In June 1986, the troops returned triumphantly from the front line. On leave, Jiang Yue immediately went to Jialin Village, Luduo Town, Baoying County, Zhang Chaoshun's hometown. Upon seeing Zhang Chaoshun's father, Zhang Jinshan, he firmly grasped the old man's hand and said: "Uncle, Chaoshun is gone, I am your son now. I will take care of you in place of Chaoshun!" Since then, Jiang Yue has taken on the responsibilities and filial piety of a son for the Zhang family.
Every year on the day before Qingming Festival, Jiang Yue goes to the Wuxi Martyrs Cemetery to clean the graves of his fallen comrades. On the day of Qingming Festival, without fail, he goes to Baoying to pay respects at Zhang Chaoshun's grave, bringing a few packs of cigarettes, two bottles of alcohol, and having a chat. In recent years, Jiang Yue spent his own money to renovate the area around Zhang Chaoshun's grave.
During these 26 years, Jiang Yue visits the "home" of the elderly Zhang Jinshan couple in Baoying three or four times a year. A few years ago, when visiting Baoying, Jiang Yue noticed that the three-room bungalow where the elderly couple lived was dilapidated and on the verge of collapse. He spent nearly 20,000 yuan and entrusted local comrades to renovate the house for the elderly couple. Last Qingming Festival, Jiang Yue noticed that the TV set used by the elderly Zhang couple could no longer display clear images. During the Mid-Autumn Festival when he returned to Baoying, he bought a LCD color TV and sent it to the elderly couple.
The most unforgettable day for Jiang Yue was June 17, 1985. That day, Zhang Chaoshun was transporting ammunition down the mountain. On the return journey, the vehicle was hit by enemy artillery fire, and Zhang Chaoshun made the ultimate sacrifice at the young age of 21.
Whenever Zhang Chaoshun's younger brother, Zhang Chaoyang, mentions this "elder brother" from Wuxi, he expresses immense gratitude. In his eyes, Jiang Yue is no different from a real elder brother. "Every year, my brother comes to visit us. In our eyes, he is family," Zhang Chaoyang said. In the eyes of their parents, Jiang Yue is like a real son.
In March 1985, Jiang Yue's unit was about to head to the front lines in Yunnan. Before going to battle, as a platoon leader, Jiang Yue and his comrade Zhang Chaoshun had agreed that if either of them were to fall in battle, the one who survived must treat the other's parents as his own and visit them annually.
In the second year after his transfer, Jiang Yue got married and specifically invited Elder Zhang Jinshan to attend his wedding in Wuxi. Jiang Yue was brave in combat and diligent in his civilian work. He is now the director of the Third Tax Bureau of Xishan District, Wuxi City, National Taxation Bureau.
Jiang Yue quietly fulfilled his promise to his comrades without ever mentioning it to outsiders. It wasn't until 2001 that the local media in Baoying reported on his deeds, and subsequently, the local media in Wuxi also covered his touching story. Jiang Yue was selected as one of the "Top Ten New People and New Deeds" in Wuxi City for the year 2001. In 2009, after keeping his promise for over 20 years and honoring the memory of a fallen comrade by caring for his parents, Jiang Yue was listed on the "China Good Person List."
Twenty-six years ago, he was in uniform, shedding blood for his country; for the past 26 years, he has kept a promise to take care of the parents of a fallen comrade far away in another place, fulfilling his duties with filial piety and composing a heartfelt ode to human emotion. His name is Jiang Yue.