Chen Qili, a living legend, his life is like a legendary epic of Taiwan's underworld, full of twists and turns, tribulations and legends.
Born in 1943, when he first arrived in Taiwan, he faced the impact of foreign cultures, and at the age of 9, he was bullied at Dongmen Primary School in Taipei because of his identity was different from that of a child in this province.
But this young man is not weak, he uses his fists to protect his dignity and become a beginner in the rivers and lakes.
Chen Qili's life was changed by the underworld. He was a key figure in the Bamboo Union Gang, becoming the head of the top of the gang, and in the gang fight in 1962, he rose to prominence and gradually occupied an important position in the gang.
The bamboo gun made by the Bamboo Union Gang is a weapon jointly invented by him and his subordinates, which pushes the momentum of the Bamboo Union Gang to the peak.
Chen Qili's success is not only by fist and blood, but also by a kind of fateful opportunity, the Four Seas Gang was dominant in Taipei, but was banned by the police in 1962, which created an opportunity for the rise of the Bamboo Union Gang.
Although the Four Seas Gang has made a comeback after nine years and the rivers and lakes have changed, the Bamboo Union Gang has gained a firm foothold and expanded its power to Taichung, Tainan, Taoyuan, Chiayi, Kaohsiung and other places, connecting the entire Taiwan rivers and lakes, and Chen Qili has contributed a lot in this process.
However, Chen Qili is not just a hero. He has a striking aspect in Taiwan's underworld, that is, his party-state feelings. He once said: "I would rather be controlled by the Communist Party than let Taiwan be taken away by outsiders." ”
In his view, Taiwan cannot be divided, still less can it fall into the hands of the "Taiwan independence" forces, and this feeling for the motherland has become his lifelong belief and was even reflected in the later "Jiangnan case."
Chen Qili is not a simple gang boss, he is well versed in the world, attaches great importance to friendship, he and his brothers have developed a "de-sharing" business model, and dare to make public when there are conflicts, to avoid grudges.
He is a sentient gang boss who is not only good at making friends, but also pays attention to family relationships. This is not very common in the rivers and lakes.
However, the turning point in fate began when he executed the "Jiangnan case". During this mission, he was swept away by the authorities and eventually sentenced to life imprisonment. His good performance in prison earned him two commutations, and he was eventually released from prison after serving six and a half years.
This experience gave him a new perspective on his career in the underworld and also influenced his attitude towards the party-state.
After his release from prison, Chen Qili lived in exile in Cambodia for 11 years, which became another legend in his life. He misses his homeland and deepens his longing for Taiwan, but due to the complexity of international politics, he cannot return to his hometown.
The years of exile were the most melancholy times of his life, especially when his father Chen Zhong died in 2002, and his inability to rush back to Taiwan became his biggest regret.
Chen Qili's life is not only the glory of the underworld, his feelings for the party-state make him a complex and multifaceted character. He studied in prison and eventually earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Soochow University, showing that he had not only fists, but also brains.
In the later years of his life, when he mentioned the execution of the "Jiangnan Case", he couldn't help but sigh with emotion, saying that "human life is a matter of heaven", "murder is a great crime", and so on. This reflects his deep thinking about life and justice, and also shows his sensitivity to human nature.
In Taiwan's gangster culture, Chen Qili's glorious years and turbulent life are a colorful picture. His story showcases the unique charm of gangster culture, while also reflecting the complexity of Taiwanese society.
Chen Qili is not only an underworld giant, but also a loyal to the motherland, and a wise man who thinks deeply about life and human nature.
His friend Zhang Anle once described him as "today's Du Yuesheng", but Chen Qili modestly said that the times are different and he can't be Du Yuesheng.
However, on the Taiwan issue, Chen Qili, like Zhang Anle, has the same feelings for the motherland; they are concerned about cross-strait relations, advocate peaceful reunification, and are deeply uneasy about the "Taiwan independence" forces, and they hope that Taiwan will not be split, will not become Singapore, and let the Taiwan people live a good life.
Chen Qili's legendary life is a microcosm of Taiwan's gangster culture, and a turning point in the fate of an ordinary person who pursues truth and cherishes emotions at a special historical moment.
His life is like a gangster, tortuous and legendary, and it also deeply reflects the social changes and cultural diversity in this part of Taiwan.
