Photo of the son before he went missing
Liu Yunping is asking a sanitation worker
This has been a journey filled with immense pain: Two years ago, her 13-year-old son suddenly disappeared. Since then, his mother embarked on an arduous search for him, traveling from one city to another without any leads. Over the past two years, she endured great hardships, sleeping rough and eating sparingly.
This mother continues her journey on feet that are already calloused from walking across 21 provinces and municipalities — all in the hope of finding her missing son. Hefei was Liu Yunping's 22nd stop.
A. Two Years Ago, Her Son Ran Away Out of Anger
At 3 a.m. on the 20th, under the bright moonlight, Liu Yunping stood hesitantly at the entrance of Hefei train station, holding a canvas bag and a white plastic bag, unsure where to go next as she clutched a photo of her son.
The 36-year-old Liu Yunping looks much older than her age due to the fatigue of over two years of searching. She appears worn out, with deep wrinkles and strands of gray hair.
Liu Yunping lives in Dongcha Natural Village, Linjing Township, Zhenyuan County, Gansu Province. Two years ago, her then-13-year-old son Duan Yuxi was in the first year of junior high school. He was beaten by classmates after a girl in front of him turned around and spoke to him. The classmates threatened him not to attend school for a week and warned him not to tell anyone. When Duan returned to school, the principal refused to let him continue studying, citing unauthorized absence. Despite three days of pleading by Liu Yunping, the principal did not relent. A few days later, her son disappeared.
"He only had 30 yuan on him. He suffered so much humiliation and stress, and in anger, he left," said Liu Yunping.
The police in Zhenyuan County confirmed Liu Yunping's account. They have kept Duan Yuxi's photo and information on the missing persons website since he was 13, but no leads have emerged.
B. Searching for Her Son Across Half of China
After her son went missing, Liu Yunping and her husband began their quest to find him. First, they searched the village, then expanded to the town, county, and surrounding cities near Xifeng. They posted flyers everywhere, inquiring at internet cafes, restaurants, and factories, but were left disappointed.
Initially, both Liu Yunping and her husband searched together, but due to the high costs involved, her husband returned home to work and take care of their young daughter while Liu Yunping continued the search alone. Liu Yunping has a daughter who is "not only adorable but also very well-behaved. She is 12 this year and still in school. I miss my daughter very much." Looking at her daughter's photo, Liu Yunping's eyes welled up with tears.
In early 2009, Liu Yunping started her solo journey to find her son. To date, she has traveled across most of China, covering 21 provinces and municipalities, spending over 20,000 yuan, most of which was borrowed from relatives.
Liu Yunping had never traveled far before. Each city was unfamiliar to her. Now, upon entering a strange city, she often stands at a loss outside the station. Every six or seven days, she moves to a new environment, initially feeling uncomfortable and unable to sleep, but gradually adapting.
Whenever someone accuses her of being a scammer, she shows them newspaper articles. "I have a notebook with messages from kind-hearted people who helped me. I remember them all. If I ever find my son, I will surely repay them." Liu Yunping said firmly.
Apart from traveling to the next city, Liu Yunping rarely spends money on public transportation, walking all day on foot. In over two years, she has worn out 13 pairs of shoes.
When tired, Liu Yunping chooses the cheapest hostel to rest; when hungry, she eats a bowl of noodles for five yuan, drinking some soup if it doesn't fill her up. During hot summer days, even though she was extremely thirsty, she wouldn't buy a bottle of mineral water, opting instead to drink tap water at someone's house. "Water is the same everywhere; as long as it quenches thirst, it's fine."
C. Her Son Has Big Ears, So He Must Be Lucky
Although Liu Yunping does not know where her son is, she has never given up hope of finding him. "Look, my son has a big head, which means he is smart. He also has big ears, which everyone back home calls 'big ears,' meaning he will be blessed in the future. His eyes are big and full of spirit," Liu Yunping pointed out her son's strengths while holding his photo.
In Liu Yunping's eyes, her son is not only intelligent but also honest. "At home, he used to wash clothes and cook frequently."
On the third day of the eleventh lunar month, her son will turn 16. Previously, every year on his birthday, she would boil two eggs for him. But for the past two years, on his birthday, she could only wander alone in a foreign place, crying silently in a hotel room.
Over the past two years, Liu Yunping has received some leads, but each time she feels close to her son, reality cruelly pushes them further apart.
Sometimes, Liu Yunping sees her son in her dreams. After waking up, she gets out of bed and quietly cries in the corner of the hostel.
D. If the Son Doesn't Return, the Mother Will Continue Searching
Each trip Liu Yunping takes is carefully planned with her husband using maps.
"First, we go to Guangdong because many people from our hometown work there. Then, we travel from nearby cities to farther ones, one by one," her husband explained. While his wife is out searching for their son, she stays away for a whole year, leaving their daughter longing for her mother.
"In six days, I will leave Hefei and head toward the remaining provinces and cities," Liu Yunping said, looking up at the sky.
By Reporter Liu Baoqi / Text, Zhuo / Photo