Special Report: 1st Anniversary of Wenchuan
Earthquake
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Li
Yongbing carries his son Li Zihao in a wheat field in Fuxin
Township, Mianzhu City, Sichuan Province, southwest China, May 3, 2009. (Xinhua/Li
Xiaoguo/Qin Qing)
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Gallery>>> |
BEIJING,
May 11 -- Li Yongbing gets up early and busies himself in a neat courtyard at
his home in the town of Fuxin. He is preparing to visit his wife, Wang Qin, who
passed away in the earthquake last year.
"I'll burn some paper money for her and tell her our
son is fine," says the 28-year-old, pushing back his glasses, as if trying to
hide the welling tears.
A year on from the disaster, Li is finally reconciled
to waving goodbye to the past and looking ahead instead. The past year has not
been easy for him, but like millions of fellow sufferers, he pulled through.
Both Li and his wife worked at the Qingping Township
Central Primary School, in the city of Mianzhu. Li taught Chinese, Wang art.
They fell in love in 2002, but didn't marry until four years later. Their son Li
Zihao was born in December, 2007.
On May 12 last year, Li was teaching as normal, while
his wife went to Hanwang Town Central Primary School to exchange teaching
methods with other educators. She was buried in the debris. Their son was barely
5-month-old.
Li clearly remembers that the day before had been
Mother's Day and Wang bought some vitamins for Li's mother, who lived with them.
Li says after getting the news he was "desperate and
numb" for several days. Every time friends and colleagues called, he cried and
wouldn't accept their condolences. "I heard that woman was created with a rib
from man. I could feel pain all over, especially in my heart," Li recalls as he
mixes his son's formula milk powder with boiled water.
He walks out of the kitchen with the milk bottle and
his son waddles joyfully into his arms. The young father holds his boy and feeds
him like an experienced mother.
Every morning, Li and his mother dress the boy and
prepare his milk. Li rushes off to work and calls home at midday to ask about
the child. When work is over he never hangs around, he goes straight home to
play with him.
"The happiest thing in my day is to bathe my boy. He
is very excited and I feel relaxed and happy, forgetting my fatigue," he says,
acknowledging his parents' help through the traumatic times.
Today's Li appears calm and composed, but walking out
of the pain was far more difficult than it sounds.
He stayed home for some 10 days after the earthquake,
forgetting all about food or sleep. His brother told him that many people had
suffered more terrible losses in the earthquake. He should walk outside to help
others in need, his brother suggested.
The words struck him.
The first place that drew him was the sports stadium
in Mianzhu, where tens of thousands of people who lost their homes had gathered.
Li joined volunteers from all over the country and threw himself into the relief
efforts.
He helped carry and distribute water, quilts, clothes
and food, and also translated the local dialect for relief organizations from
outside Sichuan.
Nearly two weeks of hard work left him little time to
wallow in his own sorrow. The thought of helping those in need spurred him on.
When volunteers were needed to help build temporary shelters at relocation
sites, he went to Qingping town, where he helped for three months.
Last August, his hard work gained him the title
"Outstanding Volunteer" from the Deyang Youth League. When his primary school
finally reopened, Li was happy to return to his job.
"The busy days passed quickly but when I had time
alone, the wounds in my heart still hurt," Li says.
A new light appeared last September, when experts
from the Institute of Psychology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences went to
Mianzhu and gave psychological counseling in 43 schools.
The psychologists trained one teacher at each school
in counseling, so they could continue to help after the experts had left. Li's
school chose him, something he describes as a passage of salvation both for
himself and others.
He taught the students all he had learned. Through
group games and individual counseling he helped the children adjust themselves
and face their sorrow. He spread the message that it was important to rebuild
trust in others, regain confidence and emerge from the shadows.
A year on, traces of the earthquake are still visible
in western Sichuan but locals have rebuilt their houses with traditional black
tiles and whitewashed walls. Tractors still make their way up country paths,
taking more construction materials to villages.
Flocks of butterflies hover over wheat that is
turning golden and nearby, farmers are already harvesting rapeseed.
Li puts his son on his shoulders, walks deep into the
fields and inhales the country air. He has suffered beyond words but in doing
so, this lean man has grown broad shoulders, learned how to inspire others and
taught himself to live anew.
(Source: China Daily)
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Li Yongbing coaxes his son Li Zihao to
sleep at home in Fuxin Township, Mianzhu City, Sichuan Province, southwest
China, May 1, 2009.
(Xinhua/Li Xiaoguo/Qin Qing)
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Li Yongbing feeds his son Li Zihao with
milk at home in Fuxin Township, Mianzhu City, Sichuan Province, southwest
China, May 1, 2009.
(Xinhua/Li Xiaoguo/Qin Qing)
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Li Yongbing plays with his son Li Zihao
in a wheat field in Fuxin Township, Mianzhu City, Sichuan Province,
southwest China, May 3, 2009.
(Xinhua/Li Xiaoguo/Qin Qing)
Photo
Gallery>>> |
