Shortly after the death of Fuhua Group founder Chen Lihua, her husband Chi Zhongrui withdrew all his shares related to the group worth about 47 billion RMB, sparking public discussions.
Just four months after the death of Chen Lihua, founder of the 10-billion-yuan Fuhua Group, her husband Chi Chongrui—who is 11 years her junior—sold off all of his shares in the group, a move involving assets worth approximately 47 billion yuan.
On April 5,
2026, Chen Lihua passed away, and public attention turned to the distribution of her estate; many predicted that Chi Chongrui would take action regarding shareholder rights. Just three days later, updated commercial registration information from Fuhua Group showed that Chi Chongrui’s name was no longer listed on the shareholder registry.At a time when the public was eagerly awaiting developments regarding the high-profile inheritance, he was the first to complete the formalities for divesting his shares.
The
news caused a public uproar, and all sorts of speculation began to circulate.Chi Zhongrui did not comment publicly on the matter until May of that year, when a visitor spotted him at the rosewood project site—a project Chen Lihua had spent more than a decade spearheading. Dressed in a suit, he spent most of his time simply standing and examining the displayed rosewood carvings, making few unnecessary movements.The public gradually came to realize that his focus was not on the distribution of commercial assets.
Just as the
related speculation had temporarily subsided, a set of photos circulating online in June showing him holding hands with someone thrust him back into the public spotlight. Rumors claimed that he had begun a romantic relationship with a young assistant shortly after his wife’s death.After the false rumors had circulated for several days, the details were clarified one by one: the woman in the photo was not the so-called assistant, but merely an ordinary staff member at the Zitan Museum. On that day, the two were simply verifying the inventory of exhibits, and any physical contact that occurred was due to the handoff of items—a normal part of their work.Many people expressed sympathy, noting that he had given up a massive fortune to take over a museum that requires constant investment year after year, only to face baseless criticism.
Once the ensuing backlash had died down, the public began to wonder what his motives were for taking over this venue, which requires ongoing financial investment.Come August, a diner happened to run into Chi Chongrui at an ordinary home-style restaurant. He ordered only simple, home-style dishes and dined in a relaxed and composed manner—showing none of the frantic scramble typically associated with inheritance disputes, as imagined by the outside world.Observers gradually realized that his life had not undergone any major upheavals due to the asset disposition; he continued to maintain his usual composure.
In the more than four months
since Chen Lihua’s passing, Chi Chongrui has never publicly addressed the various speculations circulating in the media.He relinquished all his commercial shares—valued at 47 billion—and did not claim any distribution of cash assets. He took over only the China Rosewood Museum, which in the eyes of many had long required personal financial support to operate. He continues to arrive at the museum punctually every day, polishing the rosewood components and verifying the inventory list,his daily routine remains exactly the same as it has been for over thirty years. Bai Yansong once commented that, with over thirty years of life choices laid bare for all to see, what he has always sought is not the material benefits perceived by the outside world, but inner peace.The negative criticism regarding his reliance on relatives, which had followed him for many years, also gradually dissipated in the wake of this series of actions.
Viewed in the context of the present, Chi Zhongrui’s choice carries a unique significance.
