One day I was impressed by the deeds of Secretary Luo Guanzhang of Niuzhuang Township, Wufeng Tujia Autonomous County, Yichang City, Hubei Province.
A man used two fingers and a lifetime of poverty to redeem his promise to lift thousands of mountain people out of poverty.
This is not a simple poverty alleviation story.
This is an Eastern fable about a flesh-and-blood contract, ultimate price, and the rebirth of the land.
In 1996, Qin Xiangshan, secretary of the town party committee, cut off one of his fingers in public to clarify his aspirations when facing development difficulties.
In 2003, he resigned and returned home. When the Gastrodia elata experiment was on the verge of extinction, he lost another finger in a frantic self-rescue.
Two fingers, two decisive self-cuts——
The first time is a farewell to the old order and temptation;
The second time is a sacrifice to the land and mission.
From a powerful cadre to a poverty-stricken farmer; from a field with repeated defeats and battles to an industry worth tens of millions; he uprooted himself and re-planted into the poorest soil of his hometown.
When the advanced stage of lung cancer trapped him in a hospital bed, people discovered that this leader who led a wealthy family had only 38.83 Yuan left in his personal hospital account.
A number reflects the bottom line he has adhered to throughout his life: not to take a cent from the public family, not to owe a cent to the folks.
