Sun Mian (right) visits the elderly Luo Shunlong at a health clinic. The elderly Fan Songchi tells the story of how he destroyed Japanese bunkers with just a few shots.
Changsha, December 20th - (Reported by Deng Xia) Hiring a nanny for veteran Jiang Rundei living in Changsha, building two brick houses for veteran Liu Zhuocheng from Shaoyang, helping Fan Songchi fulfill his wish to return to the old battlefield of Songshan... This winter, media personality Sun Mian sounded the rallying cry on Weibo to assist veterans of the war against Japan. He has received support and attention from numerous well-known figures, including Xie Na, He Jiong, Chen Kun, and Ke Lan, among others. To date, over one million yuan in donations have been raised. Fifteen veterans of the Anti-Japanese War residing in Changsha and Shaoyang, Hunan Province, have become the first beneficiaries of this initiative.
According to Sun Mian's introduction, the "one-to-one care for veterans of the Anti-Japanese War" campaign he initiated aims to provide end-of-life care for these veterans who once fought fiercely in battles. "We aim to lift them out of the corners where they suffer from hunger and cold, warming their hearts that have been neglected for many years with the affection of our younger generations," Sun said. Currently, Sun Mian has raised 1.4 million yuan in assistance funds, which can be used to support nearly 200 financially struggling veterans at a standard of 3600 yuan per person annually for five consecutive years.
Since early December, Sun Mian, accompanied by local volunteers, has visited Anti-Japanese War veterans in places like Changsha, Shaoyang, and Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. Not only did he bring them supplies such as quilts, rice, oil, and cash, but he also gained an understanding of their difficulties through on-site visits to provide targeted follow-up assistance.
At a health clinic in Longhui County, Shaoyang, 96-year-old Luo Shunlong sits by a small stove roasting fire near the wall. According to local volunteer "Farmer," this veteran who participated in the Korean War is a solitary elder without any housing. He has been staying at the health clinic for several years because he cannot take care of himself. "We once thought about sending him to an old people's home in a nearby town, but he refused," said "Farmer." The ruins on the right side of the health clinic were once Luo's home. Due to his advanced age, he no longer wishes to live outside his home. In response to Luo's desire to spend his remaining years in peace, Sun Mian immediately expressed his willingness to cover the elderly man's future living expenses and nanny fees.
Compared to Luo, the 90-plus-year-old veteran Fan Songchi from Shaoyang appears spirited and vigorous. Since he has no children, he and his wife still rely on farming for their livelihood. When this veteran who experienced the Battle of Songshan recounts the story of how he destroyed Japanese bunkers with just a few shots, he remains highly excited. "Visiting Songshan again" has been his long-held wish. "I recognize the place where I bombed the fortress; I want to pick up a few shrapnel pieces there," he says. To this, Sun Mian responded straightforwardly: "Alright, I'll take you there next year and invite your surviving comrades!"
It is reported that there are currently more than 500 registered veterans of the Anti-Japanese War nationwide, with the total estimated to exceed 3000 people, scattered across Yunnan, Hunan, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang provinces. In Sun Mian's view, the care-for-veterans activity he initiated is akin to a "funnel." The top of the funnel represents social support; the more people participate and the more donations are raised, the larger the funnel becomes. The narrow part of the funnel consists of local volunteers who are thoroughly familiar with the conditions of these veterans, requiring them to implement society's love specifically.
[Note: The original Chinese text contains references to novels and unrelated content, which have been excluded from the translation for clarity.]