He was only 47 years old, just entering his most productive years. With an introduction from a friend, Chen went to Shanghai as marketing director for a trading company, becoming one of the "Taiwan cadres" who ply the straits between Taiwan and China.
當時他才 47 歲，正值人生黃金歲月，於是又透過友人引薦，到彼岸的上海擔任貿易商行銷總監，成了兩岸奔波的台幹。