The afternoon sunlight filtered into the room like a memory, casting a soft glow on her profile. Sitting quietly in the corner of the sofa, she held a cup of tea that had long gone cold, as if waiting for unspoken fragments of her past to surface naturally.
Our conversation did not begin with tales of a career queen’s comeback, nor with the strategies of a top sales achiever. Her tone was light, yet it carried the calm that only comes after enduring life’s tempests. She did not answer《The Icons》interview team’s first question right away. Instead, she gazed out the window, as though conversing with a chapter of her life that no one else could hear.
“When you look back on your life, who do you think you are?” our reporter asked.
She smiled, her voice calm and assured. “My life may seem like it’s been lived for others, but in truth, it has been a journey of creating value for myself and for many people.”
Teng Shu-Lan, Director of HUAYEN, LUNG YEN authorized distributor, is a soul ferryman in the life service industry, someone who chose sincerity over salesmanship and compassion over cold transactions. Her story is not just about overcoming adversity; it is a spiritual journey through poverty, gender expectations, and the tides of time, crystallizing into a strength that is both gentle and unyielding.
She has walked through turbulence and thorns, yet always carried a light that never went out. From the alleys and earth of a military dependents’ village, Teng learned resilience and how to let her light shine into others’ lives. Her beginnings were humble: a girl with dreams shaped by the balance of a steadfast father and a tender, graceful mother. Her father spoke little but was always there when it mattered. Her mother, through the rhythm of daily life, taught her the quiet power of gentleness. These seemingly simple lessons became the foundation upon which she faced every storm that followed.
Her story mirrors that of countless Taiwanese women born in the postwar generation, raised amid transition and learning to stand tall in a changing world. Her father’s steadiness and her mother’s strength formed her compass, guiding her to live fully and to illuminate others with her light. Through our conversation, it became clear that the power of Teng Shu-Lan’s story lies not merely in her achievements but in how she has transformed every experience into strength, and every act of love into an everlasting flame that warms and inspires those around her.
“It took me a long time to understand,” she said softly, “that the real challenge in life is not the obstacle in front of you but learning to bloom through every experience and use that light to brighten someone else’s world.”
Living Not Only for Herself, But as the Continuation of a Thousand-Year Legacy
TENG SHU-LAN’s life journey began in a childhood that was both restrained and deeply cherished.
Her father was a military officer who came to Taiwan from mainland China. Born into a distinguished literary family in southern China, his ancestral home was once honoured by the imperial court and still stands today, now converted into a public hospital. The royal plaque once bestowed upon their family is preserved in the Phoenix Museum. In the midst of wartime, this scholarly young man laid down his brush and joined the military to protect his homeland. Though history left deep marks on him, his love for his children remained steady and gentle.
“From as early as I can remember, my father never once hit me or scolded me. Not even once,” Teng recalls with a warm smile.
Life in the military dependents’ village was not wealthy, but her parents did everything they could to protect their daughters. Her father worked two jobs, while her mother quietly created opportunities in everyday life — offering a small gift to a teacher or finding a way to enrol the children in extra classes, just so they would never feel overlooked.
“My father often said, ‘You are my blessing.’”
That simple sentence became her earliest sense of self-worth. Even when the world outside imposed limits or doubt, she always remembered the certainty and tenderness in her father’s eyes. It gave her the courage to face the world.
Her mother, like many Taiwanese women of that generation, spoke little but carried the weight of the family through every meal and household chore, holding both hardship and hope in silence. “I know my mother wasn’t always happy,” Teng says. “But she spent her whole life trying for us and searching for her own way out.”
Growing up in this environment, Teng developed a quiet but unshakable resilience that strengthened with each challenge she faced.
“I think I understood from a young age that no matter what happens, I must be someone who can stand strong and become a source of strength for my family.”
Revealing the Collective Face of a Generation of Women
When speaking about her upbringing, TENG SHU-LAN describes it as more than a personal journey; it was the reflection of an entire generation of women who carried the same unseen weight.
“From my mother’s generation to mine, women living through this era all faced the same silent struggles. Not because we lacked ability or ideas, but because countless social structures told us we were not allowed to have a voice.”
Her mother embodied the archetype of Taiwanese women of that time: quiet, steadfast, and capable of carrying a household on her shoulders. She cooked every meal, managed every chore, raised children, and endured emotions without ever admitting she was tired. The hardship was silent. There were no tears, no complaints, only an endless endurance. What pained Teng most was not how much her mother gave, but that she never believed any of it was worthy of praise.
“It was a way of living that erased the self, as if women were never meant to speak, to think, or to dream.”
As Teng grew older, she began to see that reflection everywhere, in her mother, her neighbours, even her teachers, all silently asking the same question: Is this really the only way women are allowed to live?
From a young age, Teng knew that if she wanted to live a life of her own, she would have to carve her path through hard work and determination. After finishing junior high, she worked in her father’s factory to help support the family, saving enough to pursue her dream of entering the renowned Huagang Arts School. Throughout high school, she refined her dance skills in class and taught dance after school to build her independence and confidence.
Life after graduation was far from smooth. Teng sold goods at street stalls, taught dance, and later entered the world of beauty direct sales. With unyielding determination and persistence, she was promoted to sales supervisor within three years, earning a moving trophy, a pink car. Within six years, she entered the company’s Hall of Honor twice and became a senior supervisor. To friends and family, she had become the embodiment of success.
From the Peak of Success, She Turned Back to Seek Her True Mission
TENG SHU-LAN had already reached the top of every sales field she entered, breaking records, collecting trophies, and owning her own home. From the outside, she seemed to embody success. Yet late at night, a quiet question echoed in her mind: “What am I working so hard for?” The higher she climbed, the greater the emptiness within her grew.
During this period of self-reflection, an emerging yet profoundly meaningful industry caught her attention: pre-need funeral planning. She recognised it not only as a global trend but also as a protective system actively promoted by the government, one that required professional and trustworthy companies to implement it properly. To her, this service was never about selling a product. It was about safeguarding families, helping them choose the right brand, and bringing peace of mind to those she served. Guided by the belief in creating value for others, she made the bold decision to join the LUNG YEN authorized distributor network and begin an entirely new chapter of her life.
The decision, however, was not an easy one. When a friend first introduced her to the opportunity, she too was influenced by social prejudice. Although she sensed the deeper value of this work, she hesitated and struggled. Within ten days, the emotional stress caused her to lose seven kilograms.
After officially joining the LUNG YEN authorized distributor network, she quickly demonstrated the same professionalism and drive that had defined her earlier successes. Yet just as her career soared once again, a sudden wave of anxiety struck. One morning, she awoke with a racing heart and shortness of breath. Physically and mentally exhausted, she later underwent surgery for uterine fibroids.
The recovery period that followed became a profound turning point in her life. For the first time, she allowed herself to face the emptiness she had long avoided and came to a realisation.
“Instead of only examining my own life, I realised I could help other women find their way in this rapidly changing era. Our generation of women finally has the chance to move in our own rhythm. The real question is, are you willing? And if you are, when will you take your first step?”
“Thank you — you helped break down the wall between my mother and me.”
Today, TENG SHU-LAN is not only a top sales champion within the group but also the spiritual leader of the LUNG YEN authorized distributor HUAYEN Service Centre. She leads from the front, always taking the first step and, at critical moments, turning back to push her team forward. To her, leadership is never about standing above others. It is about showing through action: “If I can do it, you can do it too.”
When she first joined the LUNG YEN authorized distributor, she started just like every newcomer, making phone calls, doing cold outreach, and handling the most basic procedures. At the beginning, she viewed the job as pure sales work, striving to close deals, chase targets, and expand her client list. Yet through countless projects and farewell services, she gradually realised that this was not simply a job, but a calling deeply connected to the essence of life itself.
She recalls the moment she truly began to see people: the daughter sobbing quietly on a bench, the husband gripping the urn with trembling hands, the father standing before the memorial in silence. Those wordless emotions carried more weight than any language, teaching her to feel with her heart rather than merely observe with her eyes.
Because of this, she has always practised deep empathy in her work, standing in her clients’ shoes and creating arrangements that bring them comfort and peace. She understands professionalism, but she also understands companionship. She pursues results, but she never loses sight of the human heart. Her persistence, creativity, and care have made her not only a leader but also a trusted guardian of life.
One moment she will never forget involved a mother and her departed child. The mother, consumed by her career and distant from her child, stood pale and trembling throughout the ceremony, silent until the very end. Just before it concluded, she suddenly fell to her knees before the casket and cried out, “My child, I am so sorry.” The room fell silent. No one moved. Even the air seemed to stand still.
Standing quietly in the corner and understanding the story behind it, TENG SHU-LAN could not hold back her tears. “During that time of accompanying her, I knew what her pain truly was. She had never expressed her love for her child aloud. After the accident, she lost the chance forever. That is why she could not forgive herself. I knew then I had to stay and support her longer, or else it would become a regret she might carry for life.”
After signing the contract, the woman’s daughter embraced TENG SHU-LAN tightly, tears streaming down her face. “Thank you, Shu-Lan. This contract finally broke down the wall between me and my mother. It reminded me that I still have time to walk with her through the final chapter of her journey. Thank you for that reminder. My mother passed peacefully, and I believe, just like me, she left without regret.”
For years, there had been a quiet distance between the daughter and her mother. Whenever they met, conversations stayed on daily matters, never touching the emotions buried beneath. Only after signing the contract did she realise how fleeting life can be. From that moment, she began to talk to her mother, share memories, and express the love she had long held back.
That invisible wall, unbroken for years, finally fell during her mother’s final days because of this shared realisation. At first, the family saw Shu-Lan only as a professional at LUNG YEN authorized distributor, but as time passed, the elderly mother treated her as a confidant, and the daughter became her friend. Their connection grew into something beyond service, a light born from understanding and love.
TENG SHU-LAN often tells her younger colleagues, “Many people come to us for a contract not because they are preparing for farewell, but because they are seeking reconciliation, for themselves, for their parents, for their children, and for every bond that was never properly healed.
A pre-need contract is never just about preparing for death. It reminds us to speak the love we have not yet spoken, to mend the regrets we have not yet faced, and to make every final companionship whole. Its greatest value lies in helping those who carry love in their hearts preserve it in memory and act before it is too late, so that no affection is left behind in silence.”
With early preparation, the living can find peace, and the departed can rest with dignity. This, she believes, is the truest meaning of a pre-need contract.
Rising Is Only the Beginning, Transformation Is the Real Journey
In her earlier years, TENG SHU-LAN once believed that wealth was the ultimate answer.
From a young age, she understood that having no money was not merely a lack of material resources but a condition of being overlooked and unheard. She believed that women from postwar families, without financial strength, would struggle to have a voice in society. Determined to change her destiny, she poured all her energy into building her first fortune at a very young age.
“I truly believed this was the happiness I wanted.” Yet when she finally stood in the position she had dreamed of, her heart felt emptier than ever. Late at night, as she returned to her comfortable home, she was greeted not by joy but by silence. Looking into the mirror, she saw a woman who was capable and confident in her career, yet her eyes had lost their light. The figures in her bank account could satisfy her material needs but could not fill the void within.
Her career in the beauty industry with Mary Kay had been rewarding, offering stability and recognition. Still, she wanted to create something greater, so she joined the LUNG YEN authorized distributor network. At first, she was filled with motivation, believing she was helping others. Soon, however, she realised that helping people was never simple, for not everyone seeks help. At times she was misunderstood, rejected, or even criticised.
Now, after twenty-eight years in the LUNG YEN authorized distributor, she reflects on the most important lesson she has learned: the ability to speak up for herself. When she stepped down from a senior director role at the head office and returned to being a branch director, she reached a deeper understanding. One can teach with sincerity, but others may not wish to learn. One can lead with passion, yet passion alone cannot make an organisation grow. Even with success, she often wondered why leadership felt so heavy. Through constant learning, she realised the true challenge was not others but herself. It was a matter of perspective and capacity.
“The same rice feeds a hundred different kinds of people. It is your dream, not theirs. Once you understand this, you stop trying to push people and begin to respect each person’s pace and choices.”
This new awareness shifted her focus from pure performance to a deeper reflection on life. She came to see that true leadership is not about control but about expanding one’s vision and inspiring others through purpose. Real support does not mean forcing change but walking beside others until they are ready to move forward.
“True scarcity is not the lack of wealth but unresolved wounds in relationships. In other words, broken love.” Over the years, TENG SHU-LAN has realised that growth is not measured by the prayers one recites but by the lessons drawn from each relationship, through which one learns to accept and to bless. True cultivation means living within relationships and learning to make love whole.
She recalls that every farewell ceremony is a moment of healing. Some people release resentment toward their fathers. Some make peace with their mothers. Some, for the first time, finally speak emotions they have held for a lifetime. In one ceremony, a man stood before his father’s photograph and whispered, “Dad, I finally understand you.” At that moment, she felt the entire space was filled with compassion and light.
“I gradually came to understand that pre-need funeral contracts hold another kind of value. They carry love.” For TENG SHU-LAN, such a contract is not only about preparing for farewell but about making a promise to life itself, reminding us never to forget love.
“I have tasted the comfort of abundance. But after witnessing so many partings, I have come to believe that nothing can be taken with us. True wealth lies in knowing that the people around you once felt your love and presence.”
Talent Is the Gift Given to Us by God
At the end of the interview, the team asked TENG SHU-LAN what she would say if one day a girl like her stood at a crossroads in life, uncertain yet eager to change her destiny and prove herself.
“I deeply understand what it feels like to hold strength inside yet still feel lost and helpless. Everyone has the ability to change their destiny, but first we must find the path within our own hearts. That path begins with self-awareness, with recognising our true nature and purpose. When we learn to return to the present and listen to our inner voice, we will gradually find our direction.”
Teng believes that we must also learn to embrace uncertainty, for confusion is an essential part of growth. As long as we continue to believe in ourselves and explore step by step, light and direction will eventually emerge. “Talent is a gift from God. Each person’s talent is unique. It guides us along our own path. When you discover your talent, you also discover your connection with the divine. Then your life begins to flow naturally and with strength.” As she spoke, her eyes seemed to gaze far into the distance.
Over the years, Teng has led her team to every corner of Taiwan, achieving not only impressive results but also nurturing a group of funeral service professionals who share her sense of purpose. Under her leadership, the spirit of “Walk with integrity, lead with love, and grow together” has become the core of HUAYEN’s culture. It is not a business built on cold transactions but one founded on sincere human connection.
To her, this work is more than a profession. It is a voyage through life itself. Teng is like a helmsman on a vast and unpredictable ocean, steering her own course while lighting the way for others. Each time she helps someone find peace and dignity, she feels her own inner light shine a little brighter.
“Taking responsibility is strength. Growth is direction. Achievement is not just for ourselves but for others.” This is both her personal philosophy and her promise to the work she leads.
“Who says fate must be something we accept without choice? What matters is whether we are willing to see our own talent and transform every challenge into light.” Teng believes that every person comes into this world with a purpose to fulfil. The way to rediscover it lies not in books or in others but in the quiet moments when we are willing to face ourselves, understand who we truly are, and take responsibility for our own potential.
Reflecting on her journey, Teng describes it as a river that has flowed from silence and confusion toward light, and eventually to the desire to share that light with others. What allowed her to recognise her true value was not only the courage to keep moving forward but also the decision to embrace her talent and bring it to life.
True strength, she says, does not come from external pressure but from finding the path that aligns with our inner gifts. When we follow that alignment, life moves with ease and our efforts multiply. Talent is not merely a purpose; it is the path itself, the key to both success and fulfilment.
“If you ask me what my greatest achievement in life is, it is not how much money I have made, how many people have joined my team, or how many awards I have received. My greatest achievement is walking alongside one person after another who carries love in their heart, whether they have passed on or are still here, and helping them make peace with life while there is still time, allowing love to remain in eternity.”
From the narrow lanes of the military dependents’ village to the stage of the LUNG YEN authorized distributor, from a young girl with dreams to a guide of life, TENG SHU-LAN has used courage, compassion, and professionalism to illuminate countless journeys. Her light is not a fleeting spark but a steady lantern, forever glowing at the harbour of life, guiding those who seek their way home.
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