Beggar Turned Millionaire Returns To Repay 21-Year-Old Random Act Of Kindness
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In 1993, 17-year-old He Rongfeng and his two friends left their village and made their way to Taizhou City in China's Zheijang Province, to look for work to help support their struggling families. Unfortunately, jobs were not easy to come by, and the trio were forced to resort to begging.
While most passersby handed out change, a young woman by the name of Dai Xingfen showed unusual kindness toward the starving boys when they arrived at her noodle shop. She not only fed them, but also, gave them a place to sleep in the tiny apartment she shared with her husband.
What's even more heartwarming is that while the boys were sleeping, Xingfen contacted her friends who worked at nearby factories to see if they knew of any job openings. When that did not work, she gave the boys train fare so that they could go try their luck in the nearby city of Huangyan. While Rongfeng was thankful for everything the young woman had done for them, he was most grateful for her parting words of wisdom -"wealth is not as important as integrity".
Rongfeng took the advice to heart and worked hard at honing his skills at a furniture factory in Huangyan for many years, before moving to Shenyang City in China’s Liaoning Province to launch his own business. Today, as Chairman of the Shenyang Jiu Jiu Li Feng Group, a leader in the local furniture and paint industry, Rongfeng is an independently wealthy man. But more importantly, thanks to the wisdom instilled in him by Xingfen, he is an honest man.
It is therefore no wonder that he still fondly remembered the woman who helped turn his life around over two decades ago. Earlier this month, the entrepreneur made his way to Taizhou City to seek Xingfen out. It was not too difficult. The hard-working woman was still at the same noodle shop where he had first met her, over two decades ago.
Following an emotional reunion, Rongfeng offered his benefactor, 50,000 Yuan ($80,000 USD), to help repair her rundown house. To his surprise, Xingen turned it down, saying that she had not helped him with any ulterior motive in mind and could therefore, not accept his money. After arguing for a while, the two settled on something priceless - a large plaque that reads “Gratitude as Heavy as a Mountain" - words that aptly describe how Rongfeng feels towards Xingfen! It is amazing how a small random act of kindness can change someone's life forever!
Resources: netease.com,enews162.com, odditycentral.com
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287 Comments
- playrobloxordieover 8 yearsCool article for my school project GDAY! Play roblox C:.
4ever9904over 8 yearsThat's so generous of her! I wish more people were like that.- 1234567890almost 9 yearscool
kid600about 9 yearsI really like this article
latavia74over 9 yearsi wish people cared about me
crystalmoriover 9 yearsI'm sure someone does.
- eatbiscitsover 9 yearsthe lady was so sweet and kind to the boys
bigmeloover 9 yearsSuch a touching story. There are few people left in this world besides Dai Xingfen who would do that. It's just, a lot of people don't care about anybody anymore. :(- bigmeloover 9 yearsFor example, I went out shopping for groceries at another town a couple minutes away from where I live. While my family was checking out & paying for our goods, I saw an old lady in the next booth having some trouble fitting her groceries in her shopping cart, so I decided to give her some help. But when I started to make my way over, my brother stopped me & said, "What are you doing?" So I explained to him that I was trying to help the old lady, but my brother only shook his head. I mean, I know he was trying to protect me & all, but I know I'm able to make decisions on my own now. I ended up returning back to my family, following them out the supermarket door. For the last time, I looked back at the old lady. She smiled, & moved her mouth. For that moment, I could just make out what she said before the sliding 'Exit' door closed - 'Thank you'. Sometimes, I still wonder where she is, & what would have happened if I had gotten to help her. Maybe then, I would have gotten to know her a little better. :D
fire_kitten13over 9 yearsalmost like i help this family during the italin fest.
nikukyuover 9 yearsYou are a angel, bigmelo.... Inside and out! I would like to learn from you, senpai!- bigmeloover 9 years:'D *faints* *actually goes to heaven* Is it normal for me to have tears of joy like this? Such a beautiful & enlightening feeling that I've never had before... It's so tingly... Thank you - thank you for everything, nikukyu. In fact, thanks to everyone who's ever supported me on Dogo News! I love you all. <3
- crystalmoriover 9 yearsYou're welcome! I hope you know that we'll be here for you. Thank you for supporting me as well, everyone who has.... I hope you all find happiness.
- bigmeloover 9 years*smiles so much that my jaw hurts* I hope you're happy too, crystalmori! :D
- nikukyuover 9 yearsAwwww love you too! A hundred kisses to my friends on dogo! Now, let's gather for a big group HUG:)
- crystalmoriover 9 yearsI'm sure you made her day even just by offering. :)
- crystalmoriover 9 yearsI think the best thing is to just brighten up someone's day like that. I remember one time at a buffet place, I was going back to my table with my food, and an old lady was coming the other way, helped by a younger woman (probably her daughter). I just moved aside without a thought, because I realized that if I tried to push through, I would most likely wind up unsteadying her and spilling my food. Of course, I would've been more sorry about the old lady. The lady who was helping her saw and thanked me. You should've seen how it lit up their faces. :) I had very mixed feelings about the whole event. I was super happy I could do that for them, but on the other hand, it made me sad to see how happy they were. It reminded me how with so many kids these days being rude, some people don't seem to think there's any hope for the younger generation. I can't bear to think of how sad that must be. So, I'm really glad I could show them that was wrong.
- nikukyuover 9 yearsI try to give my seats to older people in trains.... I like to do small acts of kindness everywhere I go. You know, just to make a stranger happy. Here is my favorite quote: "life smiles at you when you are happy. Life laughs at you when you are unhappy. But, life salutes you when you make others happy."-Charlie Chaplin. I read it on this website!
- bigmeloover 9 yearsYou've been on a train? *gasps* I've never been on a train before... :D
- nikukyuover 9 yearsReally? I use trains all the time! In Fact, theres a train station near where I live! (A two minute walk, a one minute run)
- crystalmoriover 9 yearsThere are trains all over Japan, aren't there? Lucky. I get to go on one about once a year, if we visit New England...
- crystalmoriover 9 yearsNot that I'm especially fond of trains, you know. But it is nice, and a real change of pace. We live in the country, so it's a treat to ride in anything other than a car or a school bus.
- crystalmoriover 9 yearsI have too many favorite quotes to count, but one of them that I found on dogo is: "Don't criticize what you don't understand, son. You never walked in that man's shoes."- Elvis Presley
- nikukyuover 9 yearsCool, I love it!
- bigmeloover 9 yearsI know, right? I feel terrible knowing that there are many kids out there who just have no consideration for others anymore. :(
frankiebabyover 9 yearsyou guys are all so nice!! some people are really mean and bratty, but so far on this website, everyone has been so nice. this especially goes to bigmelo, crystalmori, nikukyu, and peacheslarue!!- crystalmoriover 9 yearsAw, thank you. But I agree with bigmelo. I doubt anyone in real life sees us that way. Most people at my school probably think I'm a demon. Or just weird, cute, hard to approach, etc. I was homeschooled for years, so I'm a little awkward, and I act pretty much like an anime character, so I think that's plenty weird enough. I guess I don't get to show my nice side to people at school very often, since they're always making me mad. But I have other friends from my last school, and I wonder how they think of me. Probably just as one of them....
- nikukyuover 9 yearsMy friend once said that I was 'Too nice'... It was weird for me cuz she said it in a mocking way. I wasn't offened, just confused. Is there anything such as too nice? Is it bad to be too nice? In my opinion, no. Sure, sometimes people will walk over me or use me because of it, but i would rather be generous than mean.
- frankiebabyover 9 yearsI kind of actually feel the opposite, because most people ONLY think of me as nice, because I am friends with about 20 people, but none are my BEST friend
- crystalmoriover 9 yearsThat sucks. But don't worry, you'll find the people who'll be your close friends someday. I'm a pretty social person, but I still have only about 10 people that I'm REALLY comfortable around. And I spent at least 7 years looking for them. So when you find those friendships, treasure them.
- crystalmoriover 9 yearsI feel like that's all we really need to define each other by. We're humans. Good, bad- that sort of thing doesn't matter. Each person has troubles, and each person makes sacrifices. And if we still can't accept each other, with that kind of glaring similarity, then I think that's just sad. Of course, that doesn't mean you have to yield to anyone. In fact, I think the best way is to face them honestly, saying "These are my feelings and I won't lose!" But of course, that's simply my opinion.
- frankiebabyover 9 yearsYeah. people always say that you are a loser, uncool, or popular, but there is no reason to do this. If you actually say others are nice, they will definitely be happier than they already are. In my grade, just like most, are divided into the cool and uncool groups which is how people think of them, but I know that it is all wrong. The other people in the grade just don't care about niceness or smartness, but the only word I can think of is stupidness.
- bigmeloover 9 yearsI can totally relate. I read this picture on the internet that said: Elementary School - 30 friends; Middle School - 20 friends; High School - 10 friends; College - 3 real friends. :D
- crystalmoriover 9 yearsWell, that's how it seems to go for most people, but thankfully I found mine much sooner. If I hadn't, I wouldn't have become the person I am today.
- nikukyuover 9 yearsThank you, frankiebaby! To every person that have lifted my spirits on dogo-you have NO idea how your words made me stronger, happier, and a feeling that I'm being loved... Sometimes more than my family and friends! I can't count how many times I cried happy tears by reading your comments! So, from the deepest part of my soul, I'd like to say, thank you!
- bigmeloover 9 yearsAs long as everyone on Dogo News is happy, then I'm happy. :D
- bigmeloover 9 years*gasps for like the millionth time* Thank you so much! In real life, nobody sees me like you guys do... :D
shock12over 9 yearssuper amazing- ⭕️over 9 yearsWow
diamondkidover 9 yearsSo generous of him.
