China News Service, Ningbo, December 4 (Reporter Li Dian) "When will my grandfather fall to his roots and be buried in his hometown on the mainland?" Lin Shiting could not remember how many times he asked himself in his heart.

　　When a teenager goes out of the courtyard, the old come homesick.

In November 2019, Lin Shiting's 93-year-old grandfather Guo Zhihong passed away at Taiwan’s Zhenxing Hospital.

Before his death, Lin Shiting hurried back to Taiwan from the mainland and took his grandfather's hand for the last trip. "He especially told us to take his ashes back to his hometown in Ningbo."

　　"I was born in Taiwan. Under the influence of my grandfather, I have been full of yearning for the great rivers and mountains of the mainland since I was a child." Recalling the little bit of childhood, Lin Shiting told reporters that his grandfather often talked about Ningbo, "Bluestone and carved flowers. Wooden windows, cornices and corners...those beautiful things in my mind outline the silhouette of Jiangnan little by little."

　　In his early years, Guo Zhihong, who was born in Baixiang Bridge (now Hengjie Town, Haishu District), Yin County, Ningbo, Zhejiang, came to Taiwan from the mainland.

He told Lin Shiting that he was unaccompanied in Taiwan at that time. Fortunately, he met a lot of old and new friends, helping each other to make ends meet.

Gradually, life got better, and Guo Zhihong became more and more homesick.

　　After the reform and opening up, Guo Zhihong returned to Ningbo. He saw the relatives he thought about day and night, and secretly made up his mind to repay the land that gave birth to him.

In 1992, Guo Zhihong finally waited for the opportunity to invest in his hometown and set up his first company in Ningbo through a joint venture.

　　In 2001, 10-year-old Lin Shiting followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, came to the mainland from Taiwan, and started a settled life in Ningbo.

In his spare time, his favorite thing is to travel with a backpack.

　　From the desert scenery of the sunset over the long river to the people in the south of the Yangtze River with small bridges and rivers, from the wind blowing Gulangyu to the comfortable West Lake... "When I was young, my grandfather took me to travel the mainland and experience the customs of various places; when I grew up, I changed to me. I took my grandpa with me and felt the great rivers and mountains of the motherland. Later, when my grandpa was old and returned to Taiwan, I told my grandpa the scenery and stories I saw."

　　Whenever he hears of the new changes in his hometown, Guo Zhihong will involuntarily show a proud look on his face.

After parting and reunion, he once wrote a verse of "young people go out of the house, old people come homesick."

In Lin Shiting's view, this sentence is the deepest sigh of grandpa for leaving his hometown and the deepest yearning for his hometown.

　　The lyrics sing: Flowing water takes away the story of time and changes two people.

Lin Shiting sighed that Grandpa was the one who influenced his life. "Now that I have lived in Ningbo for 20 years, I have long been in constant contact with this city."

　　"Grandpa's last wish is to return to the roots of fallen leaves, but due to repeated epidemics and other reasons, it has not been realized." Although some regrets, Lin Shiting still has hope. "

　　"With the teachings of grandpa to us, I will continue to struggle in this land where he was born and raised." Lin Shiting said.

(over)