An old man silently wipes the trash cans on the side of Changqing Street in Changchun. Photo by Luo Fei, a correspondent for our newspaper.
Every morning on Changqing Street in Chaoyang District of Changchun City, there is an old man who slowly walks along the road and carefully wipes each trash can on the street. He wipes them thoroughly, even picking out cigarette butts from the ashtrays on top of the bins and throwing them into the garbage cans. With one hand he leans on a cane, while a urine bag hangs from his body...
This scene has moved many people, but do you know who he is?
The "Red Hat" Old Man Wipes Trash Cans on the Street
Every move of this old man was noticed by Luo Fei, a newly registered citizen correspondent for our newspaper in Changchun, who has been paying attention to him for over a month. Luo Fei said that he first heard about this old man from his comrade-in-arms, who was deeply touched.
"I should go see!" Out of curiosity, Luo Fei got up early and came to Changqing Street. At around 5:30 AM, he really spotted that figure.
"Tall, slightly bent over, holding a cane in his hand, wearing a red hat on his head." Luo Fei watched the old man work from the side. He saw the old man take out a short wooden stick from his red hand-held pocket, with a cloth tied to one end of the stick. The old man, walking unsteadily, stopped at the trash can and gently wiped the dust off the surface of the trash can with the cloth.
In about a hundred meters stretch of road, he walked from one end to the other, shining each trash can one by one. It took him about half an hour to finish. Luo Fei watched silently and was deeply moved.
"I've seen this old man before!" Luo Fei said that the old man lived nearby and used to often write on the ground with a large water pen. In September, during Changchun's city creation campaign, many new trash cans appeared on the streets. It was then that the old man started wiping the trash cans instead.
The Elderly Man Carries a Urine Bag
Day after day... For over a month, Luo Fei witnessed this touching scene every day, and each time it deeply moved him. Until one day, he unexpectedly discovered that under the old man's red pocket, there was actually a urine bag hanging from his waist.
"This is too shocking, the old man is sick as well." Luo Fei said that he couldn't help but approach the old man and found out that the old man's surname is Xu, and he is already 90 years old. He had just undergone surgery recently, and this urine bag was attached post-surgery. The old man said that he was just doing what he could do; such good trash cans needed to be taken care of. The old man's words were simple and sincere, and Luo Fei felt warmth in his heart.
The Old Man is Great, Should Be Promoted
"The old man is truly great!" Luo Fei said that nowadays, there are very few people like him. Every day while watching the old man, he also witnessed some disheartening scenes:
Some people throw garbage carelessly to the side without noticing the trash can nearby;
Some people spit casually onto the surface of the trash can, making it full of dirt;
Some people pile garbage next to the trash can, disregarding the leftover soup flowing all over the ground...
Luo Fei said that compared to the old man, these behaviors are truly disheartening. Therefore, it is even more necessary to promote this silent good deed-doing elder.
Taking a Series of Photos of the Elderly Man
Early yesterday morning, Luo Fei once again woke up early, this time bringing his camera. He hoped to capture the old man in his lens and share this scene with us.
Under Luo Fei's lens, the old man is dressed plainly, wearing a red baseball cap on his head, a yellow long windbreaker, and a purple-red pair of pants. A Chairman Mao badge is pinned on his chest. One hand leans on a cane, the other holds a special cloth, smiling while wiping the trash can...
Luo Fei took several photos, and the last one was of the old man's back, slightly bent over, leaning on a cane, having just finished wiping all the trash cans on the street and heading home.
Do You Recognize This Elderly Man? Who Is He?
Luo Fei hopes that we report on the elderly man's story so that more people can be moved. For over a month now, perhaps you have also seen him in the early mornings. Every day, he is on the streets of Chaoyang District in Changchun City, wearing a small red hat, frequently wiping the trash cans. Do you recognize him? Do you know who this elderly man is?
If you have witnessed this scene or know this kind-hearted elderly man, please contact us. Our newspaper's 24-hour news hotline is: 0431-96618. By Feng Yan of our newspaper. Share to: Welcome to comment, I want to comment, Weibo recommendation | Today's Weibo hot topics