BEIJING (SCMP): In a heart-wrenching display of devotion, an elderly man from eastern China spent 12 hours every day for 105 days travelling to visit his wife in hospital.
Chen Achong, 82, a farmer from Zhoushan in Zhejiang province, and his wife, Xue, have been married for more than 50 years, according to the mainland media outlet Xinwenfang.
A year ago, Xue suffered a stroke and soon after developed severe pneumonia, leading to her hospitalisation in the intensive care unit (ICU) at Li Huili Hospital in Ningbo.
With their son unable to be by her side due to work, Chen took on the full responsibility of caring for his wife.
Every day, he woke at 4.30am to prepare meals before catching a bus to Ningbo, where he transferred to another to reach the hospital.
ICU visiting hours were from 10.30 to 11.00am, but after his visit, Chen would stay in the hospital corridor until the afternoon before taking the bus back to Zhoushan.
To save money, he carried a basket filled with meals he had prepared for Xue.
For 105 days, Chen made the exhausting 12-hour round trip, all for just half an hour with his wife.
During their time together, he held her hand tightly, talked to her constantly and reminisced about their years of shared love.
Chen once softly told his wife, “I remember when I worked in the fields and you kept the house so beautifully in order.”
“You washed my clothes, and whenever I ate fish, you always took the head and tail, leaving me the best parts.”
Chen’s devotion extended to small acts of care, like wiping her face and adjusting her blankets.
Over the year, Chen spent all his savings, more than 100,000 yuan (US$14,000), on his wife’s treatment. Their son also sold his own home to help cover the medical expenses.
Chen’s commitment earned support from others.
The hospital adjusted his visiting hours, public transport waived his fare and kind-hearted individuals donated more than 140,000 yuan (US$20,000).
On March 13, Chen visited his wife as usual and her condition appeared stable.
Chen recalled: “I told her the family was doing well and not to worry, and she nodded in response.”
As he was preparing to return to Zhoushan, Chen received a call from the hospital telling him that his wife’s heartbeat had stopped.
He and his son rushed back to the hospital, but despite all efforts to save her, Xue died at the age of 76.
In her final moments, Chen held her hand tightly and whispered his last goodbye.
“Our bond in this life is over, but I am not willing to accept it,” he said.
With tears streaming down his face, he added: “My heart feels like it is being torn apart. It is so painful. But nothing more could be done.”
As the doctors wheeled Xue’s bed out of the room, the elderly man staggered to catch one last glimpse of his beloved wife.
He told the media: “Whenever I have time, I will visit her grave. She was the best wife in the world.”
He expressed his gratitude to those who had helped him and said he would repay his debts.
Many people on mainland social media were deeply moved by Chen’s story.
One online observer said: “I cried for a long time. The elder generation’s love is always pure; when they love, it is for a lifetime.” -- SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
