Qiaopi, a term combining "overseas Chinese" and "letter" in Teochew dialect, refers to letters sent by Chinese emigrants back to their hometowns, often containing remittances. The process of delivering a Qiaopi from overseas to a rural village in the Chaoshan region involved several steps. For instance, a sender in Thailand would entrust both money and letter to a Qiaopi agency, where the funds were converted into Hong Kong dollars—a stable and widely accepted currency at the time—before being transported to Shantou. Domestic agencies then dispatched messengers, known as "Pi Jiao," who delivered the letters and remittances on foot to villages in Chaoshan. These messengers prioritized their reputation, often covering losses personally and even selling family assets to compensate if their agency faced closure.
This community-based system operated for over a century, emphasizing trust and integrity. During the Sino-Japanese War, Qiaopi were even used to covertly transfer funds for purchasing fighter planes and medical supplies. From 1864 to 1980, overseas Chinese remitted a total of $10.8 billion through Qiaopi. By the late 1970s, as China's financial system modernized, Qiaopi agencies gradually ceased operations. However, the values embedded in these letters endure: the dedication of emigrants striving for a better life for their families, the loyalty and principles upheld by individuals, the unwavering commitment of messengers, and the enduring connection of overseas Chinese to their homeland and loved ones.
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