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A student who sends 1.3 billion into tears
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-12-14 21:10
TIME-TESTED WILL
To add to his hardship, Hong's mother fled their home one day as she could no long stand the violence and pressure brought on by her mentally ill husband.
The family collapsed and Hong had to bear the burden of looking after his sick father, his young brother and his new adopted sister.
Hong Zhanhui's poor family. [Zhengzhou Evening News] |
The nights were long as the hungry Chenchen wailed in wee hours and Hong couldn't find anything at their destitute home for her to suckle.
"All I could do is to take her in my arms, walk back and forth and rock her gently," Hong said.
To keep the baby away from his insane father, Hong committed Chenchen to a relative's care after he begged nearby woman to feed her every morning before going to school.
In the eyes of Hong's neighbors, he was a pathetic kid who had to bring up another one, work in the fields and earn money to buy ataractic for his sick father and support the family.
"At his age, other kids are usually naughty but Hong can handle adult problems," said Sun Liuzhuang, a village doctor and Hong's neighbor.
Hong never complained to others about the pressures he endured. "He rarely talked about his family and just stayed home, reading and studying," villagers said.
Hong likes to tell jokes and his classmates and teachers in high school said he was open and optimistic.
"Actually, my first impression of Hong was not so good," said Qin Hongli, Hong's Chinese teacher at Xihua County No.1 High School. "Because every time I saw him after school, he was always peddling goods."
"I only came to know about the situation of his family long afterwards," said Qin, who could hardly hold back his tears about his misunderstanding. "He is full of tremendous energy within his small body. He is such a strong man that he would never give up."
Hong sold ball-point pens, books and tapes for learning English. "Many people looked down upon me for the peddling then," Hong recalled. "But I didn't care."
To take good care of his adopted sister, Hong first took her around with him in the county, then to his college about a thousand kilometers away from their home.
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