The Legend of Lin

In February 2008, Professor Justin Yifu Lin of Peking University was appointed to serve as senior vice president and chief economist for the World Bank. Thus he became the first citizen of a developing nation to hold such a position. “Success is just a product - 99 percent effort and one percent luck,” he says. “And even the one percent luck stems from hard work.”

Channeling Success

Originally named Lin Zhengyi, Lin Yifu, born in Taiwan, graduated from university at the top of his class. In 1979, he swam 2,000 meters from Jinmen, Taiwan, to the coastal mainland city of Xiamen, and there he changed his name to Lin Yifu. He later relocated to Beijing and was admitted to Peking University.

In 1980, Theodore William Schultz, winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics, visited Peking University. Because of his expertise in spoken English, Lin Yifu was assigned to accompany Schultz as his interpreter. During that short-term association, Schultz became impressed with the young man’s great intelligence and good character. After he returned to the US, Schultz encouraged the University of Chicago to recruit Lin as his last doctoral student. After obtaining a master’s degree in political economics from Peking University in 1982, Lin began his overseas study at the University of Chicago, studying under Schultz. Four years later, Lin completed his doctoral study. His dissertation, China’s Rural Reforms: Theory and Empirical Evidence, was praised by Schultz as a “classic of new institutional economics.”

Shallow Divide

The mainland of China offered Lin a larger professional stage, upon which he could fulfill himself. Lin once stated in a letter to his family: “Based on my knowledge of culture, history, politics, economy and military affairs, I believe it is a historical must for Taiwan’s return to the motherland. It is the best option. As a Taiwanese, I cherish this island where I was born and raised, and I’d like to devote all my life to its prosperity. And meanwhile, as a Chinese citizen, I think Taiwan should contribute more to the cause of advancing the entire nation.”

But the narrow Taiwan Straits prevented his return home. In May 2002, Lin’s father passed away in Taiwan. Lin wished to return for his father’s funeral. But the Taiwan authorities declined his application. On June 3, on Lin’s behalf, his wife Chen Yunying managed to return to Taiwan to mourn his father’s death. Lin choked up when interviewed on Hong Kong-based Phoenix TV about this subject.

All of the Chinese should unite in stronger, more complete ways to create a greater Chinese nation, Lin explained during a lecture at a 2006 symposium attended by students from both the mainland and Taiwan. He greatly regrets his absence from his father’s funeral, but he says he will never regret his life-changing decision. If he can return to Taiwan in the future, what he wants to do most is to visit his parents’ final resting place.
Family Fortunes

When Lin left Chen Yunying to go to the mainland, his wife began her anxious wait. She heard nothing from her husband, but she firmly believed that he was alive and they would finally have a reunion. It was not until Lin initiated his study in the US that Chen Yunying had the opportunity to bring their six-year-old son and four-year-old daughter to meet with her husband.

In their four years in the US, the wife and husband resided in Washington D.C. and Chicago, respectively, with Chen pursuing her doctoral degree and looking after their kids in Washington. In 1987, after completing her doctoral dissertation, following in her husband’s steps, Chen returned to the mainland of China. Chen is engaged in special education and her achievement has earned her the designation “Chinese Pioneer of Special Education.” She often jokes with her husband, “Your job is to help people get rich, while my job is to help the rich spend their money in the right place.”