On the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, 78-year-old Zu Xinglai and his wife, residents of Ganjingzi District, celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. Their wedding back then was very simple—he was in the military, so they spent little time together. On the 30th, he excitedly told reporters that they were marking their “golden wedding” that day to make up for the simplicity of the past.
Elderly couple celebrates their golden wedding anniversary
Yesterday, Zu Xinglai, who lives in Building 96, Tianhe Road, Ganjingzi District, said that both he and his wife, Zhan Lanxiang, are from Anhui. They got married on January 29, 1962, in Anqing. And January 29, 2012, marked their golden wedding anniversary.
He said the celebratory banquet for their golden wedding was held grandly at home.
Originally, their children had planned to hold the celebration at a hotel, but he insisted on having it at home where there were red lanterns, big “Fu” characters, and wedding photos—things that created the atmosphere and warmth of a family gathering.
At the family banquet, he served as both the host and the main speaker. His children gathered around the two elders, and he shared with them the 50-year journey of companionship with his wife through thick and thin. He also summarized the many insights he and his wife had gained on respecting the elderly, raising children, maintaining family harmony, and staying healthy.
The elderly man also recalled the story of falling in love at first sight with his wife 50 years ago. His wife’s elder brother, two years older than Zu Xinglai, had known him since their school days. In the summer of 1956, Zu Xinglai was promoted to second lieutenant and returned home on leave. When he visited the Zhan family, he happened to see Zhan Lanxiang, and the two fell in love at first sight. After that, they grew to know and love each other, walking hand in hand through 50 years of ups and downs.
Hand in hand, they hiked 10 kilometers
Now that their financial situation has improved and their children are filial, he thought it would be nice to plan a meaningful celebration for their golden wedding.
From the end of 2011, he and his wife began their golden wedding celebration activities.
In November 2011, the couple hiked 10 kilometers along the Binhai Road, supporting each other along the way. The second activity was writing two pairs of couplets, having them framed, and hanging them at home. Additionally, he bought his wife a beautiful wool sweater. Their three children also bought new clothes for the couple.
The couple also went to a photo studio to have golden wedding portrait photos taken, and they enlarged one 30-inch photo to hang above the bed in their bedroom.