Former soldier and musician, Liu Zhengliang, is now a charity
devotee. For all he has done for the needy areas around Baise City,
Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, since 1993, he was nominated
as a candidate for the Top 10 Volunteers in Beijing in 2005. But in
his own words no honor is more important than actually doing
something to help in need, Beijing Youth Daily reported on
March 16.
Although he wasn't among the final winners list, which was
announced on February 25, Liu didn't really mind. "If I did won the
title, would it be helpful to the poverty areas of Guangxi?" he
asked.?
"It may just make me well known which is not as good as actually
doing some useful things." In his very brief introduction of
himself and his work submitted to the Review Committee, there is
only one line including the words, "have been continuously engaged
in helping the needy in Guangxi's poorer areas." Very simple and
direct in comparison to other nominees' long statements. But what
he has done over the years could never be described as
"simple".
This Don Quixote-styled idealist joined the army in 1971. While
serving as a border guard between 1979-1986, he achieved something
quite remarkable by composing over 100 pieces of music without
instruments, a teacher or background information.
He later joined both the Guangxi and China Musicians'
Associations. His song entitled Soldiers Going to
Battlefield, was famed as a true song of soldiers. At a
national conference of the China Musicians' Association in May
1985, he was given the title of "China's Only Frontier
Musician".
His life changed in June 1993. After being hurt fighting a group
of gangsters, Liu Zhengliang, was hospitalized. During this time he
met a severely injured farmer named Liao Yuanxing and lent him
2,000 yuan to pay his surgery fee.
Without telling Liu the farmer left the hospital when he'd
recovered because he was too poor to pay back the money. When Liu
later called on the farmer in Fuqin Village, he realized he should
do something for the poor man and his village. "I didn't mean to
ask him for the money at that time but he thought I would and was
really concerned when I appeared in front of him." Liu
recalled.?
"Then I started donating thousands of yuan to help the village,"
he explained. At the outset Liu raised 10,000 yuan for Liao's
family which included his deaf father and illiterate mother to
build a new house as their home was in a state of disrepair.
Liu Zhengliang lived with Liao in Fuqin Village from then on and
treated it as his home. However, he did come back to his real home
once a year. But not for a holiday. He used the time to raise
money. He then proceeded to tape-record interesting agricultural TV
programs and bought seeds, books and fertilizers for the village
farmers.
He ate, worked and slept in the village and consulted with local
people about how to get rich. Although his health was declining he
continued to do research and assisted the villagers in making loan
applications. He also saved a lot of money, bought 50 sheep with it
and gave them to the villagers.?
However, this particular project failed when most of sheep died
in a short period of time. But Liu's faith wasn't broken. He
started to shepherd, studied the sheep and the local environment,
and designed an ecological program to prevent water and soil
erosion. This helped promote the local economy. "The program has
got local government approval, but the funding isn't in place yet,"
Liu said with a mixture of excitement and
regret.???
His tenacity resulted in over 200 minutes of video being
produced and over 3,000 photographs and boxes of research essays
being collected. He investigated farmers' living conditions and had
accumulated so much material that he could speak with great
authority on the subject.
He also wrote many articles on ecological environment protection
in southwest China's rocky hill areas and gave advice on how local
industry could be structured.
Apart from his investment in the village, Liu Zhengliang had
other interests. He has given financial support to Liao Bianli for
six years, who is going to graduate from senior middle school this
summer. Liao lives in a house opposite to Liu's. Her parents were
unable to afford her schooling. "But the girl is brilliant and she
could get a ticket to university," Liu told Beijing Youth
Daily.
Last summer the China Youth Concern Committee held a camp for
unfortunate children orphaned by AIDS. Liu brought one of the
children home to stay with his family for two days and treated the
youngster with visits to Tian'anmen Square and Beihai Park. "If
nobody cares about AIDS patients they may adopt extreme measures to
take revenge on society," he explained.??
Though many lavish compliments on Liu's good deeds, his wife has
other concerns. She said her family subscribed neither newspapers
nor magazines because once Liu saw someone or something needing
help he wanted to become involved. "We are not a rich family and
can't afford helping others all the time," she said.
"He never considers his own family," his wife complained. "In
our marriage of 30 years we've hardly lived together. He was once a
soldier in Guangxi and now he's fighting poverty in remote areas.
He donated all the money he earned as an amateur actor to the needy
people and wouldn't even have breakfast in order to save money.
Sometimes I was so mad at what he did that I wanted a divorce but I
couldn't do that because he's a very kind person,"
Liu said he understood his wife but commented, "Our generation
was heavily influenced by the slogan -- One's greatest love is to
love others. I'll feel guilty if I don't help those who need
it."
When asked what would have become of him if he hadn't chosen to
help the poor but continued with his music career, Liu responded,
"Making music only benefits me but helping those living in poverty
benefits many."
According to China Charity Federation's statistics released
earlier this year, there are 30 million poor people in rural areas
and another 30 million urban district needy people. If disabled
people and disaster victims are taken into account, a total of 130
million people nationwide require assistance of some kind.
However, most of those who support charity causes are common
people like Liu Zhengliang. They're simply not wealthy enough to
make big changes in poor areas.
Liu said he'd continue to do his work until the end of his life
no matter how people view him or possibly misunderstand
him.?
There are many thank-you letters from Fuqin Village in Liu's
home. One of these was sent by the girl Liao Bianli. At the end of
the letter she wrote:
"Do you feel better about your waist and legs? Have you go to
hospital for checkup? I think you will get well soon, because a
good man will always be blessed. And you are the best in the world.
Luck will be with you forever and ever."
Liu Zhengliang (L), Liao Bianli and her
mother.
A farmer was using the implements bought by Liu
Zhengliang.
(China.org.cn by Zhang Rui, April 2, 2006)