. Their love only increased, and they gave birth to two beautiful daughters. They both vowed to be together for life.
Seeing that the days are getting more and more moist, bad luck is quietly coming. ......
/kloc-in the summer of 0/956, Chen Xiangmei and Chennault returned to Chennault's hometown with their two daughters. Chennault had bronchitis before, and he didn't care before, but this year, bronchitis deteriorated sharply and he coughed every day.
In early August, when Chennault had a routine physical examination in the US military hospital in Washington, the doctor found that there were black spots in his lungs, which needed immediate surgical removal. When Chennault underwent surgery, Chen Xiangmei was afraid to leave the door of the operating room. After the operation, the attending physician told Chen Xiangmei that the black spot in Chennault's lung was cancer, which has been completely removed, but it may recur.
Hearing the doctor's words, Chen Xiangmei almost collapsed.
Since then, Chen Xiangmei has taken care of Chennault's body with trepidation.
In a blink of an eye, time came1in the summer of 957, the celebration of the 59th anniversary of the founding of the US Army was held in Washington. Chennault was elected as one of the top ten leaders of the US Air Force, and he took Chen Xiangmei to the celebration.
After the celebration, bad news came from the hospital. Chennault's lungs have black spots again, and his cancer has recurred. He still has three to six months to live. Chen Xiangmei was filled with tears and grief after hearing the news, but Chennault was comforting her, as if she had just heard an ordinary news.
1July, 958, Chennault left Chen Xiangmei forever.
"There are red beans in linglong dice. You know how much you miss them." Chen Xiangmei planted a red bean in front of Chennault's grave to show his love for them.
In middle age, Chen Xiangmei suffered the loss of her husband. She looked at her two daughters under the age of ten, endured the illness and took them to Washington, DC, where she got a job at the University of Georgia and became the head of a small department.
Americans in the 1960 s had serious racial discrimination in their bones. Although Chen Xiangmei is the wife of General Chennault, as a yellow race, she is often treated unfairly. For example, the school gave its only parking space to its white assistant.
At that time, there was a presidential election in the United States, and the Democratic Party, communist party and communist party were all striving for the support of ethnic minorities. Both sides invited Chen Xiangmei to the party. In this regard, Chen Xiangmei only said: "Who can help me get my parking space back, I will join which party."
Finally, Chen Xiangmei joined the * * * and the party.
In this way, Chen Xiangmei officially entered American politics.
In the American presidential election from 65438 to 0959, Chen Xiangmei waved the flag and shouted for the * * * and the Party. Although * * and party candidates Nixon and Rockefeller both lost the election, Chen Xiangmei's outstanding performance won unanimous recognition in the political arena.
From 65438 to 0963, Chen Xiangmei was appointed by Kennedy to work in the White House, becoming the first China citizen to enter the White House. Since then, Chen Xiangmei has been entrusted with an important task by eight presidents: Kennedy, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Clinton and George W. Bush.
From 65438 to 0967, she was appointed by Nixon as the chairman of President Nixon's National Women's Committee and concurrently served as an adviser on Asian affairs. After Nixon's victory, Chen Xiangmei was appointed at 1968 as the administrative member and financial vice-chairman of the * * * and Party.
However, every time Nixon was mentioned later, Chen Xiangmei was somewhat dissatisfied. Nixon promised Chen Xiangmei that he would immediately end the Vietnam War as long as the election was successful. But Nixon didn't keep his promise after his election success.
However, Chen Xiangmei did not give up. She has been working hard for friendly exchanges between China and the United States. She made positive contributions to Nixon's visit to China in 1972 and the formal establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States in 1979.
1972, Chen Xiangmei was elected as one of the 70 most influential figures in the United States. At this time, Chen Xiangmei is already the vice president of Flying Tiger Airlines and the first female vice president of American aviation industry.
1980, Chen Xiangmei paved the way for Reagan to run for president. After Reagan was elected president, Chen Xiangmei was appointed as a goodwill ambassador. Chen Xiangmei frequently travels between Chinese mainland and Taiwan Province Province of China, actively communicating cross-strait relations and promoting cross-strait exchanges.
Yes, although Chen Xiangmei worked in the United States, she never forgot her motherland. She said, "As long as China people can hold their heads high, my wish is enough."
What impressed Chen Xiangmei most was the New Year's Day of 198 1, when she visited Beijing as Reagan's special envoy. At the welcoming banquet held in the Great Hall of the People, Deng Xiaoping sat first, and Senator Stevens sat second.
She clearly remembers that Mr. Deng Xiaoping said with a smile, "Chen Xiangmei is the first and Senator Stevens is the second, because there are more than 100 senators in the United States, not to mention Chen Xiangmei, and there is only one in the world."
Chen Xiangmei was deeply moved by these words, and she felt that she had a great responsibility in developing Sino-US relations. And these words have always inspired Chen Xiangmei, who never flinched when he encountered difficulties and obstacles in his future work.
In his later years, Chen Xiangmei was not afraid of long-distance travel and often traveled to and from both sides of the ocean. Not only that, she also set up an education fund to help poor students. Therefore, she is also called "Chinese-American folk ambassador".
summary
Chen Xiangmei's life was bumpy and full of difficulties, but she never gave in to fate.
She bravely pursues what she loves and loves only one person in her life; Although she is far away from overseas, she always takes her motherland to heart. The motherland has nurtured her, and she is willing to dedicate all her resources to the motherland when the motherland needs her.
Her indomitable and fearless quality always inspires us and warns us:
Only with great love can we move forward fearlessly; Beauty is an advantage, and sobriety is a skill.