In the long river of history, there are always stories that seem to be hidden in the cracks of time, waiting to be discovered.
1949, a year carrying countless tears and laughter, witnessed the great changes in China, and also witnessed the turning point in the fate of Song Ziwen and his wife.
Song Ziwen, the heavyweight of the past, faced the most difficult choice in his life - to retreat to Taiwan with Chiang Kai-shek's defeat, or to choose another path.
At this critical moment, what role did his wife Zhang Leyi play in this torrent of history?
When the giant ship of politics slowly turns, how will the fate of individuals be ferried?
In the tide of modern Chinese history, the story of Song Ziwen and Zhang Leyi is like a long melody, which crosses the boundaries of the times and is engraved on the pages of history.
In 1894, Soong Ziwen was born in Shanghai, a city on the verge of change. His family was not only wealthy, but also full of revolutionary flavors. His father, Song Jiashu, was not only a famous entrepreneur in the late Qing Dynasty, but also an important follower of Sun Yat-sen's revolution. The living room of the Song family is often a place for various characters to discuss the current situation, and since he was a child, Song Ziwen has been exposed to such an environment, forming his unique perspective and pattern in the future.
Song Ziwen's educational experience is also different. He received his basic education at St. John's University in Shanghai, and then went to the United States to study at Harvard University and Columbia University. At these world-class universities, Soong not only learned advanced economics, but more importantly, he began to think about China's future and his mission.
Compared with Song Ziwen's turbulent life, Zhang Leyi's growth is more calm. She was born in a merchant family in Jiujiang, Jiangxi Province, and her father, Zhang Mouzhi, was a well-known local construction entrepreneur. In the Zhang family, the daughter's education is also valued. Zhang Leyi has shown extraordinary intelligence and learning ability since she was a child, especially her talent for English has made her a fish in water in her study and life at Jinling University.
One summer in 1927, fate intersected these two originally parallel threads in Lushan. Song Ziwen came to Lushan in the name of a business trip, but in fact, he was looking for a good place for his mother to escape the summer. He didn't know anything about architecture, so the local ** recommended Zhang Mouzhi to him. In this process, Song Ziwen met Zhang Leyi for the first time.
At a banquet at the Zhang family, Zhang Leyi left a deep impression on Song Ziwen with her intelligence and warm and thoughtful hospitality. Her dignified and generous, bright eyes and bright teeth stirred up waves in Song Ziwen's heart. He even mentioned in his later memories that it was the most memorable summer of his life.
Although Song Ziwen was deeply influenced by Western culture, he still retained the shyness and restraint of the East in the depths of his heart. And Zhang Leyi's innocence and agility have become a clear stream in his heart. Their encounter is not only a collision of two hearts, but also a fusion of two cultures.
This unexpected encounter was quickly supported by both families. Song Jiashu is very concerned about his son's future, and he hopes that Song Ziwen can find a partner who is both intelligent and understands his ambitions. Although Zhang Mouzhi is a successful businessman, he attaches more importance to his daughter's happiness. In the eyes of the two fathers, this marriage is not only the union of two young people, but also the union of two families.
However, the marriage also faced challenges. Soong's political career is on the rise, and every decision he makes could affect his future. Although Zhang Leyi was well-educated at Jinling University, she still knew little about the complexity and cruelty of politics.
As their marriage matured, Song Ziwen and Zhang Leyi began a common life journey. In Soong Ziwen's busy political career, Zhang Leyi was not only his wife, but also his confidant and assistant. She used her wisdom and diligence to help Song Ziwen with family affairs, and even gave him political advice when necessary. And Song Ziwen is also trying to balance family and career, despite the huge pressure, he has always maintained a sense of responsibility for his family and deep affection for his wife.
1949 was a major turning point in Chinese history, and it was also a year of major changes in the life trajectories of Song Ziwen and Zhang Leyi. This year, with the defeat of Chiang Kai-shek and the collapse of the national **, Song Ziwen faced the most important decision in his life.
Since Song Ziwen and Zhang Leyi entered the palace of marriage, Song Ziwen's political career has been developing rapidly. However, as the civil war between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party progressed, the situation of the people became increasingly severe. In 1949, when Chiang Kai-shek's army was defeated on the mainland one after another and finally decided to retreat to Taiwan, Soong Ziwen, as Chiang Kai-shek's important assistant and brother-in-law, was faced with the difficult choice of whether to follow.
At this critical moment, Song Ziwen and Zhang Leyi had an in-depth discussion. Song Ziwen's heart is full of contradictions: on the one hand, he is the financial backbone of the national ** and has long had a deep affection for the Kuomintang; On the other hand, he was pessimistic about the future of the Kuomintang and questioned some of Chiang Kai-shek's decisions.
At this critical moment, Zhang Leyi's attitude played a decisive role. As Song Ziwen's wife, Zhang Leyi has been silently supporting her husband's career, but she has also gradually realized the cruelty of politics and the importance of family. She encouraged Soong to make choices according to his own wishes and not to be bound by political responsibilities. Zhang Leyi's words made Song Ziwen feel unprecedented relief.
After careful consideration, Song Ziwen finally decided not to go to Taiwan with Chiang Kai-shek, but chose to leave**. This decision not only marked the end of his personal political career, but also heralded a profound change in his relationship with Chiang Kai-shek.
The decision of Song Ziwen and his wife caused a lot of shock at the time. Many people can't understand why Song Ziwen chose to quit at the most difficult moment for the nation. But for Soong, this is not only a farewell to his past political career, but also a redefinition of personal value and family happiness.
After making this decision, Song Ziwen and Zhang Leyi chose to go to the United States to live. Far from the distractions of politics, Song Ziwen and his wife found long-lost peace and freedom in the United States. During his time in the United States, although Song Ziwen often paid attention to the movements of his homeland, he spent more time on family and personal interests.
For Song Ziwen and Zhang Leyi, this decision in 1949 not only changed the trajectory of their lives, but also left a deep mark on China's modern history. Their choices are not only a control over their personal destiny, but also a reflection of the complexity and variability of that era.
After making a major choice in the tide of history, the lives of Song Ziwen and Zhang Leyi have entered a new stage. They chose to spend their old age in the United States, a period that was far away from the strife of their homeland, but also witnessed another kind of richness and profundity in their personal lives.
In the 1950s, Mr. and Mrs. Soong settled in the United States. In this strange country, they are no longer bound by politics, and their lives become calm and peaceful. Song Ziwen, a financial expert who has left a strong mark in history, devotes more time to family and personal interests at this time.
At home in the United States, Song Ziwen was often immersed in books, and he loved to read, especially books on economics and history. He often discusses what he reads with his wife, Zhang Leyi, and their lives are full of wisdom and depth. In addition, Song Ziwen also liked to work in the garden, which became a great pleasure in his later years.
For Zhang Leyi, life in her later years was also full of happiness and satisfaction. She and Song Ziwen enjoyed the sweetness in the plain together. Zhang Leyi is good at cooking and often prepares delicious home-cooked meals for Song Ziwen. Although the life of the two is simple, it is full of love. They also invite friends and family in the U.S. to their homes and enjoy the fun of family.
In Song Ziwen's later years, his love for the descendants of his family was particularly significant. He not only cares about the lives of his children, but also devotes a lot of effort to the education of his grandchildren. Song Ziwen often plays with the children and tells them stories of Chinese history and culture, hoping that they can inherit and inherit Chinese culture.
During his years in the United States, Song Ziwen was not completely cut off from the outside world. He always pays attention to the development of the motherland and cares about the future of China. During this period, Song Ziwen also began to write his own memoirs, recording his life experience and thoughts on the times. This memoir is not only a retrospective of personal life, but also a testimony to that turbulent time.
In 1971, Song Ziwen died quietly in the United States at the age of 77. His death was not only the end of his life's political and economic achievements, but also a sign of his farewell to this era. Zhang Leyi continued to live in the United States after her husband's death until her death in 1988 at the age of 81.
The lives of Song Ziwen and Zhang Leyi not only witnessed the great changes in China's modern history, but also embodied the profound theme that the fate of the individual and the country is closely linked. Although they are far away from the motherland in their later years, their hearts are always connected to the future of the Chinese nation.
In the long scroll of time, the story of Song Ziwen and Zhang Leyi is like a light that crosses time and space, illuminating the depths of history.
Their choice is not only a grasp of their personal destiny, but also a profound reflection on that turbulent era.
From the bustling political arena to the hustle and bustle of their old age, although their footsteps are far away from their homeland, their hearts have always been closely linked to the destiny of the Chinese nation.
Their stories are not just footnotes to history, but eternal subjects of love, choice and sacrifice.