Yuan'an Fire Brigade's enduring bond: A tale of filial piety and sacrifice

Zhou Yongming and Zou Zhonglan beamed with joy when the firefighters from the Yuan'an Fire and Rescue Brigade, whom they affectionately refer to as their "sons and daughters", arrived at their home in Yuan'an county, Hubei province, late last week.

The couple warmly welcomed the firefighters from the Yuan'an Fire and Rescue Brigade, where their late son, Zhou Jianrong, had once worked. They laid out oranges, pears, peanuts, melon seeds and biscuits on the table to express their heartfelt hospitality to their "children".

"Our son has been gone for 35 years, yet you all come to see us during holidays and festivals, just like our own children. We truly don't know how to thank you," Zou said through tears.

In addition to accompanying their adoptive parents by chatting, the firefighters helped wash vegetables, cook, and help them with farm work.

Meanwhile, the couple swept the grave of their hero son.

In 1989, Zhou Jianrong, who served in the fire and rescue brigade, sacrificed himself at the age of 22 while fighting a massive explosion and fire on an oil barge in the Yangtze River.

Faced with the tragic news, his parents were inconsolable, often in tears.

To comfort the hero's parents and console the martyr's spirit, the firefighters from Yuan'an visited Zhou Jianrong's home, where they affectionately addressed the elderly couple as Mom and Dad. Together, they agreed that in this lifetime, they would be the sons of Zhou Jianrong's parents.

The firefighters have been returning to fulfill filial piety for the sacrificed martyr Zhou Jianrong ever since.

For 35 years, the firefighters have performed a great love story beyond blood ties with their unrelated parents to fulfill a promise. Their story has touched the hearts of many locals.

In their minds, visiting and caring for the elderly couple for decades has been a profound responsibility.