ZHENGZHOU, Dec. 14 (Xinhuanet) -- A wave of emotion swept through China this winter as millions of Chinese were inspired, ashamed or provoked by the story of ordinary college student.

    Hong Zhanhui, a 23-year-old college student, struck a chord in China with the story about his adoption of his sister and support of his troubled family.

    A university junior; an eldest brother; a guardian; a teacher; a nurse; a cook; a peddler who sells pens and instant noodles to earn his college fees; Hong is also a now a model citizen.

    GROWS UP TOO YOUNG ¡¡

    Born to a poor peasant farmer's family at Hongzhuang, an outlying village in Xihua County, central China's Henan Province, Hong led a relatively peaceful life until an accident tore apart his five-member family 11 years ago.

    During one day in August 1994, Hong's father, Hong Xinqing, suddenly began smashing the furniture in their tile-roofed house.

    His crying mother was kicked to the ground and his one-year-oldsister was grabbed by his father and lifted above his head.

    "My full sister died, my dad went crazy and my mom was fractured," Hong, now 23, recalled as his eyes reddened at Huaihua Institute, a quiet university campus in central-south China's Hunan Province, where he studies. "It was such a nightmare. "

    His father was diagnosed with mental illness and then 12-year-old Hong felt like the sky had fallen.

    Deeply affected by his family's misfortune, Hong first encounter with wide-eyed Chenchen in an abandoned swaddle under a tree outside his village made him believe he was destined to adoptthe child.

    "You don't raise the baby, I'll take her," Hong told his mother,who considered finding another guardian for the infant. "Whatever happens, I won't leave her."

    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.

    The nights were long as the hungry Chenchen wailed in wee hoursand Hong couldn't find anything at their destitute home for her tosuckle.

    "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.

    MORAL DYNAMITE

    Hong started a wave of inspiration across the country as soon as his story became public.

    Numerous Chinese, including senior officials and ordinary citizens, have flooded the Internet or called in to express their admiration and support for Hong.

    He was immediately chosen by the China Central Television as the candidate for people that "Move China 2005", an honor given only to those who help the Chinese society progress.

    "Sadness, self-questioning and action," said a widely circulated post in the Chinese Internet community. "We need to project the kind of philanthropy that Hong Zhanhui performed in our society."

    "An incredible story in real life! He not only has a good heart,but also a great sense of social responsibility," said Cao Xiaofeng, a citizen in Changsha, capital of Hunan Province. "We all need to question ourselves on how to love our family and improve the society."

    In fact, Hong's story contrast with the decline of traditional Chinese virtues and morality as a money-centered ideology has increasingly taken root.

    Many readers volunteered donations that were turned down by Hong, who said he was capable of sending his sister to university through his own self-reliant efforts.

    "I just keep walking my way silently and will not give up," Hong said. "I feel everyone has his responsibility, to himself, to his family and to society." Enditem