On 24 September 2014, over ten days after Teachers’ Day, our interviewing team of three people rambled up the steep Daba Mountains in a bus. The goal of our trip was to interview RTVU students and “The Most Beautiful Rural Teacher in the Country” — the couple Liao Zhanfu and Zhang Xingqiong, and to prepare the shooting of a micro film. 

Along the way, with many bumps and difficulties, they insisted on staying in the deep mountains and gathered the strength to move ahead from the children. From their days of living in the mountains, they enjoyed innumerable experiences and a myriad of feelings, just like the three living states described in the work “Renjian Cihua” by Wang Guowei.

Pining away for you but without regret

Our SUV bumped along the high mountain roads and lofty hills of Sichuan, where the sturdy weeds growing in the muddy dirt roads rubbed the chassis of the SUV. They made us feel terrified. Although the scenery outside the car was beautiful, we were never more than a meter away from the cliffs. Half of an hour's drive from Bixi Township in Tongjiang County of Bazhong City, we arrived at the Shimiaozi Village Primary School in Yongan Township, where Teacher Liao Zhanfu was working. 

In the teaching building, we saw the legendary “The Most Beautiful Rural Teacher in the Country”— the couple Liao Zhanfu and Zhang Xingqiong. Before interviewing them, we had read many reports from the media and become acquainted with their deeds. In spite of their hard life, their radiant and fiery eyes still impressed me deeply, maybe because of their affection for helping children of all ages or from their love.

In 1980, Zhang Xingqiong graduated from senior high school. At that time, she was the only girl who had ever studied at the senior high school in Huotiangang Village of Tongjiang County. In 1988, Liao Zhanfu was admitted to a famous university with a score more than 30 marks above the minimum required score. However, because he failed the physical examination, he was not admitted to the university. While he was feeling sad and helpless, someone recommend that he apply for work at the Huotiangang Village Primary School as a teacher. Liao Zhanfu had great respect and admiration for the elder sister Zhang Xingqiong and often asked her for advice. The villagers thought that they made a great match, and the eight years’ age difference was not an obstacle to their emotional connection. Eventually they were married and the Huotiangang Village Primary School also became a famous “couple primary school”. Zhang Xingqiong called her husband “young fellow” and Liao Zhanfu also called his wife “Sister Qiong” in private. 

“Over the last 30 years, we have met with many difficulties. Our wages are very low as supply teachers. In addition, I also face problems such as my lack of science knowledge in my teaching. ” Zhang Xingqiong told us, “If there is a chance to take a refresher course, I will study math.”

“Since studying primary school education in RTVU, I was awarded a certificate and became a regular teacher. The course on educational psychology has been the most useful for application in teaching, especially in the tutoring of only children and tutoring the parents of only children.” Teacher Liao said, “If you want to give the children a glass of water, you should become like a running stream yourself. Nowadays, knowledge becomes outdated very quickly, so lifelong learning is essential to our teachers. If possible, we will continue to take advanced courses on Chinese language and literature.” 

Westerly winds withered trees last night. Climbing up the stairs to the lonely loft, I looked into the distance

“That is the old site of Shimiaozi Vallage Primary School. Previously it was a temple built in the 24th year of the reign of Guangxu Emperor. Now it has become the village Party branch committee of Shimiaozi Village.” Leaving the classroom, Liao Zhanfu led us on a walk along a path in the field, while pointing at the shabby houses nearby.

Except for Liao Zhanfu’s bedroom and kitchen, there was only one classroom at the old site of Shimiaozi Village Primary School. There were two grades and a total of 13 students, but only one teacher, Liao Zhanfu. There was a heating pit close to the classroom, with a pot hanging over it. He would cook lunch for his students at noon. On cold days, he would light a fire and the children would sit around him and study by the fire to warm themselves.

The school is located at the entrance to the Shimiaozi Village at an altitude of 900 meters, with a wide perspective. There are mountains in the distance, and on the other side of the mountains there is the Huotiangang Village Primary School where the couple had taught for many years. The trees around the school were luxuriant and green, as if the time here had stood still. It was very quiet in the mountains. Occasionally birds squawked. I couldn’t help sighing with emotion: For these two outstanding students to insist on staying in this poor and isolated village for more than 20 years, what has supported during these hard times?  

Liao Zhanfu and Zhang Xingqiong have undertaken the job of teaching all six grades at Huotiangang Village Primary School since 1988. Each of them was responsible for three grades. The total number of students even reached more than 100 at its peak. According to Liao Zhanfu, “Students from three grades all sit in one classroom. I will ask the first grade students to review the words that I just taught them. Then, I will teach art to the second grade students. Once they have begun painting, I immediately begin teaching math to the third grade students. At break, we will cook lunch for them. When we finally head home after school, we are often too tired to talk on the way.” 

The income for a village teacher is very low. After dozens of years, the wages of Liao Zhanfu and Zhang Xingqiong had grown from 20 RMB per month at the very beginning to more than 400 RMB afterwards. “Both of us considered quitting and finding another job. It finally happened in 2009. In that year, our daughter was admitted to a university, and our son was studying in a junior middle school. We couldn’t afford the studying fees for them on our salary.” Zhang Xingqiong recalled the past sadly, “Counting the literacy class, I had taught three generations in the village, but I could not afford to send our own daughter and son to school.” 

Hundreds and thousands of times, I searched for her in the chaos. Suddenly, I turned by chance, to where the lights were waning, and there she stood!

On the Teachers’ Day, 10 September 2013, at the award party for “2013 Looking for the Most Beautiful Village Teacher” sponsored mutually by CCTV and Guang Ming Daily, RTVU’s students and village teachers — Liao Zhanfu and Zhang Xingqiong won the honored national title of “Most Beautiful Village Teacher of 2013” as a couple.

Since this couple’s deeds were reported by media, the teaching conditions in Shimiaozi Village Primary School at Yongan Township have greatly improved. Snow-white walls, shiny doors and windows, and new computers in the classrooms stand in contrast to the nearby old wood houses of the villagers. 

I searched the classrooms until I found the hand bell which looked like an antique. This wood handled bell had accompanied them for more than twenty years like a faithful old friend. Although the hand bell was stale and rusty, it still could let out a crisp sound when shaken. I could imagine the sound of Liao Zhanfu shaking the bell announcing the beginning of classes: A late boy flies in and smiles naughtily at Liao Zhanfu as he rushes into the classroom. Liao Zhanfu purses his lips and wants to show his anger, but finally he just touches the boy’s head: “You are late again!”……   

Liao Zhanfu was a graduate specializing in primary school education in the autumn semester of 2008 at Tongjiang work station of Bazhong RTVU. At that time, he was only a supply teacher. In order to pursue his own teaching dream and enrich himself further, he chose to study in the RTVU. After graduation, he took part in the recruitment examination for regular teachers and was enrolled with the third highest score in the entire county. As a result, his salary was increased to more than 2,000 RMB per month. When he was assigned a job, he didn’t exercise his right to chose a prestigious school because of his excellent achievements, but instead asked to be assigned to work at Miaozicun Primary School where there was a lack of teachers. The couple had to watch each other over the mountains. 

“Although we live across from each other and so far away, I still feel that I can hear the sound of her children reading books.” Liao Zhanfu said guiltily, “But now it is very convenient for me to go home by motorbike.”

“Now in Huotiangang Village more than 30 students have been admitted to universities, with many becoming established members of society and beginning to repay their alma mater. Currently, in Huotiangang Village, education develops very fast and the roads reach out in all directions.” Zhang Xingqiong said, “Every time someone is admitted by a university, the parents will lead the children in setting off firecrackers for us. At that time we feel like everything has been worth it.” 

Postscript note: On the way back, the car rambled for seven hours along the cloudy mountain trail. Once the signs of human habitation gradually became obvious, we came to realize that we had come back from the mountains and returned to the city. It seemed to me that the children in the mountains had a new road opened up to them.

For us, the seven hours’ road was long enough. But for the couple, steadfastly remaining in the mountains for more than 20 years has sustained the future of the children. Along the way, the dense fog dispersed, the sky cleared up little by little, and our minds seemed to be baptized.

“The Most Beautiful Rural Teacher in the Country” Liao Zhanfu and Zhang Xingqiong

The reporter is interviewing Liao Zhanfu and Zhang Xingqiong

Liao Zhanfu and Zhang Xingqiong’s work place

The interviewing team takes a group photo with Liao Zhanfu and Zhang Xingqiong

By Yu Minsheng, the OUC