Cangzhou man in his sixties benefits villagers by funding building construction and gifting it to poor households
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????â– Elderly man Zhang Guipu discusses the building construction plan.
"Living in a building is something we wouldn't even dare to dream of. Even if we worked our whole lives, we wouldn't earn enough to buy an apartment, and now someone is just giving us one for free!" In front of a building under construction in Dingzhuangzi Village, Mengcun Hui Autonomous County, Cangzhou, villagers gathered and talked animatedly. This is housing funded by Zhang Guipu specifically built for poor households, to be given to them for free upon completion. The building currently under construction has 7 floors and two units, and will accommodate 28 households of villagers when completed.
"I have an apartment in this building. Now I have to come take a look every day to check on the progress. I really want to move in early!" Dingzhuangzi villager Liu Junmeng told reporters cheerfully. He had spent his whole life struggling for his children and never dared to imagine he could live in a building. He originally had 4 single-story rooms in the village, which leaked whenever it rained and could not keep out wind or rain at all. There are quite a few villagers in Dingzhuangzi Village with living conditions similar to Liu Junmeng's, and now the demolition is basically complete.
Villager Ding Li told reporters that construction on this building started in September this year. The villagers were all very moved and particularly supportive, so the demolition went very smoothly. So far, Elderly Zhang Guipu has invested several million yuan. Not only did he build buildings for poor households, but he also organized the repair of many roads in the village.
"I've earned quite a bit of money over the years, but I don't want to leave this money to my descendants. I should leave them a spirit instead, and let them strive and work hard on their own. Right now I just want to give back to my fellow villagers. Watching them live in poverty makes me feel terrible," Zhang Guipu said. He wants all the poor households in the village to be able to live in clean and spacious buildings and have a slightly better life. Now, the first building Zhang Guipu built for poor households will soon be topped out, and the villagers are all looking forward to moving in as soon as possible.
"I am 63 years old this year. Throughout my life I have been influenced by my ancestors to uphold a kind heart and help others. Now, I want to continue passing down the family tradition of finding joy in helping others, and set an example for my descendants," Zhang Guipu said. In Zhang Guipu's memory, his father and grandfather spent their whole lives helping others, even though their own lives were not particularly well-off at the time. He told reporters that there was once an elderly man named "Ma Ye" in the village who lived with his wife in a cellar they dug in the village. At that time, Elderly Zhang Guipu's father often helped "Ma Ye" and his wife. In 1959, "Ma Ye" passed away, and Zhang Guipu's father took "Ma Ye's" wife into their home to live and be cared for. Zhang Guipu said that year he was not yet ten years old, and this matter left a deep impression on him.
"Have a heart for the poor." Zhang Guipu said this was what his father most often told him. In October 1972, Zhang Guipu started working at the Mengcun Fuel Company. "The first work uniform I received after starting work, I gave to my colleague Xu Xiufeng." Zhang Guipu said. Xu Xiufeng was from Zhangguandian Village and had several children at home at the time. His family conditions were particularly poor, and they all wore ragged clothes. That a new young man would give him clothes left Xu Xiufeng feeling incredulous at the time.
"'Have a heart for the poor, find joy in helping others' is our family tradition, and we must pass it down," Zhang Guipu said. Now his children are all very filial and very supportive of his charitable act of building the buildings, which makes Zhang Guipu very gratified. (Reporter Yu Haining)