Huaqiu is from Linhe County in Jijun. He lost his father at a young age and was known for his deep filial piety towards his mother, which made him quite well-known in the area. Coming from a poor family, he made ends meet by taking on odd jobs. When his mother fell ill, Huaqiu became gaunt, and his appearance deteriorated, drawing sympathy from everyone in the county. After his mother passed away, he stopped taking care of himself and eventually lost all his hair. He set up a shed next to his mother's grave, personally dug and piled the soil for her tomb, and refused help from anyone, even kneeling to express his gratitude. During the Daye era, the government organized a fox hunt for their pelts, leading to large-scale hunting across the county. One day, a rabbit, chased by hunters, darted into Huaqiu's shed and hid under his knees. When the hunters arrived at the shed and saw the rabbit hiding there, they decided to spare it. From then on, the rabbit began to spend the nights in the shed and grew quite close to Huaqiu. County officials praised his devotion and reported it to the emperor. Emperor Yang of Sui even sent envoys to pay him a visit and honored his family. Later, as banditry increased, they often lurked near Huaqiu's shed. They warned each other, "Don't mess with this devoted son!" Many villagers owed their safety to Huaqiu.
Xu Xiaosu is also from Jijun. His family has thousands of families, most of whom indulge in luxury, but Xu Xiaosu is frugal and known for his filial piety. Despite his young age, whenever there are disputes in the family, he is called upon to mediate, and those he criticizes always admit their mistakes. Xu Xiaosu lost his father at a young age and, having never seen his father's face, he had a portrait painted and built a small shrine to pay homage to him regularly. He has been extremely filial to his mother, never showing anger for decades. When his mother fell ill in old age, Xu Xiaosu personally cared for her with great concern for years, leaving those who witnessed it deeply saddened. After his mother's passing, Xu Xiaosu led a simple life, subsisting on a vegetarian diet and wearing just a single layer of clothing in winter. He passed away at the gravesite where he had lived for over forty years. He was barefoot and unkempt.
His brother, Xu Debei, was intelligent and well-versed in the Five Classics, earning a reputation as a Confucian scholar in the Hebei region. After Xu Debei's passing, his son, Xu Chumo, also lived by the gravesite, upholding the family's tradition of filial piety that spans generations.
Historical records state that in the past, promoting benevolence and respect depended on nobles and ministers. However, in recent years, examples of filial piety and friendship mostly come from commoner families. Look at Yan Shi and Dao Ze, one from a family of high officials and the other who swore to serve the country; both met tragic ends. Although their actions contradicted traditional values, their benevolence and righteousness are evident in their deeds.
The Lang brothers, in order to save their younger brother, almost lost their lives, but ultimately managed to save him; the couple Tian Yi both died for love and thus became renowned in history. De Rao, with his benevolent and righteous heart, influenced a group of bandits, and De Zhai, with righteous actions, touched the heart of the Prince of Xing. All of these are praiseworthy! Niu Hui, Liu Jun, Zhai Lin, Hua Qiu, and others, in their homes, are either filled with lush greenery or have birds and animals playing affectionately around the graves. If they were not so filial and loving to the extreme, how could they possibly invoke the heavens, earth, and deities?
