Khoengiok Tjan (Shelley’s grandfather) was devoted to expanding the family business after his graduation from Fudan University in Shanghai. Other than helping with the family rice mills business, he also developed his steel, powerboats, and aircraft business in Asia. He was also the patented inventor of Vertical Landing and Take-Off aircraft. In the 1930s, he interacted with Henry Ford, the founder of Ford Motor, on the future of engine and aero-industry development.