“Thank you to the colleagues at Shandong Institute for their care and assistance during the typhoon—thank you very much!” Recently, 60-year-old Sun Dongqin presented a banner inscribed with “Rainstorms Are Ruthless, But Humanity Remains; True Feelings Shine in the Face of Floods” to the institute’s leadership, expressing his gratitude to Zhang Zhongxin, a staff member who had helped him, and sharing with those present the story behind this banner.

Affected by Typhoon No. 5 “Doksuri,” Jinan City experienced widespread heavy rainfall in late July, leading to severe waterlogging on many urban road sections. In Mengjia Lane, Lixia District—the city’s old downtown—short-lived flash floods surged, with water levels at one point exceeding 1.5 meters, causing significant flooding in residential homes and shops along the street. Elder Sun Dongqin lives in the low-lying gatehouse along Mengjia Lane in South Zone 3 of Changsheng Residential Community, an area that was among the hardest hit. Heavy rainwater backed up into the premises, leaving Elder Sun with nowhere to take refuge.

Zhang Zhongxin, a staff member of our hospital who lives in Building 20 of the same residential complex, grew deeply concerned for the elderly man’s safety after seeing the video he had posted. Upon learning that the elderly man had no immediate place to stay, Zhang proactively invited Mr. Sun to “check in with his bags” at his newly renovated apartment.

Not long ago, Zhang Zhongxin’s new home in Changsheng Community had just been fully renovated. After a professional cleaning, the apartment was spotless and tidy, with all the necessary furniture, appliances, and household items in place. Because of his work, Zhang often travels on business and has yet to move into his newly renovated home himself. For this very reason, Elder Sun initially hesitated, feeling deeply uneasy at the thought of bringing rain‑soaked mud into someone else’s brand‑new house. While away on a business trip, after seeing news reports of continuous rainfall in Jinan, Zhang Zhongxin anxiously called and messaged the elderly man, earnestly urging him time and again to set aside his concerns and move in with peace of mind. Faced with Zhang’s warm invitation and persistent insistence, Elder Sun finally agreed to take temporary residence in Zhang’s newly renovated home.

According to Zhang Zhongxin, elderly Sun Dongqin usually works the night shift at the community’s reception desk. Down-to-earth and warm‑hearted, she essentially serves as half a property manager. Zhang Zhongxin often travels on business and visits the community only occasionally; ordinarily, the two are merely acquaintances who exchange polite nods.

After settling in, the elderly man kept calling Zhang Zhongxin to express his gratitude. “I told him, ‘Sir, you can stay here with peace of mind—stay as long as you like. First, take good care of yourself and wait out this rain,’” Zhang Zhongxin recalled. And so, the old man stayed temporarily in Zhang Zhongxin’s new home for about a week. Once the floodwaters receded and the reception area was repaired, he moved out. Before leaving, the humble elder carefully tidied and cleaned the room once more, just as he had when he first moved in—creating a heartwarming exchange of kindness that went both ways.

During the heavy rain, Zhang Zhongxin took the initiative to accommodate the elderly man in a brand-new apartment that even he himself had not yet moved into, deeply touching Elder Sun. The old man repeatedly asked Zhang Zhongxin about his workplace, hoping to come and express his heartfelt gratitude, but each time Zhang Zhongxin politely declined.

“It’s really just a simple, everyday thing—something small that I can do to lend a hand. It’s nothing special,” Zhang Zhongxin said modestly.

Faced with a kind young man who shunned fame and refused to reveal his workplace, Elder Sun Dongqin pieced together scattered “clues” from casual conversations, made inquiries far and wide, and eventually tracked down the Shandong Institute. Carrying a heartfelt banner of gratitude, she hoped to express her thanks in person to Zhang Zhongxin. At that time, however, Zhang Zhongxin was away on official business in the field. After excitedly recounting the story to the institute’s leadership, she repeatedly urged them to convey both the banner and her sincere appreciation, and expressed her admiration for the institution’s ability to nurture such a fine young man.

The bright red banner tells a heartwarming story, while ordinary acts of kindness reflect the institution’s commitment to civility. This is both an affirmation and recognition of Zhang Zhongxin’s generosity and his dedication to helping those in need, and it also fully embodies Shandong Institute’s longstanding efforts to actively promote socialist core values and vigorously uphold basic civic ethical standards. Through this good person, Zhang Zhongxin, the spirit of employees at Sinochem Shandong Institute—as a model unit of civilization directly under the provincial government—has been brought to life, setting an inspiring example for Party members, cadres, and staff around him.