A lot of people would choose trains as their main transport to get back to their hometown in China but due to the limited number of seats on the train, most people would have to buy a standing ticket just to get home. This story that you are about to read is a simple but a very inspirational and touching story that would touch your heart!
During springtime, the train bound for Chengdu from Hangzhou would usually be packed with passengers. An old man shared his luck with a passenger sitting beside him saying he bought a standing ticket. Since he was the first to hop onto the train he quickly sat on this seat hoping the owner of the seat would not show. True enough, the train started to move and the owner of the seat never showed up.
Meanwhile, there were a few passengers who stood at the aisle of the train. One of them was a weak-looking lady who looked like she was in her 20s. She couldn’t even stand properly and she was pushed around by passengers who walked around the aisle. Looking at the scene, the old man asked the lady with concern, “Miss, it is a suffering to stand on a moving train, you should have entered the train earlier like me and get a seat.
When will the train arrive at your destination?” “I’m alright grandpa. It would take a day and a half to reach my destination.” “What? A day and a half? Will you be able to stand this long journey?” The old man shook his head, worrying about the lady. After a while, the old man turned towards the lady and said kindly, “Miss, I will be arriving at my destination shortly. Why don’t you take my seat?”
The lady replied sweetly and gratefully, “Okay, Thank you.”Not long after that, the train conductor came to check the ticket. As the conductor arrived at the young lady, he looked at the lady’s ticket and felt strange, “Miss, isn’t this your seat? Why are you standing?” The young lady smiled and winked at the old man, “He’s a 70-year-old man with walking disability.
It would be difficult for him to stand, and the voyage would be difficult for him.” “You didn’t tell him this was your seat?” the train conductor inquired once again. He wasn’t aware of it?!” “I didn’t have the courage to tell him. He’d stand up and return my seat if he knew it was mine.” The young lady winked at the old man once more.
The train conductor turned around and gazed at the sleeping old guy before handing back the ticket to the young lady and softly saying, “Please follow me to the restaurant.” “I’ll locate you an open seat there.” When the folks behind the conductor overheard their exchange, they rapidly cleared a path for them. The young lady stooped and took out a pair of crutches…
People who were moved by the sweet young lady’s words were surprised to learn that she needed crutches to walk and would sooner stand than allow an elderly guy to have her seat. The fact that I chose kindness does not imply that I am weak. I understand that compassion is the fundamental character of mankind, and that we must not be bad because cruelty would only result in consequences.
The fact that I chose self-control does not imply that I am a coward. I realized that exercising self-control would make the world a better place and our future brighter. The fact that I chose tolerance does not imply that I am a coward. Because I know that tolerance is a virtue, and a virtue is never incorrect. The fact that I choose to forgive does not imply that I lack morals. Because I understand that when I choose to forgive others, I will not take extreme measures to solve a situation.