Shop owner has kept her light on every night for 13 years for one selfless reason, and neighbours call her ‘Streetlight Auntie'
An Open Door and an Open Heart
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In the quiet alleys of Changsha's old town, a single shop glows through the night — not to lure late-night customers, but to offer something far rarer: a sense of safety. For the past 13 years, Sun Meihua, a 60-year-old grocery shop owner in central China's Hunan province , has kept her store's front light shining until morning. She does not do it for profit or publicity, but because a few kind words from strangers changed the way she saw her role in the community According to a feature on South China Morning Post, back in 2012, during the first month of opening her shop, a few young women shared how comforted they felt by the warm glow outside her store after a long, late shift. That simple remark inspired a quiet revolution. Since then, Sun has made it her mission to never turn the light off at night.Sun's shop closes at 2 a.m., long past regular hours, allowing those returning home late to grab essentials or simply walk by with reassurance. Sometimes, she even accompanies timid girls home when they seem anxious or afraid. For many, her small store has become more than a place to buy groceries — it is a refuge.Locals have affectionately nicknamed her 'streetlight auntie,' a moniker that now carries the weight of kindness and trust across the neighborhood.Her acts of service do not stop at just keeping the lights on. Sun moved her landline phone into the shop, making it available to the elderly and schoolchildren — many of whom either do not use mobile phones or are not allowed to carry them.'The neighbourhood has many elderly people who are unfamiliar with mobile phones and children who are not allowed to take phones to school,' Sun told South China Morning Post. She provides this service for free and even helps send messages when calls do not go through.Every year, the phone wears out and needs replacement. But Sun never hesitates. 'I just want to help those in need,' she said.Sun's store also acts as a key repository. Several locals hand her their house keys when they go out, knowing they can rely on her in emergencies. One octogenarian neighbour shared, 'I trust Meihua,' adding that she always turns to Sun for help.Another neighbour said they never made a spare key and simply handed their only one to Sun, confident it would be safe in her care.Sun and her husband have lived in the same neighbourhood for over two decades. In earlier years, they survived on government allowances, having no steady employment. It was during those challenging times that their neighbours offered them kindness and support.'I received a lot of help from this community,' Sun said. 'Now I want to give back.'Her story has resonated online, where one commenter aptly said, 'It is easy to be a Good Samaritan once or twice, but not for life.' Another added, 'It's a grocery shop that gives love for free.'
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