Kong Xiangxi and Song Ailing

Author: Chen Tingyi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: The Jiang family's world, the Chen family's party, the Song sisters and Kong family's wealth—how much wealth? The first richest in Shanxi, the first richest in China, wealthy enough to rival a nation? This book introduces the 75th generation descendant of Confucius, Kong Xiangxi, who left Taigu City, from a child collecting coal ash to studying in the United States and becoming a doctor, meeting Song Ailing, and eventually using public affairs for private gain, rising to immense power. "The Jiang family's world, the Chen family's party, the Song sisters and Kong family's wealth." This book tells the story of Kong Xiangxi, the "richest in Shanxi" and the 75th generation great-grandson of Confucius, who left Taigu City, from a child collecting coal ash to studying in the United States and becoming a doctor, and marrying Song Ailing, the eldest daughter of the Song family, who shared a financial bond with Sun Yat-sen and Chiang Kai-shek. With his exceptional family connections and his own sharp intellect, he rose rapidly in the political arena of the Republic of China, eventually becoming the Executive Minister of the Nanjing National Government and concurrently the Minister of Finance, wielding immense power. He allowed his wife and children to use their power for personal gain, engaging in smuggling and exploiting the state for the enrichment of their family. He took the family's wealth from being the "richest in Shanxi" to the "richest in China."
This book uses a literary and vivid style, based on extensive historical research, to provide a comprehensive and detailed description of Kong Xiangxi and Song Ailing, as well as their entire family, including the character, personality, temperament, knowledge, and qualities of their daughters. It avoids excessive praise or condemnation, speaking well of the good and ill of the bad, maintaining objectivity and fairness. Although their children may not match their parents' prominence, each is intriguing and vividly portrayed. Learning from history. This book can be considered a folk painting of figures and customs from modern and contemporary history, with distinct personalities, love and hatred clearly depicted. Especially notable are Kong Xiangxi's moderate and smooth nature, Song Ailing's capricious personality, and Kong Erxiao's vividly brought to life. It possesses profound and rich historical significance, is humorous and witty, and offers enlightenment, making it as engaging to read as a novel as the Records of the Grand Historian.