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2006年7月，中国侨联主席林兆枢在一份报告上批示：“杨余律同志事迹感人，请浙江省侨联组织力量继续挖掘整理，好好宣传，让广大的归侨、侨眷和侨联学习。”省侨联闻风而动，通知瑞安市组织杨余律先进事迹报告团赴杭，于今年元月11日在省侨联大会上宣讲。
演讲引起与会者强烈反响，人们感慨地说，在物欲横流的今天，杨余律的心灵如此纯净真当不易，它像金子一样闪闪发光！
乡亲贫困他心疼
杨余律1944年出生于浙江瑞安市桂峰乡峰村。
这里与文成、青田交界，海拔700多米，崇山峻岭，路陡土稀，自然条件十分恶劣。旧社会乡亲们饥寒交迫，纷纷举起锄头镰刀，跟着粟裕、刘英闹革命，于是这里成了远近闻名的革命老区。杨余律的爷爷叫杨寿雨，为人勤劳，让血气方刚的儿子杨益堂加入共产党闹革命，自己带着孙子杨余律一起生活，他常教导孙子：“孩子呀，做人要勤劳，帮人要热心，将来才有好报！”杨余律在爷爷朴素善良的教育下，幼小的心灵上洒下爱憎分明的种子。
新中国成立后，杨余律刻苦地读完中学后回乡担任村团支书，他发誓要为家乡尽心出力。那些年他抓扫盲、搞宣传、发动青年入伍，跑遍乡里每一座山头，乡亲们称赞他“心里装着桂峰的男女老少！”他1966年入党，1967年转为国家干部，7年后被推举为乡党委副书记。
由于历史渊源，桂峰乡有几千人在欧洲谋生发展，成了浙南闻名的侨乡。杨余律家有十几个亲戚在国外，亲戚还把他的儿女也带到荷兰、意大利。
杨余律担任了乡民政员和乡公安员后，一次他到欧洲探亲，那里的乡亲们都握着他的手关切地问起家乡的一切，这让杨余律深切感到在国外的广大华侨都有一个共同心愿，他们盼望家乡尽快脱贫，好让他们留在家乡的老人和孩子在国内生活得更好！于是杨余律探亲回国后，整日里与老人、穷人、病人、残疾人打交道，长年登坳后，攀板寮，谁家有个头痛脑热、谁家缺米少药他心里都有数，看到村民有困难他总是自掏衣兜里的钱，有时弄得身无分文连吃饭都成问题，乡亲们亲热地称呼他为“及时雨”。底村的杨寿佑老人有病，杨余律每次到底都先去看他，塞给他几百元钱；峰村的张威养患慢性病，杨余律每次去探望从来不空手，有一次他荣获市计划生育工作先进奖得了500元奖金，也硬塞给了他。老人们说，论地理条件桂峰最差，这里没有公路，办事全靠两只脚，但民政局所发的“三老”补助款，杨余律不管刮风下雨、山高路险，年年都能逐户送到，他患了关节增生和关节炎，老人们说那是他爬山过度走出来的。曾有亲戚笑他：“人家是官越当越大，不提拔也调走了，你不但越当越小，还几十年呆在山头不动，真是十足的饭桶！”杨余律抿嘴一笑：“饭桶也有用。冬天下雪，没饭桶你们得吃冷饭！”
杨余律一直干到2005年退休，在桂峰整整干了60年！他把一辈子都献给家乡，他做过好事千百件，侨胞们、组织上都夸他热爱家乡，赤子情怀！
知恩图报爱国家
桂峰距城区60多公里，山道崎岖，进城开会、办事来回要两三天！交通闭塞，桂峰怎么会不落后？“要致富，先修路。”桂峰几代人都盼着能通公路，一位回国到桂峰探亲的老华侨十分动情地说：“等哪一天通汽车了，我每半年都会回家一趟！”
在众多华侨的奔走呼号下，1992年开春瑞安湖岭至桂峰的公路一期开工了，杨余律夫妇带头捐了5000元。那时候物价低，鸡蛋每个一角，黄鱼每斤才三元，他们夫妇俩一下子捐5000元，让亲友们大吃一惊，还以为是他们在国外的儿女汇来了。其实这5000元是老杨夫妻起早摸黑种菜养猪积攒起来的！他俩不但捐钱，还发动40多位侨属、村民出钱出力，并且自己还扛着泥箕锄头去挖泥刨土抬石头。有乡邻劝他：“你整天穿一双解放鞋，死省。造学校捐10000元，造公路捐5000元，就舍不得买一双皮鞋穿起来像个干部？”
1999年5月桂峰公路要浇柏油了。在募捐会上杨余律又带头捐了靠自己嘴巴里省下来的10万元！他在会上说：“乡亲们盼着柏油公路，大家都该出力，我也应该出力！”他做出了榜样，侨眷们一齐响应，有捐美元的、有送马克的也有凑法郎送里拉的，一天就把百余万元修路资金缺口填平了。乡侨联主席潘世敢拉住老杨的手直夸：“你为我们归侨、侨眷争足了面子！”
柏油路通车庆典那天，杨余律夫妇穿上新衣裳出席通车典礼。那天他破天荒地真的穿上一双新皮鞋在柏油路上溜达散步，嘴里还乐得直哼哼：“要想富，先修路。山岙还得多种树……”交通便捷了，杨余律爱乡爱国的热情不减，他把儿女们寄回的孝顺钱都献给家乡搞建设，捐给慈善事业：建村委大楼、乡小学翻修，他捐了5万元，还带头捐款造起乡敬老院，安顿着16位孤寡老人养老；峰木桥朽了，他连凑带借挤出10多万元造了一座漂亮的石拱桥，还在桥栏刻上“致富思源，富而思进”八个大字。有感于他的献身精神，市政府将此桥命名为“杨余律桥”，侨胞、侨眷们一致推荐他为省、市侨联工作先进分子。
一角一分靠俭朴
2001年瑞安市筹建慈善总会，杨余律得知后立即捐款1万元，并说今后坚持每年至少捐1万元。笔者在慈善总会搞宣传，第一次见到他时不禁肃然起敬：只见他身穿旧衣、脚穿解放鞋，一个旧挎包磨得发了白，但他对公益事业却如此慷慨大方！问他：“你总是捐款为别人，是怎么想的？”他笑着答：“助善积德快乐，吃喝嫖赌损寿！现在贫富差距大，当干部吃皇粮不能只顾自己忘了穷百姓啊！”
曾有人误会，杨余律大方助善肯定有钱，或者是儿女们国外发大财了。其实杨余律主要靠节衣缩食，一分一分抠钱。他外出办事全靠步行不“打的”，连三轮车也不坐。
一次我去他家，恰逢他夫妻在菜地里锄草，我到他家的厨房饭桌上、菜柜里寻视一遍，只见一块豆腐、一碗黑咸笋！听说来客人了，他赶忙跑回家，左手抓着几株新割的青菜讪讪地解释：“多吃青菜，绿色保健！”还有一次我在瑞安商城门口碰到他，他一把扯住我，说要和我商量在自留地种冷杉、马尾松与红枫的事，说是等树大了捐给公家建风景林，宣传保护环境。我问他这得花多少钱？他说：“大约2万多元吧。”种树的事说着说着天已傍黑，他蹬蹬蹬跑到宾馆后堂叫服务员端上热腾腾两大碗面：我面前是满满一碗排骨面，而他那碗却是清汤光面！我怪不好意思，问他：“你怎么搞的？这钱我付。”他又解释：“别误会，我不习惯吃肉。青菜光面好吃。”说罢，低头呼啦啦吃着他的光面，我顿时心中涌上一股热浪。
就是这么个对自己吝啬得过分的杨余律，2005年为捐建乡文活动中心捐款竟达23万元，感动得瑞安市长叶春江在捐款大会上搂着他让记者拍照：“一个连三轮车都舍不得坐的退休干部，能为公益捐款上百万元，说明他不仅爱乡爱国，还有了不得的思想境界！”
就是这么个无私奉献的杨余律，从2003年开始，每年“七一”交党费1万元。2005年儿女汇1.1万元给他过60大寿，他又将此款交了党费，笔者连夜将此事写成《省下做寿钱，献给党生日》登上《浙江日报》，让它传遍省内外，他却说我太张扬：“交党费是党员应尽的义务。”
2006年3月，杨余律说他风湿病重了，5、6月得去上海为儿子办事，为女儿办房产证，今年党费早点交。我问他交多少，他笑而不答。第二天我才知道，他交了6万多元，他三年总共交党费10.111111万元。我不明白他为什么弄出这么多尾数？打电话问他，他说“你数一数，几个一？”“七个一。”“对呀，七个一，正是党的生日。今年是建党85周年！”老实巴交的杨余律不善言辞，他把心中无限深情，化作对党的深深祝福！
新盖的楼房也捐了
最为令人感动的是，2006年杨余律夫妇把新造的960平方米大楼捐赠作乡侨联活动中心。
原来杨余律夫妇曾经立下志愿，此生要为公益事业捐赠200万元。早先儿女们在国外开始营生不易，夫妇俩靠节省捐了个万儿八千，新世纪降临后儿女们事业发展，汇给二老的孝顺钱多起来了，于是他们开始为修桥铺路5万、10万地捐。那天在乡里听领导说乡侨联缺活动学习场所，侨胞们回来探亲急需一处现代化住所时，杨余律心中霎时一动：动起了将自家新造大楼捐献的念头。他想儿女们目前几年不会回乡，自己新建的900多平方米房子侨联正好派用场。
晚饭时，老杨同老伴一嘀咕，老伴半晌无语。老伴是位勤劳贤慧的妇女，不是不明白老杨的心思，只是造房子三年的心血、感情，她委实割舍不了。要知道，为造此屋，他们曾一车一车往山上运砖瓦木料、一碗一碗地给建筑工人烧面条点心、一趟一趟卸车、一件一件爬坡挑运，夫妇俩起早摸黑，三层楼造了一年多，老杨瘦了六七斤，老伴更是瘦了十来斤！
如今这幢楼彩瓷贴面，白墙碧瓦，漂亮极了，怎么说捐了就捐了呢？她提出就是要捐，也得征求一下在国外的儿女们的意见。
第二天越洋电话打到意大利和荷兰，女儿杨金莲没意见，老大也支持父母的善心，他说：“爸，只要你二老身体好，就是福气，你把新楼捐出去，我们，包括你媳妇都举双手赞成！”杨余律又考虑到新造大楼也得向二儿子征求意见，于是他又特意叫老二回乡一趟，不料老二与媳妇同一个心思：“爸妈说的没错。钱多了，回报社会可以积德修身！你们健康、舒心最要紧，一切听你们的。”
2006年10月8日，国庆节一过杨家把五层新大楼捐给乡侨联。消息传开，乡亲们为杨余律夫妇的善心义举击节赞叹。乡人民政府、市侨联上报材料为杨余律请功，《瑞安日报》登载了瑞安市委、市政府“授予杨余律同志三等功”的消息和他评上全国侨联先进工作者的喜讯。当杨余律夫妇俩把新楼打扫整理得干干净净，一串新钥匙交给侨联潘主席之时，乡侨联主席说：“接过这串发烫的钥匙，我感动，手也有些发抖。老杨夫妇这种奉献精神，真是子孙后代爱国爱乡的好榜样！”
Generous Donator Combats Village Poverty
By Zhang Yi
Even Yang Yulu himself did not anticipate he would one day become one of the biggest donators in his home Guifeng Township trapped in deep mountains in Rui’an City in the southeastern Zhejiang Province. The village where he was born in 1944 was so poverty-stricken that local farmers joined the communists to fight for a day when poverty would be cast away. His father fought with the communists.
After Yang Yulu grew up and graduated from middle school, he came back to the area, wishing to do something to do away the poverty that had been haunting the local people for such a long time. He did his job diligently. In 1966 he joined the Communist Party of China and in 1967 he became a government official. Seven years later he was electeddeputy secretary of the CPC committee of Guifeng Township.
Due to the harsh natural conditions within the landlocked area, many villagers in the rural township have migrated to Europe for a living over decades. Many of Yang’s relatives are in Europe and now Yang’s sons and daughters are in Holland and Italy. It was during a relative-visiting trip in Europe that Yang became sharply aware that the former villagers always had their hometown and family members in their thoughts and are dearly concerned with economic developments back home in the mountainous area.
When Yang Yulu came back from Europe, he decided to visit the people whose family members had gone to Europe. Thus Yang started paying regular visits to those people who did not have anyone else to look after them. Rain or shine, Yang trekked through mountains and dropped in from village to village. He distributed government grants to the people in financial difficulties and on many occasions he gave his own cash to tide them over some financial difficulties. This kind of visits lasted for years and years until he retired in 2005.
The Guifeng Township was poverty-stricken because it was trapped in mountains more than 60 kilometers away from Rui’an city. All the people there and those overseas Chinese in Europe wished to have a highway built to connect the villages to the outside world. In 1992, the government started a highway project. Yang and his wife donated 5,000 yuan. This generosity astonished villagers and his relatives, who thought this big amount ofmoney must have been from their adult children in Europe. But it wa their own hand-earned money accumulated from raising pigs and selling vegetables they had planted. Yang talked with many other villagers who had regular income from their overseas family members and urged them to donate money for the project.
In 1999, when the road was about to be paved with asphalt, Yang donated 100,000 yuan and other villagers also donated generously. Just in one day, more than a million yuan was raised to enable the new project to start without a financing glitch. Since then, Yang has generously donated to local charity and utilities projects. The road has improved local economy a great deal.
Some people misread Yang’s generosity. They think Yang and his children must be made of money. Actually most of their money comes from their very frugal life. He walks to everywhere and never takes a taxi. His diet wouldn’t be simpler. So far, Yang and his wife have donated more than 1 million to local charities.
When Yang’s sons and daughters were just beginning to do business in Europe, they did not make much money and they did not send back much. But now that they make good money and send back more, Yang and his wife have more to donate. The good-hearted couple is determined to donate up to 2 million to the local charities and public works.
In 2006, Yang and his wife had a five-storied house with a total floor area of 960 square meters built. When Yang learned that the local organization of overseas Chinese needed a large space for an activities center, the couple decided to donate the house. But it was really a big property and they felt they needed to call their children for their opinions first. The children and their spouses all agreed with their parent’s donation proposal.
Yang’s children said that it would be a wonderful idea to requite the society where they had received a lot of help in the past and what mattered most was their parents?delight in the donation. On October 8th, 2006, the couple formally donated the house. Villagers lauded their generosity. The local government issued a citation for the generous donation of the couple. The local newspaper covered the event.
(Translated by David)
演讲引起与会者强烈反响，人们感慨地说，在物欲横流的今天，杨余律的心灵如此纯净真当不易，它像金子一样闪闪发光！
乡亲贫困他心疼
杨余律1944年出生于浙江瑞安市桂峰乡峰村。
这里与文成、青田交界，海拔700多米，崇山峻岭，路陡土稀，自然条件十分恶劣。旧社会乡亲们饥寒交迫，纷纷举起锄头镰刀，跟着粟裕、刘英闹革命，于是这里成了远近闻名的革命老区。杨余律的爷爷叫杨寿雨，为人勤劳，让血气方刚的儿子杨益堂加入共产党闹革命，自己带着孙子杨余律一起生活，他常教导孙子：“孩子呀，做人要勤劳，帮人要热心，将来才有好报！”杨余律在爷爷朴素善良的教育下，幼小的心灵上洒下爱憎分明的种子。
新中国成立后，杨余律刻苦地读完中学后回乡担任村团支书，他发誓要为家乡尽心出力。那些年他抓扫盲、搞宣传、发动青年入伍，跑遍乡里每一座山头，乡亲们称赞他“心里装着桂峰的男女老少！”他1966年入党，1967年转为国家干部，7年后被推举为乡党委副书记。
由于历史渊源，桂峰乡有几千人在欧洲谋生发展，成了浙南闻名的侨乡。杨余律家有十几个亲戚在国外，亲戚还把他的儿女也带到荷兰、意大利。
杨余律担任了乡民政员和乡公安员后，一次他到欧洲探亲，那里的乡亲们都握着他的手关切地问起家乡的一切，这让杨余律深切感到在国外的广大华侨都有一个共同心愿，他们盼望家乡尽快脱贫，好让他们留在家乡的老人和孩子在国内生活得更好！于是杨余律探亲回国后，整日里与老人、穷人、病人、残疾人打交道，长年登坳后，攀板寮，谁家有个头痛脑热、谁家缺米少药他心里都有数，看到村民有困难他总是自掏衣兜里的钱，有时弄得身无分文连吃饭都成问题，乡亲们亲热地称呼他为“及时雨”。底村的杨寿佑老人有病，杨余律每次到底都先去看他，塞给他几百元钱；峰村的张威养患慢性病，杨余律每次去探望从来不空手，有一次他荣获市计划生育工作先进奖得了500元奖金，也硬塞给了他。老人们说，论地理条件桂峰最差，这里没有公路，办事全靠两只脚，但民政局所发的“三老”补助款，杨余律不管刮风下雨、山高路险，年年都能逐户送到，他患了关节增生和关节炎，老人们说那是他爬山过度走出来的。曾有亲戚笑他：“人家是官越当越大，不提拔也调走了，你不但越当越小，还几十年呆在山头不动，真是十足的饭桶！”杨余律抿嘴一笑：“饭桶也有用。冬天下雪，没饭桶你们得吃冷饭！”
杨余律一直干到2005年退休，在桂峰整整干了60年！他把一辈子都献给家乡，他做过好事千百件，侨胞们、组织上都夸他热爱家乡，赤子情怀！
知恩图报爱国家
桂峰距城区60多公里，山道崎岖，进城开会、办事来回要两三天！交通闭塞，桂峰怎么会不落后？“要致富，先修路。”桂峰几代人都盼着能通公路，一位回国到桂峰探亲的老华侨十分动情地说：“等哪一天通汽车了，我每半年都会回家一趟！”
在众多华侨的奔走呼号下，1992年开春瑞安湖岭至桂峰的公路一期开工了，杨余律夫妇带头捐了5000元。那时候物价低，鸡蛋每个一角，黄鱼每斤才三元，他们夫妇俩一下子捐5000元，让亲友们大吃一惊，还以为是他们在国外的儿女汇来了。其实这5000元是老杨夫妻起早摸黑种菜养猪积攒起来的！他俩不但捐钱，还发动40多位侨属、村民出钱出力，并且自己还扛着泥箕锄头去挖泥刨土抬石头。有乡邻劝他：“你整天穿一双解放鞋，死省。造学校捐10000元，造公路捐5000元，就舍不得买一双皮鞋穿起来像个干部？”
1999年5月桂峰公路要浇柏油了。在募捐会上杨余律又带头捐了靠自己嘴巴里省下来的10万元！他在会上说：“乡亲们盼着柏油公路，大家都该出力，我也应该出力！”他做出了榜样，侨眷们一齐响应，有捐美元的、有送马克的也有凑法郎送里拉的，一天就把百余万元修路资金缺口填平了。乡侨联主席潘世敢拉住老杨的手直夸：“你为我们归侨、侨眷争足了面子！”
柏油路通车庆典那天，杨余律夫妇穿上新衣裳出席通车典礼。那天他破天荒地真的穿上一双新皮鞋在柏油路上溜达散步，嘴里还乐得直哼哼：“要想富，先修路。山岙还得多种树……”交通便捷了，杨余律爱乡爱国的热情不减，他把儿女们寄回的孝顺钱都献给家乡搞建设，捐给慈善事业：建村委大楼、乡小学翻修，他捐了5万元，还带头捐款造起乡敬老院，安顿着16位孤寡老人养老；峰木桥朽了，他连凑带借挤出10多万元造了一座漂亮的石拱桥，还在桥栏刻上“致富思源，富而思进”八个大字。有感于他的献身精神，市政府将此桥命名为“杨余律桥”，侨胞、侨眷们一致推荐他为省、市侨联工作先进分子。
一角一分靠俭朴
2001年瑞安市筹建慈善总会，杨余律得知后立即捐款1万元，并说今后坚持每年至少捐1万元。笔者在慈善总会搞宣传，第一次见到他时不禁肃然起敬：只见他身穿旧衣、脚穿解放鞋，一个旧挎包磨得发了白，但他对公益事业却如此慷慨大方！问他：“你总是捐款为别人，是怎么想的？”他笑着答：“助善积德快乐，吃喝嫖赌损寿！现在贫富差距大，当干部吃皇粮不能只顾自己忘了穷百姓啊！”
曾有人误会，杨余律大方助善肯定有钱，或者是儿女们国外发大财了。其实杨余律主要靠节衣缩食，一分一分抠钱。他外出办事全靠步行不“打的”，连三轮车也不坐。
一次我去他家，恰逢他夫妻在菜地里锄草，我到他家的厨房饭桌上、菜柜里寻视一遍，只见一块豆腐、一碗黑咸笋！听说来客人了，他赶忙跑回家，左手抓着几株新割的青菜讪讪地解释：“多吃青菜，绿色保健！”还有一次我在瑞安商城门口碰到他，他一把扯住我，说要和我商量在自留地种冷杉、马尾松与红枫的事，说是等树大了捐给公家建风景林，宣传保护环境。我问他这得花多少钱？他说：“大约2万多元吧。”种树的事说着说着天已傍黑，他蹬蹬蹬跑到宾馆后堂叫服务员端上热腾腾两大碗面：我面前是满满一碗排骨面，而他那碗却是清汤光面！我怪不好意思，问他：“你怎么搞的？这钱我付。”他又解释：“别误会，我不习惯吃肉。青菜光面好吃。”说罢，低头呼啦啦吃着他的光面，我顿时心中涌上一股热浪。
就是这么个对自己吝啬得过分的杨余律，2005年为捐建乡文活动中心捐款竟达23万元，感动得瑞安市长叶春江在捐款大会上搂着他让记者拍照：“一个连三轮车都舍不得坐的退休干部，能为公益捐款上百万元，说明他不仅爱乡爱国，还有了不得的思想境界！”
就是这么个无私奉献的杨余律，从2003年开始，每年“七一”交党费1万元。2005年儿女汇1.1万元给他过60大寿，他又将此款交了党费，笔者连夜将此事写成《省下做寿钱，献给党生日》登上《浙江日报》，让它传遍省内外，他却说我太张扬：“交党费是党员应尽的义务。”
2006年3月，杨余律说他风湿病重了，5、6月得去上海为儿子办事，为女儿办房产证，今年党费早点交。我问他交多少，他笑而不答。第二天我才知道，他交了6万多元，他三年总共交党费10.111111万元。我不明白他为什么弄出这么多尾数？打电话问他，他说“你数一数，几个一？”“七个一。”“对呀，七个一，正是党的生日。今年是建党85周年！”老实巴交的杨余律不善言辞，他把心中无限深情，化作对党的深深祝福！
新盖的楼房也捐了
最为令人感动的是，2006年杨余律夫妇把新造的960平方米大楼捐赠作乡侨联活动中心。
原来杨余律夫妇曾经立下志愿，此生要为公益事业捐赠200万元。早先儿女们在国外开始营生不易，夫妇俩靠节省捐了个万儿八千，新世纪降临后儿女们事业发展，汇给二老的孝顺钱多起来了，于是他们开始为修桥铺路5万、10万地捐。那天在乡里听领导说乡侨联缺活动学习场所，侨胞们回来探亲急需一处现代化住所时，杨余律心中霎时一动：动起了将自家新造大楼捐献的念头。他想儿女们目前几年不会回乡，自己新建的900多平方米房子侨联正好派用场。
晚饭时，老杨同老伴一嘀咕，老伴半晌无语。老伴是位勤劳贤慧的妇女，不是不明白老杨的心思，只是造房子三年的心血、感情，她委实割舍不了。要知道，为造此屋，他们曾一车一车往山上运砖瓦木料、一碗一碗地给建筑工人烧面条点心、一趟一趟卸车、一件一件爬坡挑运，夫妇俩起早摸黑，三层楼造了一年多，老杨瘦了六七斤，老伴更是瘦了十来斤！
如今这幢楼彩瓷贴面，白墙碧瓦，漂亮极了，怎么说捐了就捐了呢？她提出就是要捐，也得征求一下在国外的儿女们的意见。
第二天越洋电话打到意大利和荷兰，女儿杨金莲没意见，老大也支持父母的善心，他说：“爸，只要你二老身体好，就是福气，你把新楼捐出去，我们，包括你媳妇都举双手赞成！”杨余律又考虑到新造大楼也得向二儿子征求意见，于是他又特意叫老二回乡一趟，不料老二与媳妇同一个心思：“爸妈说的没错。钱多了，回报社会可以积德修身！你们健康、舒心最要紧，一切听你们的。”
2006年10月8日，国庆节一过杨家把五层新大楼捐给乡侨联。消息传开，乡亲们为杨余律夫妇的善心义举击节赞叹。乡人民政府、市侨联上报材料为杨余律请功，《瑞安日报》登载了瑞安市委、市政府“授予杨余律同志三等功”的消息和他评上全国侨联先进工作者的喜讯。当杨余律夫妇俩把新楼打扫整理得干干净净，一串新钥匙交给侨联潘主席之时，乡侨联主席说：“接过这串发烫的钥匙，我感动，手也有些发抖。老杨夫妇这种奉献精神，真是子孙后代爱国爱乡的好榜样！”
Generous Donator Combats Village Poverty
By Zhang Yi
Even Yang Yulu himself did not anticipate he would one day become one of the biggest donators in his home Guifeng Township trapped in deep mountains in Rui’an City in the southeastern Zhejiang Province. The village where he was born in 1944 was so poverty-stricken that local farmers joined the communists to fight for a day when poverty would be cast away. His father fought with the communists.
After Yang Yulu grew up and graduated from middle school, he came back to the area, wishing to do something to do away the poverty that had been haunting the local people for such a long time. He did his job diligently. In 1966 he joined the Communist Party of China and in 1967 he became a government official. Seven years later he was electeddeputy secretary of the CPC committee of Guifeng Township.
Due to the harsh natural conditions within the landlocked area, many villagers in the rural township have migrated to Europe for a living over decades. Many of Yang’s relatives are in Europe and now Yang’s sons and daughters are in Holland and Italy. It was during a relative-visiting trip in Europe that Yang became sharply aware that the former villagers always had their hometown and family members in their thoughts and are dearly concerned with economic developments back home in the mountainous area.
When Yang Yulu came back from Europe, he decided to visit the people whose family members had gone to Europe. Thus Yang started paying regular visits to those people who did not have anyone else to look after them. Rain or shine, Yang trekked through mountains and dropped in from village to village. He distributed government grants to the people in financial difficulties and on many occasions he gave his own cash to tide them over some financial difficulties. This kind of visits lasted for years and years until he retired in 2005.
The Guifeng Township was poverty-stricken because it was trapped in mountains more than 60 kilometers away from Rui’an city. All the people there and those overseas Chinese in Europe wished to have a highway built to connect the villages to the outside world. In 1992, the government started a highway project. Yang and his wife donated 5,000 yuan. This generosity astonished villagers and his relatives, who thought this big amount ofmoney must have been from their adult children in Europe. But it wa their own hand-earned money accumulated from raising pigs and selling vegetables they had planted. Yang talked with many other villagers who had regular income from their overseas family members and urged them to donate money for the project.
In 1999, when the road was about to be paved with asphalt, Yang donated 100,000 yuan and other villagers also donated generously. Just in one day, more than a million yuan was raised to enable the new project to start without a financing glitch. Since then, Yang has generously donated to local charity and utilities projects. The road has improved local economy a great deal.
Some people misread Yang’s generosity. They think Yang and his children must be made of money. Actually most of their money comes from their very frugal life. He walks to everywhere and never takes a taxi. His diet wouldn’t be simpler. So far, Yang and his wife have donated more than 1 million to local charities.
When Yang’s sons and daughters were just beginning to do business in Europe, they did not make much money and they did not send back much. But now that they make good money and send back more, Yang and his wife have more to donate. The good-hearted couple is determined to donate up to 2 million to the local charities and public works.
In 2006, Yang and his wife had a five-storied house with a total floor area of 960 square meters built. When Yang learned that the local organization of overseas Chinese needed a large space for an activities center, the couple decided to donate the house. But it was really a big property and they felt they needed to call their children for their opinions first. The children and their spouses all agreed with their parent’s donation proposal.
Yang’s children said that it would be a wonderful idea to requite the society where they had received a lot of help in the past and what mattered most was their parents?delight in the donation. On October 8th, 2006, the couple formally donated the house. Villagers lauded their generosity. The local government issued a citation for the generous donation of the couple. The local newspaper covered the event.
(Translated by David)