Chen Jinhua, 75, and his wife Shen Hualing, live by the river near Xinhua Bridge in Shaoxing city, Zhejiang province. About 25 years ago, after their only daughter passed away, the couple became reclusive, limiting their interaction with the outside world.
In late March, Mr. Chen bought a gourd seedling for 6 yuan (more than 20,000 VND) at a local produce market. He used old pieces of wood to build a trellis for the vine. Each day, he spent two to three hours caring for it, completing the trellis in five days.
Recently, the vine produced seven gourds hanging from the balcony. The tendrils clung along the riverside, and the round gourds nestled among the green foliage, drawing the attention of local residents.
 |
Mr. and Mrs. Chen welcome visitors. *Screenshot from video*
Images of the gourd trellis were shared on social media. Online communities likened Mr. and Mrs. Chen to "grandpa and the gourd brothers", referencing the popular animated film "Calabash Brothers" (where seven gourds blossom into seven magical babies who save their grandpa).
The elderly couple did not know how to use short video platforms. When the images of their vine went viral online, their neighbors informed them. "Initially, I just wanted to beautify our yard, but I never expected it to attract so many people to take photos. Life has also become more lively", Mr. Chen said.
Since gaining attention, their home has become a stopping point for hundreds of visitors. Each day, many passersby call out across the river, greeting them with "grandpa" and "grandma". Some tourists from other areas also seek them out just to visit the couple.
Many visitors say the encounter brings a feeling of good fortune and helps them relax. "When we see everyone happy, we are happy too", Mr. Chen stated.
The unexpected appearance of the gourds brought many strangers to their doorstep, transforming the quiet space of the past 25 years into a lively one.
"When people call out ‘grandpa and grandma’, I truly feel like I have a large family of grandchildren. These children have opened our hearts", Mrs. Shen shared.
Visitors come to see Mr. and Mrs. Chen's gourd trellis. *Video: Sina*
Nhat Minh (According to Sohu, Sina)
