It has been a full 24 years since that unforgettable day. The impoverished village back then, where my wife and I met, was the beginning of our love. Coming to remote Guangdong, we are driven by dreams, working hard in the hope of getting rid of financial constraints. The daily work exhausts us, but for the sake of our three children and for a happy future, we persevere.
In a strange land in Guangdong, we opened a small restaurant specializing in specialties from our hometown in Guizhou. The initial hardships did not break us, on the contrary, our dishes were inexpensive and quickly attracted the surrounding Guizhou villagers. The store is small, but the busy days are full of joy. In the sweat of our hard work, the days have become more and more prosperous.
However, the ups and downs of fate are always unpredictable. On a cold winter day in 1999, the two playful boys in the open space in front of the store suddenly disappeared. My wife and I sank into the abyss, and panic and anxiety enveloped the family. We searched desperately, but never found a clue. The days of pain and upsetting seem to never end.
In countless days and nights, we pursued a glimmer of hope, traveled through Yunnan, Fujian, Jiangxi and other places, and posted search notices in various cities. We participated in family search meetings, met many families who lost children just like us, and we supported each other in our shared pain and hugged together.
The portrait of Officer Lin, the "Magic Pen Detective", makes us feel new hope, and the simulated portraits of the two sons after "growing up" seem to be in front of us. Despite my age, the faith in my heart has not diminished. I will continue to look until that day, and no matter what, I will not stop.
My life has changed a lot, my eldest daughter has started a family and has brought me two lovely granddaughters. Although the years took away the company of my parents, their expectations and aspirations remained in my heart. I promise to keep searching, to keep searching for what was once complete.
It has been a bumpy journey, and I know that there have always been difficulties and challenges along the way of life. However, I will persevere, for the sake of those two little boys, for the integrity of the family, for the sake of each lost family, I will continue to move forward, looking for indelible hope.
The years have passed like a shuttle, and 24 years have passed. Those days of hard work seemed to be gone in the blink of an eye, and I always moved forward with the conviction of finding my son.
Looking back, I met many families with similar fates to me in my quest. On the road to finding people, I no longer feel lonely, because there are so many people who walk with me, sharing the pain and hope of finding my son. Every family search meeting is like a family gathering, we share each other's stories, encourage each other, and support each other.
There have been many times when I was confused and thought about giving up. But every time I saw the simulated portraits of those two children, the fire in my heart would ignite again. Their smiles, their gazes, all ignited a spark of hope in my heart. Even though the years have changed their appearance, I know that their souls and memories remain.
My family has changed a lot, the eldest daughter has a family, and the laughter of the grandchildren fills the home. Although happiness blooms around me, the deep flaws in my heart remain. Every time I see other family reunions, the longing in my heart becomes stronger.
I grew old and late, but I had no intention of giving up. I decided that wherever I went, no matter how much time it took, I would keep looking. My wish is that one day I will be able to see them again on the street or at a search event, hug them tightly, and tell them that Dad has been looking for them.
Maybe it's luck, maybe it's fate, but I believe that one day, they will return to me. Even though they are at an unimaginable distance from me at this moment, I firmly believe that the bonds of family will be reconnected, and we will be reunited again, telling the thoughts and expectations of the past 24 years with hugs and tears.
There is no end to my journey to find my son, because I believe that every effort is moving towards the end. And when I was finally able to hug them tightly, I believed that all my efforts would eventually pay off.
In this journey of hope and courage to find my son, I will continue to move forward, no matter the storm and the ups and downs, I will firmly search until that moment comes. And in the process of waiting, I will use my actions to bring hope and strength to more separated families.