Rats, mosquitoes, and drafty windows - this is what Tang Lingling faces every day.
Twenty-seven years old, from Gaoyu in Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province, she is currently teaching at a village primary school in Yulin, Guangxi.
The gift-bringer for the children was not the red-robed, white-bearded Santa Claus but rather a 27-year-old girl. This girl transformed from a city-based white-collar professional earning over ten thousand yuan a month to become a rural elementary school volunteer teacher. In addition, she has donated libraries across the country, establishing 50 new libraries in impoverished area primary schools so far, with each library containing at least 1,500 books.
Now, Tang Lingling sets a standard of 1,500 books per library. The content of these books mainly includes phonetic storybooks, children's literature, and popular science publications. "You know, books aren't something people are very willing to donate because they can be preserved. Many people donate textbooks to me, but the children don't need those textbooks, and I can't waste postage sending them. Moreover, the children's foundation isn't strong enough to understand more advanced books," she said.
"The children have made me gentler."
In 2012, the Oriental Morning Post and Dragon TV jointly launched a special report series called "Great Love from the East." Starting today, the Morning Post will publish weekly reports on Thursdays, while Dragon TV will regularly broadcast the "Great Love from the East" special program at 9:15 PM on the same day. Today marks the first episode.
Her income, though not considered enviable high pay, is sufficient for Tang Lingling to help her parents buy a new home in her hometown of Ganyu County, Lianyungang City, Jiangsu Province, worth 300,000 yuan with a 30% down payment. Prior to this, the family lived in an abandoned warehouse.
On December 24, 2011, Christmas Eve in Western tradition, it wasn't a familiar term for the students at two village primary schools in Yulin, Guangxi – perhaps they had heard the word "Christmas" from their English teachers with less-than-perfect accents, but they might never have received gifts in stockings or gold-embossed greeting cards on Christmas.
At 9:15 PM tonight, Dragon TV will launch the citizen-inspiring program "Great Love from the East." This episode will feature interviews with white-collar worker Tang Lingling raising funds for mountainous area children’s libraries and matchmaker Lan Yuyun from Wuhan who has been matchmaking for young men and women for 50 years, recording touching moments of the times. Please tune in.
Tang Lingling wrote in her diary that she chose Guangxi because its weather is relatively warm, similar to Xiamen where she previously worked. Considering her poor health, going to Guangxi would "not hold them back."
Despite all this, Tang Lingling's own financial situation has become strained due to donating libraries. "There is certainly detailed cost accounting for the entire library project, as well as book lists. But how much money I spent myself is uncalculable. For instance, I encountered donors who donated money, I used the money to buy the books, then they suddenly changed their minds and said they wouldn't donate anymore, so I had to cover the costs myself."
Volunteer Teacher: Tang Lingling
Tang Lingling likes giving awards to the children; she always buys large quantities of snacks, and almost every student receives a pen from her. However, she makes it clear to the children that these are not gifts but prizes. "I tell them that teachers buy these things not because we're rich, but to let you know what's worth doing. You take exams not for me, nor for the prizes, everything you do is for your own growth."
This girl's name is Tang Lingling.
No matter what, during the days she spends with the children, Tang Lingling herself undergoes changes. "The children need me, and I need them. They make my heart pure. In Xiamen, I could yell at big developers, now speaking to these children, I am exceptionally gentle."
It's hard to associate her current appearance with her previous identity — after several years of working in Xiamen, she had become a well-known figure in the local advertising industry. As the creative director of several companies, Tang Lingling earned a five-figure monthly salary, enjoying the good life this salary brought her — she liked luxury watches, perfumes, fine coffee, and tea.
In fact, whenever Tang Lingling goes to various schools to donate libraries, she always brings some candies to share with the children. Children, often shy around strangers, get excited when they see the candies. "Children rarely have the chance to eat candy because individually sold candies cost one or two cents each. Even just two or three candies make them extremely happy."
Tang Lingling remembers a girl once told her that she didn't want to study anymore, preferring the freedom of herding cattle at home. "I asked her if she'd ever taken a plane, seen skyscrapers, been to Disneyland, or knew the world was much bigger than their village? It's your own life, if you choose to only herd cattle, then don't regret your choice."
Tang Lingling believes she has found the best way to help the children. Afterward, Tang Lingling began continuously donating libraries to village primary schools in Gansu, Sichuan, and Guangxi. The children's reactions further solidified her determination.
At 27, Tang Lingling looks like a college student. She says, "The children have made my heart pure."
With no vehicle access on the mountain roads, Tang Lingling in Guilin, Guangxi, used a handcart to transport books to the school.
For many children, these extracurricular books will open a window to explore the outside world.
Tang Lingling says there are many volunteers like her, but building libraries is her ultimate goal.
In 2011, a complex and profound year, we shed tears over heartbreaking stories time and again, yet small acts around us also warmed our hearts, warming the softest places within us.
Later, Tang Lingling decided to focus her energy on getting children to read books. "Simply put, children really enjoy reading, reading is truly useful, and they genuinely lack access to books." Through multiple interactions with remote area schools, Tang Lingling gradually realized that compared to material shortages, spiritual deficiencies were even more terrifying. "Donating money can only change things temporarily, but donating books may alter their lives forever."
Besides paying the mortgage for her family every month and sending them money, Tang Lingling uses most of her savings on these children she may only meet once. To save expenses, she moved out of a room costing 1200 yuan per month and into a 200-yuan-a-month rented house.
Living a starkly contrasting life over two years, Tang Lingling experienced being both the powerful creative director in the city with endless projects and the busy volunteer in the countryside ensuring children read more books. Reflecting on this period, she admits it was an incredibly tough time. "Back then, to find time for the library, I often worked overtime. Once, to persuade my boss to donate five libraries, I did numerous projects for him, working through the night and continuing to work during the day, taking naps when tired."
After graduation, Tang Lingling passed the postgraduate entrance exam but decided to enter the workforce directly to alleviate her family's burden. "I have a younger brother, seven years younger than me. My parents' health isn't great, and supporting both of us in education was tough. My mom had back problems and lost her job when I was in university. She got up before dawn to work for others, earning only 900 yuan a month."
During a Chinese class, Tang Lingling had the children copy poet Shizhi's work "Believe in the Future." For fifth-grade students, understanding the deeper meaning of "when spider webs mercilessly seal my stove" might not be easy. But Tang Lingling loves this poem and enjoys having the children read it aloud.
But on this day, they received an important gift — a new library in their old school building. For many children, aside from textbooks, they have hardly any chance to read extracurricular books. These extracurricular books, covering topics from astronomy to geography, will open a window to explore the outside world.
In September 2011, Tang Lingling resigned from her job, went to Yulin, Guangxi to teach voluntarily, and continued to build libraries across the country. So far, she has established 50 libraries, each with about 1500 books.
Tang Lingling mentioned that her initial effort was a clothing donation campaign, which wasn't very successful. "The donated clothes were mostly in bad condition and unwashed. I couldn't send such clothes." At home, Tang Lingling washed huge bags of clothes, "I've never washed so many clothes in my life, and my hands were full of wounds."
At 27, Tang Lingling looks younger than her age. Now, she dresses simply in comfortable sportswear, carries a backpack, wears sneakers, and resembles a college student.
Media is the recorder of the times. We document moral lapses, critique and examine cultural habits at turning points in history, but we also uncover and write about every act of kindness, whether it's a helping hand or a promise. Because these are the true spines of the era, the most precious wealth of the nation.
Tang Lingling's love for the children is rewarded. Kangkang, who used to disrupt classes, swear, and bully classmates, has improved academically and stands up straighter; Little Niu passed her exam for the first time, and Tang Lingling bought her a big teddy bear because in a previous exam using the phrase "fixated gaze," Little Niu wrote, "I fixated gaze on the doll I couldn't afford"; Tiny "Longge" secretly told us he hoped Tang teacher could be his mom, "Having two moms would be better."
The habit of drinking coffee is one Tang Lingling still keeps. Other preserved habits include wearing perfume and watches. "Previously, the watches I liked might cost hundreds of thousands, now a Mickey Mouse watch is pretty good too. Before, I wouldn't go out without spraying perfume, now I still do, but I can't afford expensive ones anymore, buying cheap perfumes is acceptable." Now, Tang Lingling's backpack contains a nearly finished bottle of "Davidoff" perfume.
After graduating from university, Tang Lingling worked in Xiamen in advertising planning and creative work, serving as a director with a monthly income exceeding ten thousand yuan.
The deepest impression Tang Lingling received was the children's love and cherishing of books.
Though her childhood wasn't affluent, Tang Lingling was shocked by what she saw. "Do you know, many children wear slippers or go barefoot in winter? Many children have never owned an extracurricular book. After school, they don't watch TV or play games, but boil water, cook, feed chickens, and pigs."
She assumed her urban white-collar life would continue indefinitely until 2009, when a chance encounter introduced her to public welfare educational assistance activities.
Buying books, solving logistics and transportation issues, photographing evidence after the library is built, and making irregular follow-up visits to ensure the library operates well are all part of Tang Lingling's efforts. "The money comes from numerous donors, and I must show them proof that their donations have been utilized properly."
"In Pingliang, Gansu, once we needed to go to a school, but the bridge over the river had collapsed, and the new one was only half-built. In the end, we used the construction site's excavator to transport the books. The books were placed in the excavator's bucket, and people stood on the side of the excavator, which drove across the river."
"You know, city kids can hold piano solo concerts in concert halls by fifth grade. Here, fifth graders can't even fully pronounce pinyin. Why is there such a difference, and how can we reduce it?" Tang Lingling thought books were the answer; the knowledge carried by books would fairly impart to anyone who reads diligently, lasting a lifetime.
In her 'living room,' there is something that stands out from the surrounding environment — an electric coffee pot. It sits next to a water purifier on the table, beside an old standing mirror with decades of history. "I'm not as particular now, but drinking coffee is a habit, and I still drink it here. Now I can't afford coffee pots costing thousands of yuan, but ones in the hundreds are still within reach."
Tang Lingling admitted that it took her about a month and a half to adjust to life in the rural elementary school. "Mosquitoes are bigger than flies, they can bite through jeans, even in winter. Teachers told me the biggest mosquito they've ever seen was at school. It doesn't just bite, it eats people. Also, the water — in Xiamen, I wouldn't drink tap water, only bottled water. Here, when the well water is drawn, you can see the dirt inside. Initially, it was hard to get used to, and I had diarrhea every day."
After traveling back and forth for two years, Tang Lingling suddenly had a thought: why not simply go to the donation location to teach? She analyzed: "On one hand, teaching is also a form of help. I graduated from a normal school and have a senior high school teaching qualification certificate. On the other hand, being there allows me to familiarize myself with the local conditions, making it easier to build and supervise libraries later."
Since last September, Tang Lingling has come to Dadi Primary School in Yulin, Guangxi, starting her teaching career. Previously, she had donated a library to Dadi Primary School and knew teachers were lacking there. "Last year, there were two volunteers, but by this year, they had left. So I decided to go there."
Tang Lingling's dormitory is located on the second floor of the school, near the fifth-grade classroom she teaches. She humorously described it: "This is a three-bedroom place, the outermost room is for bathing, the middle one stores things and serves as a living room, and the innermost one is the bedroom."
Fairly speaking, the conditions at Dadi Primary School where Tang Lingling is stationed are not the worst among the many village schools in Yulin, Guangxi. At least, the classrooms have doors and windows, and the children mostly wear thick winter clothes. However, for a girl accustomed to urban life, living here for a year is indeed not easy to adapt to.
These rural students, seen as rolling around dirty-faced in cities, treat the books in the library she established with great care — in Dadi Primary School, a school with only 120 students, the library has been established for over a year, with more than 500 borrowing records, and the books on the shelves remain clean and tidy.
Tang Lingling now teaches fifth-grade Chinese and supplementary courses at Dadi Primary School in Yulin, Guangxi, with 31 children in her class. She said she equally likes all 31 children.
Female White-Collar Worker Abandons Monthly Salary Over Ten Thousand Yuan, Builds 50 Libraries in Mountainous Areas
As the creative director of several companies, Tang Lingling's monthly salary once reached a five-digit number, and she enjoyed the lifestyle this salary afforded her — liking luxury watches, perfumes, fine coffee, and tea. Now, as a volunteer teacher in the mountains, she still maintains these habits, "Coffee pots costing thousands of yuan I can't afford anymore, but ones in the hundreds are still manageable. Watches I liked before might cost hundreds of thousands, but now a Mickey Mouse watch is quite good. Before, I wouldn't leave home without spraying perfume, now I still do, but expensive ones are out of reach, and buying affordable perfumes is fine." Currently, Tang Lingling's backpack contains a nearly finished bottle of "Davidoff" perfume.
However, compared to "Davidoff," the children at Dadi Primary School prefer the scent of "Six God" flower water. Tang Lingling lets the children smell the perfume, and their feedback is "stinky," "like menthol oil," "like detergent." This makes her laugh heartily.
A female white-collar worker gave up her monthly salary over ten thousand yuan to travel through mountainous areas and build 50 libraries.
In 2009, Tang Lingling began focusing on poverty alleviation and educational assistance, helping village primary schools in Gansu, Sichuan, and other places build libraries.
Finding the Best Way to Help Children
Tang Lingling has never cooperated with other charitable organizations; she prefers to operate independently. She started widely utilizing her connections in Xiamen — besides her real-life bosses and friends, she was also a well-known figure on a local website forum in Xiamen. Her donation appeals posted on this forum also received enthusiastic responses from netizens.
Saying it simply, building libraries isn't easy — purchasing books requires funding, logistics and transportation need resolution, and after the library is built, Tang Lingling must take photos as evidence and conduct periodic follow-ups to ensure the library runs smoothly. "The money comes from numerous donors, and I must show them proof that their donations have been utilized properly."
"In Pingliang, Gansu, once we needed to go to a school, but the bridge over the river had collapsed, and the new one was only half-built. In the end, we used the construction site's excavator to transport the books. The books were placed in the excavator's bucket, and people stood on the side of the excavator, which drove across the river."
"You know, city kids can hold piano solo concerts in concert halls by fifth grade. Here, fifth graders can't even fully pronounce pinyin. Why is there such a difference, and how can we reduce it?" Tang Lingling thought books were the answer; the knowledge carried by books would fairly impart to anyone who reads diligently, lasting a lifetime.
In her 'living room,' there is something that stands out from the surrounding environment — an electric coffee pot. It sits next to a water purifier on the table, beside an old standing mirror with decades of history. "I'm not as particular now, but drinking coffee is a habit, and I still drink it here. Now I can't afford coffee pots costing thousands of yuan, but ones in the hundreds are still within reach."
Tang Lingling frankly stated that it took her about a month and a half to adapt to life in the rural elementary school. "Mosquitoes are bigger than flies, they can bite through jeans, even in winter. Teachers told me the biggest mosquito they've ever seen was at school. It doesn't just bite, it eats people. Also, the water — in Xiamen, I wouldn't drink tap water, only bottled water. Here, when the well water is drawn, you can see the dirt inside. Initially, it was hard to get used to, and I had diarrhea every day."
Although Guangxi's temperature is relatively warm, winters in the villages are often a few degrees colder than in the cities, making it difficult for Tang Lingling to adapt. "The windows don't have glass, they're sealed with plastic paper, but wind still seeps in." The bed she sleeps on has a long history, falling apart at the slightest touch, "When I arrived, I wanted to move the bed slightly, but it fell apart instantly. The wood was extremely heavy, impossible to lift. At that moment, I desperately needed a man, but among the school staff, none of the males were older than twelve." Tang Lingling proudly noted that she eventually fixed the bed with just a hammer.
In Tang Lingling's 'bedroom,' the desk holds a jar filled with lucky stars, under which are the children's drawings. She placed the jar in the most visible spot, "This was in Yongning Primary School where I donated 1498 books, and the children folded 1498 stars for me. I was deeply touched."
Next to the desk is a large suitcase filled with various snacks and a box of blue-tin cookies. "The snacks are for the children; I give them small rewards like snacks and notebooks."
These rural students, seen as rolling around dirty-faced in cities, treat the books in the library she established with great care — in Dadi Primary School, a school with only 120 students, the library has been established for over a year, with more than 500 borrowing records, and the books on the shelves remain clean and tidy.
Thus, Tang Lingling always personally handles the library, from preliminary book purchases to mid-term transportation, hanging signs, to subsequent supervision, shouldering all responsibilities. Sometimes, when vehicles cannot access mountain roads, she must use a handcart to push heavy books to the school. But this isn't the hardest way to transport books.
Early last year, Tang Lingling came to Dadi Primary School in Yulin, Guangxi, starting her teaching career. Previously, she had donated a library to Dadi Primary School and knew teachers were lacking there. "Last year, there were two volunteers, but by this year, they had left. So I decided to go there."
As a creative director of several companies, Tang Lingling's monthly salary once reached a five-digit number, and she enjoyed the lifestyle this salary afforded her — liking luxury watches, perfumes, fine coffee, and tea. Now, as a volunteer teacher in the mountains, she still maintains these habits, "Coffee pots costing thousands of yuan I can't afford anymore, but ones in the hundreds are still manageable. Watches I liked before might cost hundreds of thousands, but now a Mickey Mouse watch is quite good. Before, I wouldn't leave home without spraying perfume, now I still do, but expensive ones are out of reach, buying affordable perfumes is fine." Currently, Tang Lingling's backpack contains a nearly finished bottle of "Davidoff" perfume.