Every Friday afternoon, the "Sunshine Home for Left-Behind Children" in Fenghuang Community, Chengjia Town, Gongjing District, Zigong, Sichuan, comes alive on schedule. Over a dozen children, carrying their school bags, pour into the two storefront rooms totaling 85 square meters. Some come to draw, some play chess, and many quietly read books. Standing at the entrance, 79-year-old Huang Caiyi, often called the "foolish old man," smiles and calls out, "Slow down, slow down, there's plenty of time!"

This scene has repeated for 21 years. Huang Caiyi reclaimed his own storefront, willingly forgoing nearly 5,000 yuan in annual rent to operate a public welfare home for left-behind children. This commitment has never wavered.

**Turning a Prime Storefront into a 'Home': The 'Foolish' Decision Costing 5,000 Yuan Annually**

In the autumn of 2005, shortly after retiring, Huang Caiyi felt a pang of sadness during his walks in the community. He often saw groups of children wandering the streets—their parents were migrant workers, leaving their homes empty after school. Some crouched on street corners doing homework, others chased and played by the roadside. "These kids are at the age for growth and learning. How can they be left unsupervised?" he thought.

At the time, his two storefront rooms, totaling 85 square meters, were rented out. The annual rent of nearly 5,000 yuan provided him with a stable post-retirement supplement. Yet, Huang Caiyi made a decision on the spot that neighbors considered "foolish": reclaim the storefront and transform it into an activity space for left-behind children.

"Giving up a prime storefront's rent just for kids to play?" "Is Old Huang bored in retirement?" People didn't understand. Huang Caiyi didn't explain. He spent over 20,000 yuan of his own money on bookshelves, desks, books, and sports equipment. In October 2005, the "Sunshine Home for Left-Behind Children" officially opened, becoming the most desired after-school destination for local children.

But a space alone wasn't enough. Who would manage it? Huang Caiyi visited retired former colleagues and teachers door-to-door, persuading seven to join him in forming a "Five Elders" volunteer team, which later grew to 13 members. "At first, some didn't understand, saying we 13 retired folks were 'looking for trouble' instead of enjoying our leisure," Huang Caiyi recalled with a smile.

They agreed: open for two hours every Friday afternoon, extending to four hours daily during winter and summer vacations, taking turns supervising homework and organizing activities. Recognizing that many left-behind children were cared for by grandparents, Huang Caiyi also organized special training sessions for guardians, teaching grandparents how to communicate with children and help with homework.

Children's Day each year is the most anticipated day for the kids—the "Five Elders" volunteers pool their own money to prepare new school supplies and distribute 100-yuan cash red envelopes as scholarships.

**One-on-One 'Pairing': Every Left-Behind Child Has a Dedicated Guardian**

Huang Caiyi knew that having a place wasn't enough; these children most lacked personal companionship. Take Yuyu (pseudonym), for example, who was addicted to online games. His parents worked away year-round, and he lived with his grandparents, his grades plummeting to the bottom. Huang Caiyi proactively paired with him, making weekly home visits. He also arranged for retired teachers Liang Guanghai and Zhou Zhaoxiong from the volunteer team to tutor him in math and English, while Huang himself accompanied his homework daily. Gradually, Yuyu quit online games and successfully entered his desired high school in 2022. Every holiday, Yuyu's first stop upon returning to the community is to visit Huang Caiyi: "Grandpa Huang, if you hadn't pulled me up, I might be working as a migrant laborer by now."

Huang Caiyi has encountered many children like Yuyu, who became厌学 or truant due to absent parents. His method is to "keep an eye"—on homework, habits, and psychology, never letting up. In 2012, 11-year-old Xiaosen (pseudonym), whose parents divorced, lived with his grandfather, was untidy, and prone to fighting. "Such a good kid, hair uncut, looking slovenly—what if he goes astray?" Huang Caiyi waited for him after school daily, taking him to the Children's Home to wash up, teaching him to fold blankets, supervising his homework, and taking him to do crafts and play games on weekends. Six months later, Xiaosen became neat and cheerful, his grades jumping to the top twenty in his class, successfully entering a key middle school.

Huang Caiyi often says, "When a child's mental outlook improves, their studies naturally follow."

The most heartbreaking were children with inner wounds. In 2019, 10-year-old Xiaoyang (pseudonym), after her parents' divorce, lived with her father who often scolded and hit her. After her grandmother passed away, she became withdrawn and even had suicidal thoughts. Heartbroken, Huang Caiyi, whose home was only open on Tuesdays and Fridays, decided to open it daily for Xiaoyang. After school each day, he invited her to do homework, chatted about school fun, listened to her vent, and taught her to draw for stress relief. "Once she said, 'Grandpa Huang, without you all, I might not be here anymore.' I almost cried hearing that." Under the care of the "Five Elders" volunteers, Xiaoyang emerged from the shadows, her grades improved, and she later entered a good high school.

Financial hardship was another major hurdle for many left-behind families. In 2017, Xiaowan (pseudonym), who grew up in an orphanage, was admitted to university but couldn't afford the tuition. Huang Caiyi mobilized relatives, friends, and neighbors to donate, raising over 40,000 yuan within a week to help her realize her university dream. Now working, she visits Huang Caiyi every Spring Festival with local specialties: "Grandpa Huang is like my own grandpa. Without him, I wouldn't be where I am today."

In 2022, Xiaofan (pseudonym), graduating from middle school, also faced dropping out—her parents worked away, leaving only elderly grandparents at home, and she wanted to work to earn money. Huang Caiyi immediately paired with her for support, coming daily to tutor math and English, reviewing knowledge points, explaining mistakes, often giving her pocket money, and encouraging her, "You must get into high school for more future opportunities." Xiaofan eventually entered high school. Holding her admission notice, she tearfully held Huang Caiyi's hand: "Grandpa Huang, thank you. Without you, I really wouldn't be in school."

Each child's situation is different, so Huang Caiyi tailors his support: focusing on studies for gaming addicts, teaching self-care for the untidy, raising funds for those lacking money, warming those with psychological wounds with companionship, and pulling back potential dropouts with encouragement and tutoring. He says, "Children's matters can't be taken lightly. If you put in heart, children can feel it."

**21-Year 'Relay Race' of Love: He 'Lost' 100,000 Yuan in Rent but Benefited 200 Families**

Someone calculated for Huang Caiyi: providing an 85-square-meter storefront free for 21 years meant "losing" over 100,000 yuan in potential rent. His personal donations and those he inspired also exceeded 100,000 yuan. Cumulatively, he has served left-behind children 18,000 times, organized over 3,000 after-school tutoring sessions, provided over 200 cases of psychological counseling, benefited over 200 migrant worker families, and helped over 200 struggling left-behind children correct habits, improve academics, and realize their educational dreams.

Yet Huang Caiyi says, "Money spent can be earned again, but a child's missed growth can never be recovered." His perseverance has also inspired his family. His wife and three daughters joined the volunteer team after retirement. The team includes seven Party members, united in purpose.

Through 21 years of changing seasons, the "Sunshine Home for Left-Behind Children" has not only eased the minds of migrant worker parents but also made children远离父母 feel "loved, protected, and helped."

In 2025, Chengjia Town upgraded the activity space's hardware and software: renovating wiring, adding desks, chairs, sofas, bookshelves, books, and purchasing new sports equipment. Using this as a starting point, Chengjia Town focuses on building a "Party building leading关建" model, establishing a collaborative education platform involving families, schools, and communities. Meanwhile, the Gongjing District关工委, Zigong Fifth People's Hospital, Fenghuang Community of Chengjia Town, and others have陆续 joined, becoming共建 forces for the "Sunshine Home for Left-Behind Children" Five Elders Studio.

Huang Caiyi has received honors including Xinhua News Agency's "China Netizen·Touching 2019" Q2 Online Touching Figure, Sichuan Province Advanced Worker in Caring for the Next Generation, Sichuan Province Five-Good Family, and Sichuan Caring for Tomorrow Top Ten "Five Elders" Nomination Award. His deeds have been widely shared, attracting continuous attention from中央 and provincial media. Currently, Huang Caiyi's事迹 is being recommended locally for the "Chinese Good Person"评选.

But to him, these are not important. "As long as my physical condition allows, I will persist. The more effort we put in, the more left-behind children can feel society's warmth and care, helping them avoid detours on their life paths."

21 years, one original intention, two storefronts, one team. Huang Caiyi has no earth-shattering feats, yet with day-after-day companionship, he makes "helping others is a joy"具体 and warm. Without grand words, through点滴付出, he plants seeds of "love and responsibility" in children's hearts. This爱心接力 spanning 21 years has relieved the worries of over 200 migrant worker families—this is the most remarkable perseverance of ordinary people in the new era, the most moving great love in the world.