In this era of change and challenge, every ordinary life may shine with its extraordinary choices. At 2:01 a.m. on February 18, Mr. Zhang Jie, a well-known Zhejiang businessman and a candidate for the fifth national moral model, and a model of loving his hometown in Zhejiang Province, passed away quietly in Hong Kong due to illness at the age of 95. Mr. Zhang Jie is an ordinary villager in Huaguang Village, Lianghu Street, Shangyu, Shaoxing, but he has made indelible contributions to the education of his hometown with his life's kindness and dedication.
Born in a poor family, Zhang had to go out early to earn a living because his family was unable to complete his primary school studies. When he was young, he left his hometown and went through ups and downs to finally come to the bustling city of Hong Kong. There, he worked as a helper and a buddy, working hard and accumulating a meager income. Until 1978, he rented a store of less than 6 square meters on the streets of Kowloon, started his own small business, and began to sell crabs, zongzi, tea and eggs. In that small space, he pursued the dream in his heart, silently struggled and adhered to it.
This bitter entrepreneurial experience is an indelible stroke in Zhang Jie's life. At the entrance of the dim corridor, he wrote his own life story with diligence and wisdom. He once said, "I'm good, I'm not good; A good hometown and a good country are good. These simple and profound words embody his deep feelings and responsibilities for his hometown, and also indicate what great contributions he will make in the future.
With the gradual success of his career, Mr. Zhang Jie has never forgotten the education career in his hometown. When he learned that his hometown was in urgent need of education support, he did not hesitate to use his hard-earned wealth to support the education cause in his hometown. Since 1979, he has donated more than 1,500 yuan to his hometown Shangyu for several consecutive years. He built 18 Zhang Jie teaching buildings, 32 classrooms, dormitory buildings, and libraries, and set up an education program worth more than 2 million yuan to subsidize students in need. These acts of kindness have benefited more than 20,000 students, and have also won him the honor of "Model of Loving Hometown in Zhejiang Province".
Mr. Zhang Jie's philanthropic deeds have touched countless people, and are known as the power of "Zhang Jie's spirit", inspiring more people to contribute to the development of their hometown. His story became a good story in his hometown, and his name became a spiritual monument. He once said: "As long as I am alive, I will support the education cause of my hometown for one day." This sentence became the norm of his life, and also became a model for future generations to learn from and emulate.
The death of Mr. Zhang Jie deeply regretted his hometown Shangyu. Chen Qiuqiang, president of the Shangyu Xiangxian Research Association, was very sad, and he recalled his relationship with Mr. Zhang Jie and felt a lot of emotion. "Last August, my husband and I attended his 95th birthday party, which was the only birthday party in his life. Chen Qiuqiang fondly recalled that Mr. Zhang Jie was deeply concerned about Sangzi and deeply emotional, and he spent his whole life silently dedicating himself to the cause of education in his hometown and became an outstanding representative of Shangyu Township.
Wei Xuegang, Secretary of the Party Working Committee of Lianghu Street, also deeply regretted the death of Mr. Zhang Jie. He recalled his deep affection for Liang Hu, "Liang Hu is good, I can rest assured!" This simple sentence expresses a person's deep affection and responsibility for his hometown. Mr. Zhang Jie's voice and smile, his benevolent and righteous deeds, will always remain in the hearts of the people of Lianghu, and will always inspire future generations to work hard for the prosperity and development of his hometown.
Mr. Zhang Jie is an ordinary villager and an extraordinary person. With his diligence and wisdom, with his life's dedication and good deeds, he deduced a touching song of family and country feelings. His story tells us that no matter where a person is, as long as he has a heart and upholds kindness, he can shine in the ordinary. Mr. Zhang Jie's spirit of "loving hometown model" will always inspire us and inspire everyone to work hard for a better tomorrow. May we remember his name, inherit his spirit, and let the light of love and devotion shine in our hearts forever.