When it comes to the "Foolish Old Man" road praised by the villagers, the old man humbly waved his hand and started talking about the little details of building the road. One end of the road is a lush forest, and not far from the forest are the densely packed bungalows where the villagers live. The other end is a vast expanse of farmland. This road has become the necessary route for villagers to work and go out. As the village population grows and vehicles shuttle back and forth, the original old dirt road can no longer bear the load, with pits every two steps and hollows every three steps. Especially after heavy rain, the accumulated water in the forest flows over the road, forming trenches that force villagers to take detours. Starting from 2007, Zhang Junze, who couldn't stay idle, brought his pickaxe and shovel every day, rode on a small tricycle to repair the road, and since then, this road has fewer pits and trenches but more vehicle tracks.
On the earthen road beside the distant stream, an old man was using his hands to dig up soil, filling the mud holes washed out by the rain with stones, and then laying down dry yellow earth, his movements were very proficient. In the cold winter wind, the old man broke out in sweat and took off his cotton coat. This old man is the "Foolish Old Man" who built this road - Zhang Junze. The road has been paved, his back has become hunched, but Zhang Junze still often pulls yellow earth to repair and maintain the road. This cement pavement was built on the basis of the earthen road paved by Zhang Junze, he cherished it very much, and often came to sweep the road. When paving the road, Zhang Junze often used his hands to dig soil to fill the road surface. When meeting villagers chatting about daily life, they always don't forget to thank Uncle Zhang for his hard work in paving the road.
Every day, regardless of the severe cold or scorching heat, the old man went from one end of the road to the other, carefully filling the potholes bit by bit. When tired, he would sit on the ground and sip on strong tea. After storms, it's the busiest time for the old man as the road needs leveling and the side ditches need cleaning. The old man said that beside the road used to be the village's garbage area, and due to the low-lying terrain, sewage often flowed everywhere after the rain. Initially, how to drain water and how to dig drainage ditches in the garbage pile made the old man puzzled. Eventually, the old man decided to completely remove the garbage. Thus, the old man rode on his small tricycle, making trip after trip to move the garbage away, and transported back carts of yellow earth to raise the roadbed, constructing a half-meter wide drainage ditch beside it.
In the lush forest of Nan Qingyu Town, Liqiao, Shunyi District, there is a very flat earthen road, which the villagers all call the "Foolish Old Man Road". The "Foolish Old Man Road" is about 5 meters wide and nearly 2000 meters long, winding into the village. After snow and rain, the road becomes slightly soft, yet remains solid and flat. On the road surface, you can see crushed gravel and fresh soil, as well as traces left by the spade. On the south side of the road is a regular side ditch, with a gentle stream flowing along the ditch towards the village head.
With this Foolish Old Man spirit, day after day, year after year, the old man wielded his shovel and pickaxe, winning understanding, respect, and support with his enthusiasm and persistence, forging this "Foolish Old Man Road" that benefits the entire village.
Mr. Zhang Junze is 75 years old this year. In the 1960s, he served as the Party Secretary of the Sha Fu Village Committee, leading the villagers through the toughest development period. Now retired at home, instead of enjoying his twilight years, the old man couldn't stay idle and began repairing roads. Initially, some people gossiped, saying he was "a dog trying to catch mice", thinking he was just having a temporary burst of enthusiasm. His children didn't understand either, kindly persuading him and tricking him into resting. The old man always smiled and waved his hand, saying, "I just can't stay idle."