Qiu Jian, 24, from a welfare house in Fuzhou, takes a photo with other residents, carrying a handicraft made by others as a wedding gift. Photo: CFP

On November 17, a welfare house in East China's Fujian Province will hold one of its most festive days - the marriage of a homeless girl who has stayed there for nearly 20 years.

"This is the first time we have married off a 'daughter' since the house was founded 28 years ago. We all feel happy for the bride. As her family, all of us are busy preparing for the wedding these days," Lin Hui, president of the Fuzhou No. 2 Social Welfare House, told the Fuzhou-based Southeast Express newspaper.

The bride Qiu Jian, 24, was abandoned in Fuzhou when she was a baby. Soon she was sent to a children's welfare home and diagnosed with cerebral palsy. When she turned 7, she was transferred to the house, where she learned to be self-reliant, finished primary school and learned to knit.

In March, at a computer training class organized for disabled people in Fuzhou, Qiu met Li Jie, 30, who suffered from some minor motor disabilities in his hand. The two soon fell in love and decided to tie the knot seven months later.

Compared with the heavy dowry usually given by the family of the bride, all Qiu had were two bags of clothes. Still she never felt sad. "Li's house is yet to be renovated and his parents are older. After I enter into their family, I have a lot to do. I don't need things like new clothes," Qiu said.

What she wants to do most now is to help the welfare house and devote more time to her fellow residents including teaching them how to write and draw and helping them reintegrate society.

Luckily, after the media exposure of Qiu's story, some kind-hearted people offered to help. Some companies donated money to help refit the couple's new home while some promised to help with the wedding planning and banquet, according to the Fuzhou Evenning Post.

Global Times - Agencies