The retired elderly couple Cui Yuanguo and Zhang Guangyu enjoyed the leisure of their daughter and son-in-law washing their feet.
"I am satisfied with my old age along with my wife... and thank my sons, daughters-in-law, daughters and son-in-laws," said the retired elderly couple Cui Yuanguo and Zhang Guangyu in Yuechi County, Guang'an City on the evening of April 5 while they were enjoying their daughter and son-in-law washing their feet with a smile.
Eleven years ago, Cui Yuanguo underwent surgery and had difficulty walking. Zhang Guangyu was also advanced in age, so it was inconvenient for the two elders to live independently. Since then, their five children have taken turns "on duty", each family "on duty" for 10 days at their parents' home, washing their feet, doing laundry, cooking, chatting with the elderly at home or taking them shopping.
Each family takes care of their parents for 10 days.
Cui Yuanguo is a southern official who is already 80 years old this year. In 2000, after Cui Yuanguo underwent surgery, his life became extremely inconvenient. Zhang Guangyu was also getting older. The five children decided that each family would take turns living with their parents for 10 days. The elderly couple Cui Yuanguo and Zhang Guangyu agreed with their children's decision.
"When we go to our parents' house, we buy all the oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar and tea ourselves," said Zhou Peng, Cui Yuanguo's son-in-law. When it's their turn, they come to the two elders' house without being called, live together with the elders, wash their feet, do laundry, cook, chat with the elders or take them out shopping. What to eat is decided by the elders, and the sons and daughters-in-law unconditionally obey. After 10 days, the next family replaces them.
In the past 11 years, the five families have never complained or quarreled about taking care of the elders. The two elders, under the meticulous care of their sons, daughters-in-law, daughters, and son-in-laws, though both are already over eighty, still look radiant and often smile despite the passage of time.
Living philosophy: not wanting to disturb the children when able to take care of themselves
When talking about how to get along with their five children, the elderly couple Cui Yuanguo and Zhang Guangyu recalled that in the first ten years after retirement, the two of them lived in a room of more than 70 square meters in the original Yuechi County Native Products Company dormitory building and did not live with any of their children. "When we were in good health, we tried to take care of ourselves as much as possible to avoid troubling our children." The two elders also did not stay long-term at their children's homes, "so as not to affect the lives of our children." On weekends and holidays, they would call their children home for a joyful gathering; otherwise, they would take care of their grandchildren and enjoy life.
"Our children have their own lives, and the elderly have their own lives. We don't want to disturb our children too much, nor do we want to cause them trouble, so everyone can live happily!" said the elderly couple Cui Yuanguo and Zhang Guangyu. However, in the hearts of their children, the two elders are always the backbone of the five families.
Cui Yuanguo said: "My children are good, and so are my daughters-in-law and sons-in-law. Every year on my birthday and my wife's birthday, our sons, daughters-in-law, daughters, sons-in-law, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren surround us all day long, making our home bustling with activity!"
Hu Zuobin, reporter from Huaxi Metropolis Daily, provided photographic reports.