摘要：
Preface:TheLunarNewYearwasapproaching,andeveryonewaseagerlypreparingforthefestivities.... Preface:
TheLunarNewYearwasapproaching,andeveryonewaseagerlypreparingforthefestivities.However,ayoungboynamedLiangfeltanxiousashehadyettofindasuitablegiftforhisgrandparents.Theyhadalwaysbeensokindtohim,andhewantedtoexpresshisgratitudewithaspecialpresent.Littledidheknowthatfatehadsomethinginstoreforhimthatwouldteachhimthetruemeaningofgenerosityandlove.Liang'sfamilylivedinamodestapartmentinthebustlingcity.Despitetheirhumblecircumstances,theyhadalwayscelebratedtheLunarNewYearwithgreatjoyandenthusiasm.Liangrememberedhowhisgrandparentswouldprepareafeastforthefamily,andhowtheywouldexchangegiftsandredenvelopesfilledwithmoney.Thisyear,however,Liangfeltasenseofresponsibilitytoshowhisappreciationforallthathisgrandparentshaddoneforhim.Liangdecidedtogotothelocalmarkettosearchforagift.Hewalkedthroughthecrowdedstalls,marvelingatthecolorfuldisplaysoftraditionalornaments,calligraphybrushes,andsilkfabrics.However,nothingseemedquiterightforhisbelovedgrandparents.Liang'sspiritsdampenedasherealizedthattimewasrunningout.
AsLiangwasabouttoleavethemarket,hestumbleduponasmallantiqueshoptuckedawayinacorner.Abellchimedasheopenedthedoor,andhewasgreetedbythesightofanoldmansittingbehindawoodencounter.ThemansmiledkindlyatLiangandaskedhimwhathewaslookingfor.Liangexplainedhispredicamenttotheoldman,wholistenedattentively.Aftersomethought,theoldmanreachedunderthecounterandpulledoutasmall,intricatelycarvedjadependant.Liangwasimmediatelystruckbyitsbeautyandelegance.Theoldmanexplainedthatthependanthadbeenpasseddownfromgenerationtogenerationinhisfamilyandhadbeenwornbyhisancestorsduringimportantcelebrations.Hesaidthatitwasasymbolofloveandprosperityandthatitwouldbringgoodlucktowhoeverworeit.Liangwastouchedbytheoldman'swordsandknewthathehadfoundtheperfectgift.Liangaskedtheoldmanhowmuchthependantcost.Theoldmanpausedforamomentandthensaid,"Thispendantisnotforsale.However,Iwillgiveittoyouasagift,ononecondition."
Theoldmansmiledandsaid,"Youmustpromisetousethisgifttospreadloveandkindnesswhereveryougo.Youmustalsopromisetocherishitandpassitontosomeoneelsewhoneedsit,whenthetimeisright."Liangwasmovedbytheoldman'swordsandacceptedhisoffer.Hethankedtheoldmanandlefttheshopwithanewfoundsenseofpurpose.OnthedayoftheLunarNewYear,Liangpresentedthependanttohisgrandparents.Theyweresurprisedanddelightedbythegift,andLiangcouldseetheglimmeroftearsintheireyes.Theythankedhimprofuselyandaskedwherehehadfoundsuchaprecioustreasure.Liangrecountedhisencounterwiththeoldmanattheantiqueshopandexplainedtheconditionofthegift.HisgrandparentsweretouchedbyLiang'sgenerosityandpromisedtofollowhisexamplebyspreadingloveandkindnessintheirownway.
Asthedayworeon,Liangwatchedashisfamilymembersexchangedgiftsandlaughter.Hefeltasenseofcontentmentknowingthathehadmadehisgrandparentshappy.However,healsofeltatingeofsadness,asheknewthathewouldhavetopartwiththependantatsomepoint.Daysturnedintoweeks,andweeksturnedintomonths.Liangworethependanteverywherehewent,feelingitsweightagainsthischestasaconstantreminderoftheoldman'swords.Hefoundhimselfbeingkinderandmorecompassionatetowardsothers,andhecouldseethepositiveimpactithadonthosearoundhim.Oneday,Liangmetahomelesswomanonthestreetwhowasbeggingformoney.Henoticedthatshewaswearingatatteredcoatandhadasadexpressiononherface.Liangfeltapangofempathyandknewthathehadtohelpherinsomeway.Hereachedunderhisshirtandpulledoutthependant,handingittothewoman.ShewastakenabackbyitsbeautyandaskedLiangwhyhewasgivingittoher.
Liangsmiledandsaid,"It'sagiftfromsomeonewhobelievedinspreadingloveandkindness.Now,Iwantyoutodothesame."ThewomanlookedatLiangindisbelief,tearsstreamingdownherface.Shethankedhimforhisgenerosityandpromisedtocherishthependantandpassitonwhenthetimewasright.Liangfeltasenseofpeacewashoverhimashewatchedthewomanwalkaway,wearingthependantaroundherneck.Heknewthathehadfulfilledhispromisetotheoldman,andthathisactofkindnesswouldhavearippleeffectonothers.Yearspassed,andLianggrewuptobeasuccessfulbusinessman.However,heneverforgotthelessonshehadlearnedfromtheoldmanandthependant.Hecontinuedtospreadloveandkindnesswhereverhewent,andheinspiredotherstodothesame.
Onhis80thbirthday,Liangreceivedasurprisevisitfromtheoldmanfromtheantiqueshop.Themanwasnowinhis100sandhadtraveledagreatdistancetoseeLiang.Hepresentedhimwithanewpendant,identicaltotheonehehadgivenhimyearsago.Theoldmanexplainedthathehadbeenwaitingforthismoment,knowingthatLianghadfulfilledhispromiseandhadtouchedthelivesofmanywithhisgenerosityandlove.Hesaidthatthependantwasasymboloftheirfriendshipandofthepowerofkindnesstochangetheworld.Liangwasdeeplymovedbytheoldman'sgesture,andheworethenewpendantwithpride.Heknewthatitwasnotjustagift,butareminderofthebeautifuljourneyhehadtaken,filledwithlove,kindness,andthepowerofhumanconnection.
