A solemn return home

• Source: Global Times
• [15:52 April 16 2010]
• Comments

By Liu Chang

Three migrant workers came from Chongqing to Yushu searching for work and a new life. But now their lives have turned upside down after their wives died in the earthquake that hit Yushu on the morning of April 14. Now their biggest wish is to transport their wives’ bodies by a farming vehicle, and burying them in their hometown.

“I cannot leave her in a strange place,” said Gao Chuanhong, one of the widowers. “We have been married for 20 years. I have to bring her home and bury her somewhere near me and her parents.”

On the day of the earthquake, Sun Zhishu, Gao’s wife, had just returned home from taking their seven-year-old son to school when the quake hit. Their tile-roofed house collapsed and buried Sun underneath. The 47-year-old Gao frantically tried to dig out his wife with his bare hands and found that she was still alive. He rushed her to Yushu Hospital right away and went to look for his son who was at the primary school.

“Gao looked happy on his way to the primary school. He told me, ‘There should be no problems with my wife and my son,’” recalled Liu Shanyu, a fellow migrant worker from Chongqing who now sits with Gao. “But half an hour later, I saw him on the street. He told me his wife had died, and he could not find his son.”

Zhang Jieming is another Chongqing migrant worker who lost his wife in the quake. His wife, Xu Hefang was two months’ pregnant when the tragedy hit. Zhang was awakened by Xu when the quake struck. But he was too shocked to react until he felt a great push on his back and was thrown out of the door. When he looked back, the house was already in ruins. “It’s she who pushed me and saved my life,” Zhang said. “I must bring her home and let her rest in peace.”

Zhang’s hands are covered in bruises and wounds. He dug out the body of his pregnant wife with his bare hands.

On the night of April 14, Zhang and Gao carried their wives’ bodies onto a farming vehicle, together with another heart-broken widower, Zhang Pingxing. Zhang wiped his wife’s face with his hand, and told her, “We are going home now.”

Because of the earthquake, the three new widowers lost all their properties. They only have a few 10-yuan and 20-yuan notes with them. They borrowed money to return to Chongqing.

On the afternoon of April 15, their vehicle has already reached Ganzi, Sichuan. Two days later, they would arrive back in their hometown.

“I will come back to look for my son after I send my wife home,” said Gao.