Enter the Jiang family (Zhu Peiying, the niece of Jiang Jieshi talks about the Jiang family)

Author: Yang Yaoshen
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-10-01
Features: The centenarian Zhu Peiyin is the niece of Chiang Kai-shek. From a young age, she lived within the Jiang family, and figures like Jiang Ruilian (Chiang Kai-shek's younger sister) and Mao Fumei (his first wife) regarded her as their pearl in the palm. Growing up in this unique environment, Zhu Peiyin witnessed the rise and fall, as well as the joys and sorrows of the Jiang family. Her close proximity to them allowed her to constantly experience their emotions, even the subtle shifts in their inner feelings that outsiders could hardly discern. She was well-versed in both the political and family affairs of the Jiang household. Today, through her words, she lifts the veil of mystery, revealing just a glimpse of the truth. For example: the love-hate relationship between Chiang Kai-shek and his first wife; his restless and reserved demeanor upon returning to his hometown Xikou for recovery after the Xi'an Incident; his deep self-blame upon the sudden death of his older brother; the troubles caused by Chiang Jingguo and Jiang Fangliang's newlywed life—where they "did not see their own mother first but recognized a stepmother instead"; the extramarital affair between Chiang Jingguo and Zhang Yaru and its origins, and so on. Since almost every event she describes was witnessed by her firsthand and remains little-known, these revelations hold significant reference value for researchers. It is worth noting that after the liberation of the nation, especially during the Cultural Revolution, the elderly Zhu Peiyin endured hardships due to her family background. It was the reform and opening-up breeze from the mainland that dispelled the shadows in her heart, allowing her to finally fulfill her long-suppressed wish to reunite with her family. In the early 1990s, after much effort, Zhu Peiyin managed to contact her cousin Jiang Weiguang, who was living in Taiwan. They often exchanged letters, expressing their sibling affection and expressing their earnest hope for the early unification of the two sides of the strait and the reunion of their families. Now that Jiang Weiguang has passed away, the few handwritten letters of his included in this book are particularly precious. To recall the past is to face the present and look to the future. We publish this book to brush away the dust of time and reveal the true face of the Jiang family, thereby demonstrating that people on both sides of the strait are descendants of Yan and Huang, bound by blood. Achieving unification is the shared aspiration of all. We firmly believe that the goal of national unification and the prosperity of the nation will surely be realized. We hereby wish the elderly Zhu Peiyin a joyful reunion with her family in Taiwan during her remaining years.