Returning home with honor, the original intention remains unchanged

It was dusk when the plane landed at Beijing Capital International Airport. Mo Xiaoyu gazed out the window at the familiar terminal, feeling an indescribable sense of peace welling up in her heart. The thirteen-hour flight had left her slightly exhausted, but the moment the plane's wheels touched the ground, all fatigue was replaced by a sense of homecoming.

The flight attendant smiled and opened the cabin door for her: "Ms. Mo, welcome home."

She adjusted her dark blue dress, took a deep breath, and pushed her luggage cart toward the exit. The moment she stepped into the immigration hall, she was stunned by the scene before her—dozens of media outlets, cameras already at full blast, flashbulbs blazing.

"Ms. Mo! How do you feel about receiving the United Nations' Global Mental Health Outstanding Contribution Award?"

"This is the first time a Chinese non-governmental organization has received this honor. What do you think it means?"

"What are your new plans next?"

Reporters rushed to ask questions, their voices echoing through the spacious hall. Mo Xiaoyu paused and calmly faced the camera. She noticed several familiar figures in the crowd—Chen Que, holding a bouquet of elegant lilies; Li Xiaoyu and her young colleagues from the foundation, holding a "Welcome Home" banner; even Zhou Ling, dressed in a suit and tie, stood not far away, a rare smile on his face.

"Thank you for your attention, media!" Mo Xiaoyu said in a clear and steady voice. "First of all, I want to say that this honor doesn't belong to me alone. It belongs to the thousands of people who work silently in the field of mental health in China, and to every ordinary person who protects their mental health in their ordinary jobs."

She paused, her gaze sweeping across the expectant faces present. "Standing on the podium in Geneva, I kept thinking of that small psychological counseling room in the mountains of Gansu, that spiritual haven in those ethnic minority villages on the Yunnan border. The international stage is important, but only with deep roots can a tree grow tall."

After answering the reporter's questions, she quickly walked towards her long-awaited family and friends. Shen Que handed the lily to her and said softly, "You've been flying for so long, are you tired?"

"I'm not tired anymore when I see you." Mo Xiaoyu took the bouquet with a smile. The fresh fragrance made her feel refreshed.

Li Xiaoyu couldn't wait to report: "Teacher, in the month you were away, we've added three new community service centers. Also, the Ministry of Education has invited you to participate in the revision of the guidelines for college students' mental health education..."

On the car ride back to the city, Mo Xiaoyu stared out the window at the street scenes speeding by. The neon lights of Manhattan and the shimmering waters of Lake Geneva still flickered in her mind, but the familiar streets and bustling crowds before her gave her a sense of grounded peace.

"What's wrong?" Shen Que noticed that she was distracted.

"I just think, after traveling to so many places, this is the place that makes me feel most at ease."

The next morning, Mo Xiaoyu was invited to a high-profile symposium. The conference room was located in a stately government building near Chang'an Avenue, and the attendees included several ministerial leaders, renowned experts, and scholars. When she entered the room, everyone paused in their conversations and gave her approving glances.

"Ms. Mo, welcome back with such honor," the leader presiding over the meeting said, shaking her hand cordially. "We all saw your speech at the United Nations back home. It was very well delivered."

The symposium began with experts sharing their views on how to improve China's mental health service system by drawing on international experience. When it was Mo Xiaoyu's turn to speak, she flipped through her carefully prepared materials and calmly began to elaborate.

"During my visit to Switzerland, I paid special attention to their community mental health service model," she said, pulling up a PowerPoint presentation showing photos taken in Bern. "This 'tiered service' approach is worth learning from, but it must be adapted and adapted to China's community governance structure."

She analyzed in detail the advanced experiences of countries like the UK, Japan, and Australia, while also pointing out the applicability and limitations of these models in China. The attendees nodded frequently, and some took notes diligently.

"Ultimately," Mo Xiaoyu concluded, "what we need to learn are concepts and methods, not mechanically copy them. China's mental health services must forge a path that suits them."

After the symposium, a leader specifically asked her to stay and asked, "Ms. Mo, I have something I'd like to discuss with you. The World Mental Health Organization is looking for a regional director for Asia Pacific, and they're very optimistic about you. Are you interested?"

This unexpected opportunity left Mo Xiaoyu stunned. The World Mental Health Organization is an important agency under the United Nations, and the position of Director of the Asia-Pacific Region means a higher platform and a broader space.

It was already evening when they returned to the foundation. Mo Xiaoyu immediately called a meeting of the core team. When she mentioned the job opportunity, the room fell silent, everyone waiting with bated breath for her decision.

"Will you...accept it?" Li Xiaoyu asked cautiously, with undisguised nervousness in her voice.

Mo Xiaoyu didn't answer directly, but stood up and walked to the window. From this window, he could see several visitors strolling in the small garden downstairs, accompanied by volunteers. One of the young women looked particularly familiar—it was Lin Wei, who had nearly committed suicide three years earlier due to campus loans. Now an outstanding volunteer at the foundation, she was patiently listening to a visitor's story.

"Do you still remember what Lin Wei looked like when she first came?" Mo Xiaoyu asked softly.

"I remember," Li Xiaoyu said, "that she didn't even have the courage to look up at people, and her voice was so low that it was almost inaudible."

"Now she's helping more people." Mo Xiaoyu turned around, his eyes scanning every familiar face. "That's why I chose to stay."

She walked to the whiteboard, picked up a pen, and solemnly wrote four big words: Deeply cultivate local resources.

"The international stage is important," Mo Xiaoyu's voice was remarkably clear in the quiet conference room. "But what I want to tell you is that China has a population of 1.4 billion, and our mental health services are just getting started. We have the people who need us most here, and we have the soil that's most worth cultivating."

She began to elaborate on her upcoming work plan: "First, we must practically apply the good experiences and practices we've learned internationally to our work. For example, in community psychological services, we could pilot and promote the 'psychological grid worker' system..."

The meeting lasted late. Afterward, Shen Que came to her office, two cups of hot tea in hand. "You really don't regret it? That position pays a million a year, and the platform is much bigger."

Mo Xiaoyu didn't answer immediately. Instead, she pulled a slightly worn photo frame from a drawer. The photo showed her first office, which she had rented in an urban village ten years earlier. The walls were rusty and the facilities were simple, but the handwritten sign at the door, "Mockingbird Psychological Counseling," stood out.

"Remember why we named it 'Mockingbird'?" she asked softly.

Shen Que smiled and said, "Because it is the most ordinary bird, yet it awakens the dawn with its song."

"Yes," Mo Xiaoyu gently put the photo frame back in its place, "My stage is not in Geneva, not in New York, but right here, beside every ordinary person who needs spiritual comfort."

In the evening, Mo Xiaoyu arrived alone at the community service station downstairs from the foundation. It was after school, and several elementary school students were doing their homework with the help of volunteers. A chubby little boy ran over, holding a painting in his hand, and said, "Grandma Mo, look at the home I drew!"

The painting depicts a bright sun, a house with smoke rising from its chimney, and a family holding hands. The delicate brushstrokes bring a touch of warmth to Mo Xiaoyu's eyes.

"What a beautiful painting!" She stroked the child's head and asked softly, "Why did you draw the sun so big?"

"Because the volunteer sister said that if there is sunshine in your heart, you won't be afraid of the darkness!" the child answered innocently.

At this moment, Lin Wei came over, holding the duty logbook. She was now calm and composed, with a firm gaze, completely unlike the timid girl she once was.

"Teacher Mo, you're back." Lin Wei smiled. "I just wanted to tell you that we recently developed a mental health curriculum for teenagers. We've already piloted it in three schools, and the results are very good."

Seeing Lin Wei's confidence, Mo Xiaoyu became even more reassured of his choice. International awards are certainly glamorous, but their true value lies in the change they can bring to every life.

Late at night in the office, Mo Xiaoyu carefully wrote in his work log:

"Today, I gave up an enviable opportunity. Some may find it a pity, but I know I chose a more important stage—a place where I can hear every flower bloom and accompany every lost soul on their way home. This is my original aspiration."

After writing this, she stood up and walked to the window. The night sky of Beijing was ablaze with stars, and the lights of Chang'an Avenue in the distance merged into a flowing river of light. Mo Xiaoyu knew that beneath this starry sky, in this city, countless hearts were waiting to be illuminated. And she was willing to always be the torchbearer, guarding her original aspirations.

A light drizzle suddenly began outside the window, the raindrops gently tapping against the glass, as if applauding her important decision. Mo Xiaoyu took a deep breath, feeling her heart had never been so clear and resolute.

No matter how far you go, you must never forget why you set out