Shuai Zhiruo: Forefathers plant trees, future generations will benefit

Shuai Zhiruo: Forefathers plant trees, future generations will benefit Shuai Zhiruo Recently I heard that the wife of President Zhen of the "Alberta Times", the former editor-in-chief of the newspaper Yu...

Shuai Zhiruo

Recently I heard the unfortunate news that Ms. Yu Airong, the wife of President Zhen of the "Alberta Times" and the former editor-in-chief of the newspaper, passed away due to illness. Many years ago, I heard that Mrs. Zhen had been ill for a long time. She was very ill and could not be cured after long-term treatment. Therefore, I thought that Mrs. Zhen’s longevity at the age of seventy-eight was not only due to the effects of modern American medicine, but also President Zhen’s long-term careful care of his wife that created such a miracle. About six or seven years ago, I once went to President Zhen’s house to hold a meeting about writing. President Zhen just took his wife home from the hospital. President Zhen said that Mrs. Zhen became ill due to overwork and had to be sent to the hospital several times a week for kidney dialysis. President Zhen always sent her to the hospital in the morning and took Mrs. Zhen home before noon. This situation had been going on for several years. When it was almost noon, President Zhen said he was going to cook for his wife. I went to the newspaper office several times and happened to see President Zhen walking out in a hurry to rush to the hospital to pick up Mrs. Zhen. He walked towards the parking place with a somewhat staggering and hasty step. Later, I heard from President Zhen that he once lost control of his body while trying to snap a news shot, and broke his knee, causing difficulty in walking. In the past few years, I have often sent articles by Chinese school teachers and students' compositions to the "Alberta Times" for publication. Sometimes I learn on Friday that a newspaper has been published, and that an article by a teacher from our Chinese school or a composition by a student has been published in the current issue of the newspaper. I go to the west to do some errands and pick up the newspaper on the way, hoping to see it as soon as possible. The car drove to President Zhen's front yard, and several times I saw President Zhen and his helpers pushing Mrs. Zhen, who was in a wheelchair, to the front yard to bask in the sun and breathe the fresh air outside. One day the year before last, I went to the newspaper office and saw Mrs. Zhen sunbathing. Her neck was sloping, as if she was very weak. When it was almost noon, President Zhen personally prepared lunch for Mrs. Zhen. President Zhen's own legs and feet are not very flexible, so he has always personally taken good care of his old lady. After so many years, the hardships involved are unimaginable to outsiders. Once, I saw in the newspaper news and photos of Mrs. Zhen’s former colleagues and students who came from out of town to visit her. All this will bring great joy and comfort to Mrs. Zhen. President Zhen is a man who cares deeply about his wife. From President Zhen's careful care of Mrs. Zhen, people can see the simple and true love in the world. Westerners hold weddings in cathedrals, and two lovers make a vow of love in front of the priest: no matter poverty or illness, they will never leave. The wedding of President Zhen and Mrs. Zhen may not have been so romantic, but like many couples with traditional Chinese virtues, they used their real lives to write the most beautiful content in human nature. Looking further, a person who is full of love for his family can truly contribute love to society. In the fall of 2009, the Alberta Chinese Writers Association and the "Alberta Times" held a book launch for local female writer Xu Zhuangling, and also invited the famous Chinese female writer Wu Lingyao to give a speech. Before the event ended, President Zhen came on stage and spoke. I am still deeply impressed. President Zhen said at the time that the "Alberta Times" had been founded almost 20 years ago. Someone once asked, running a newspaper is so hard, why did you run a newspaper in the first place? President Zhen said, for food. What true and simple words! President Zhen also said that when the newspaper was first launched, there was no advanced editing software available today. His wife, Ms. Yu Airong, the former editor-in-chief of the newspaper, typeset with an old-fashioned typewriter. Together with their daughter, the couple and their daughter undertake all the tasks of editing, typesetting, advertising, publishing, and delivering newspapers. The newspaper developed from a semi-monthly issue to a weekly issue. It is now published twice a week. I was deeply moved when I heard President Zhen talk about his experience of running a newspaper in plain language. Just imagine, they came to this strange land where they didn’t know the language and worked hard after middle age. They relied on their hard work and expertise to start over in a foreign country. Not only did they gain a foothold for their own family’s survival and raise their children, but they also created a new world as the first official Chinese-language newspaper in Arizona. Since its establishment, the "Alberta Times" has provided an important platform for information exchange among Chinese people, as well as various community activities and public welfare undertakings. What is most worth emphasizing is that the "Alberta Times" has played a great role in promoting the development of Chinese schools over the years. From 2006 to 2010, when I was in charge of Hope Chinese School, the "Alberta Times" published a large number of articles and photos about Hope Chinese School's activities, educational discussions, teaching trends, etc. It played a very powerful role in spreading information about Hope Chinese School's activities and strengthening the connection between Hope Chinese School and the local community. What is particularly important is that the "Alberta Times" opened up a "Chinese Education Corner" on its valuable pages many years ago, specifically publishing articles and students' homework from local Chinese schools. In the past four years, I only have newspaper clippings in my hand. Teachers from Hope Chinese School have published nearly 50 articles on their teaching experiences in the "Alberta Times". This is a great respect and encouragement to the teachers. It is the first time that some young teachers' articles have been published in newspapers. These articles have received a certain response from Chinese schools and communities. Several teachers from other Chinese schools said that they had cut and pasted these teaching experience articles. During those four years, dozens of students from Hope Chinese School published their immature homework assignments in the "Alberta Times". After the students, teachers, and parents received the newspaper with the students' compositions, they all burst into laughter, and the students' self-confidence and sense of accomplishment were also affirmed. Forefathers plant trees, and future generations will benefit. The "Alberta Times" founded by President Zhen and Mrs. Zhen has benefited our Chinese school. "Drink water and think of its source." Gratitude and gratitude are the traditional virtues of our Chinese nation. I think teachers, students and parents of Chinese schools will remember and appreciate the contribution of The Alberta Times to Chinese schools. I am also eternally grateful to all the people in the community who have provided support and help when I was engaged in Chinese education.

Written on September 19, 2011 (the author is the former principal of Hope Chinese School)