"The money was saved up from farming and the family hotel business by me and my wife, and was intended for my wife's old age since she did not have a job." Yang said.

After Yang's wife died from illness in March 2015, Yang decided to donate the money to fund college students from needy families and gained support from the couple's children.

During the past four years, Yang visited the university each semester to talk with the students about their studies. He built close bonds with these students, who affectionately called him "Grandpa Yang".

"I always think of Grandpa Yang when I encountered difficulties at university. I told myself to work hard to get a scholarship so that I wouldn't let him down," said Hu Ying, one of the students whose education was Yang funded.