Born in late 1947, Zhang Shuangqi was a farmer from Luoyang, Henan. Though short in stature, quiet by nature, and ordinary in appearance, he possessed extraordinary kindness. Patient, hardworking, and selfless, he endured life’s hardships without complaint. No matter how unfairly he was treated, he never blamed others, choosing instead to bear difficulties himself while giving others better opportunities.
As the eldest son, Zhang shared the responsibility of supporting the family alongside his father. At just ten years old, he began working to help make ends meet. Even at mealtimes, he would give his precious white-flour buns to his younger brothers and sisters while eating only sweet potatoes himself. Years of relentless labor and poor nutrition left him physically weak. By the time his younger siblings had grown up, married, and started families of their own, Zhang remained unmarried, unable to afford the courtship and expenses that marriage required. Then everything changed one day in 1997.
After finishing work at a construction site in the county, Zhang was riding his bicycle home when he noticed a crowd gathered along the roadside. At the center of the crowd lay an abandoned infant, wrapped in swaddling clothes and crying helplessly. People stood around pointing, speculating, and arguing about what should be done, but no one stepped forward to help. Unable to ignore the child’s cries, Zhang gently lifted the baby into his arms and carried her home.
His home was a crumbling tile-roofed cottage measuring less than ten square meters, with a roof that leaked whenever it rained. Though he had almost nothing, he welcomed the little girl as his own daughter. Zhang named her Bai Ge, meaning “White Dove.” As a young farmer working in the fields, he had always thought that white doves soaring freely across a blue sky were among the most beautiful sights in the world. He hoped his daughter would one day enjoy that same freedom and beauty. With no money to buy infant formula, Zhang asked a neighboring family who raised goats for fresh goat’s milk to feed the baby. Later, he managed to purchase two dairy goats of his own, milking them each day to provide nourishment for the daughter he had chosen to love.
A father’s love amid a life of hardship
From an early age, Bai Ge grew up in poverty alongside her adoptive father. Their life was simple, and every day required sacrifice. At school, she was often mocked and bullied by classmates who taunted her for being an abandoned child found by the roadside, and ridiculed her father as nothing more than a scrap collector.
One rainy day, Zhang Shuangqi came to pick her up from school. Holding a single umbrella, he tried to shield his daughter from the downpour, letting himself get soaked. Embarrassed that her classmates might see him, Bai Ge deliberately avoided him and walked away. At the time, she did not fully understand the quiet depth of his love. Not long afterward, Bai Ge developed a kidney condition that required medical treatment. Without hesitation, Zhang spent nearly all of his savings and even sold several of the lambs he had raised to pay for her medical care and medicine. To him, nothing mattered more than his daughter’s health.
Although Bai Ge had always known that her father loved her, adolescence brought with it a growing sense of pride and self-consciousness. By middle school, she dreaded the thought of her classmates seeing her father, fearing they would mock both him and her humble upbringing. Despite the family’s financial struggles, Bai Ge was accepted into high school. When the tuition proved beyond their means, Zhang borrowed and scraped together money from every possible source so she could continue her education. He was determined that his daughter would have opportunities he himself had never been given.
After graduating from high school, Bai Ge began supporting herself by selling clothing. Around that time, she met a young man named Xu Huicheng, who was four years older than she was. The two became close friends and eventually shared an apartment. Huicheng operated an online business and often helped Bai Ge set up her clothing stall. By then, Bai Ge had matured. Looking back on her childhood, she came to understand the depth of her father’s sacrifices and the unconditional love that had sustained her. She regretted the times she had been ashamed of him, realizing that the man she had once tried to avoid had devoted everything he had to giving her a better life.
A new business venture
In 2017, as e-commerce rapidly transformed China’s retail landscape, Bai Ge recognized the opportunity and began building her own business. Through determination and hard work, she steadily expanded her online sales. By 2020, she had established a successful online store, allowing her to achieve a level of financial security she had never imagined growing up. One of the first things she did with her success was repay the man who had given her everything. She bought herself a Mercedes-Benz sedan and purchased a new three-bedroom home for her father in the county seat, replacing the tiny, dilapidated house where he had raised her. But Bai Ge wanted to give her father something money alone could never buy.
She closed her store and warehouse, took out a loan to purchase a recreational vehicle, and set off with Zhang Shuangqi on a journey across China. Together, father and daughter traveled thousands of miles, visiting majestic mountains, winding rivers, historic cities, and remote villages while experiencing the customs and traditions of the country’s many ethnic groups. For Zhang, who had spent nearly his entire life working to support others, it was an opportunity to see the beauty of the world he had never had the chance to explore. Along the way, Bai Ge documented their travels through short videos, sharing their story online. Their heartfelt journey resonated with millions.
In July 2022, while visiting Tiananmen Square in Beijing, Bai Ge lifted her father onto her shoulders so he could see the national flag-raising ceremony over the crowd. The touching moment was captured on video and quickly went viral, earning widespread admiration and bringing the remarkable story of this father and daughter to the attention of people across China.
Putting kindness into practice
By September 2023, Bai Ge’s social media channel had attracted more than 8 million followers. Looking back on her life, she came to see it as resembling a U-shaped curve. When a person reaches life’s lowest point, she believed, there is no need to feel ashamed or inferior. Instead, one should keep looking upward, continue striving, and trust that perseverance can lead to a better future. With that conviction, Bai Ge set a new goal for herself. In one of her videos, she announced that she hoped to be admitted to a university before turning 30. Her ambition was not simply to earn a degree, but to become a better person—to pursue knowledge, embrace the risks of entrepreneurship with courage, and live a life marked by gratitude.
In December 2023, Bai Ge introduced her self-founded media company, based in Hangzhou, through a video shared with her followers. Although she had achieved financial success through years of hard work, she never forgot those who were less fortunate. She supported charitable causes by helping establish several Hope Primary Schools and by donating school supplies to children in underserved communities.
During the Lunar New Year, Bai Ge, her adoptive father Zhang Shuangqi, and Xu Huicheng returned together to their rural hometown in Henan. They brought truckloads of rice, flour, cooking oil, and other necessities, along with holiday gifts, and distributed them freely among the villagers. For Bai Ge, giving back to the community that had witnessed her humble beginnings was a natural expression of gratitude.
Reflection
Bai Ge’s story is a reminder that while no one chooses the circumstances into which they are born, each person can choose how to respond to those circumstances. Character, perseverance, compassion, and a willingness to work hard can profoundly influence the course of one’s life.
Zhang Shuangqi’s decision to adopt an abandoned infant despite living in poverty was an extraordinary act of kindness. He devoted everything he had to raising Bai Ge, asking for nothing in return. Years later, after achieving success, Bai Ge repaid that love with unwavering devotion. She remained by her adoptive father’s side, honored his sacrifices, and used her success not only to improve his life but also to help others.
Through their example, father and daughter demonstrate that true wealth is measured not only by material success but also by gratitude, compassion, and integrity. Their story reminds us that enduring happiness is built on virtue, and that a life guided by kindness can inspire countless others.
Translated by Eva and edited by Tatiana Denning
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