第1章 死在北京的美国人

Americans who died in Beijing

Jack Thompson, an 80-year-old American "China expert," dies in a Beijing hutong and is reborn as Chuck Hansen, a young man in a small American town in 1980. Next door lives his father, Robert, who is suffering from PTSD from the Korean War and his alcoholism. All that remains in the family home is a divorce decree.

"This is typical 'bourgeois decadence'." Chuck quoted the golden quote from "On Protracted War" and started a plan to transform his father: using "thought reform" to help him quit drinking, using the stories of the Volunteer Army to heal the trauma of war, and even using the spirit of the "household contract responsibility system" to persuade his parents to remarry.

But redemption was only the beginning. Comparing this with China's development, Chuck saw the decay of American capitalism: Wall Street's greed surpassed Heshen's, and the political parties' struggles lacked the decency of Qing Dynasty dramas. He decided to apply Chinese wisdom to transform America: starting with building fences, using church fundraising for "land reform," building momentum through veterans' associations, and integrating Mao's works into street politics.

When the capitalists fought back and federal agents came to his door, Chuck made the decision: "Forget the election, our dad is fit to wear a crown." From Alcoholics Anonymous to the Capitol Hill coup, this American with Twenty-Four Histories in his pocket eventually cut the American flag into a dragon robe.

"Dad, when he ascended the throne, he wore a suit with a dragon-patterned tie - this is called 'Chinese learning as the basis, Western learning for practical use'." Chuck straightened his father's "crown". In the distance, the White House in the sunset looked like the Forbidden City waiting to change its owner.

80 岁的美国 “中国通” 杰克・汤普森，死在北京胡同后竟重生为 1980 年美国小镇的青年查克・汉森。隔壁住着他那被美国侵略朝鲜战争留下的PTSD 和酒瘾拖垮的老爹罗伯特，家中只剩离婚判决书。
“这是典型的‘资产阶级颓废症’。” 查克甩着《论持久战》金句，开启改造老爹计划：用 “思想改造” 戒断酒瘾，借志愿军故事疗愈战争创伤，甚至搬来 “家庭联产承包责任制” 精神劝父母复婚。
但救赎只是开始。对照中国发展历程，查克看清美国资本主义的腐朽：华尔街贪婪胜和珅，两党争斗不如清宫戏体面。他决定用中国智慧改造美国：从修栅栏起步，借教堂募捐搞 “土改”，靠退伍兵联谊会攒力量，将毛选融入街头政治。
当资本巨鳄反扑、联邦探员上门，查克拍板：“别搞选举了，咱爹适合戴皇冠。” 从戒酒互助会到国会山政变，这个揣着二十四史的美国人，终将星条旗剪成龙袍。
“爸，登基穿西装配龙纹领带 —— 这叫‘中学为体，西学为用’。” 查克扶正老爹的 “王冠”，远处白宫在夕阳里，恰似待换主的故宫。