Before dawn on a cold winter morning, Zhang Qing sat in his taxi warming up the engine. He hoped to earn a little extra that day. His son’s birthday was coming up, and he wanted to buy him a gift he would truly enjoy. But after a full morning of driving, his calculations showed he still hadn’t earned enough to cover the daily rental fee for the taxi. The worry in his heart deepened.
As noon approached, he chose to keep working instead of stopping for lunch, hoping to pick up a few more fares. When he finally saw his midday earnings, he allowed himself a tired but satisfied smile. Just as he dropped off his last passenger and was preparing to eat, a young woman in her twenties opened the door and climbed in.
“To the train station,” she said.
Zhang Qing’s stomach had always been weak, and skipping lunch made the pain flare up again. But faced with a customer, he couldn’t turn her away. He took a breath, stepped on the accelerator, and headed toward the station.
A small detour that revealed a big heart
Halfway there, the pain became sharp enough to make him tremble. He glanced in the rearview mirror and said quietly, “Miss, would it be all right if we made a short detour so I can buy something to eat? Years of driving have given me stomach trouble, and there’s nowhere to stop on this street. Once we reach the station, I’ll take a few yuan off the fare. Is that okay?”
The young woman didn’t hesitate. “Alright,” she said softly.
Grateful, Zhang Qing thanked her and turned off at the next intersection, driving in the opposite direction of the train station to a small steamed bun shop. As he stepped out, one hand pressed to his stomach, the young woman watched his retreating figure. A sudden thought rose in her mind: “Whose father is he? Whose husband?”
She pictured her own father, leaving home early and returning late year after year to give her a better life. The familiar image made her eyes sting with emotion.
Zhang Qing bought a few buns and ate as he walked, afraid to keep his customer waiting any longer. When he returned to the taxi, he placed the remaining buns on the seat. Seeing how rushed he was, the young woman spoke gently.
“Go ahead and eat first. Finish your meal before we continue. There’s no hurry.”
Zhang Qing was taken aback by her kindness. He quickly finished the buns, and when he choked a little from eating too fast, she quietly handed him a bottle of water from the back seat. Embarrassed, he realized he had not only taken a detour but had also delayed her time — and yet she showed only patience.
After he drank some water, she asked: “Are you working so hard that you don’t even eat?”
Zhang Qing smiled. “For my child, it’s worth it. All parents just want their kids to live well. If I can make one more trip, I’ll take it.”
The young woman didn’t respond. She simply turned toward the window, lost in thought as the taxi continued toward the station.
A gesture of kindness that changed a day
When they arrived, the meter read 38 yuan (about US$4.90). Feeling guilty for the delay, Zhang Qing said, “Just give me 30 yuan. I kept you waiting and even took a detour. I’m really sorry.”
The young woman nodded and pulled money from her bag. She handed him a 100-yuan note. Zhang Qing reached for his wallet to make change, but before he could speak, she opened the back door and ran toward the station.
Puzzled, he looked down at the bill — and froze. Tucked beneath the 100-yuan note was an additional 138 yuan. Altogether, she had given him 238 yuan (about US$33), meaning she had intentionally overpaid by 200 yuan.
Startled, he called out: “Miss, you gave me too much money!”
The young woman paused, turned, and replied from a distance: “May fathers everywhere have a little less worry. Keep the extra 200 yuan. Buy some medicine later. If you exhaust yourself and fall sick, your child will be heartbroken.”
Before he could respond, she turned and ran off.
A reminder to pass kindness forward
Holding the money in his hands, Zhang Qing felt tears spill down his cheeks. He never imagined meeting such a compassionate person on an ordinary workday.
That evening, after finishing his shift, he placed the 238 yuan beneath the glass top of his table to keep it forever. He wanted it to remind him — and teach his son — what genuine kindness looks like. Whenever they saw that money, he hoped they would carry grateful hearts and remember to offer help to others whenever they could.
Translated by Audrey Wang
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