On Mother’s Day in 2026, I want to write about my second aunt.
She is neither a celebrity nor an influencer, yet she has spent her life showing us what it truly means to be a mother and what the power of a woman can be.
I. A Girl Who Walked Out of the Flames of War
In May 1939, my aunt was born in Ganzhou, during the era of the Republic of China.
It was a time of turmoil. When the Japanese invaders entered Ganzhou, she was captured as a young child. She bit an enemy soldier hard and managed to escape. To survive, she smeared her face with stove ash, hid in an empty tomb at a relative’s home in the countryside, and held her breath as enemy bayonets flashed before her eyes.
Even so, she never let go of her books. She excelled in her studies, but in middle school, her father passed away suddenly. Life struck her hard, yet she never gave in.
In 1956, she was admitted to Xi’an Jiaotong University — a girl from Ganzhou who knocked open the door to the future with knowledge.
II. Four Years of College, Only One Trip Home
To save money, she went home only once during her four years of college. The rest of the time, she worked part-time in the university library. A female student majoring in thermal engineering supported not only her studies but also her love for her faraway family.
After graduation, she was assigned to work at a power plant.
One day, while visiting the textile department at Xi’an Jiaotong University to see a hometown friend, she was introduced to the man who would become her husband — my second uncle.
At the time, my uncle was a young lecturer. After graduating from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, he taught at the Northwestern Institute of Technology (a predecessor of Northwestern Polytechnical University). My uncle’s father was a renowned historian teaching at Northwest University.
When my aunt first met him, she didn’t talk about love. Instead, she was honest:
“I’m the second child in my family. I have to take care of my younger siblings. Most of my salary will go to support them.”
My uncle replied only: “I won’t take your money.”
He kept that promise for a lifetime.
As top graduates of early China, they both took part in a great deal of the country’s nation‑building work. It wasn’t until 1992 that they returned together to teach at Jiangsu University…
III. Three Daughters, Three Sources of Pride
In 1963, my aunt married at the age of 24.
After the wedding, she gave birth to three daughters — my three cousins.
She and my uncle never played cards or engaged in pointless socializing. All their spare time was spent helping their children learn and grow.
Today:
The eldest and her husband run a company in LAX, thriving in their careers.
The second works at the Bank of China and raised her daughter to become a Ph.D. in computer science.
The third lives and works in Munich, with a happy family.
Three daughters, three different lives, each shining in their own way.
And my aunt will always be the source of that light.
IV. At 87, She’s Taking a Bridge Class
In May 2025, my aunt returned to China to settle down. That gave me the chance to spend time with her, talk with her, recall the past — and learn so much from her.
At 87, she is:
Calm and composed – sharp in mind and healthy in body.
Diligent – reading every day, following the news, keeping a diary.
Open-minded – she recently signed up for a bridge class.
Trusting – she believes in her children’s ability to grow on their own.
I couldn’t help asking her: “Aunt, what’s your secret to a happy marriage? I think that’s the greatest protection you can give your children.”
“Understand each other and be tolerant. Realize that everyone has strengths and weaknesses, and care for each other from the heart. When conflicts arise, pause, sort out your emotions, then talk again.”
No grand philosophy — just plain wisdom.
She often tells me: “Don’t worry too much about your son, Tian Tian. Trust that he will grow up well.”
In that moment, I envied my cousins — for having such a wise, highly educated, and incredibly calm mother.
And I am grateful that, after she returned home, I have been able to learn so much from her.
V. The Power of a Woman
My aunt’s story is not one of earth‑shaking legends. It is a story of resilience and gentleness — an ordinary woman navigating an extraordinary time.
Here at JOFUNG, and around us, there are also many young mothers and soon‑to‑be mothers.
Times have changed, but some things never change —
The devotion to lifting up and accompanying children.
The courage that comes with motherhood.
The long‑sightedness of a loving mother.
The heart that plans deeply for her children.
From the ordinary yet great mothers of the older generation, we can still draw the most simple and lasting strength: not to be a perfect mother, but to be a mother who always strives upward, never gives up, and always believes in her children.
I write this to honor my second aunt — and every mother who shines quietly in her ordinary days.
Judphone – More than Delivery
JOFUNG Logistics is about more than delivery.
We also want to pass on the love, generation after generation, that deserves to be remembered.
Happy Mother’s Day to the most beautiful identity in the world.
May you always be cherished, understood, loved – at ease, joyful, and well!
Post time: May-18-2026