Chinese war veterans.
From Mop:
A Single Sentence of an Old Beggar Moves The Chinese Nation With A Single Word
After seeing this I didn’t know what to say… all I can do is make a post for everyone…
A friend of mine loves eating tripe. He often drags me from place to place all over Harbin looking for Hui restaurants. We found a place on Jingwei road, with a small entrance and hygiene that would put some people off, but it had really authentic tripe. We ended up going there often to pig out.
It was in the fall of last year, and we were once again at the same place enjoying a meal, not at dinner time, we two regular customers were the only people there, the boss was even at our table having a drink with us, it was a really hardback afternoon. As we ordered our second plate of tripe, an old beggar pushed open the door and entered.
The restaurant was in a busy area, and people down on their luck, and people pretending to be down on their luck would often come looking for help, we were used to it, the manager was a nice guy, every time this kind of thing happened, large or small he’d always give them something, and today was no exception, the old guy hadn’t even opened his mouth, and he had fished out one RMB and gave it to him. The old man didn’t want it, mumbled no, no, he didn’t want money, he just wanted leftovers.
This surprised me — This was a real “food beggar”, he didn’t want money. I found myself carefully sizing up this old guy, he was about 80, his frame wasn’t strong, his waist was straight, the strangest thing was that although his clothes were old, they were quite clean, it was very strange to see a beggar look like that.
He wanted leftovers so a restaurant was the right place to be, but in actual fact that wasn’t he case at all. This small restaurant’s business was from return customers, food that customers didn’t eat was immediately thrown away, their main dish was steamed dumplings, which are steamed and wrapped as the customer orders them. The small boss didn’t have any leftovers to give the old man. It was obvious that he couldn’t give him anything made to order, such a simple situation couldn’t be easily solved.
On our table was a tray shaomai [steamed meat-flled dumplings/buns], every time we came we’d order some, I hadn’t eaten a bite, and my ge men [brothers, meaning male friends] also just order them out of habit. The waiters at this restaurant are very sneaky, after you’ve made your order, they casually ask: “How many trays of steaming buns?” Their tone of voice isn’t easy to turn down, and you order some without thinking, and are unable refuse their skills.
My friend also became interested in the old man, and got the waiter/waitress to take this honored tray of steamed buns to the old man, and even have him eat them at our table. We all know each other, so the small boss [the waiter/waitress] didn’t stop the old guy sitting down, and even pointed out to him the vinegar, mustard, and invited him to use them at his leisure.
The old man murmured his thanks, and produced from a knapsack about his body an enamel tea mug and asked for some water, this mug astonished me, on it, in red letters could be read — given to the greatest person! My brother is from a military family, his grandfather was a general for 55 years. Seeing these words in such an old beggar’s hands perplexed us, my friend asked the old guy hesitantly where did that mug come from?
The old man mumbled: “It’s mine, it’s mine, it was awarded to me.” We thought it was unthinkable, my friend asked: Grandfather, come sit down, come sit down, let the three of us have a chat together. The old man said no, I’m fine, don’t worry about me.
I got up and helped him over to our table, and we had the following conversation — “Old grandfather, have you served in the army?” “Yeah, yeah, for seven years!” “Where are you from originally?” “Jinzhai, Anhui.” “When did you serve?” “In ‘46, that was the year following Japan’s surrender.” “Which regiment did you serve in?” “The new fourth army, sixth division, we were the former Chinese Wilderness Sixth Column.” “Do you remember who your commanding officer was?” “Wang Bicheng, he was great at fighting!”
The old man’s voice raised, my friend and I were speechless. — A peasant from the country couldn’t know such historical detail that most people have forgotten. This was a historically brave division — Zhang Lingfu was attacked and killed by this division, which made them legendary.
We gave the old guy some vegetables, and alcohol, and continued the subject — “And after that did you serve in the Korean war?” “Yeah, yeah, the American planes were lihai [impressive/formidable], it’s because I was wounded in Korea that I was discharged!” “So if you served for seven years, you should be a cadre, how is it that you were discharged?” “I’m uncultured, I could never be a cadre.” Seeing our suspicion, he quickly added: “You two don’t believe me? I have a book, I have a book!”
The old man hastily took out a thin bag from his person and opened it, two small books covered in red plastic, one was a certificate of discharge, the other was a second degree wounded veteran’s certificate. He slowly rolled up his left trouser leg, and I saw a large wooden leg.
He pulled out a tightly bound white piece of paper from his bag and opened it, after looking at it gave it to me, silently and reverently. It was a letter of introduction from a village committee, the gist was that the bearer of that letter was was discharged from the army due to injuries while serving this village, has no children, and has sacrificed his ability to work, due to this village’s inadequate circumstances, and its inability to look after him, said village gives him special permission to leave in search of food, and hopes that governments of all levels give him all assistance possible. The official red stamp was dazzling.
We were rocked by this revelation, the boss of the restaurant was also slack jawed in amazement, after a while he nervously said “Grandfather, when mealtimes come around you just come here, as long as this restaurant is open, you…” The old man cut him off saying no, as long as he was able to walk he would do so, the old man said that North-Easterners were good, and that that year in Dandong he’d found out how nice North-Easterners are.
I asked in wonder why, when he was begging, didn’t he accept money? He suddenly answered, staring: “I was a soldier for seven years, and I am a Party member, how could I…?”
At that moment, tears covered my face.
After seeing it, my mood was heavy! I don’t know what to say, but just hope everyone can take this and spread it all over the forums in the country! Let more people know that among us Chinese are these kinds of people! I don’t have anything to say, all I can do is to send it out once, just this once,
Those who see this and and think “whatever”, I will send my regards to their ancestors! Let me say this to those Chinese people who worship Korea/Koreans and have no respect for Chinese people and people like them, this is what a true Chinese people are like!
There are currently 156 pages of responses to this story, or ~15,600 comments. Many of them simply write ding to support/bump this post.
Comments From Mop:
w420049436:
Now THIS is a worthy person, compared with those complacent government officials he’s much better, I support this ding!
hzccom:
Have a look at our most beloved/endearing person.
天堂海海:
I hope that officials able to help this endearing person are able to see this.
丢的是手雷:
The Chinese “gov” should learn from others!!!
ccz3018:
Motherfucking, in all honesty/sincerity, ding!
顶贴人:
Ding, China is the product of their toils.
菲尼克斯的懒猫
That can’t be right, even if he had no culture and couldn’t be a cadre he wouldn’t get treated so badly, that’s money for the country’s foundation [建国钱］, such a person’s conditions should be pretty good.
frederickshu
I salute you!
sandra198861
We need to always remember the most beloved people, if we didn’t have them we would have today.
saybyebye
This must be ding’d!
流星№停留
Most beloved person, I salute you!
caohanbeijoy
Most beloved person… don’t fade into oblivion… we will always remember you… you’re still the most beloved people…
艳丽霞光
I’m a soldier too… ding!
吃鱼不爱吐骨头
The cultured ones are all corrupt, right? Ding!
songyahui020
灵人舞者
I salute our elders.
此猫扑尽更无猫
I’m ding‘ing this up! These people who have dedicated themselves to the country can’t be forgotten!
暧昧魔术师
I salute you! Could it be that the “gov-ern-ment” doesn’t give him a pension?
w328604802
I’m moved, the old party members are the only real party members.
aihuiman
If you don’t ding, you’re not a human being.
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A Little Beggar Child In China 
One-Legged Beggar Artist Draws Mona Lisa On Sidewalk 
Girl Struggles To Raise Money For Own Heart Operation 
Xian Beggar Exposes Breasts to Shocked Foreign Tourists 
Handicapped Chinese Man Fixes Bicycle Tire With His Feet 
Upstanding dude. I’d ding this like the rest of them except it wouldn’t do much because this isn’t a forum.
This guy got a pretty rotten lot in life, serving in the military, losing his leg, getting discharged, returning to a hometown that couldn’t do much for him other than to give him a letter evidencing their support, and then roaming China for leftover scraps. Through all this, he maintains certain and admirable principles.
There are stories like this from every country and each time they remind me of the good in people when it is so easy to surround ourselves with so much of the bad. Cheers to the guy, the guys who hung out with him, and maxiewawa for translating. Great post.
Thanks for commenting!
Srsly Kai, you take this one for granted?
What do you mean? As in I take it at face value and don’t suspect it being fake? Perhaps even a propaganda piece initiated by the Communist Party?
As others have commented below, there’s always a chance this guy is a “sociopath” with an elaborate ploy. The thing is, I don’t think we can know for certain. I’m not so much praising this particular incident as I am praising the existence of such people with such principles, people who are good people despite the sad lot they’ve got or the unfortunate turns they’ve taken in life. This story, whether based on truth or not, still serves as a good reminder and encouragement for society. Cinderella wasn’t a real story (was it?) but it still teaches us or reminds us of important lessons.
As for this story being some CCP or central government propaganda piece, again, it’s possible, but I think this is slightly less so than it just being fake. I’d imagine the CCP not being stupid enough to fabricate a story that makes existing corrupt Communist Party members look bad next to this poor beggar who declares he couldn’t take money from the people because of his party-affiliation. Don’t you think that just calls more attention to CCP corruption? Would the CCP propaganda arm think that’s in their best interests?
Maybe. Maybe the propaganda arm is trying to subversively mobilize public opinion and strength to put pressure on itself (the government) to stamp out corruption within their own CCP ranks. Maybe there’s an enlightened leader somewhat in the CCP who is cleverly using the government propaganda apparatus to cleanse itself.
Or maybe not, and this is possibly a real story.
Who knows? Again, I think the principle the old beggar in this story represents is admirable. If he’s real, he’s an upstanding guy too.
[comment hidden for too many negative votes -- click to view]
im crying is like a movie……oooooo
what was the single word that moved the nation?
oh, and ding.
I suppose it would be, “Leftovers”. Tis a moving story though.
single sentence that moved the nation:
I was a soldier for seven years, and I am a Party member, how could I…?
He fought to turn China into a Communist state and then he fought to turn Korea into a Communist state, how fucking admirable.
come on man. must you do it every time? whats the point?
you’re just being negative and people hate on you.
does that get you going or what?
Agree with PP or not, he’s got a point on that one. From a non-communist point of view at the least.
He fought to kick you and your American Master’s asses. Thats admirable enough.
Seriously, without the political and military buffer zone called North-Korea, for which one million Chinese Soldiers sacrificed their life fors, China would be destroyed by MacArthurs insane plans to invade and/or nuke China.
The People’s Volunteer Army are the real heroes of China.
my ass, is america that brings food to your table not china, is your cheap labor that americans use and few of you can enjoy “a” life, with out them china would be north korea shit hole…..so go back to school…is not that china develop special technology or is smarter is just SLAVERY ;)
LOL. Do I sense HURR DURR in your post?
Please go back to school/or even finish school, and take a chill-pill.
Economy is economy. China doesent need to be thankful for the americans who wants our cheap labour to satisfy their decadent way of life. Why should we be thankful of someone being greedy, from which we profit coincidentally?
China nowadays has a sufficient domestic demand. And export economy is dead anyway since the financial crisis. Nothing of value was lost and noone asked you to buy our shit.
You make no sense man.
If it not for Mao and lackeys, there will be no need for one million Chinese soldiers to sacrifice their lives, there will not need for North Korea as a buffer zone for China (as U.S will allied with China against Soviets), there will be no cultural revolution, Kim Jong il, and Kim Il song…
The People’s volunteer army are real heroes but the ppl in the communist party are not.
With no Mao and his lackeys, China would be like a shittier version of South Korea today (Yes, this is actually possible). An ‘ally’ (meaning dog) of the Americans against dem evul Soviets. No real souverenity, with military bases in Qindao, Shanghai, Hongkong, Sanya and Zhuhai, filled with raping Marines and Gay-sailors. No thanks. I prefer the buttrape of the PLA instead.
And with the incompetent leadership of Genrealissimo Chiang, China would still have the delicious famine, ‘producing’ 50 corpses each morning, laying around on the streets of Nanjing.
Not to mention, still being the ultimate third-world shithole attracting lots of Holywood-stars to satisfy their altruistic needs PR-gags by providing starving Chinese children with UNICEF handkerchiefs.
Yeah, I know. You Japanese/Koreans/Taiwanese/Hongkongnese/Self-hating Chinks would like to see that. But take your fapping-fantasies somewhere else.
So you dislike raping marines and gay sailors from American bases. Instead you prefer the buttrape of the PLA instead? LOL! Your saying your a fan of both sodomy and homosexuality as long as it’s not from an American. Your happy to suck it down so long as the eyes ain’t round. I think Japanese, Koreans, Taiwanese, Hongkongnese, Self-hating Chinks, American and Europeans on this website would prefer neither. More for you little guy. By the way. How would the lackeys of Mao feel if they knew that they fought and died to create a country that subsidizes American Excess more then any other? Chinese irony at its finest.
Well, I see nothing wrong about it at all.
Seeing how the things are running today, the PLA buttrape was a full success.
China achieved a level of wealth and power, unparalleled by any Dynasty in its history.
And: The American consumerist lifestyle is a great thing! I’m sure that Grandpa is happy about his little fellows are living in a second Tang-Dynasty, because of his blood shet for them.
No sir, you last post was a full success. Ding!
If the truth be known, he fought for his country as has many people. I seriously doubt he turned anything in Korea Communist. This time was when the Japanese were trying to take over China. His HONOR should be respected, not disrespected as PUSAN PLAYA has done.
No matter how much one has suffered, the spirit of the heart will not be relinquished. He is an example to us all and i wish him every happiness in his remaining life. 顶!!
Ding! I support!
A man forged in a bygone age of honor, blood, and steel. There’s so few of his ilk in this day and age. Massive respect. 狂顶！
the real “Treasures of China” cannot be bought or sold
I dinged this on mop a while ago and I’ll ding it again! Glad it got translated.
I love his response when asked about accepting money. “…and I’m a party member, how could I….”
If only more party members had this way of thinking!!
What an exceptional guy.
yea what an idiot hahahaha ok die from starvation and be a party member hahah let the other party member drive BMW’s and Hummers ….what an IDOT
你是不是党员?
哈哈
I don’t see why people are getting so misty-eyed and patriotic over the fact China can’t support its veterans.
Could simply be a failure of sight on your part.
Let’s take a trip on over to downtown Los Angeles. You’ll see veterans in far worse conditions. That and people don’t respect and give a shit about people that’ve sacrificed their own life for their country.
Perhaps he can become the Lei Feng of the new century. People that believe that bullshit story should go back to school again
Salute to the old man! That’s what we call 贫贱不能移！
I will save this story and use it to stimulate myself in future when I lose myself in depression and pessimism. Thanks for the translation maxeiwawa!
Ding with tears welling up…
I’m sure there are plenty of guys roaming around out here just like him. It’s too bad.
What’s the difference between the old party and the new party members? I’m pretty sure all of them joined the party with the same altruistic beliefs. People like to claim that the country’s party leadership is all corrupt these days. Were they always like that?
Where’s the RSL when you need them? Veterans should at least get a decent government pension and free housing. Its time RSL gets created.
Sounds like a propaganda piece (made up; especially consider how everything just seem so synchronized). On the other hand, why can’t China take care of people like him? Maybe because, China is a poor nation and also I guess, backwards too?
Still a heart warming story, you can say that. Is it really anything more than a feel-good drop in the ocean of meaninglessness? You answer me. Does it send out positive waves? Yes! Of lasting effect? Who knows.
Forgot to say there are definitely a FEW PLUSES to his life. Gets to roam and meet all different sorts of people. But I can also see the minuses.
DING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
what am I saying, I’m such a jackass. DING!!!!
If all “communist members” were like him then we’d have “real communism” already.
you got to be a beggar from the party to eat?
what about the kids in the street?
no food for them because they’re not in the party?
it’s all a fucking joke… that’s just an advertisement for the ccp
Poor guy. My gf always tells me not to give money to beggars (until at least she has sized them up) because there are so many fake beggars around -although begging is begging so I don’t know how you are a fake.
I always feel so sad especially for old people because I know some of them are the real deal, maybe they have lost their children in accidents and haven’t got a family to help them. A small amount of old people are shunned by their children who don’t send money or otherwise help them out. Must be everyones deepest fear to lose their family, get a serious disease or accident or lose mental capacity when you KNOW that your country isn’t going to spend a dime to help you when you need it the most.
Is it just me or does Fauna always bring in the best articles.
This one seems to be added by someone from the public information bureau, I live in China and don’t buy it.
Because its so impossible that there happens to be war vets begging for food not money? Not that hard to swallow, so to speak. China is full of hungry war vets, as are most other countrys.
Grandpa, China need more people like you.
I ding this!
yes more idiots fighting for nothing and die from starvation !!! more more more
Every country has people like this Grandfather! For the fact that people were willing to share their food and time with the man and listen to his story, I salute them. For those who post negative and nasty comments on this subject, how can you look in the mirror. Honor a man or woman who served or serves their country.
hahaha communist countries…..is that a joke or something ? i love when i see officials driving BMW’s with the communist logos on top hahahah…..the only difference here is that you don’t import slaves you have your own domestic slave production…….but for how long ?
If you don’t like it, you can leave.
who gives a fuck i just make money here…..
Well, apparently you do.
It’s no problem to me if you don’t like where you live.
But money isn’t everything. (A concept that this old guy clearly understands better than you.)
;)
I can stay this is not your country any more ;) look around you this is an open territory now…..
@dondon3 (Change names three times, or different people trolling?)
1. I’m not Chinese. Thus, not my country.
ding ding ding ding ding
I would ding if the story was repeated by his former co-soldiers or a ranking officer. Unfortunately, I have met a Fujian guy like this. He was a sociopath and would always turn down money but then launch his greater plan a few months later.
Both foreigners and Chinese gave him food, shelter, jobs, computer training, and money. In the end, he would reveal himself and attempt suicide if you stopped giving him money. We found out later he had done the same thing in Beijing and his hometown before coming to Shanghai.
This soldier in the story always carries paper certificates to prove his story. That’s what I learned. Don’t trust a guy with a radical story who quickly pulls out paper to “prove” his story. I hate to say it but I seriously doubt his story is true.
No offense, but your story doesn’t makes sense. First you say he would turn down money, then you say people would give him money. Which is it? haha
If there is one thing about the older generation in China is that they really did believe in the party. How else would millions of people starve without raising any complaints. Historically, Chinese people are no strangers to riots against authority. They truly believed in what was happening. And the old generation still does.
A true Chinese. His ancestors would be proude.
Everybody: Support the Communist Party of China!
To all Chinese: It’s your duty!
Uh, okay, now I’m absolutely certain you’re just a troll pretending to be a Chinese hyper-nationalist. Either that or you’re the resident WMD (er, not weapon of mass destruction, but wu mao dang…which interestingly may not be too different).
Fuck off KAI we know you are CCP mfucker
Hey I remember this story from a few month back:
http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/valleyfever/2009/08/homeless_phoenix_man_leaves_4.php
support the communist party for your slavery. YEAH!
This story calls for some revolutionary hymns!
This story doesnt ding true. (can you see what i did there?)
File Under: Feelgood & Made Up.
Love or Hate the Wars – Love or Hate the Generals – but respect to the Grunts that Held the Line. Unforeunately, that has not been the case for many a soldier returning from many a battle for many, many years in all parts of the world. Say what you will about this story – but it will ring true with those that have dealt with similar old men and women from bygone eras.
I just love the army men. Their discipline, cleanliness, can die for orders and most of all, love their country the most then other artificial fashion loving half brains out there.( no offence, its just my love for the army )
You are the greatest