A century-old wealthy family that rose from Shanghai

Time flies, and nearly half a year has passed in the blink of an eye.

In September 1977, a letter delivered to Beijing by Hong Kong Huarun Company through Chen Guangliang caused a huge uproar in the capital.

In his letter, Chen Guangliang only expressed his 'homesickness' and hoped to take his wife Yan Renmei back to Shanghai for a visit.

But it was precisely this letter that directly alarmed the capital.

Who is Chen Guangliang?
He was undoubtedly a "world shipping magnate," a "richest Chinese man," and a "leader of overseas Chinese," but Chen Guangliang was also someone who clearly "drew a clear line."

At this moment, Chen Guangliang's ability to deliver this letter made the higher-ups realize that things had taken a turn for the better.

"I heard that Chen Guangliang was the fastest and cleanest businessman to leave Shanghai's Haitan area back then!"

"You can't say that! He left right after World War II ended, so he might not have been worried about us."

"Is he just a big capitalist?"

"So what if they're big capitalists? We still have to deal with them!"

"Father, are you really going to the mainland?" Chen Wenjie asked with some concern.

He couldn't understand why his usually cautious father was now the first to want to return to the mainland.

Chen Guangliang said with a smile, "The mainland isn't some monster, what are you worried about! On the contrary, the changes in the situation on the mainland make me feel very confident. Your mother and I have so many memories of the Bund. Being able to go back in good health after 32 years is a blessing in itself!"

Visiting Shanghai Beach was a pretext; the real purpose was to accumulate capital for his children.

By 1997, Chen Guangliang would definitely have completely disappeared from the public eye, so during this period he could still make some money.

Upon hearing this, Chen Wenjie felt less worried, mainly because he had confidence in his father's prediction.

Yan Renmei chimed in, "Don't worry! Besides, before we went back to the mainland this time, I contacted your great-aunt, and the situation on the mainland has improved since July of this year."

The "great-aunt" she mentioned is Yan Lianyun, one of the "Three Beauties of the Yan Family." The other two beauties are in the United States, but they often visit relatives in Hong Kong. It's simple: Yan Zhiduo is still alive, and the patriarch of the Yan family is in Hong Kong, so naturally, she would return to Hong Kong to visit relatives.

"Okay, then Father and Mother, please be careful."

"Alright, there's no need to worry about these things. The mainland authorities will take comprehensive measures to ensure security."

"Um"

With more than two weeks to go before their trip to the mainland, Chen Guangliang and Yan Renmei weren't worried at all. They had originally planned to go directly to Shanghai Beach, but now that they'd received an invitation to Beijing for the National Day celebrations, it was a good opportunity to make the trip.

The next day, Chen Guangliang went to work at Cheung Kong Holdings as usual.

During those two years (1976-1977), Cheung Kong Holdings also planned and developed several large-scale commercial projects, including a commercial complex in Tsim Sha Tsui (a shopping mall and a hotel), the acquisition of the American-owned Wing Ko Company (Hilton Central and Hyatt Regency Bali), and the investment in the development rights above Central Station and Admiralty Station.

As for residential projects, there are even more. This year (1977), it is expected to provide 2500 residential units to the market. There are also two large projects under construction – the original site of Song Dynasty Town in North Point and Taikoo Shore No. 1 in North Point, both of which have more than 2000 residential units. At the same time, the Discovery Bay project has been restarted, and the fourth phase of the project is expected to be sold in 1978.

In addition, there are many joint venture projects, including a 25% stake in 'Shatin First City', a 25% stake in the 'Former British American Tobacco Company Site Project', a 50% stake in the Sai Sai Lake Project, a 50% stake in the Shouson Hill Villas Project, and a 50% stake in the Phoenix Terrace luxury residential building on Kennedy Road in Wan Chai.
There shouldn't be any major problems. Once Cheung Kong Holdings acquires Hutchison Whampoa, HK Electric, and Ching Chau Ying Ni, the Hong Kong layout will be basically complete, and the rest will be a matter of proceeding step by step.

At this time, CK Asset Holdings has made huge investments overseas, with Singapore and Japan being key investment areas. Moreover, this year, Chen Wenjie also had CK Asset Holdings acquire the ownership of two Hilton hotels in Canada, expanding its business to North America.

“Father, Hilton Hotels Group has accepted our suggestion to relocate to Tsim Sha Tsui East, and we will compensate them with HK$1500 million.” Chen Wenjie came to his father’s office to communicate.

Although his father had given him power, he still habitually maintained communication with his father, who would give him a lot of advice on key points, which he would follow one by one.

Hilton Hotels is relocating from Central to Tsim Sha Tsui East in Hong Kong, but the management agreement between Wing Ko Company and Hilton is still more than 30 years old. If they are forced to breach the agreement, at current prices, they would have to pay approximately HK$50-60 million in compensation.

Just then, Cheung Kong Holdings was preparing to develop Tsim Sha Tsui East and also had a site for a five-star hotel, so Cheung Kong Holdings started talking to Hilton Group of the United States.

A compensation of 1500 million is still acceptable!

Chen Guangliang nodded and said, "Then we can start preparing to begin construction on those two sites in Tsim Sha Tsui!"

Construction will begin early next year.

Then, Chan Man-kit added, "In addition, I went to the Hong Kong government to sound them out. The Hong Kong government is willing to sell the Garden Road car park to us, but they emphasized the timing. Obviously, they want to sell to us when property prices are at their peak. Also, we have already finalized the deal for Gongbei Parking."

The Chan family needed the Hong Kong government to grant them two plots of land in this area. One was the Garden Road car park, which was to be merged with the current Hilton Hotel and Gongbei Bank to build the headquarters building of CK Asset Holdings Limited. The other was the Murray Road car park, which was to be merged with the current Ping An Bank building to build the new Ping An Bank building.

Chen Guangliang said, "It's alright, it's just a matter of price. We have plenty of patience!"

"Ok"

In late September 1977, before the morning mist had fully dissipated, Chen Guangliang and his wife Yan Renmei boarded a ship bound for Guangdong Province. Their trip to the interior was kept exceptionally secret and discreet.

It's not that they're afraid of anything, but they don't want to make a high-profile trip to the mainland for the time being. This trip is for the two of them to "visit relatives" in the mainland.

As Hong Kong's Central district gradually shrank, Yan Renmei gripped her husband's hand, her fingertips trembling slightly—gazing at the increasingly clear Lingnan landscape ahead, her eyes unconsciously reddened: "Brother Liang, we really have to go back... 32 years."

Chen Guangliang gently patted his wife's hand, his gaze also fixed on the window.

How could he not be excited? Since leaving Shanghai in 1945, although he had built a vast business empire in Hong Kong and overseas, he had never forgotten his homeland. However, at that time, the situation was uncertain, and the longing to return home could only be kept in his heart; now that he was finally embarking on his journey home, even the air seemed to carry the familiar scent of home.

Upon boarding the pier in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, we were greeted by specially designated personnel, and the reception was of a very high standard. Two military vehicles were also dispatched for our journey to Guangzhou.

The inconvenience of transportation soon became apparent—the car traveled on the country roads, the surface was full of potholes, the car bumped violently, and the luggage traveling with it made a clattering sound from time to time. Chen Guangliang, however, did not care at all. Instead, he leaned against the car window, greedily looking at the rice fields and villages outside.

Yan Renmei pointed out the window: "Look at that sugarcane field, it looks exactly like the one I saw in the suburbs of Shanghai when I was a child."

Chen Guangliang smiled and nodded, but in his heart he felt a deep sense of warmth—the infrastructure in the mainland was far behind that in Hong Kong, but this simple and rustic atmosphere made him feel very close to it.

To his surprise, Guangdong Province specially dispatched a high-ranking official in charge of foreign affairs to accompany him. This official, dressed in a crisp Zhongshan suit, enthusiastically introduced them along the way: "Mr. Chen, Ms. Yan, although Guangdong Province and Hong Kong are only separated by a river, their economies are indeed very different."

The presence of high-ranking officials was not only a courtesy, but also a sign of the importance attached to this "richest Chinese man".

On the way, he frequently consulted Chen Guangliang about his overseas business experience. Chen Guangliang was also very generous and shared his insights, discussing ideas on real estate development and industrial upgrading, drawing on Hong Kong's development cases. The two had a very pleasant conversation.

Yan Renmei observed this and quietly said to her husband, "I didn't expect officials in the mainland to be so pragmatic."

No, it's probably just that some officials in Guangdong Province have a more forward-looking perspective.

After a long journey, the group finally arrived in Guangzhou. They needed to wait for their flight, so they planned to rest in Guangzhou for a day.

The dilapidated guesthouse at night made Chen Guangliang and Yan Renmei feel slightly uncomfortable. Yan Renmei leaned on Chen Guangliang's shoulder and whispered, "I wonder how the old house in Shanghai is doing now. Wenjie and Wenming were both born there."

"Don't worry, they've said that things will recover in Beijing. We'll see it when we get back from Beijing," Chen Guangliang said firmly, holding his wife's hand.

He knew that this return to his hometown was not only to fulfill his and his wife's dream, but also to pave the way for the future of the Chen family—the potential of the mainland was immeasurable, and establishing connections in advance was crucial for his children's careers.

Late September in Beijing already carried a hint of autumn chill. After the plane landed, Chen Guangliang saw a group of people already waiting on the platform—leading them was an official in a Zhongshan suit with a refined demeanor, none other than the high-ranking official surnamed Liao from Beijing who had been sent to pick them up.

"Mr. Chen, Ms. Yan, welcome!" Liao Dayuan strode forward, warmly shook hands with Chen Guangliang, and smiled kindly. "On behalf of the capital, I welcome you to attend the National Day ceremony."

Such a high-level reception at the airport exceeded Chen Guangliang's expectations.

As Liao accompanied them out of the station, he explained, "To make you comfortable, we have specially arranged rooms in the State Guesthouse. The environment there is quiet, and it will be convenient for you to rest."

On the way to the State Guesthouse, Liao, the high-ranking official, explained the arrangements for the National Day celebrations to Mr. and Mrs. Chen Guangliang in detail: "On October 1st, you will be sitting on the reviewing stand, watching the military parade and mass procession with other distinguished guests. This National Day celebration is different; the entire nation's military and civilians have prepared for this National Day with great enthusiasm."

"Great! Seeing our motherland doing well makes us feel good too!"

The high-ranking official surnamed Liao was surprised. They had always thought this man kept a clear line between himself and others. But this time, his behavior was truly unexpected, which was, of course, a very good thing.

After checking into the guesthouse, the staff went to great lengths to ensure the couple's comfort. Knowing that Yan Renmei enjoyed local Shanghai cuisine, the kitchen specially hired a chef from Shanghai; and understanding that Chen Guangliang was a morning reader, a desk lamp designed to protect the eyes was specially provided in the room. These thoughtful details brought the couple a long-lost sense of warmth.

On October 1st, just as dawn was breaking, Chen Guangliang and his wife changed into formal attire—Chen Guangliang wore a dark gray suit, while Yan Renmei wore a navy blue cheongsam. The two stood in front of the mirror, exchanging smiles. "It's been a long time since I've dressed so formally," Yan Renmei said, adjusting the collar of her cheongsam, her voice full of anticipation.

Upon arriving at the Tiananmen Square viewing platform, the scene was already packed with people, red flags were waving, and the sounds of gongs, drums, and cheers rose and fell. As the national anthem played and the red flag slowly rose, Chen Guangliang and Yan Renmei stood up simultaneously, straightening their backs.

Looking at the national flag, Chen Guangliang was filled with mixed emotions—from a young man who left his homeland, to a businessman who wandered overseas, and now to a distinguished guest standing in Tiananmen Square to watch the ceremony, the journey has been full of hardships.

After the parade began, the neat formations marched across the square with resounding steps, and various weapons and equipment slowly drove by, while enthusiastic applause frequently rang out from the reviewing stand.

The key is the enthusiasm of the military and civilians, which is probably genuine!
After the ceremony, Liao invited Chen Guangliang and his wife to a banquet. During the banquet, several leaders from Beijing also came to greet them and chatted briefly with Chen Guangliang and his wife. The treatment they received was exactly the same as that given to the King of Burma.

After the banquet, Chen Guangliang and his wife strolled in the courtyard of the state guesthouse. The moonlight shone on the stone path, creating a serene atmosphere. Yan Renmei leaned on her husband's shoulder and whispered, "This trip back has been even better than I imagined."

Chen Guangliang nodded, gazing at the night sky over Beijing, a new plan forming in his mind—the doors to the mainland were opening, and next, he would take Yan Renmei to Shanghai to truly experience their homeland.

A few days later, Chen Guangliang and Yan Renmei set foot on Shanghai soil, and the two were even more moved.

"Mr. Chen, Ms. Yan, we have preserved your former residence in Shanghai, hoping that you can return to your hometown one day for a visit!" the Shanghai official said warmly.

As everyone knows, the moment they received the notification was a complete uproar.

The mansion on Weihai Road belonging to Chen Guangliang and Yan Renmei was urgently requisitioned, the original residents were relocated, and then a lot of furniture was found and restored.

Although it didn't cost much money, it did take a lot of effort.

"You've worked hard! Let's go take a look!"

Soon, the car entered Weihai Road. Along the way, Yan Renmei watched the pedestrians on the street, feeling deeply moved.

The familiar cheongsams are gone; all that's left are very conservative clothes.

Upon arriving at the Chen residence, everyone went inside and found that there were staff members on duty. To their surprise, two of the staff members were elderly people with white hair.

"You're Xiao Ding. You're Xiao Yang," Chen Guangliang said in surprise.

Xiao Ding and Xiao Yang were their family's former servants. He had also tried to persuade them to leave Shanghai with him, but they had too many family members and were reluctant to leave the bustling Shanghai Beach, so they stayed in Shanghai.

Mr. Chen

"Madam Chen"

The two men weren't overtly excited; instead, they seemed somewhat bewildered and embarrassed. Perhaps they were recalling the scenes from over a decade ago when they denounced large capitalists, and this made them feel somewhat awkward.

Clearly, the organizers did not expect that Xiao Ding and Xiao Yang (who are over fifty years old) would be so clueless about emotional appeal.

"Okay, how are you all feeling?"

"it is good"

Later.

Chen Guangliang and Yan Renmei looked around and immediately realized that the other party had indeed put in a lot of effort. Some of the furniture was from the past and definitely not newly made. The trees planted in the yard were even the ones that he and Yan Renmei had planted together years ago, but now they had grown into towering trees.

"Mr. Chen and Ms. Yan, you can stay here during your inspection tour in Shanghai!"

Chen Guangliang immediately said, "Let's stay at the guesthouse! By the way, are we allowed to move around freely in Shanghai for our inspection?"

"Of course, but for your safety, we will send security personnel, after all..."

"Thank you"

That evening, the city government warmly welcomed the couple.

The next day, they embarked on their independent travel, visiting the former Shangri-La Hotel, the former site of the China Merchants Bureau on the Bund, Yuyuan Road, and Fangua Lane.

During their visit, Chen Guangliang and Yan Renmei also met Yan Lianyun, and they reminisced about their time together. Yan Lianyun had married banker Xu Zhendong, but she had not left the mainland. Her husband, Xu Zhendong, died of illness in the 1950s.

Yan Renmei brought some gifts for her aunt and introduced the Yan family's situation overseas.

of course.

Soon, Chen Guangliang and Yan Renmei discovered the hardships faced by ordinary people in Shanghai. To change these hardships, they naturally considered focusing on education.

Before returning to Hong Kong, Chan Kwong-leung told the leaders of Shanghai: "I want to establish an education fund in the mainland, which is to donate US$1 million. The purpose of this fund is to provide educational donations to universities such as Tsinghua, Peking University and Fudan University, and at the same time to donate to some primary and secondary schools in Shanghai."

The leader hesitated, realizing it was difficult to agree directly, given that Chen Guangliang was now a major capitalist.
"Mr. Chen, this is such a big matter that I need to hold a meeting to discuss it. Perhaps I can get back to you later?" "Hmm, I can take out this money anytime!"

Back then, he left cleanly because he felt that staying would be a waste.

Now, he donates so generously because he believes the money will be used very wisely. (End of Chapter)