He is a pure bloodline from Italy, but he has lived a life in rural China for 77 years; He is a "foreign farmer", but he speaks fluent Wenzhou dialect in the eyes of others. Have you ever heard a story like this?
Xu Xiangshun, a name that crosses the borders of two countries, and a life that has gone through countless bumpy journeys. He was born in Italy in 1944, but was adopted by a Chinese businessman at his most modest moment. Behind this story is the arduous journey of a mother who travels to a foreign land to protect her son.
Having lost his biological father since he was a child and experiencing the painful departure of his mother, Xu Xiangshun's life is like a magnificent **. He grew up in China, surrounded by villagers, learned Wenzhou dialect, and fell in love with China's freedom and warmth. Like a picture scroll, Xu Xiangshun's life quietly unfolds in the countryside of China, he works with his hands and feels the nourishment of the land with his heart.
However, with the ups and downs of fate, he once again faced challenges. As a result of an accident, his hands become disabled and the world seems to have turned gray. But it was at this time that his mother's last words became his motivation to move forward, "Tell my relatives that I have been doing well since I came to China, and tell them that I miss you very much." So, he embarked on a journey to find his relatives, crossing half the world, just to fulfill his mother's last wish.
In Italy, he was a stranger, but his persistence and hard work touched countless people. When he finally hugged his loved ones and told them how much he missed his mother in a simple word, tears had blurred each other's eyes. After 55 years of separation, it has finally become a warm reunion.
However, Xu Xiangshun, who returned, did not stay in Italy, because he had already decided in his heart that his home was in China. Although he is a "foreign peasant" in the eyes of others, in his heart, China has long been his belonging. Because there is his family here, there are his memories, and there is his warmth.
On September 15, 2023, Wenzhou's "foreign farmer" left this world, but the story he left behind will always continue in people's hearts. His tenacity, his courage, his love, are the most precious treasures in this world.
The story of Xu Xiangshun is not only a legend of a person, but also a witness of an era. Let us remember his courage and perseverance, let us spread his love and warmth together, and let us always miss this "foreign farmer" in Wenzhou, this great man who will always belong to China.
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