In Memory of Grandpa Yuan
Today, Grandpa Yuan Longping, the Father of Hybrid Rice, a Pillar of the Nation whose name lived in our textbooks, passed away. The news flooded everyone's social media feeds.
Especially in Changsha, Hunan, where he died in a hospital just a few kilometers from me. Seeing citizens spontaneously gather on the streets of Changsha to see Old Yuan off brought tears to my eyes. It was the most deeply moving display of heartfelt respect for a hero's passing that I had ever witnessed.
This wasn't some publicity campaign organized by the authorities. It was completely different.
Perhaps there had been even more moving scenes decades ago, but for me, those were only in textbooks. This time, I saw it with my own eyes. Nearly everyone in my social circle was mourning Old Yuan—though that might have had something to do with most of my friends being from Hunan.
From the news of Old Yuan's passing circulating online that morning, to his secretary denying it, to the news breaking again at noon—those few short hours sent our hearts lurching up and down. The sorrow was almost unbearable. After all, just over a year ago, on the seventieth anniversary of the People's Republic, Old Yuan had appeared hale and hearty before Tiananmen. Who could have imagined it would happen so soon?
It was no exaggeration to call Old Yuan's passing a national tragedy for the Republic.
Grandpa Yuan, who carried within him the "Dream of Cooling Under the Rice" and the "Dream of Covering the Globe," may you rest in peace on your final journey!
Glory of the Republic, may it be with you always!