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recently, gao binghan once again crossed the taiwan strait and returned to heze to pay homage to his ancestors and visit relatives. gao binghan, who is still in his early years, is still full of energy even though his steps are staggering. he returned to his hometown with a flower scarf that his mother had tied for him that he had cherished for 80 years, filled with deep nostalgia for his homeland.

gao binghan was born in gaosunzhuang village, mudan district, heze. when he was 13 years old, he left his hometown due to war and went to taiwan. in his later years, gao binghan frequently traveled between the two sides of the taiwan strait. gao binghan, who weighed only 40 kilograms, personally carried an urn weighing more than 8 kilograms and sent veterans home one trip after another. he was affectionately called "the grandfather holding the ashes" by the children. . today, gao binghan has helped more than 150 veterans return to their hometowns. in 2012, gao binghan was elected as one of the top ten people who moved china.

gao binghan: "after winning this trophy that moved china, i flew from beijing to jinan to heze, and went to my mother's tomb to report to my mother. i said that you didn't even drink a glass of water when you were alive. now you now that my son has fulfilled his filial piety, i will give you a trophy. you will be very happy in heaven."

gao binghan has donated his belongings to the mudan district archives for free in many batches, including the touching chinese character trophy. this time when he returns to his hometown, gao binghan will also donate a precious item that has been with him for 80 years. gao binghan clearly remembers that it was a cold morning before the mid-autumn festival in 1948. due to the turmoil, his mother put gao binghan on the carriage to taiwan. before leaving, she tied her scarf around gao binghan's neck, leaving a farewell message in the corner of her mother's eyes. tears fell on gao binghan's forehead. when he was young, gao binghan thought he was just going to the south to study. he didn't know that this separation was actually a farewell. and gao binghan wore that scarf for eighty years.

gao binghan: "mom, today i returned to gaozhuang, the place where i was born. your floral scarf has been wrapped around my neck for nearly eighty years. you have been with me for these eighty years."

time flies, more than half a century has passed, and the plants and trees in his hometown have undergone tremendous changes, but gao binghan's concern for his hometown has never diminished.

gao binghan: "the years have passed by. i am now over ninety years old, but my love and concern for my hometown have never diminished. when i was a child, i missed my mother even more. when i get older, i miss my mother and home even more."

in the morning, accompanied by fellow villagers, gao binghan and his party went to his parents' cemetery to hold an ancestor worship ceremony. along the way, the villagers surrounded him with respect. in front of his parents' graves, gao binghan slowly knelt down and stared at the tombstone for a long time, as if talking to his deceased relatives. after the ancestor worship ceremony, in order to thank the villagers for their warm hospitality, gao binghan specially set up 31 banquet tables in the village and invited the villagers to share the joy of reunion. gao binghan cordially toasted to the villagers at each table.

gao binghan: "every time i go to heze, i treat it as the last time, because i am getting older and can wrestle on the ground. i invite the villagers in gaozhuang village to have a meal, and i want to show my respect to the blind dates who watched me grow up and played in the mud together." , reminiscing about the past in spirit.”

during this period, gao binghan also went to qufu to participate in the confucius memorial ceremony, and his schedule was full for three days. the old gao binghan can no longer cross the taiwan straits and oceans to return to his hometown alone. he also knows clearly that every time he returns to his hometown, he will miss a trip, and the villagers will miss a sight, but his patriotism , homesickness is eternal. he firmly believes that this day will come in the not-too-distant future, when compatriots on both sides of the taiwan straits will jointly usher in a new era of peace, prosperity, and reunion.

gao binghan: "if you haven't been wandering for a long time, you won't miss your hometown. that's why i say that there are no people who cry all night long, which is not enough to talk about life. only those who cry all night long can you know the value of your hometown. wherever my mother is, my hometown is there." no matter where my mother is, my hometown is my mother. i love my hometown as much as i love my mother." (reporter: hu xiaokang and wang he)