ABSTRACT
One day the Nanchang postman delivered a letter to me from my mother. It was a reply to my inquiry regarding Kai-shek's father. She enclosed the report that the investigator had given her. It read:
First Report Regarding Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek outwardly appears to be the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Chiang Shu-an of Hsi-k'ou, in Feng-hua County, Chekiang. A thorough investigation reveals, however, that old Mr. Chiang Shu-an was merely Chiang Kai-shek's stepfather. This is the story:* Chiang Kai-shek was originally surnamed Cheng, with the given name San-fa-tzu. He lived with his parents in Hsu-chou in Honan province. Born on October 31, 1887, he was the third son of his parents. His eldest brother, seven years his senior, was named Cheng Shiu-fa. His second elder brother, four years his senior, was called Erh-fa-tzu. His father, who owned twelve mu of land, was a farmer. His mother, nee Huang, a capable woman and a fine seamstress, was tall and thin and nicknamed Lanky Mama Cheng. The 232little family of five was able to eke out a fairly comfortable living. San-fatzu, being the youngest and constitutionally weakest, was pampered by his mother.
In 1894, the larger part of Honan province suffered a severe famine, Thousands of miles of land did not have even an inch of grass. This was due to the disastrous floods of the Yellow and Huai rivers. The former is known as China's Sorrow. Indeed, the inundation took a toll of thousands of lives, and those who survived suffered starvation. The rich farmers of Hsu-chou quickly moved to the larger cities; the poorer farmers tried to stick it out. But after a time, San-fa-tzu's father decided that he, too, must move his little family to the city of Loyang. He told his wife: "If we stay here we will surely perish. Hopes of getting relief grain from the imperial government are remote. Our little stock of roots, husk, and bark will soon be exhausted. Look at the streets and roads! They are scattered with the dead. We cannot survive if we remain here. Let us leave while we have the strength in our bodies to carry us away."
"San-fa-tzu and I cannot make such a long, strenuous journey on foot," said Lanky Mama Cheng. "So what shall we do?"
"I can carry you piggyback," said Father Cheng. "At least if we leave, we may hope to survive together. But to remain means certain death for us all."
"How can we leave without our belongings?" protested Mama Cheng. "We will need warm clothing and blankets. If you carry San-fa-tzu piggyback, who will carry our luggage?"
"We'll have to sacrifice all that," said Father Cheng impatiently. "Life is more precious than clothing and blankets."
"If we are to die, I would rather die in our own home and on our own land," said Lanky Mama Cheng with finality. "With my small bound feet, I will not be able to make that long journey. It will be better for you to take the boys and leave. I will stay here and await government aid."
Father Cheng came over to his wife and pleaded: "How can I leave you behind? It's not human. Let us go together. Don't depend on government aid. Here, I kneel to you and beg you to listen to reason and come with us."
But Mama Cheng was adamant and refused to budge.
Papa Cheng sighed deeply, for he knew it was futile to persuade a stubborn wife. So he sheepishly rose to his feet and spoke to his three sons, thus: "My sons. The three of you are sensible lads. Since your mother refuses to leave with me, I will not force her, but I, myself, have decided to leave. So you three may decide for yourselves. Those who wish to remain will stay with your mother. Those who wish to go with me should make up your minds now."
233The two elder boys, Shiu-fa and Erh-fa-tzu, said they would go with their father. After a tearful farewell, the trio left.
As the days passed, Lanky Mama Cheng and San-fa-tzu consumed the remaining food, the tree bark, roots, and grain husks that were in the house. Soon they found that the few remaining neighbors were leaving. Not wishing to stay behind, Mama Cheng said to them: "Let me and my young son accompany you." So saying, she hurriedly wrapped some clothing in a bundle, threw it over her shoulder like a knapsack, and followed the slow-moving caravan, whose destination was Kaifeng, the ancient capital of Honan.
Outside their village the little band could see more and more groups of people converging on the highway to join the exodus. Many people weakened by starvation simply fell down on the roadside to die. When this happened, their family members howled with grief and refused to go on until the dead were buried in an improvised grave.
After three days of painful trudging, Mama Cheng and her son left the crowd to seek refuge in a small, broken-down temple. An old man was worshiping there. Mama Cheng watched him burn joss sticks and joss paper and kneel in prayer. She and her son followed suit. When the praying was over, the man said to her: "I know you are a refugee, but you will not get any handouts here. You will have to go to the Hsiang Kuo Monastery in the city, fifty li from here, where they serve congee to refugees twice a day. The monastery does a lot of charity work to help the destitute. That is where you should go."
So to the monastery Mama Cheng and her son went. They were given congee and some bean cakes, and at night, they slept upon a straw mat in the monastery's spacious courtyard among hundreds of other refugees. Thus they lived for a week.
One day Mama Cheng was mending San-fa-tzu's torn coat when an elderly monk passed by. Mama Cheng rose from her straw mat and after bowing, asked: "Reverend Master, I wish to earn my living. Where can I find work in this strange city?"
The monk looked at her and answered: "You seem to sew well, I understand there is a merchant named Chiang. He is looking for a nurse to care for his motherless baby. Whether he has found one or not, I do not know, but you may go there and inquire." So saying, he gave her instructions how to get there.
Mama Cheng thanked the monk most profusely, rolled up her mat, tied up her baggage, and carrying these over her shoulder, dragged along her son, heading for the address given. After searching for some time, mother and son came to a doorway of a rich man's home. The tall, stately doors were of the richest black lacquer, of such a fine quality that she had 234never before seen. Looking up she saw hanging on the eaves a pair of large white and blue lanterns, and at once she knew that the house was in mourning, for ordinary lanterns were always painted red.
Summoning up courage, Mama Cheng adjusted her dress and hair and knocked at the door. In answer, a dog barked fiercely, which frightened the intruders. When a manservant appeared, Mama Cheng told him the purpose of her call.
Old Mr. Chiang, the owner of the house, was a salt merchant by trade. He had been very much worried after he had lost his second wife, nee Hsu, who had died at childbirth. He had had difficulty in finding someone suitable to care for the motherless babe. Although he had three children, one boy and two girls, all of them were too young and playful to take on the responsibility of nursing. Besides, being a salt merchant, he had many other activities. A part of his time was spent in writing indictments for those unfortunates who were involved in litigation. Indeed, Old Mr. Chiang was a busy man, and it was his intention to send word back to his native village to engage an elderly clanswoman to nurse his newborn babe and to act as governess over his household. But he did not get around to it.
When Mama Cheng was brought in to his presence, he did not notice her shabby appearance but saw that she was a tall, handsome woman with a strong, healthy body and walked with a pleasant gait. He liked her looks and demeanor and asked her name.
"My maiden name is Huang, but my married name is Cheng," she answered respectfully. Then she told him her story and added, "I do not know if my husband is dead or alive."
"Since you have no home, you may work here and be a nurse to my motherless baby and also act as governess to my other children. We will call you Mama Huang. I have seen many prospects, but you are the best of them all, and since you have a son of your own, you will have to keep strict control over him so that the children will not fight or quarrel."
"Since you are so kind to take me and my son in, I will make it my business to do that," she promised gratefully and added, "Although my son is sensitive and sometimes morbid, he will obey me implicitly."
It did not take long for Mama Huang to learn that Old Mr. Chiang was a native of Hsi-k'ou village, Feng-hua County, Chekiang province. Fifty years before, he had accompanied his father, Chiang Yu-Piu, to Honan to became a salt merchant. Therefore, Old Mr. Chiang, on his father's death, acquired through inheritance his father's business and palatial home.
Being a capable woman, Mama Huang worked hard in the house and looked after the children as if they were her very own. As the years passed fleetingly by, Old Mr. Chiang, feeling homesick and senile, sold his busi235ness and moved his family back to his native Hsi-k'ou home in Chekiang. He told Mama Huang, "Fallen leaves return to their roots and my yearning for my native home is similar." He looked at her admiringly and said: "Ever since you came to work here, you have been very hardworking, faithful, and kind. I am grateful to you for all what you have done. Will you marry me and come to Chekiang to be a mother to my children?"
"But what about my own son?" she asked. "He is a Cheng."
"Let him change his surname to Chiang."
"That solves the problem," said Mama Huang wisely, and that night Old Mr. Chiang made Mama Huang his wife.
So that in a nutshell is how Chiang Kai-shek acquired the surname of Chiang.
