Shanghai Daily News

It is likely that Yangpu District residents are familiar with Zhu Xiuqin and her group.

The group have become well known for their efficiency in helping local residents with emergency housing problems, such as leaks, sewage blocks and flooding.

For the past two years, Zhu, the manager of Shanghai Zhonghui Property Management Company, has devoted herself to helping residents. She described her work as a "fast rhythm fight, fighting against bad weather and poor facilities."

"Our responsibility is in keeping the residents from danger," the Shanghai native said. "We should find the potential dangers in advance and deal with them in time. It is not an easy business. Sometimes, they (the residents) don't understand us."

When Zhu joined the company in 2004, she found the community management in a mess. Many residents had stored their old sofas, mattresses and cardboard boxes in a power room, creating a potential fire hazard; one spark could prove deadly.

Zhu asked the residents to remove the clutter, however, nobody listened to her. They said that it was a public room and that everyone could use it. Someone even shouted at her that it was none of her business. She then talked to some residents about the danger it presented and some of them agreed and removed their things immediately.

She continued to work with her staff daily, even on small problems. Everyday, she was the first to arrive at the office and the last to leave. As long as the residents asked for help, they were provided with a service that left them satisfied.

When typhoon Matsa arrived at Shanghai in August 2005, Zhu stayed with her staff for several days and nights to provide quick response to problems that arose from heavy rain and strong wind.

A young couple called her in an emergency about a blocked tap in their flat one night. When it was turned on, the tap discharged foul smelling, dirty water that ran onto the floor. Seeing this, the 45-year-old Zhu got down on her knees and started to clean the floor herself. The water made her clothing dirty and smelly but it didn't matter. She cleaned up the mess in two hours and the couple was very appreciative of her efforts.

During this time Zhu didn't have time to look after her son and husband, however, they never complained and supported her. They encouraged her to help the residents and were very proud of her work.

Over the past two years, Zhu and her team have made deep friendships with the residents. They can deal with every problem they are asked about and try their best to solve it. Because of their diligence, the team has been awarded prizes every year by the municipal government.

"We are satisfied with our customers' smile," Zhu said with a grin of her own. "We will try our best to service them in the future."