Yang Jiafa (right) has won the trust of locals with his sincerity and dedication.[Photo by Pu Mou/For China Daily]

When Tian Maoshun was released from prison in 2013, the first thing he did was to visit a local police station to find Yang Jiafa, the policeman who had arrested him.

Tian wasn't there for revenge but rather to show his gratitude to Yang, who volunteered to help his parents while he was in jail. Tian knelt before Yang in tears.

"If it weren't for Yang, I probably wouldn't see them alive any longer," Tian, 41, a resident of Guiyang, capital of Southwest China's Guizhou province, says of his elderly parents.

In 1994, after Tian, an only child, was sentenced by a local court for intentionally hurting someone, Yang promised to look out for Tian's parents.

Tian had earlier spoken of his concern about his parents to Yang during interrogations.

For 20 years, Yang set aside money from his income every month to support Tian's parents.

He visited them twice a month with supplies such as rice and cooking oil. In addition, he helped them with their farm work during farming seasons.

"I feel lucky and thankful for Yang's help. Otherwise, I don't think I could have survived to see my son come out of prison," says Yang Zhengqin, Tian's mother.

Tian's family has since moved to a house provided by the local government. The family's financial condition has improved with him taking up part-time jobs like renovating houses during slack farming seasons.

"I'll remember Yang's favor forever," says Tian.