The following is a touching story and sharing recorded by renowned author Lin Dongzhi Nan (Xu Guang) from the same industry.
[Original] 'Cold and Warm World: A 12-year-old Householder'
Author: Lin Dongzhi Nan
Until the evening when we summarized the day's activities, we still couldn't get out of his story.This is the highest altitude township in Yanhe County, and the journey is much more difficult than before. In front of the largest steep slope, the driver had to reverse and drive up, which was truly shocking.
Deep in the mountains, we arrived at the Xiaobo family. A man who welcomed us out told us that he was the village secretary here. The companion asked his parents, and the secretary regretfully said that they had been gone many years ago.
On a weathered poverty alleviation sign in front of the door, we saw the name of Xiaobo. It reads as follows: Household head: * Bo, May 2012.
A thin and quiet boy, wearing glasses, welcomed us. The secretary and I walked behind, and I said I wanted to know about the situation of this child. The secretary said that in 2009, when he was 12 years old, his father passed away due to illness. What followed was the most pitiful or icy story we had ever heard in the world, the mother of Xiaobo, who left her two sons and flew away without any news from then on.
At the 2018 New Year's Day annual meeting, I shared a viewpoint that extreme poverty can distort human nature. We can see that even a frail cat mother will not leave her kittens behind; However, this cruel thing actually happened in the world that is not far away from us.
A pair of frail brothers, under this dilapidated roof, began to rely on their elderly grandfather for survival. Last year, the old man finally couldn't bear the burden of life and reluctantly let go, leaving behind a pair of grandchildren to bear the coldest wind and rain in the world alone.
There is a photo of the elderly man hanging on the wall. He is a kind old man, who looks at us guests and his eldest grandson with relief in his eyes. Perhaps the old man really hopes that our arrival can hold up an umbrella for his suffering grandson and add a touch of brightness to his dim life.
This is a real family with nothing to do, and the glass on the windows has already broken in half. A group of sparrows landed on the roof, chirping at us, looking at this weak and lonely child in the world, his name is Xiaobo.
Just like the girl named Xiaojing yesterday, the child greeted us with a smile and a calm expression on her face. However, when she received our envelopes, she made a deep bow, which made us stand up one after another. Child, you don't have to be like this; Child, compared to what you have endured, we really cannot accept it.
Even this dilapidated house, with the help of everyone in the village, barely provides a foothold for the child, allowing him to shelter from some worldly storms.
In the back room was a rudimentary small bed, with a stack of certificates in the corner. We spread them out one by one, and then looked at the child with a solemn expression. From the halo of various honors, we could see the child's life struggle experience that was difficult for outsiders to know. This child named Xiaobo was always working hard, and he never gave up. Just like the name he gave himself - Lonely Eagle, although lonely and weak, never forgets to strive to fly. Yes, after 11 years of student assistance, we have indeed experienced too much hardship, but it is also unique for someone like us to trek through the world alone with our little brother at a young age. Looking at the calm face of this child, despite our repeated efforts to face his so difficult life, how can we truly perceive everything and empathize with it?Several volunteers in the same group inevitably turned red in their eyes, and I couldn't control myself. So I walked to another room, which could be considered a kitchen. There was only a pot of pickled vegetables in the cabinet, with some long beans in it. Apart from a few bowls and chopsticks, everything else was empty.
Xiaobo stood there, chatting in a low voice with several volunteer aunts. His back was extremely thin and weak, with even slight deformities that were disproportionate to his age. The secretary said that most of the farm work in the field was done by him and his younger brother in their spare time. He pointed to the fields on the hillside behind him. There are several mountain people bending down to work there, and I seem to see that in 2009, 12 year old Xiaobo, who is the head of this family, walked alone in this cold and warm world with his crying brother.
The secretary said that because his mother was only missing and cannot be considered dead, he cannot enter the welfare home as an orphan. Of course, this stubborn child also refused to go. Both the village and township levels are trying to find ways to identify him as an orphan through legal channels, and then we can strive for some benefits for the child.
The secretary said that when Xiaobo's grandfather passed away, he couldn't even afford a straw mat, and the villagers who were not well-off were giving the old man a final ride, allowing him to leave peacefully.
In July of this year, Xiaobo graduated from high school and was admitted to a good medical university. This is a major event for the entire village. Kind neighbors are happy for this child and have also helped him with his tuition fees.
Xiaobo said that he is glad that his efforts have paid off, making him believe that he is not the least favored one of the Fates. He is currently applying for a student loan and he says he will definitely continue to study. When I said these words, through the child's still clear eyes, I saw how sweet and bitter his heart was, mixed with emotions.
Xiaobo, I want to say that we value you. You have gone through so many unimaginable hardships in life, and I believe that you will soon become an outstanding doctor, repay your neighbors, society, comfort your father and grandfather, and make all those who have cared for you proud and happy for you.
Teacher He and this child have been paired up for a year, but this is the first time she has seen and fully understood the child's situation. She chatted with the child alone for a long time with red eyes. During the evening meeting, she told us that when we left, the child called her mother.
When he said this sentence, the kind-hearted Teacher He Lihua couldn't help but hide her face and cry.
Xiaobo, what I want to say is that the hardships of life suddenly come to you when you are still young. For so many years, perhaps none of us can truly understand what a tender heart has been shattered a thousand times under your calm smile; Just below this humble house, how did you and your little brother survive the storms of over 3000 days on earth.
But now that suffering has arrived, and you have lived through 10 years with your young body and mind, everyone can see your greatness, or rather your greatness. Just try to forget the past pain. Life has opened a door for you, child. You must continue to be strong. We don't need to encourage you too much. In front of your life experience, all encouragement seems so pale and powerless.
As your mother He said, we will do our best to provide you with some assistance. In addition, what we can do is to think of you from afar, look at you, and bless you.
On the way back, everyone remained silent. Coincidentally, Han Hong's "Dawn" was playing in the car. Looking back, Xiaobo's house stood on the hillside, with a thin and weak child still standing there.
It was autumn
The wind is so lingering
Reminds me of them
Those helpless eyes
That autumn
I can't see Dad's face anymore
Tears filled my eyes in the darkness
Don't leave, don't hurt
I saw my parents walking away like this
Leave me in this unfamiliar world
I don't know what risks there will be in the future
I want to hold onto his hand tightly
Mom told me I hope there will be more
Mom smiled when she saw the sun rise
It's dawn
This is a night
Sky Constellation Dots
I saw it in my dream
My mom
A person should learn to be strong in the world
Don't leave, don't hurt
I saw my parents walking away like this
Leave me in this unfamiliar world
I am willing to build a beautiful garden for him
I want to hold onto his hand tightly
Mom told me I hope there will be more
Seeing the sun come out
It's dawn
The wind is so lingering
Reminds me of them
Those helpless eyes
That autumn
I can't see Dad's face anymore
Tears filled my eyes in the darkness
Don't leave, don't hurt
I saw my parents walking away like this
Leave me in this unfamiliar world
I don't know what risks there will be in the future
I want to hold onto his hand tightly
Mom told me I hope there will be more
Mom smiled when she saw the sun rise
It's dawn
This is a night
Sky Constellation Dots
I saw it in my dream
My mom
A person should learn to be strong in the world
Don't leave, don't hurt
I saw my parents walking away like this
Leave me in this unfamiliar world
I am willing to build a beautiful garden for him
I want to hold onto his hand tightly
Mom told me I hope there will be more
Seeing the sun come out
It's dawn