Despite her family's objections, a kind young woman married a disabled worker. For the thirty years of their marriage, she has borne the heavy burdens of caring for her disabled husband and raising their son all by herself. Recently, filled with guilt and self-reproach, her husband Yang Li (a pseudonym) proposed divorce in a fit of agitation. However, his wife Huang Ling (also a pseudonym) refused to agree: "Without my husband and son, I wouldn't have any happiness either."
A Kind Young Woman Ignored Obstacles and Married a Disabled Worker
Yang Li and Huang Ling live in An Ding Community on Xi Ma Street in Jiang'an District. Yang Li suffers from polio and, when he was younger, could only walk with one leg. Recalling their love story over 30 years ago, Yang Li said that at the time he worked as an electric welder in a street factory in Yi Yuan Street. In September 1977, the beautiful young woman Huang Ling came to work at the factory. Many young men vied for her attention, but Yang Li could only focus on his work and never dared to approach her. Yet Huang Ling noticed him: "He is very down-to-earth, works hard, and often helps lazy colleagues."
In June 1979, while working, Yang Li accidentally fell and fractured his coccyx, leaving him unable to get up from the ground. Huang Ling cried as she carried Yang Li to the hospital. Yang Li said, "For more than a month in the hospital, every day Huang Ling carried me from the ward onto the electric tricycle, then off the tricycle and back home. I weigh over 150 pounds, yet she persisted in carrying me every day."
When Huang Ling decided to marry Yang Li, she faced strong opposition from all her family members: "My father worked at the Tax Bureau, and my mother was a teacher; they both strongly opposed my marrying him. They even mobilized neighbors, relatives, and friends to take turns persuading me." Despite her family's disapproval, on October 1, 1980, the two held a simple wedding.
Running Night Stalls and Doing Odd Jobs Barely Sustained Their Family
After marriage, Huang Ling worked at a restaurant, while Yang Li worked as an electric welder and a machinist. A year after their son was born, Yang Li started repairing bicycles near their home. In 1986, Yang Li’s repair business began to deteriorate, and his health also worsened. Huang Ling worked during the day and sold late-night snacks until 5 AM, barely sleeping for two hours before getting up again to go to work.
"At the time, I was so exhausted that I could fall asleep waiting for the traffic lights on my way to and from work. At that moment, I even thought about just sleeping forever and ending it all," Huang Ling told the reporter. Huang Ling supported the family this way for 15 years, growing thinner and thinner, but life did not improve. In 1997, Huang Ling was laid off. In 2001, Yang Li’s condition worsened, and both legs became immobile, leaving him completely paralyzed. Huang Ling took odd jobs wherever she could to support the family.
In 2006, while working as a cleaner at the hospital, Huang Ling was hit by a bike and suffered a fracture, requiring hospitalization. Unable to withstand the pressure, Yang Li attempted suicide: "No one could take care of her or our son. I couldn’t even cook a decent meal. I sat paralyzed at home, with shoulder blades, back, and cervical vertebrae hurting so much I screamed for help... What's the point of living? I can only be a burden to them." Yang Li recalled that he had accumulated four months' worth of sleeping pills and swallowed them all. Due to his long-term injection of pethidine and excessive consumption of painkillers, the sleeping pills lost their efficacy, and his attempt failed. Huang Ling had no choice but to be discharged early to care for her emotionally low husband. "This family depends on me to hold it together; I can't fall apart."
Unwavering Devotion: Having a Husband and Son Equals Happiness
Nowadays, out of kindness, the neighbors have arranged for Yang Li to be a gatekeeper, earning 400 yuan per month. The small gatekeeper room has become their home. Due to economic hardship, sometimes the couple eats only two meals a day. As Yang Li becomes increasingly depressed, his health worsens and his temper grows larger. "She hasn't enjoyed a single day of happiness following me. If we divorced, let me live alone, that would be great," Yang Li said to the reporter yesterday: "For all these years, no matter how angry I got, she never said a harsh word to me, nor did she agree to a divorce."
According to the neighbors, this poor couple deeply loves each other. "In summer, Yang Li fears that his wife will get too hot cooking in the small kitchen, so he insists on cooking despite the risk of scalding himself. Seeing Huang Ling work hard, he feels helpless and quietly sheds tears." Although Yang Li has repeatedly argued about wanting a divorce, Huang Ling pretends not to hear: "I ignore him; once he vents his anger, he calms down. Without him and our son, I wouldn't have any happiness."
Reported by Lin Hui Jie, Communicated by Xiong Juan
(Edited by SN034)