In Loufang Village, Jiabeiyen Township, Suizhong County, Huludao City, mother Hu Dongfeng accompanied her two children, both with slings on their arms, to school. Photo by reporter Feng Yuxing. A family of five spanning three generations had four people with fractures: the father became paralyzed after falling at a construction site; the disabled grandmother was hit by a car and suffered from fractures but received no compensation; the brother and sister in elementary school both had left-arm fractures after being hit by a bicycle. Despite their difficulties, the resilient brother and sister went to school every day with their arms in slings.
Yesterday, in Loufang Village, Jiabeiyen Township, Suizhong County, Huludao City, the story of the young siblings striving for education and supporting their family moved many people.
The "pillar" of the family is bedridden
Loufang Village is a small mountain village deep in the mountains. After the start of the school year in September, the villagers often saw two children going to school with their arms in slings. They are Wang Zhu's son and daughter, the brother Wang Kaixuan, 11 years old, in the fourth grade of elementary school, and his sister Wang Sirui, 10 years old, in the third grade.
Wang Zhu, 40 years old, is the mainstay of the family. His 38-year-old wife Hu Dongfeng and his elderly mother both have disabilities in one eye. The family's main source of income relied on Wang Zhu working. However, last August, Wang Zhu fell and broke his thigh at a construction site. Just when it started to heal, he fell again and broke the steel plate that was holding the bone together. Without money for treatment, he now can only lie in bed, needing help for even basic needs.
His disabled mother-in-law and wife manage the few acres of land they own. But misfortunes never come singly. In early March this year, Wang Zhu's mother went to the market and her leg was broken by a motorcycle. It cost 12,000 yuan, and now she has to walk with crutches. The perpetrator couldn't afford the medical fees, and now both families are in court.
The siblings rush to do housework at home
Seeing the hardship at home, the siblings feel it deeply. After finishing their homework every day, both of them rush to do housework, helping their mother sweep the floor, wash vegetables, cook meals, and do laundry. The siblings also pick up discarded pears from nearby orchards to sell, earning a few dozen yuan. When they see plastic bottles or cardboard, they also pick them up to sell for money.
The siblings give water and medicine to their father, take care of his hygiene, massage him, and look after both their father and their disabled grandmother. Every time they see this, Wang Zhu lying in bed tries to smile, but cannot hide the heartache.
Knowing how hard it is to earn money, the siblings never waste a single penny. Most of their clothes are given by others, and even during the New Year, they don’t want to buy new clothes, saving the money for adults' medical treatment.
Their daily meals consist of only three things: sorghum rice, cabbage, and radish. Meat and dumplings are only eaten during festivals. Yet, both of their academic performances are excellent. Last summer vacation exam, the brother ranked first in his class, and the sister's grades are also among the top.
The determined siblings go to school with slings
The poor family has encountered too much misfortune in just one year, and the next disaster actually befell the children.
On the last day of this year's summer vacation, the brother was pushing his bicycle up a hill, with the sister following behind. The brother accidentally lost control, and the bicycle slid down the hill and crashed. Both siblings suffered left-arm fractures and had to wear slings and braces. The doctor advised them to rest at home, but they endured the pain and went to school, unwilling to miss a single class.
During classes, they could only use one hand to hold books and do homework, yet they were very determined. Not only did they complete their homework neatly, but they also often helped classmates.
The village party secretary Liang Changqiu coordinated with the township government to apply for an additional low-income assistance for Wang Zhu's family, based on their existing low-income support.
By reporter Feng Yuxing stationed in Huludao.