The Last Mazurka -- Shangai Memories

Author: Shu Fen
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-08-01
Features: The Rise of a "Tycoon Family" and the Curse of "Wealth Doesn’t Last Three Generations"
In 1997, Hong Kong Tian Di Book Company published a long-formliterary work I wrote titled A Dream of Prosperity. The book spans over 600,000 words and is divided into three volumes: The Rise of a Tycoon Family, Through Stormy Waters, and The Centipede. By the end of 1998, the mainland edition of A Dream of Prosperity was published by Hunan Literature and Art Press. Due to the cover and content summary of the book both stating that it was an account of my family’s history, many friends felt puzzled after reading it and asked me the following questions:
When people write family histories, autobiographies, or autobiographical novels, they usually focus on good deeds and things that bring honor, while avoiding mentioning bad or embarrassing events. But in your book, it seems your family has never done anything right—only bad things and misfortunes. What’s going on here? Are you dissatisfied with your family?
Do I have any dissatisfaction with my family? The answer is no. Although my family was entangled with the "three mountains" of officials, landlords, and comprador bourgeoisie, placing it in the position of an opposing class during the era of "never forgetting class struggle." Moreover, the Cultural Revolution brought me both mental and physical suffering. Still, I have no reason to complain about my family background. After all, this family gave me life, raised me, provided me with education, and granted me over thirty years of a comfortable life. Even now, I still benefit from their legacy.
It can also be said that if I hadn’t been born into such a family, I would not have written the works published so far or engaged in the profession I’m in now. Additionally, I am the only male descendant in this family, and no one has ever wronged me. Even if someone tried to frame me, they ultimately failed. I have no need to deliberately distort or vilify my family. I simply believe that since this is a factual work, I should write it as it is, without whitewashing or inventing things.
There’s a Chinese proverb: "Wealth doesn’t last three generations." Some people think it’s a curse uttered by the poor out of jealousy toward the wealthy. But based on what I’ve seen, heard, and experienced, this saying has proven true time and time again—even if it’s not 100%, it’s at least 80%. Many famous families in modern Chinese history have collapsed entirely within three generations.
The first generation rises, the second squanders, the third declines.