That afternoon, bus No. 12 was crowded. At dusk, everyone was in a hurry, hoping to go home quickly. At the boarding door, an old man with gray hair, slightly cuffed back, and trembling hands walked up holding an old cloth bag. He was wearing worn clothes, worn plastic slippers, and looked nothing outstanding in the noisy crowd.

The old man walked slowly, his armrests in his chairs, apologizing to those sitting near the aisle as he walked. But that made the conductor – a young man in his thirties – frown. He was already annoyed because there were many people today, jostling, and he had to shout to keep order. Seeing that the old man had been struggling to sit down, he grumbled:

– Hurry up, Grandpa! When you get in the car, you have to know how to give way to others, not slow down, it’s too troublesome!

The old man paused slightly, turned to smile gently:
“I’m sorry for you, my legs are weak, so I walk a little slowly.

The answer made the employee even more annoyed. He raised his voice, so much so that the nearby passengers had to turn around:
“If you’re weak, don’t rush to rush hour! You make the whole car wait, who is responsible for missing the journey?

The old man lowered his head and said nothing more. There was a hint of sadness in his eyes, but he still silently looked for a place to stand. Many people who witnessed that scene felt uncomfortable, but everyone was in a hurry, and few people intervened.

The car rolled for about ten minutes. Suddenly, a middle-aged man in a well-groomed suit with a solemn appearance came up from behind. He looked around the car, then stopped his gaze where the old man was standing, and bowed his head slightly:
“Uncle, why are you riding the bus alone like this? I’ve already sent a car to pick you up!

The whole bus was silent. The employee rolled his eyes, not understanding what was going on. The other man continued, his voice full of respect:
“You probably don’t know, this is Mr. Lin, the former director of the city transport company – the founder of this bus route more than twenty years ago. Thanks to him, we have the convenient bus system we have today.

The air suddenly became silent as if cutting. The employee who had just shouted at the old man was stunned. Sweat was pouring down the back of his neck, and his face was hot. He didn’t expect that the person he had just scolded was the one who had devoted his life to creating the work he was doing.

Mr. Lin only smiled softly, his eyes were kind:
“I just want to experience the feeling of being with my relatives again. It’s been a long time since I took the bus. Don’t worry.

But that sentence did not make the employee any less embarrassed. In his eyes, the image of the old man is no longer an ordinary passenger, but an example of dedication and silence for the community.

A few passengers spoke up at this time:
“Young man, you have to learn to respect the elderly.
“He is worthy of my grandfather’s age, even if he is not a director, he should be polite.

The employee blushed, awkwardly approached, and bowed his head:
“Uncle… I’m sorry. I am too hot-tempered, I hope you will ignore it.

Mr. Lam patted him on the shoulder, with a gentle smile:
“Everyone young has made mistakes. The important thing is to recognize and correct. The work on the car is very stressful, I understand.

His words are like forgiveness, both tolerant and profound. The employee was silent, regretting in his heart. He suddenly realized that small frustrations were not worth losing his kindness. And more importantly, every passenger on this bus deserves to be treated with respect, no matter who they are or what status they are in.

Since that day, his working attitude has changed completely. He is more warm, knows how to control his temper, and often reminds himself: “Everyone on the bus has their own story, maybe I don’t know, but I must behave with kindness.”

The bus still rolls every day. But in the heart of the employee, that fateful ten minutes forever became an unforgettable lesson—a lesson of respect, of compassion, and of the power of a gentle smile from a gray-haired old man who had dedicated his life to this city.