“My dad has no grand achievements; he’s just an ordinary man who has spent most of his life repairing bicycles and diligently working with his hands to support a large family. Although very ordinary and plain, he is also very great.” In his article My Bike-Repairing Dad, a netizen shared that he always returned to his hometown of Xingtai for the New Year.
Through delivering dumplings to his father, who repairs bikes on the street, and spending time with him during the winter break, he realized the hardships his father endures to earn a living. “My dad, who has repaired bicycles for most of his life, is like many ordinary fathers. He silently supports a family with his diligent hands, without complaint or regret. I may not understand the perseverance and great love of their generation. Still, I express some of my memories about my dad with simple words, not for anything else, just for gratitude and appreciation!”
Excerpts from ‘My Bike-Repairing Dad’
“While looking for something, I accidentally found a photo album. When I opened it and saw the first photo, I felt sad. My parents have aged so much that they no longer match those in the pictures. My parents were young once; how did they age so quickly?
“My dad is getting old, and I visit home less often. He used to walk ahead of me on the street, but now he walks behind me. The clothes I buy for him seem too long. He says he has to sleep curled up at night because stretching out causes pain. I was suddenly shocked to realize that my dad’s health was deteriorating, which explains why he hunched over while repairing bikes.
“I don’t know how much longer my dad will continue working. As his children, we’re not by his side, and that’s my biggest regret. I can only remember my dad’s sacrifices for us, silently and without words. I want to spend more time talking with and accompanying him in the future. He will worry less if I do well in my work and succeed.
“I am a university teacher and often boast to my students about having a bike-repairing dad. I teach my students, but my dad is my teacher. The spiritual wealth he left me is more precious than millions of yuan.”
A father who repairs bikes never splurges on meals
This netizen, Du Chuanqing, teaches at a university in Jiangxi; his father, Du Yihou, repairs bicycles almost daily on the streets of Xingtai. He is over 60 years old and wears a tan cotton jacket covered in oil stains. Every noon, he faces the wind, holding a lunch box with his rough, dark, and cracked hands, eating the meals brought by his family. He has been eating such lunches for decades.
Once, his family forgot to bring him lunch, and the elder Du stayed hungry by his bike stall all day. “A meal outside costs several yuan; how could I afford it?” Since then, he always keeps a bag of instant noodles on his bike. If his family can’t bring him food, he gets hot water nearby and eats noodles.
Free repairs for the disabled and scavengers
Next to Du Yihou are various bike repair tools and bicycle parts. The electric tricycle in front of him is polished smooth, the red body is wiped clean, and plastic wrap is on the seats to prevent them from getting dirty. “This tricycle was a gift from my son and daughter. I used to ride a pedal tricycle for over ten years. It was so old that it couldn’t be ridden, especially on uphill roads. It often broke down halfway. Later, my son and daughter bought me this electric tricycle, which saves effort.”
The elder Du said he hadn’t shopped or bought clothes for over 10 years. His cotton shoes were gifts from old friends, and even his air pump was discarded by others. The bottom of the pump is worn flat and wrapped with a circle of rubber, which Du calls his little invention to prevent the hose from breaking. Although he is very frugal, Du is generous to others. For example, he never charges disabled people or elderly scavengers for repairs.
Adding a stroke to the ‘正’ character for every yuan earned
Around 1 p.m., Mr. Yue, an avid cyclist, pushed his bike to Du Yihou’s repair stall. “The front handle is crooked; please fix it, Du.” Mr. Yue has been a loyal customer of the elder Du for over ten years, cycling dozens of kilometers daily. Almost all his bicycle parts have been replaced at the Du’s stall. “Du is honest; he gets parts from legitimate manufacturers and never cheats on anyone. People around here trust him. Whenever my bike has a problem, I come to him.”
Repairing a tire costs 4 yuan, and he often doesn’t charge for inflating tires. Another loyal customer, Mr. Zhao, came to replace the rear brake line. Elder Du finished it in less than a minute. “He’s very efficient and skilled. Sometimes, I prefer to go out of my way to find him. People from nearby units and communities all know Du, and they come to him when their bikes have issues.”
With so many customers, why doesn’t he charge more? Regarding this question, the elder Du said: “When his son and daughter were in school, many people nearby helped him. Some even went out of their way to have him repair their bikes to help them earn more.” He is very grateful for this. “The kinder people are, the less I want to charge them. We earn hard-earned money, clean and honest, and it feels good to spend it.”
The elder Du takes out an account book made from an old cardboard box for every yuan earned and adds a stroke to the “正” character. For 17 years, he has been meticulously saving to support his son and daughter through college.
He said his son never fussed about food or clothing and was very understanding, never looking down on his bike-repairing father. He is content with that. Having worked as a temporary worker for almost a lifetime, he knows the hardships of unstable income. His son needs an education to have a future, and he supports his education to prevent him from ending up like himself.
I feel sorry for my son, but I’m proud of him
“My son is exceptionally hardworking. In college, he had to pay over 8,000 yuan in tuition every year, and every time he left home, I could only give him 12,000 yuan at most. I thought it wouldn’t be enough, but he never asked for more. He worked part-time, waiting tables at restaurants to earn money.
“Other kids had things he didn’t, and I feel sorry for him. But I’m also proud. My child went to college and even stayed on as a teacher. It’s worth my hardships. I can still work now, and I want to help them a bit more to see my son get married and save some money so we won’t burden them when we’re old.”
My bike-repairing father is great
Du Chuanqing, as a university teacher, never feels ashamed of having a father who repairs bikes on the street. Instead, he often mentions his father to his students. In his heart, what his father gave him is worth thousands of times more than money. ‘My dad is candid, hardworking, diligent, introverted, and doesn’t talk much like an old ox silently working. He treats others sincerely, constantly feeling guilty if he doesn’t do a good job. My dad is also very frugal, never buying clothes; even when we buy them for him, he can’t bear to wear them.
“I am very grateful to my dad. His hard work repairing bikes supported me through college, allowing me to teach at a university today. My dad sacrificed himself for us. For us, he even refrained from treating his illnesses, resulting in stomach problems and arthritis. In my eyes, my dad is great.
“I once advised my dad to stop working, saying I could support him, but he didn’t listen. He said staying idle would make him sick, and it’s better to keep moving. I hope my parents are safe and happy. I don’t want to force them to stop doing what they want, but I hope they work in moderation and don’t overexert themselves. Now is the time for them to enjoy life.
“My dad worked hard repairing bikes to support me through college. His money is clean, and he is upright. I’m proud of him and never feel ashamed. My father gave me the resilience to endure hardships, helping me find my place in a challenging environment. Compared to the second-generation rich, I feel I am richer. I also hope they understand their parents more. Wealth itself is not wrong, but creating wealth yourself is essential, not just enjoying it without effort.
“As a teacher, the most important thing to teach students is how to be a good person. Nowadays, students lack hardship experience, have poor self-control, and are immature. Many are a bit spoiled and compare themselves with others regarding food and clothing. They should be taught how to view themselves, position themselves properly, and establish correct values.”
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