Heartfelt Love Stories: Tree and Kapok Tree
On January 7, 20xx, Sir Run Run Shaw passed away in Hong Kong at the age of 107.
At 17, he founded China’s first film company in Shanghai. At 23, he established the Shaw Brothers Studio in Singapore. At 70, he was knighted by the Queen of England. China has a “Run Run Shaw Star” and America has a “Run Run Shaw Day.” He retired at 104, becoming the first centenarian CEO of a publicly listed company in history.
Sir Run Run Shaw’s life was filled with countless legends. However, the most remarkable and admirable aspect of his century-long journey is probably his legendary 62-year-long companionship with “Miss Fong” Fong Yat Wah, defying societal norms and pressures.
1952’s “Flower Moon Night”: Meeting “Miss Fong” from Shanghai and Falling in Love
Fong Yat Wah was not Run Run Shaw’s first wife. His first wife was Wong Mei Chun.
From their marriage in 1937 until Wong Mei Chun’s death in 1987 in the United States, Shaw and Wong maintained a marriage that lasted half a century. During these long years, Shaw transformed from an unknown young man carrying a projector around Southeast Asia into a world-renowned film mogul.
Many young and beautiful women surrounded him, trying every means to become the new favorite of this legendary man. However, despite numerous rumors, Shaw’s marriage with Wong Mei Chun remained rock solid.
Yet, the indestructibility of their marriage bond did not necessarily guarantee emotional compatibility. After giving birth to two sons and two daughters, Wong Mei Chun moved to the United States. She had little interest in her husband’s business, focusing instead on educating and accompanying their children. Perhaps it was because of this that Shaw’s most sensational and controversial second relationship came to be…
The woman in this second relationship was Fong Yat Wah, who would later become far more well-known than Wong Mei Chun. One evening in 1952 in Hong Kong, Shaw was at his own nightclub listening to songs. Just as he was about to leave, the host announced, “Next, please welcome the popular singer from Southeast Asia, Miss Fong Yat Wah.”
The name “Fong Yat Wah” rang a bell. As Shaw sat back down, the waiter told him that she was the recently popular singer in Southeast Asia, famous for her song “Flower Moon Night.” At that time, the song was so popular in Hong Kong and Macau that even Shaw could hum it lightly.
“Just one kiss, I’m in tears, my darling! From now on, I belong to you, forever and ever, in your embrace.” The woman on stage, dressed in a floral cheongsam with elegantly arched eyebrows, possessed the charm and intelligence of a Shanghai woman. Shaw sent her a large bouquet of flowers before she finished singing.
When told the flowers were from Run Run Shaw, Fong Yat Wah changed into a simple cheongsam after her performance and personally came to Shaw’s booth. She bowed slightly, thanked him, with neither arrogance nor humility, and greeted him gracefully. “Miss Fong, are you also from Shanghai?” Shaw asked, recognizing her soft Wu dialect accent.
Fong Yat Wah was indeed from Shanghai. With a slender figure and beautiful voice, she had come to Hong Kong alone at 17 and had since become a sought-after singer in major theaters. That year, Fong was 21 years old.
From then on, every time Shaw went to Hong Kong, he would listen to Fong sing. They started dining together, chatting while having supper. She told him about old Shanghai, and he shared his adventures of youth. He politely called her “Miss Fong,” while she respectfully addressed him as “Mr. Shaw.”
To Shaw, Fong was initially just a confidante he could talk to on his life journey. But to Fong, this legendary yet approachable “Mr. Shaw” was destined to be the only one in her life.
In 1987, the Widowed “Sixth Uncle” Was Heartbroken and Had No Intention of Marrying “Sixth Aunt”
In 1957, 50-year-old Shaw expanded his business to Hong Kong, while Fong had already transitioned from a theater singer to a professional recording artist. Some said Shaw moved to Hong Kong entirely because of Fong. She laughed and said, “Mr. Shaw’s greatest love is not women or children, but his film career. And that is what I respect most about him.”
Was it respect or admiration? Did she genuinely appreciate his character, or was she playing the role of a woman enamored with a wealthy man? No one knew. Regardless, the first person Shaw recruited when he established his company in Hong Kong was Fong.
And Fong, without hesitation, exchanged her glamorous attire for plain office clothes, becoming an ordinary employee at Shaw’s company.
Years later, when asked what touched him most about Fong, Shaw said, “On her first day at the office, she arrived an hour early. When I got to the office, she was already cleaning my secretary’s room.” This was indeed true because from then on, everyone at Shaw’s company noticed that Fong was always the first to arrive and the last to leave.
Initially, Fong worked in the procurement department. A year later, she requested a transfer to the external relations department. Gradually, she became familiar with every department in the company.
Whether this was Shaw’s deliberate arrangement or her own initiative for “special treatment,” no one knew. But everyone knew that Fong was proving through her actions that she came to support Shaw not as a trophy or a mistress, but as someone who genuinely helped his business like family.
Shaw, known as “Sixth Uncle” at home and in the company, and Fong, who became closely associated with him, started being referred to by the media as “Sixth Aunt.” As time passed, Fong’s status and power in Shaw’s company grew, but not to the extent that Shaw would divorce Wong Mei Chun for her. Publicly, he continued to praise his wife, “My wife is perfect, I don’t need to worry about anything.”
Some said a man who became successful and never thought of leaving his first wife was even more attractive to women. In those days, it was legal for men to take concubines in Hong Kong. However, Shaw never took Fong as a concubine. Whether he didn’t want to betray Wong Mei Chun or thought it would belittle Fong, only Shaw knew.
From her youthful 21 years to a time when no other suitors remained, Fong had only Shaw. Was she waiting for eternity, or had her love for him transcended all desires?
Those who knew Fong said she rented a small apartment with her modest savings when she first joined Shaw’s company. It was only after 20xx that she bought a large seaside house. Even after becoming “Mrs. Shaw,” Fong never moved into Shaw’s mansion.
However, whether it was a small apartment or a large house, her residence was always within a five-minute drive from Shaw’s home. She never showed up at Shaw’s house except on Sundays when she would drive over to have lunch with him, sometimes cooking soup for him. After lunch, they would chat and take a walk, and Fong would return to her own place before dinner.
Such a choice earned media admiration. Clearly, Fong was a smart and proud woman. Even if her status was destined to be neither noble nor honorable, she strove to make herself noble and honorable.
In 1987, when Wong Mei Chun passed away in the United States, Shaw’s half-century marriage with her ended. After his wife’s death, a reporter asked Shaw when he would marry Fong. He immediately replied, “I have no plans.” Fong, asked the same question, responded calmly, “I haven’t thought about it.”
To commemorate his deceased wife, Shaw announced a year-long suspension of his company’s operations. That year, Fong returned to Shanghai for the first time since meeting Shaw, experiencing a prolonged separation. She would get up early every day, retrace the streets of her childhood memories, and reunite with childhood friends. In the evenings, she would receive calls from Shaw, where he would ask about her days in Shanghai.
In 20xx, Kapok Bids Farewell to the Tree: 107-Year-Old “Mr. Shaw” Leaves 80-Year-Old “Miss Fong”
Just when everyone thought Fong would remain “Sixth Aunt” for life, in 1997, on the eve of the tenth anniversary of Wong Mei Chun’s death, Shaw and Fong registered their marriage in Las Vegas. Renowned host Cha Siu Yan said, “He finally gave this woman, who stood by him like a tree in the form of a kapok, her rightful status.” It wasn’t that she “finally” waited for his proposal, nor that she “finally” saw the clouds part to reveal the moon. It was he who “finally” gave this persistent and patient woman her deserved title.
On their wedding day, 62-year-old Fong wore a white Chanel suit, light makeup, and short hair, her face beaming with the shyness of a newlywed bride. When reporters expressed their surprise and confusion, the 90-year-old groom said, “I have been friends with Miss Fong for many years and worked with her for 45 years.
Marrying her not only gives her an official status but also ensures her happiness.” She said, “I married Mr. Shaw not for his wealth because most of his fortune has been donated to charity.”
Life after marriage remained the same. He called her “Miss Fong,” and she called him “Mr. Shaw.” They went to work together and, on Sundays
, she would still cook soup for him. She continued working in her office, cluttered with various documents. If she wasn’t accompanying Shaw to the hospital or on business trips, Fong was still the first to arrive and the last to leave the office.
In 20xx, on his 100th birthday, Shaw announced his retirement and appointed Fong as the TVB Executive Chairman. When asked why none of his children took over, Shaw replied, “None of my four children knows my business as well as ‘Miss Fong,’ and no one is more dedicated than her! Besides, they trust ‘Miss Fong’ as much as I do!”
After handing over the business to Fong, Shaw was often seen by the media having tea with young TVB actresses. When Fong learned about it, she laughed and said, “Mr. Shaw’s legs are not good; he needs young people to help him in and out of tea houses. I’m grateful to them.” He enjoyed watching TV or movies all day, and she would quietly accompany him whenever she had time. He practiced Qigong for 45 minutes every morning, and she would change into her exercise clothes and practice alongside him. In short, this woman continually demonstrated what “husband sings, wife follows” truly means.
On January 7, 20xx, Shaw passed away peacefully at home. Naturally, his eternal “Miss Fong” accompanied him through his final journey. After seeing him off with a smile, she sent everyone away and cried alone in the room for two hours. Then, wiping her tears, Fong began to handle her husband’s funeral arrangements personally, from the timing and location of the funeral to notifying guests. She said if someone else did it, he would be worried and unhappy.
After Shaw’s death, some said Fong spent 62 years with him but was only his wife for seven years. Was it worth it?
For Fong, being with the person she loved was never a matter of worth; it was a matter of willing dedication. How many women would dedicate 62 years of their lives to one man?
“I must be a kapok tree near you, standing together as trees. Roots clench in the earth; leaves touch in the clouds… We share cold waves, thunderstorms, and lightning; we enjoy mist, vapor, and rainbows.”
Now, has the kapok tree forever lost its tree? No, because although it seems they have separated forever, they remain lifelong companions. This is true great love. Maybe, to many, this is not great love. But to those involved, it is!
Thank you for reading! ” Sitestorys “
