Text/Qing Ping

In February 1971, the 84-year-old Chiang Kai-shek received a letter from Hong Kong. The handwriting was in his familiar Juanxiu font, and he did not use it yet. Once you open it, you will know who sent it. The content of the letter is very short, but full of grudges: "For more than thirty years, my grievances have only been known to you. However, in order to maintain the honor of your country, I have endured the greatest self-sacrifice. , He refused to be used by others until his death."

The resentment of the person who wrote the letter was not surprising to Chiang Kai-shek. Because all of this was caused by him. But what he didn't expect was that this was the last time in his life that he received a letter from this person from across the Taiwan Strait, because on February 21 of this year, this person left Chiang Kai-shek forever. Since our separation in 1949, we have really never seen each other again.

The letter writer is Chiang Kai-shek’s third woman, Chen Jieru. Shortly after the letter was sent, on February 21, she died alone in her apartment at the age of 65. Four years later, the only man she had loved, hated, and never forgotten in her life also passed away. Perhaps, the love and hatred between them will come to an end with the end of their lives.

Love at first sight

Chen Jieru was born in a small businessman's family in 1905. Her ancestral home is Ningbo, Zhejiang, and she has lived in Shanghai since childhood. When she was 12 years old, her mother sent her to the Patriotic Girls' School to learn cultural knowledge. At school, Chen Jieru made friends with a sister named Zhu Yimin. Zhu Yimin was 6 years older than her, but the two women were very attached to each other and talked about everything. At this time, Chen Jieru did not expect that it was this good friend who indirectly contributed to her lifelong love affair.

Chen Jieru’s family is an outsider in Shanghai, her foundation is not very stable, and she has no friends who know everything. Under the introduction of a fellow villager, I met Zhang Jingjiang, a big tycoon in Shanghai. Zhang Jingjiang was a righteous person who appreciated the Chen family's character, so he gave him a lot of help in life and business.

In 1918, Zhang Jingjiang’s original wife passed away, and 20-year-old Zhu Yimin became Zhang Jingjiang’s new wife. Because of this incident, Chen Jieru was once sad, fearing that Zhu Yimin would not have time to play with him after marrying someone else. But Zhu Yimin said that no matter whose family she is in, Chen Jieru will always be her good sister.

One day during the summer vacation of 1919, Chen Jieru was visiting Zhang Jingjiang’s house. Three guests came to the house, none other than Sun Yat-sen, Chiang Kai-shek and Dai Jitao. Zhang Jingjiang introduced the female family members one by one. After some greetings, the men went to the study to talk. However, at this time, Chen Jieru felt her heart beating so fast that it was about to burst out of her throat.

It turns out that although Chen Jieru was only 14 years old at this time, she already looked very mature, tall and well-developed, with her childishness gone early, like a flower in bud. Chiang Kai-shek, who was following Sun Yat-sen, stayed where he was as if he was electrocuted when he saw her for the first time, his eyes never leaving.

How could Chen Jieru, a young girl in love with her child, not feel this fiery gaze? She couldn't help but blush, and when the men went upstairs, she was still a little distracted.

After a while, Sun Yat-sen and three others said goodbye to their master and left. Chen Jie looked at the time and realized it was time to go home, so she stood up and said goodbye. As soon as she left the door of Zhang's house, she saw Chiang Kai-shek waiting there. He came up to her with a smile on his face, and asked Chen Jieru's home address in a formal manner.

Chen Jieru naturally knew what Chiang Kai-shek was thinking, but she felt something was wrong in her heart, so she casually gave a false address and left in a hurry.

She didn’t know that Chiang Kai-shek at this time had already recognized this love at first sight, and vowed not to give up until he achieved his goal. He was such a strong and possessive man, and Chen Jieru, who was only 14 years old, fell in love again. How can one fully understand the turbulence of this love offensive?

Crazy pursuit

Because Chen Jieru often visited Zhu Yimin's house, Chiang Kai-shek also became a frequent visitor to Zhang Jingjiang's house. Here, he can always meet Chen Jieru unexpectedly. Zhang Jingjiang and his wife saw what Chiang Kai-shek meant, so they went to enlighten Chen Jieru and try to understand and accept Chiang Kai-shek.

Chen Jieru and Chiang Kai-shek met again at Zhang's house. Unable to get help from their friends, they finally agreed to go out to dinner with Chiang Kai-shek alone. It was considered their first date.

However, after the meal, Chiang Kai-shek coaxed and deceived him into taking Chen Jieru to a hotel, locked the door, and forcibly took Chen Jieru into his arms. Chen Jieru struggled desperately and shouted loudly, trying to attract the attention of outsiders. Originally, Chiang Kai-shek wanted to force the overlord to fight and turn the raw rice into cooked rice first. He did not expect that this woman resisted so fiercely. If he continued to force himself, it might not end well, so he let go Open your hand.

Seeing Chiang Kai-shek let go, Chen Jieru immediately opened the door and ran out, running all the way home. Looking at Chiang Kai-shek, who usually seemed gentle and gentle, he actually resorted to this trick, and the good impression he had just established collapsed instantly.

But Chiang Kai-shek will not give up until he achieves his goal. If the hard one cannot do it, he will use the soft one. He had secretly followed Chen Jieru a long time ago and knew that the address obtained from the first inquiry was false. After finding out the exact location of Chen Jieru's home, she knocked on the door directly and said to Chen's mother straight to the point: "I admire your lady very much and want to make friends with her." Chen's mother saw that Chiang Kai-shek was not young and refused in person. .

But Chiang Kai-shek still refused to give up. He called Chen Jieru's home several times a day. What he said was nothing more than an apology and the hope of being forgiven. If the phone couldn't work, he would write a letter. In short, Chiang Kai-shek used all the tricks that could be used.

Perhaps God intended to facilitate this marriage. In 1921, Chen Jieru's father died suddenly of a heart attack, causing the family to suddenly fall into trouble. Mother and daughter lost their spiritual and material support and fell into the abyss. At this time, Chiang Kai-shek appeared. He first asked Zhang Jingjiang and his wife to be Yue Lao, and then personally visited Chen's mother to persuade her.

Zhang Jingjiang and his wife were a little moved by what Chen Jieru said about her mother. At this time, Chiang Kai-shek did another surprising thing. He was seen wearing sackcloth and mourning, pretending to be a dutiful son, and expressing condolences for Chen Jieru’s father. , with a sad and sincere expression. Although Chen Jieru knew that Chiang Kai-shek was playing tricks, her heart was really relaxed and her emotions became complicated. As she said, "I took a peek at him and couldn't help but feel excited."

So, Chen's mother agreed to their marriage. On December 5, 1921, Chiang Kai-shek and Chen Jieru held a grand wedding ceremony in the banquet hall of the Dadong Hotel in Yong'an Building, Shanghai. Those who could hold the ceremony here were all local people with status. The wedding banquet lasted for several hours, and it was finally time to enter the bridal chamber. Chiang Kai-shek hugged Chen Jieru and whispered in his ear: "Now you are my dearest wife and the person I love most in the world. My dear, with you, I will never fall in love with anyone else." Woman, this is my solemn promise to you."

Chen Jieru was very moved by these words. At this time, she had completely given her body and mind to Chiang Kai-shek. Their life after marriage is also very sweet and happy. Although Chiang Kai-shek's son Chiang Ching-kuo was only 4 years younger than Chen Jieru, he politely called Chen Jieru "Shanghai Mom", and Chen Jieru also liked Chiang Ching-kuo very much.

Wherever Chiang Kai-shek went, Chen Jieru was always with him, and the two were inseparable. Only when Chiang Kai-shek went to the Soviet Union for inspection, Chen Jieru did not go with him. However, in just three months, Chiang Kai-shek, despite his busy schedule, wrote 7 letters to Chen Jieru, which shows his deep love.

In 1924, Chiang Kai-shek became the principal of Whampoa Military Academy and took Chen Jieru south to Guangzhou. At this time, Chen Jieru had already entered social situations as "Principal Chiang's wife" and "Commander-in-Chief's wife", and everyone she came into contact with It was the military and political dignitaries and their wives who became famous for a while. This was also the most prosperous time in Chen Jieru's life.

Promise disappears with the wind

Happiness always goes so fast. In the blink of an eye, this loving couple has been living together for 7 years. In 1927, Chiang Kai-shek wanted to marry Soong Meiling in order to obtain the huge financial support of the Soong family. Facing the severe political situation, the ambitious Chiang Kai-shek would never put his children's personal relationship first. Not to mention that Soong Meiling was a beautiful woman, he already had a good impression of her. I believe that even if she is an ugly person, Chiang Kai-shek I will choose her too.

So he confessed to Chen Jieru, letting Chen Jieru understand his difficulties, and told her that this was just a plan that would take a certain amount of time to complete, but it would definitely not last a lifetime. He hoped that Chen Jieru could consider the overall situation, give in for a few years, and give himself a chance to complete his great cause.

Chen Jieru couldn't help but froze when she heard her husband, who had spoken tenderly to her in the past, say such words. In anger, she left Chiang Kai-shek and hid in Shanghai.

But Chiang Kai-shek was determined. He rushed to Shanghai to meet Chen Jieru's mother alone, and told his mother-in-law frankly about the current situation. He hoped that his mother-in-law could persuade Chen Jieru to fulfill his political marriage plan, and vowed to do so. , it only takes 5 years, and the relationship between husband and wife with Jieru will be restored after 5 years.

In desperation, we can only compromise.

On August 19 of the same year, Chiang Kai-shek made arrangements for Chen Jieru to leave the United States. Before leaving, he gave her 100,000 yuan for living expenses and encouraged her to study hard so that she could better fulfill her duties as the commander-in-chief's wife after returning to China. This was obviously an illusory promise, and it also gave Chen Jieru a shackles that he could not untie in his life.

As soon as the cruise ship Chen Jieru left on sailed off the shore, Chiang Kai-shek anxiously announced the "Announcement on Chiang Kai-shek's Family Affairs". After arriving in the United States, Chen Jieru's life was difficult. She wrote to Chiang Kai-shek several times, hoping to get financial assistance, but Chiang Kai-shek turned a blind eye and did not write a reply to her or send any money. Despite Chen Jieru's eager anticipation, But in the end the hope was in vain.

Later, she kept asking Zhu Yimin to convey her desire to go home, and said that since the fact of her divorce from Chiang Kai-shek has been determined, returning to China will not interfere with any of his life, "Just treat me as dead. ” is her saddest portrayal. Despite this, Chiang Kai-shek still pretended to be deaf and mute and ignored him.

In 1933, the five-year period had expired, and Chen Jieru was finally able to return to the motherland. But her financial problems became the biggest problem. She wrote to Chiang Kai-shek many times, but never received a reply. In the end, she only received 50,000 yuan from Chiang Kai-shek's messenger without saying a word. The relationship between husband and wife was over. Faced with Chiang Kai-shek's ruthlessness, Chen Jieru could only look up to the sky and sigh, helplessly giving up the idea of ??writing to Chiang Kai-shek again.

In 1941, in order to avoid trouble, Chen Jieru left Shanghai and went to Chongqing. Here he met Chiang Kai-shek again, and for a while the old relationship rekindled. But Song Meiling is such a strong woman, how could she tolerate her husband having an affair with his ex-wife? In the end, Chen Jieru sadly quit.

Since ancient times, passion has always left room for hatred.

In 1949, Chiang Kai-shek retreated to Taiwan, and Chen Jieru decided to stay in Shanghai. Premier Zhou was very concerned after learning about this matter, and personally arranged Chen Jieru's life, making it clear that if Chen Jieru is not willing to stay in Shanghai, he can arrange for her to go to Hong Kong. If she is not used to living in Hong Kong, she can come back at any time. In short, Chen Jieru is free. .

In 1962, Premier Zhou personally approved Chen Jieru to move to Hong Kong alone. After Jiang Jingguo learned about this, he bought an apartment for Chen Jieru in Hong Kong for his retirement. No one knew Chen Jieru when she was in Hong Kong, and she never mentioned the past to anyone. She just played mahjong every day, stayed behind closed doors, didn't cause trouble, and didn't have many friends.

Chiang Kai-shek once wrote a letter to Chen Jieru in Hong Kong, in which he tenderly expressed his attachment and longing. However, for Chen Jieru, who is old, sick, widowed and helpless, it can no longer awaken her inner passion. Even if Chiang Kai-shek accidentally recalled Chen Jieru's sad feelings, how could they compare with the pain that Chen Jieru spent his whole life in?

On February 21, 1971, a poker friend of Chen Jieru came to invite him to play mahjong. He knocked on the door repeatedly but received no response. He invited his neighbors to break in together and found Chen Jieru's body lying on the ground, lifeless.

Chen Jieru and Chiang Kai-shek lived together for only 7 years, which is not a large proportion of a person's life, but these short 7 years made her spend her whole life to Condolences. She dedicated the best years of her life to Chiang Kai-shek, but ended up in a miserable state, leaving alone, with no one caring about her, no one caring about her, and no one even saying goodbye to her.

Chen Jieru’s life was briefly prosperous, but she was left alone for most of her life, just because of her love and hatred for this man.