Retired professor donates lifelong savings

We all like to say we give back to society, but very few of us take this idea as seriously as Lu Yonggen.

In March, the 87-year-old scientist from Guangzhou took a trip to the bank with his wife. In his bag, he had 12 deposit books.

Lu Yonggen is pictured at a laboratory of South China Agricultural University based in Guangzhou.[Photo/Xinhua]

Over one and a half hours, Lu proceeded to transfer his entire life savings to South China Agricultural University: 8,809,446 yuan (roughly $1.3 million) in total.

Having been diagnosed with cancer, Lu knew he would not have many days left. Rather than leave his savings to his only daughter, he decided to donate it to the university from which he had retired.

Lu Yonggen instructs his PhD students at a rice test field. [Photo/Xinhua]

With this generous donation, the university has set up a scholarship for needy students.

"My daughter is self-sufficient. Return my personal property to the country, it is the final contribution I can make to society," said Lu.

Lu led a very thrifty life and made charitable donations every year. Everyone who visited the home of this academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences was shocked by its sparse and humble interior.