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February 25, 2017

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Keeping the elderly on their feet

Source: Xinhua | February 25, 2017, Saturday | Print Edition

SNOW this week in north China might have sent pedestrians tumbling, but wooden walking sticks made by an old man have helped some stay on their feet.

A photo which went viral on social media showed a bundle of walking sticks left at a bus station in downtown Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi Province.

The bundle came with a note: “Elderly people may have difficulty walking in wind and snow. These walking sticks could help you. Take one if you need one. They are free.”

The sticks are made by Bian Yinliang, 75. Over the past 20 years, he has made more than 10,000 walking sticks and given them all away to those in need.

“I am happy to see someone walk away with a stick,” said the retired carpenter.

Bian started making walking sticks in 1998.

“A friend knew my past occupation,” he recalled. “He asked if I could make a walking stick for him. So I did.”

On receiving the gift, the friend marvelled at Bian’s skill. “I had no idea that my craft could help others in this way. So I made more.”

To save on costs, Bian picks branches cut from trees and timber he finds when taking a walk. Gradually, his neighbors discovered his secret, and helped find more material for him.

When he finished a stick, he used to give it to people he met in the neighborhood, but soon this method proved a failure.

“There was an old man in his 80s,” Bian said. “One day I saw him stumble, so I offered him a stick.”

Unexpectedly, the old man got angry. “You’re bad guy,” he yelled. “Are you laughing at me?”

Bian learned that elderly people have their self-respect, so he began putting sticks in the local community office or just left them by the main road. To avoid misunderstanding, he always leaves a note, telling people that the sticks are free.

He makes one or two sticks a day. Some friends once asked him why he did not sell them. They are neatly carved and smoothly polished with a handle. Similar ones in shops cost about 20 yuan (US$2.90) each.

“To be frank, I don’t need the money,” Bian replied. “My pension is 3,000 yuan a month, and my wife’s is 2,000. The money is enough for us. I would feel uneasy if I earned money from the sticks. Money can be used up, but something more important should be preserved.”

Bian’s room is small, almost filled by a bed and a wardrobe. Under the window there are several sticks. Under the bed are the materials and tools.

The snow stopped in Taiyuan on Wednesday. As he carried his sticks to a bus stop, many passers-by nodded at him.

“Mr Bian is a celebrity in our neighborhood,” said Wang Eying. “A lot of people know him and like him, because he makes life easier for others.”

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