Chapter 384: Explaining the Law of “Richness and Poverty Do Not Last for More Than Three Generations”

Liu Qiming said, "Mr. Wan, when I talked to you last time, I just thought you were a very capable person. But after thinking about it for a long time, I felt that you were still holding back.

I called President Zheng and told him that if there was a chance, I would like to have another long talk with you. So, I made this special trip to see you at Mint.

Chairman Zheng said, "Let me add something. Qiming's main point is that you can be more direct in speaking about the shortcomings of his family. He's still young, in his forties, and wants to start with him and help as many of his descendants as possible to correct these shortcomings."

I smiled slightly and said, "Mr. Qiming, your ancestors must have had a special history. You didn't mention it, but that's my guess."

He and President Zheng exchanged a glance, then looked at me with admiration. "Indeed, I haven't told anyone else, but I've told President Zheng once. Your cultivation is truly profound."

Chairman Zheng asked, "How do you know his ancestors had a special history?"

This wasn't a problem for me. I said, "When you're poor, you have to adapt. Adaptation leads to success. The history of any family's development generally follows this principle. According to Mr. Qiming's last account, his family hadn't produced an official in four generations. They belonged to the bottom of society."

So, I figured, his family of four or more generations couldn't have all been at the bottom of society. Going back five or six generations, there must have been someone in office, or someone from a wealthy family."

Liu Qiming asked: "What is the basis for your inference?"

I said, "Think the other way around. For example, if a family is in power or wealthy, they will always be in power or wealthy. History will never change. As the saying goes, poverty and wealth cannot last more than three generations.

Although three generations is a proxy for high probability, the fate of a family is basically unavoidable, with the exception of those that are intentionally protected. For example, the descendants of Confucius, whose direct descendants have been protected by successive dynasties, allowing them to remain prominent and prosperous. Other families have experienced a cycle of rise and fall.

Therefore, I infer that Mr. Qiming's ancestors, going back five or six generations, must have been officials or wealthy."

Chairman Zheng refuted me: "Some people say that within ten generations all people are poor. How do you explain this?"

I laughed out loud. "The 'ten' here is a figurative number. Poverty breeds change. This is a law of history. Look through Chinese genealogies. Whose family has been poor for ten generations? Who compiled the genealogy? It must have been compiled by a famous and wealthy descendant, right?"

Chairman Zheng thought for a moment and nodded, saying, "You're right. In the past, most families compiled genealogies."

Liu Qiming said, "Mr. Wan is truly amazing. I've been hiding this part of my history from everyone, but now that you've brought it up, I'll tell you all about it."

He told us a little-known piece of history: more than a hundred years ago, in 1864, when the Hunan Army conquered Nanjing, his ancestor Liu Zigui, a wealthy tea merchant in Nanjing, also followed the Taiping Army out of the city.

Upon hearing this, Chairman Zheng asked, "Are you worried that the Hunan Army will kill you by mistake?"

"No, because the Taiping Army entered Nanjing, and Liu Zigui, in order to protect himself, half-extorted and half-voluntarily supported the Taiping Army's military pay. For this, the Eastern Palace awarded Liu Zigui the position of 'Tongchuan' and a bronze medal, implying that he would protect such an obedient businessman."

Chairman Zheng said, "Oh, I see. He donated money and was blacklisted by the court."

Liu Qiming said: "Yes, my ancestor Liu Zigui had long been labeled the 'number one traitor to the enemy' by the Hunan Army and would have been beheaded if caught. So he had no choice but to take his family and rush out of the city during the chaos of the war to seek a way out."

Hearing this, I waved my hand and told Liu Qiming to stop talking. He looked at me.

I said, “I’ll tell you the rest.”

Chairman Zheng asked in confusion, "You tell me?"

I nodded. I continued, "Liu Zigui fled the city, and his family became separated during the escape. He survived under an assumed name."

Liu Qiming interjected, "That's right. He even lost his wife and children and fled to Fujian alone."

I asked, "Did you get married later?"

Liu Qiming said: "To protect myself, I just said I was fleeing. To survive, I became a woodcutter, cutting wood and selling it for money, and then I hid in a small mountain village.

Ten years later, when the situation had eased a bit, he finally married a local woman. This local woman was unlucky for her husband and had remarried twice, but each time her husband died. Liu Zigui married her and finally settled down.

I said, "Everything has a cause and effect. There's an answer. Let me deduce it for you. Liu Zigui was a businessman, and his second wife must have been a very aggressive and strong woman.

Your grandfather was born in 1874. His genes probably inherited more of his mother's boldness and strength.

Because your ancestor Liu Zigui had to live cautiously, for fear that the government would discover any clues, so he lived in fear for the rest of his life.

His wife, unaware of his background, despised him for being timid. His son, influenced more by his mother, considered his father a coward, which fostered a rebellious spirit in him that was stronger than most children—he absolutely refused to be like his father, a spineless man. He despised his father from the bottom of his heart.

Next, let's calculate the time. Liu Zigui's son was born in 1874, and the Qing Dynasty fell in 1912. Liu Zigui's son was only 38 years old.

He learned from his father's life of cowardice and bullying that only by not fearing death can one intimidate those who fear death. Even after he learned of his father's life story, the Qing Dynasty had already collapsed, so he no longer had to worry.

Upon hearing this, Liu Qiming slapped his thigh and shouted excitedly, "Yes. Liu Zigui's son is called Liu Anping. This name implies that we hope he will grow up safely and happily and continue the Liu family's incense. Starting with him, we teach our descendants a saying: Don't be afraid of death, and others will be afraid of you."

I laughed and said, "There's nothing wrong with that statement. It's about being brave, but you need to add three more words to it—and be resourceful. Putting it together makes it work. It means 'not fearing death, but also being resourceful, possessing both wisdom and courage, only then will others fear you.'"

Liu Qiming slammed the coffee table. "They're just completely devoid of strategy. They're just calling for war and killing every day. Plus, with so many children, if one dies, there's a whole family left. This kind of atmosphere has been going on for generations, and the whole family is still filled with this atmosphere. They'll start fighting over other people's homes over the slightest disagreement. They're so aggressive, if they hadn't had so many sons, the family line would have died out long ago."

Chairman Zheng joked, "Then there will be no famous Liu Yizhen."

I just learned that Liu Qiming's nickname is "Liu Yizhen".

I said, "Thank you for sharing this family story. Now I understand your family's history and the origins of your personality."

According to the common wisdom that wealth and poverty cannot last for more than three generations, your family's fate will begin to change with your branch. You don't need to dwell on the shortcomings your family has brought upon you. Recognize the truth, resolve to change your own destiny, educate your descendants rationally, strive for progress, and achieve great things.

Moreover, I see in you that the latent genes of your ancestors have been activated. After all, your ancestor Liu Zigui was once a wealthy businessman. You are able to run such a good hospital, so it must be genetic.

"Thank you. Thank you very much for your analysis of my family's history and destiny. I'm here for another reason. My eldest son recently found a girlfriend. Last time you said you could just look at her photo. I think if you have time, you could go to Manila and give me a face-to-face review."

"Are there any photos?"

"have."

"Download WeChat and send it to me."

"I have WeChat. Although I haven't been back to mainland China, I still keep in touch with people back home. My father is dead, and my mother lives with me. But I still have many nephews and nieces..."

At this point, he suddenly stopped, because he didn't add me on WeChat last time.

"Okay, let's add each other. Send it to me."

After a while, he sent me the photo. I used software to transform the photo into the girl's childhood, middle age, and old age. After looking at it for a while, he said, "She's Chinese too."

"right."

I laughed out loud and said, "You have good taste. In five words: a good wife and mother."

He hesitated and stammered, "Young people's... aesthetic... vision nowadays..."

I knew what he meant and said, "You don't think it's pretty enough?"

He smiled sheepishly.

At this time, Tang Man came in and said, "Wow, you are still talking?"

Chairman Zheng looked at his watch and said, "Oh, it's past midnight. Let's talk after dinner."

I said, “Let’s talk after dinner.”

Tang Man said coquettishly, "I want to listen, don't send me away."

Everyone laughed.

Chairman Zheng called He Yun and said after hanging up, "Let's try something new. Let's go to the Miti Spa Resort. To attract Chinese tourists, they even commissioned someone to create a slogan: 'Filipino' is a must-visit."

As he spoke, he gestured the word "菲" in the air.

Everyone laughed, and Liu Qiming said, "Whoever has money is the boss. Words follow the wallet."

After going downstairs, the hotel arranged a battery sightseeing car.

Blue sky, white clouds, coastline, cheerful Chinese jokes...what a pleasant life.

If this continues, will I become the descendant of Liu Bei?

Just like Adou: I am happy here, so why don’t I miss Shu?

Wan Shanhong, you have to be careful. Your family has been neither an official nor a businessman for generations. It was only until you made a little money.

(The next chapter will be posted shortly after midnight.)