In late January, at the intensive care unit (ICU) of Lihuili Hospital in Ningbo city, Zhejiang province, 81-year-old Chen Azhong stood silently by the bedside, gazing at his life partner with tender eyes. "She is the best; I just want to be by her side and wait for her to get well again," he said, clutching his wife's wrinkled hand.
His wife, Xue, 77, suffered a stroke over a year ago, leading to a serious decline in her health. In late 2025, she was admitted for emergency treatment due to a severe lung infection and transferred to the ICU, where visiting hours are strictly enforced.
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Chen Azhong, 81, undertakes a 12-hour round trip by bus daily to visit his wife in the intensive care unit at Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo city. Photo: Sina
Living on Jintang Island in Zhoushan, nearly 100 kilometers from the hospital in Ningbo, Chen has not missed a single day.
To make it on time, the 81-year-old wakes up at 4:30 h to cook before catching the 6:00 h bus. He consistently arrives at the ICU door by 8:00 h, even though official visiting hours begin at 10:30 h. After a brief 30 minutes with his wife, he returns to the hallway to wait until 15:00 h for the bus back to the island.
"The total daily travel and waiting time amounts to nearly 12 hours, but after more than 50 years of relying on each other, I have never and cannot leave her side," Chen confided.
Recognizing the elderly man's arduous journey, Lihuili Hospital made an exception, adjusting his private visiting time to 8:30 h. This compassionate change allows Chen to catch the 10:00 h bus back, saving him energy and giving him time to tend to his garden at home.
Chen's story of marital devotion also deeply moved the local community. The Zhoushan Transportation Group subsequently established a "green channel", providing him with priority seating and completely free round-trip bus tickets. This gesture saves him 66 yuan (approximately 230,000 dong) daily – a significant amount for an elderly couple struggling with mounting medical bills.
For over a year since his wife fell ill, the family's savings have been depleted, and debts have accumulated, yet Chen has never considered giving up. He affirmed, "as long as there is a glimmer of hope, I will never give up."
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Chen Azhong, 81, visits his 77-year-old wife in the intensive care unit at Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo city. Photo: Sina
On 22/12/2025, Xue's birthday, he brought a small potted flower to her bedside and sang to her. That moment brought tears to the eyes of the doctors and nurses in the ICU.
After the story was publicized by the media, many philanthropists offered accommodation near the hospital, but Chen declined, not wanting to impose. On 15/1, a woman named Li discreetly visited the hospital and paid off the couple's outstanding medical bills, totaling over 10,000 yuan (approximately 35 million dong).
"The couple's love is a valuable lesson for us young people about sacrifice and marital devotion," Li shared.
By Minh Phuong (According to News.QQ, Sina)
