Being separated from their parents is a child’s worst nightmare. However, annually there are some children who go through the trauma and end up living away from their birth parents.For Lei, a deaf and non-speaking man from Central China, the ordeal was even more difficult since he could communicate effectively to convey his parents’ address. After living away from his family for 35 years, he has finally reunited with them, and the story has healed many a heart online.It was in 1991 that Lei and his friends playfully sneaked onto a train. He fell asleep beneath a seat and ended up waking up in a strange place.Unable to communicate effectively, he began living as a homeless boy near the Shenzhen railway station.Fortunately, he met a woman he considered his first ‘mother’ who taught him how to write. Five years later she moved to Hong Kong, while Lei received help from a restaurant owner who offered him food and a place to sleep and helped him secure a job.Hong Qingxian, the owner, expressed a desire to give Lei a home after frequently spotting him in the area. He allowed Lei to live in the staff dormitory at the restaurant and provided him with meals at no cost.While Hong’s restaurant only operated for two years, he later helped Lei find a job as a security guard, and local eateries kept on providing him with free meals.Hong and his wife, who already had two children younger than Lei, took care of him for three decades. A retired soldier, Hong often told his wife that they should educate Lei well or he would struggle in life.Moreover, he even advised Lei to save all the money he earned to search and eventually reunite with his biological parents.
Searching for home
For his part, Lei never gave up on finding his family. He shared family search messages online and even embarked on a journey across the provinces, visiting areas that resonated with his childhood.Hong helped out by accompanying Lei to the police station and placing advertisements in the local newspapers.It seems fate was working its magic all the while, as Lei’s family had not lost hope either. His older brother, Lei Zehu, who is also deaf and non-speaking, had joined several chat groups on an app and chanced upon a message from his younger brother.Interestingly, Lei used his real name written backwards as an identity – a habit he had kept since childhood. Seeing this familiar quirk was exactly how his older brother knew, without a doubt, that his long-lost younger brother had finally been found.The two met online numerous times to align their memories. Hong even accompanies Lei for DNA testing. Even before the results came out, the families met in Shenzhen. Lei’s father, older brother and sister travelled from Henan province to meet their long-lost son and brother.Two hours later, the results confirmed Lei’s biological relationship with his parents. “Thank you for treating my brother as your son, despite his condition,” said the older brother to Hong and his wife, whom Lei affectionately calls “Shenzhen Dad” and “Shenzhen Mum”.Lei vowed to repay his biological parents and his “parents” in Shenzhen.Hong, while saddened by parting from Lei, affirmed his respect for his wishes and pledged to support Lei in reconnecting with his family.Upon reading Lei’s story, numerous social media users had an emotional reaction over the reconciliation.“Lei is very fortunate to have found his ‘parents’ in Shenzhen,” remarked one online observer.“Hong is a person of deep sentiment and righteousness,” commented another.
