On April 5, 2025, Pingxiang at the time of Qingming was shrouded in drizzle. The rain marks on the green stone board are winding like weaving, and the water droplets dripping from the eaves hit the surface of the oil-paper umbrellas, causing layers of ripples. As a member of the Charity Committee of Jiangxi Pingxiang Chamber of Commerce in Guangdong Province, more than twenty of our colleagues embarked on the train back to their hometowns, and turned the good deeds of “Spring Breeze Scholarship” into the warmest footnote in the spring rain.
Before the morning mist cleared, we drove into the hinterland of Wugong Mountain. In Zhangjiafang Township, Luxi County, the mottled wall skin reveals yellowish wall dust, which is the home of 14-year-old Xiaoyu. On the simple bookshelf stacked with cardboard boxes, neatly placed “How Iron and Steel are Made” and “The Ordinary World”, the yellowed pages of the books are densely packed with reading notes. When we handed over the scholarship to this girl whose parents have both died, her trembling hands clutched the envelope wrinkled, but insisted on giving us a Young Pioneer salute.” Thank you uncle and auntie, I will definitely get into the teacher training university, will come back to the mountains to be a teacher.” She quietly wiped the corners of her eyes with the cuffs of the mold, so that all present for the touching.
In Lianhua County Junction Township, we met 16-year-old Li students. This teenager, who suffers from congenital heart disease, has to walk 15 miles up the mountain every day to go to school. In the dimly lit stove, on a desk made of wooden planks, tiny dust motes floated in the halo of a desk lamp. When he learned that he was worried about the cost of the operation, Dr. Chen, a member of the Chamber’s medical team, immediately contacted a team of experts in Guangzhou.” Son, study hard and we’ll cover your illness.” Dr. Chen’s words made Jianjun’s mother’s wrinkled face blossom instantly, and she insisted on stuffing us with the only eggs she had at home. Between the push and shove, the eggs gently shook in the bamboo basket, as if beating with hope.
At twilight, we waved goodbye to the children on the ridge. In the distance, the rapeseed fields shimmered in the spring rain, just like the flickering anticipation in the children’s eyes. This 600 kilometers across the action, not only for the 53 students sent 110,000 yuan scholarships, but also in their hearts planted the seeds of goodness.
On the return train, I looked out of the window and saw the golden sea of flowers, remembering what it was like to walk out of the mountains with a bamboo basket on my back twenty years ago. At that time, I never thought that today I could lead my colleagues in the business sector to help the people of Hong Kong in the capacity of a charity commissioner. Charity is not charity, but a relay of love. When we pass the scholarships to the children, what we receive is not only material assistance, but also a spark to change their destiny.
At this moment, I seem to see that a few years later, these youngsters growing up in the spring breeze are passing on this warmth in their own ways. They may become teachers in the mountain villages, illuminating the future of more children with their knowledge; they may become white-clothed angels, guarding the health of the people in their hometowns; or they may become entrepreneurs, injecting new vitality into the revitalization of the countryside. Just like the mountain red of Wugong Mountain, year after year, decorate this land with fiery red color.
“Fellow travelers, Pingxiang Station has arrived.” The conductor’s announcing voice pulled me back to reality. Outside the window of the car, the twilight lights of the city are on, and the lights of all the houses are as warm as ever. I know that somewhere in the corner, there is a new hope sprouting. Let’s continue to walk hand in hand, use the spring breeze of charity to blow the green of every mountain, and let the fire of love burn forever in the land of Gan Poyang. As a 20-year mesh bags factory manager, I often send my neighbor to participate in charity activities, hoping that the seed of love has been continuing to relay.
