In 1999, Song Yang's fresh and young life was ushering in a major turning point in his life. This year, after graduating from high school, he made up his mind to go to England and pursue a broader ideal stage in a foreign country.
Although the family was very reluctant, they finally wholeheartedly supported Song Yang's decision and packed up for him. In this way, Song Yang waved goodbye to his relatives and friends and stepped on the train to England alone.
When he first arrived in London, the bustling street scene, the sun-drenched streets, and the warm and friendly local people all made Song Yang feel fresh and interesting. As far as he could see, it was a sight to behold.
However, the good times did not last long, and the loneliness of a foreign land soon arose, enveloping Song Yang's young heart. He was homesick, and he began to miss the greetings of his hometown fathers and villagers; He was confused and at a loss for what to do with the new study life he was about to embark on.
Just when Song Yang was at his most helpless, a kind old man appeared in his life. It was Hans, an old Swiss man living alone in England. As a young man, Hans was forced by his family's misfortune to leave his homeland and live a poor but free life in England.
He rented a cheap apartment and lived on a meager pension.
Driven by fate, Hans met Song Yang by chance. The two hit it off at first sight and quickly established a solid friendship. Hans saw the loneliness and confusion of the young man, and the long-lost pity revived in his heart.
So, he opened the door of his life to Song Yang without reservation, and provided the house he lived in to Song Yang for free. Since then, the lives of the two have been intertwined.
Take care of it like a child, follow the good temptation
With Hans's strong help, Song Yang has a shelter from the wind and rain. With infinite gratitude, the young man resolved to repay the kindness of the gracious old man with his actions.
As a result, Song Yang wholeheartedly took care of Hans's daily life, being considerate and meticulous.
Gradually, Song Yang found that Hans's ability to take care of himself was not as good as before. The elderly are too old to even do basic cooking and housework. Seeing this, Song Yang resolutely took on all these trivial housework.
He cooks his own meals and concocts delicious home-cooked dishes; He cleaned carefully and kept the dilapidated dwelling in good order.
In this way, Song Yang used his filial piety and thoughtfulness to serve this old man who lived alone wholeheartedly, just like a filial son serving his kind father. He was a great hand at action, and every time he saw Hans smile with satisfaction, he was extremely satisfied.
However, Song Yang's biggest headache was Hans's worrying drinking habits. I saw that the old man drank violently every time he picked up the wine glass, without moderation at all, and after getting drunk, he was even more staggered and incoherent.
Song Yang was naturally heartbroken when he saw this, and he tried to persuade the old man several times, hoping that the old man could quit this bad habit, but it was often in vain.
In the face of Hans's stubbornness, Song Yang was not discouraged. He is determined to guide the elderly to a healthy life in a gentle way. So, he secretly mixed the wine with a little water, and when Hans noticed something unusual, he took the initiative to learn how to make cocktails, and after many efforts, finally found the best wine ratio.
With this "secret" wine, Hans no longer has to worry about overdrinking and affecting his health. Song Yang even promised that as long as the old man had a need for drinks, he would wholeheartedly take care of this benefactor's body.
Hans was naturally moved by such intimate and thoughtful care, and expressed his sincere admiration for Song Yang. The relationship between the two became deeper in this way.
Ask the host for help
Time flies. In the blink of an eye, Hans grew older and older. His already fragile body has become thinner and thinner with gradual aging.
The ability to take care of oneself is also fading day by day, and the appearance of a dragon and a tiger that used to be alive and well now only exists in Song Yang's memories.
In this way, the old man who provided selfless help to Song Yang back then has now entered the so-called old age of "needing support". One day, Hans felt a sudden pain in his legs, almost immobilizing.
He is in the most helpless predicament, and the only hope can only be Song Yang, a dear friend.
So, Hans mustered up the courage to dial Song Yang's phone and pleaded in a weak voice: "My legs are in unbearable pain, can you come and visit me?" The young Song Yang was naturally taken aback by his old friend's sudden call for help, but the words on the other end of the phone sounded so tired and weak.
His heart was suddenly enveloped by a strong sense of unease, as if an invisible catastrophe was about to happen.
After hanging up the phone, Song Yang did not hesitate at all, and soon began to prepare all the procedures for going to the UK. In early August, he embarked on his return flight to London.
As soon as he landed, Song Yang hurried to Hans's residence, only to find that everything in front of him had changed beyond recognition.
The room, which was originally simple but neat and orderly, is now littered with messy wine bottles and food boxes, and it is dirty. What is even more heart-wrenching is that Hans, who used to be simple and healthy, looks like a homeless wandering beggar, with a skeletal shape and unkempt hair.
Song Yang watched him and found that the old man's lower limbs had completely lost his mobility, and he could only rely on a wheelchair to move.
Faced with the tragic situation in front of him, Song Yang's heart shrank into a ball, extremely sad and guilty. Almost instantaneously, he made the decision to immediately take Hans to the hospital for a thorough physical examination.
After the results were confirmed, Song Yang was full of heaviness and guilt, and made a major decision to his parents who were far away from home: "Father and mother, I plan to take Hans back to China, so that he can be taken care of with the care he deserves.
Although Song's father and mother were a little surprised by their son's decision, they finally expressed their heartfelt understanding and support. For their former benefactors, they naturally have infinite gratitude.
Even Hans himself felt that it was a very suitable choice to be taken back to Song Yang's homeland at this special time.
In this way, under Song Yang's planning and arrangement, Hans soon embarked on a journey to China and opened a new chapter in his life.
Looking at China again, children can be taught
Stepping foot on this magical land of the motherland is undoubtedly a new life experience for the elderly Hans. The whole of China is so strange and mysterious to him, but it is full of a different kind of cordiality and warmth.
Although at first, the old man still had some doubts in his heart, Song Yang was determined to let him spend the last years of his life here.
And so it all began. In the hospital in Zhengzhou, Hans received a series of comprehensive examinations and treatments, and Song Yang gladly bore all the high medical expenses and served this former teacher and child to the end.
In this way, under the careful care of Song Yang, Hans, who had gone through a deep illness, quickly walked out of the haze of illness and recovered the health that an elderly person should have.
Since then, Hans has started a new life in the country, known as the "Mysterious Land of the East". Song Yang incarnated as an excellent tour guide, taking the old man to visit places of interest and historic sites all over the motherland, allowing him to personally appreciate the unique charm of Chinese culture.
Everywhere he went, Song Yang would explain in detail the historical origins of the place, as well as the magical legends that have been passed down for thousands of years.
Soon, Hans was impressed by this ancient country. He found that the hospitality of the Chinese people was far beyond his imagination; He marveled at the treasures of his homeland, never before at such a close distance; What touched him even more was that Song Yang served himself so wholeheartedly, just like a son serving his kind father in every detail.
Indeed, when Hans was poor and ill and unable to do anything, Song Yang would take care of his daily life, and sometimes even personally comb and massage him to relax.
Looking at the thoughtfulness of the young people, Hans's heart warmed and he loved this hospitable land. The old man once sighed: "Here, I seem to have found my lost home, which is the life I have always longed for."
Yes, during these years in China, Hans not only regained the hope of life, but also found an unprecedented happiness and serenity. With Song Yang, a benefactor, always by his side, warming his heart with love and care, the old man's later life is naturally full of sunshine.
Pray for eternity in the future
That's how fate often plays tricks on people's hearts. Just after Hans had spent a short period of joy in his old age, the illness soon returned, grabbing the stubborn old man mercilessly.
On December 2, 2013, an ordinary but sunny day, 80-year-old Hans passed away due to sudden heart failure, with regret and endless melancholy, and rested peacefully in Zhengzhou, the land of the Central Plains.
When Song Yang learned of this bad news, his heart was hit hard, and tears welled up in his eyes. Once upon a time, the two of them helped each other, cared for each other, and composed a different song of life with actions and actions.
Now, his closest confidant and friend died so suddenly, Song Yang really can't accept this heavy fact.
But he knew that if he was to be truly filial to the benefactor he regarded as a father, he had to do what Hans had finally asked. Yes, at the last moment of his life, the frail Hans once expressed to Song Yang one of his wishes: he longed to rest in this Chinese land to which he was so deatriated, in order to repay his endless love for his motherland.
So, Song Yang tearfully held a grand and mournful funeral in accordance with the old man's will, and personally buried Hans's body in the familiar land of Zhengzhou. Watching the old man gradually enter the Yellow Spring, Song Yang cried bitterly, but he was also sincerely relieved by his decision.
"Despite the day that came long ago, your death came too quickly and cruelly. In the long years to come, I will continue to remember your teachings and pass on your moving legend from generation to generation... From now on, whenever the festival day comes, I will surely come with infinite thoughts and gratitude to personally pay tribute to your heroic spirit under the Nine Springs.
Standing in front of Hans's tombstone, Song Yang stared speechlessly for a long time, with mixed feelings in his heart. Scenes from the past come to mind, replaying in my mind like a clear movie.
Seeing that the sun was gradually sinking into the horizon and the setting sun was warmly enveloping the earth, Song Yang solemnly spoke to the tombstone and uttered a final prayer: "Old friend, are you gazing at us in the distant world of the Heavenly Spirit? May your Heavenly Spirit be forever safe."
Passed on from generation to generation, gratitude is repaid
For Song Yang, Hans's death was not just the death of a close friend, but more like the most precious experience and wealth of his life being taken away forever.
When the old man was alive, he had taught him too many wise sayings about life, friendship and gratitude, which had been deeply engraved in Song Yang's heart and became the most precious spiritual wealth of his life.
Since then, Song Yang has often told this thought-provoking story to his family and friends on various occasions. In an emotional language, he narrated the origin of his acquaintance with Hans; He sincerely recounted the years when the two supported each other and shared weal and woe; He also emotionally shared the old man's persistent love for Chinese culture.
Every time he spoke, Song Yang's eyes would ripple with tears of happiness. Because he knows very well that it is this old friend in a foreign land who has given him spiritual nourishment with his stubbornness and kindness, so that he can grow from a hesitant young man to a generous gentleman.
Now, Song Yang is using his own efforts to pass on this precious spirit to more descendants.
Soon, this touching story of friendship between China and Sweden spread all over the country and touched the hearts of countless people. A very humane documentary "Sunset Red: Hans's Chinese Love" was also carefully produced and broadcast by CCTV, further engraved this good story in the memory of the Chinese people forever.
Since then, Song Yang has won a number of desirable honorary titles such as "National Advanced Individual in Aging Work" and "Zhengzhou Moral Model".
He was even more honored to be shortlisted as a candidate for the "China Good Person List" sponsored by the Central Civilization Office, and interpreted the traditional virtues of respecting the elderly and filial piety of the Chinese nation with practical actions.
Every year during the Qingming Festival, Song Yang would bring a bouquet of flowers to Hans's cemetery to pay his respects to the old man he regarded as a mentor.
Standing in front of the tombstone, Song Yang can't help but relive the past between the two, as if the voice and smile of an old friend are in front of him, so that he will remember it forever.