|  An incredible love story has come out of China recently and managed to touch the world.
It is a story of a man and an older woman who ran off to live and love each other in peace for over half a century.
The 72-year-old Chinese man who hand-carved over 6,000 stairs up a mountain for his 80-year-old wife has passed away in the cave which has been the couple's home for the last 50 years.
Over more than 50 years ago, Liu Guojiang a 19 year-old boy, fell in love with a 29 year-old widowed mother named Xu Chaoqin..
In a twist worthy of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, friends and relatives criticized the relationship because of the age difference and the fact that Xu, the widow already had children.
At that time, it was unacceptable and immoral for a young man to love an older woman. To avoid the market gossips and the scorns of their communities, the couple decided to elope and lived in a cave in Jiangjin County in Southern ChongQing Municipality.
In the beginning, life was harsh as they had nothing, no electricity or even food. They had to eat grass and roots they found in the mountains.
Xu felt that she had tied Liu down and repeatedly asked him, 'Are you regretful?
Yet, Liu would always replied, 'As long as we are industrious, life will improve.'
In the second year of living in the mountain, Liu began and continued for over 50 over years, to hand-carve the steps so that his wife could get down the mountain easily.
Half a century later in 2001, a group of adventurers were exploring the forest and were surprised to find the elderly couple and the 6,000 plus hand-carved steps. Liu MingSheng, one of their seven children said, 'My parents loved each other so much, they have lived in seclusion for over 50 years and never been apart a single day. He hand carved more than 6,000 steps over the years for my mother's convenience, although she doesn't go down the mountain that much.'
The couple had lived in peace for over 50 years. One day, Liu, at the age of 72 years, returned from his daily farm work and collapsed. Xu sat and prayed with her husband as he passed away in her arms. So in love with Xu, was Liu, that it took quite an effort to let the deceased Liu to release the grip he had on his wife's hand.
'You promised me you'll take care of me, you'll always be with me until the day I died, now you left before me, how am I going to live without you?' muttered the again widowed Xu.
Xu spent days faintly repeating this sentence and touching her husband's black coffin with tears rolling down her cheeks.
In 2006, their story became one of the top 10 love stories from China , collected by the Chinese Women Weekly. The local government has decided to preserve the love ladder and the place they lived as a museum, so this love story can live forever.
As I came across this account, I just cannot help but felt moved by such a love. Love not only conquers all, it does have another eternal meaning.
What about you? Do you have a love story to share here?
|
