China Daily Global Edition (USA)
XIAO JISHU:
when he was 61.
In 1987, Xiao and his wife visited his hometown for the first time since going to Taiwan more than 40 years ago. Seeing that living conditions needed to improve, Xiao first helped villagers by hiring people to dig more than 30 wells.
On his second visit to his hometown, he helped build a two-story building and office building for the local elementary school.
The third time Xiao went back, he began to build a cultural center complete with gallery, library and movie theatres. He later helped to construct buildings and a library for local middle and high school students.
Xiao also felt that it was only fair that he should also help his wife’s hometown Taixing, Jiangsu. There, Xiao helped build schools and libraries.
He has visited his hometown 15 times since 1987. Xiao made primary education his priority, and he and his wife contributed $200,000 to establish a permanent scholarship fund for economically disadvantaged students.
To remember the couple’s generosity, Shangcai County erected a statue of the couple in front of the cultural center they built.
Xiao ran his own business for more than 30 years before retiring. As the situation changed in Taiwan, Xiao felt that he was not so welcome in Taiwan as a mainlander, and he encouraged his children to seek education in the US.
During mid-1990s, with all of his five children settling down in the US, Xiao and his wife moved to Houston.
When Xiao first came to Houston, he also established library and painting gallery for the Chinese community. He continued to paint, and watermelon became his favorite subject. People started to call him “Watermelon Grandpa’’.
On every watermelon painting he did, Xiao wrote: “One reaps what one sows”. It reflects his fundamental belief that a bountiful harvest is gained only through laboring.
Now Xiao doesn’t speak much, but he paints every day in his home studio. All proceeds from sales of his paintings go to his charity work.
Firmly believing that one is more blessed by giving than receiving, Xiao keeps on giving. Though nobody, including himself, knows the exact amount of money he has given over the years, the guess is that it is probably millions.