TALES OF THE 24 EXEMPLARS: MENG ZONG

Tears That Brought Bamboo-shoots From the Frozen Earth: Meng Zong

Meng Zong's father died when he was young, and as a result he and his mother struggled to survive. One winter his mother was stricken with a serious illness, and craved some bamboo-shoot porridge as medicine. As it was winter time, it was impossible to find fresh bamboo shoots.  Undaunted, Meng Zong, who did not wish to disappoint his mother, bravely got his shovel and went out  in search of bamboo shoots. Unfortunately, he found only frosted leaves and green stalks coated with snowflakes and ice. Look as he might, there were simply no fresh shoots growing in the winter. The thought of his poor mother lying sick on her bed, waiting for bamboo porridge medicine, made his heart ache.

He began to cry uncontrollably and his tears began to drop to the ground beneath the tall, green canes. Meng Zong had nearly tripped and fallen over a sharply protruding lump of earth. He quickly knelt down dug out the dirt with his fingers. Wonders of wonders,  he discovered a bed of fresh, tender bamboo shoots! Happily, he gathered them up and carried them home. The porridge that he made soon cured his mother's illness.
The villagers were deeply influenced by Meng Zong's filial piety for his mother. They renamed the spot where he found the bamboo shoots, "Meng Zong's Bamboo Grove".
Reference: http://nirvana-sg.com/24-filial-exemplars/meng-zong