In the context of the old society, when it comes to landlord bullies, Liu Wencai's name is undoubtedly widely discussed in Sichuan. Not only did he have a lot of wealth and many wives and concubines, but he was also dubbed the "Evil Tiger of Southern Sichuan" because of his brutal behavior. Under his rule, the people's life was miserable, but he was extremely luxurious during his lifetime, and he left behind many descendants. Every Qingming Festival, a grand worship ceremony was held, the scene was extremely spectacular, and 200 meals were prepared.
The rise of the Liu family
The Liu family originated in Huizhou, Anhui, and moved to Sichuan due to war. His ancestor Liu Juezhong became a minor local official in the late Qing Dynasty. After many turmoils, the Liu family finally accumulated wealth during the Qianlong period and established itself as a prominent family. During the Republic of China, the family's strength increased significantly, especially the competition between the two brothers Liu Xiang and Liu Wenhui, which led to the rapid rise of the Liu family.
The rise and fall of Liu Wencai
In 1921, under Liu Wenhui's blessing, Liu Wencai worked at the Sichuan Tobacco and Liquor Company and quickly rose through the ranks. He used his power to establish a reign of terror and extract wealth from the people through all kinds of weird taxes. Complementing his reputation was the ruthless suppression by the "security group", which aroused public resentment against him. Under his oppression, many innocent lives were lost, but he himself lived a luxurious life, as if he had nothing to do with it.
The story of wives and concubines
Liu Wencai's private life is equally complicated. His first wife, Lu, was well-behaved and docile, but she gradually drifted away from her husband due to the death of their children. Later, Yang Zhonghua, Ling Junru and Wang Yuqing became his wives and concubines one after another, each with their own story. These women struggled or achieved in the whirlpool of power and money, leaving many details worth pondering.
Liu Wencai’s Death and Legacy
Liu Wencai died in Chengdu in 1949. He failed to foresee the arrival of the People's Liberation Army and his power collapsed overnight. He could not rest in the cemetery he chose for himself, and his bones were even dug up and discarded by angry farmers. All this was retribution for his evil deeds during his lifetime. However, even though he has passed away, his descendants are still numerous, and they still worship him in luxurious occasions on every festival day. This grand occasion is in sharp contrast to what he did, which is thought-provoking.
Liu Wencai, although his material wealth cannot be taken to the grave, has left an indelible mark in the long river of history, reminding future generations not to forget the lessons of history.
