Under the immense pressure of online public opinion, individuals feel increasingly insignificant, leaving candor as the only viable response. On the afternoon of January 20, philanthropist Chen Xingjia responded to an interview request via a WeChat voice message, stating simply: "It's too hot recently, I'm not accepting interviews." This brief remark reveals the tremendous pressure he is facing from the court of public opinion. On January 18, Chen Xingjia publicly released a video announcing his intention to pass the baton to a younger generation, declaring, "Here, I make a decision: I will formally initiate the handover process. After an orderly transition, I will no longer receive a salary from the Heng Hui Charitable Foundation." In the face of such overwhelming online scrutiny, who dares not to lower their head? No one knows if they will become the next focus of a viral online storm; no one can predict the sheer force such舆论 can generate; and no one can foresee how it will reshape their public image. Under this high-pressure environment, the individual indeed seems to shrink in significance. Chen Xingjia's palpable frustration reflects a certain fear of this dynamic. Back in 2016, when Chen stepped down from his county-level government post, he famously stated, "I am tired of wearing a mask to be a person." A decade later, this wave of online舆论 has seemingly forced another mask upon him: that of a fraudulent philanthropist. Has Chen Xingjia, once seen as a paragon of integrity, "betrayed" the cause? Has he strayed from his original intentions? Or is he leveraging philanthropy for personal gain? The description of Chen as a "paragon of integrity" is rooted in his impeccable professional record. After graduating university in 1992, he began his career at the Xingshan County Fuel and Chemical Industry Bureau, which at the time was considered "working at the grassroots level." By 2001, while serving as the Mayor of Yuesi Town in Xingshan County, he was admitted to the inaugural Master of Public Administration program at Tsinghua University. Upon completing his master's degree, he returned to serve in county and city-level governments in Hubei province, where he earned a strong reputation for his achievements and official conduct. After leaving public office, Chen Xingjia founded the Shenzhen Heng Hui Children's Charitable Foundation, focusing primarily on critical illness assistance and educational support for children. The recent controversy that thrust Chen into the eye of the online storm revolves around his compensation from the Heng Hui Children's Charitable Foundation. The foundation's official website, in its 2024 annual report, lists Chen's internal position as Vice Chairman and shows his pre-tax total income for the year was approximately 730,100 yuan. The 2023 annual work report indicated his salary from the foundation that year was 902,700 yuan. This disclosure triggered a public outcry, with many questioning whether he was profiting personally under the guise of charity. A prevalent view seems to be that those in philanthropy should not only forgo payment but should also donate their own wealth. But how many individuals can truly meet this extreme standard? When the court of public opinion measures philanthropists against the yardstick of being saintly figures detached from worldly needs, how much room for genuine charity actually remains? In confronting such doubts, the most effective path forward is unwavering transparency. On January 16, staff from the Shenzhen Heng Hui Charitable Foundation stated that all the foundation's financial expenditures have been audited. They confirmed that civil affairs authorities had taken note of the online discussions regarding salaries, had made inquiries, and that the foundation had provided responses. After verification, the authorities found no issues. Personal integrity forms the bedrock of such candor. As long as the foundation's accounts are transparent, its charitable projects are effectively implemented and genuinely help those in need, Chen receiving reasonable compensation is entirely understandable. The foundation's act of publicly disclosing Chen's income is, in itself, a demonstration of this transparency and forthrightness. On January 20, Yu Minhong, founder of New Oriental, posted a notice on his personal Douyin account in the name of New Oriental Education & Technology Group: "New Oriental Education & Technology Group has appointed Teacher Chen Xingjia as the General Advisor for New Oriental Education, Oriental Selection, and New Oriental Cultural Tourism, with an annual salary of 1.5 million RMB." The notice further added, "Teacher Yu Minhong will join Teacher Chen Xingjia's Heng Hui Charitable Foundation to work together for the health and growth of Chinese youth! New Oriental Education & Technology Group will donate no less than 1 million RMB annually to the Heng Hui Foundation!" This serves as the most powerful rebuttal to the critics. Yu Minhong and New Oriental Education & Technology Group have exercised their own judgment, recognizing the true essence of charitable action and refusing to be swayed by the noise of the internet. A widely circulated photograph shows the backs of Yu Minhong and Chen Xingjia walking together. This is not merely a display of mutual respect between two seasoned figures, but a profound resonance in their shared commitment to doing good. In the digital age, some will deliberately provoke controversy, while others will create and revel in sensational topics, generating immense online pressure. Yet, after the clamor subsides, the public must engage in rational reflection: What truly lies behind the narrative of Chen Xingjia's alleged "betrayal"? (The author is a commentator.)
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