By Chen Yunfa
Translated by Chen Shuling
Comrade Jiang Wanfu, 'the national advanced rural doctor', praised as 'Doctor like Bethune' by the media, has retired from Ye City, the border area of China, to his hometown, Shanghai. Although he had won fame successfully, he went to Shanghai Minhang Chinese Medicine Hospital on Aug. 25th without any rest to make a report about his 43-year-long experience of hard work in the frontier to the medical workers in Minhang District. His true vivid experience moved all the people present who showed their willingness to learn from him and serve patients to make contributions by doing their own duties well. In addition, Jiang was employed as 'honorable Staff' by the hospital. Chinese Version>>
Doctor Jiang Wanfu is the pride of Shanghai. He went to Xinjiang to support the border areas at the age of 17, and worked in the Xinjiang Production & Construction Corps for 43 years, first as a soldier, then as a barefoot doctor and became the director of the health clinic in the Second Pasture of Ye City. He performed over 2000 operations successfully and with no infection under primitive conditions, insisted on healing the wounded and rescue the dying for Uygur people, and won their trust and respect. As he had worked for Xinjiang for such a long time, he also faced many tests and worries. For example, when it became popular for educated urban youth to return home in 1980s, he chose to stay. Since his wife Zhao Junhua was a nurse and neither of them could give up the work, they had to send their 10-year-old daughter back to his mother-in-law in Shanghai. They had met their daughter only 7 times in 14 years, and his mother of old age had to be looked after by his 3 elder sisters. Even when his mother died at the age of 94, he failed to see his mother to pay the last respect. Jiang devoted his heart and soul to Uygur people. Did he do these for money? Of course not. He was once asked, 'What did Xinjiang give you? Does it worth?' He answered gravely, 'I've enriched my life and won Uygur people's respect. That's enough.'
Some people may think Jiang a bit 'silly', but I appreciate his answer very much. Frankly speaking, he cannot afford even an apartment in Shanghai with the money he earned in Xinjiang in the past 43 years. However, he has earned wealth more precious than money, the respect from Uygur people. This is the profound friendship among fraternal nationalities which may not purchased with however many apartments. Jiang has built a golden bridge of friendship, brother and trust between the Han nationality and the fraternal nationalities by his action. His 43-year-long devotion has already earned another kind of invisible 'wealth' sufficiently. It's worthwhile.
Our country is a multi-ethnic nation. In this big family, no matter how big the population of each of the 56 nationalities is, they are all equal and are ready to help each other. The more united it is between nationalities, the more harmonious the society is, and it will be more peaceful in policy, which is the source of Chinese people's ceaseless self-improvement. The Han nationality, with the biggest population, has the responsibility to lead other 'brothers' to make society progress and improve people's condition. We have to learn from Jiang Wanfu, really serve for the local people of fraternal nationalities, treat them as our own parents, brothers and sisters, our own children, and ask them what they want as close friends. Only in this way would we gain trust and respect from fraternal nationalities. Jiang considered it the highest goal of his life to win Uygur people's respect, which showed his lofty character and his respect to fraternal nationalities. Respect is always bilateral. As long as the Han nationality respected other nationalites, the fraternal nationalities would also respect the Han nationality. It shows that Jiang is not only a good doctor but a good model of national unity. Therefore, Jiang especially valued the 'respect' from Uygur people.
In the big family of Chinese nation, actually, there is always existing some family relationship among all the nationalities. Neither the Han nationality nor the fraternal nationalities could leave each other. In this family, the unity of 'brothers and sisters' would ensure the revitalization and development of the Chinese nation. Now, thanks to the models of national unity like Jiang Wanfu , the Han nationality and the fraternal nationalities unite firmly and all the people love and care to each other.
Jiang Wanfu is a good man of Shanghai. He won Uygur people's respect for himself and respect from the fraternal nationalities in border area for Shanghai. Let's thank him, welcome the Jiang's couple to come back home and get reunited with their daughter, and wish them to live out their twilight years happily. Of course, we are expecting more followers of Jiang Wanfu to work and live in the fraternal nationality areas in the future, to 'earn' more special 'wealth'--- respect.