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Space hero's parents decline expensive gifts
17/10/2005 12:24

Jane Chen / Shanghai Daily news

The parents of Fei Junlong, one of the two astronauts of China's second manned space voyage, decline expensive gifts offered by businessmen so as to avoid the commercialisation of their son's achievements, today's Nanjing Morning Post reported.
The astronauts returned to earth this morning, completing their 115.5-hour mission on board the Shenzhou-VI spaceship.
The gifts vary from tonics to TVs and even a villa, according to the parents.
"We are very proud of our son," his father Fei Changbao said.Though his son has become a national celebrity after the heroic trip, the father said that the family as well as his son prefer the quiet life.
The Feis live in a 20-year-old, two-story farm house at Bacheng in Jiangsu Province's Kunshan city.They declined a villa offered by a local property developer.The three-story villa, valued at over 1 million yuan (US$123,609) and with floor-space of over 300 square meters, is near neighboring Yangcheng Lake.
"Our house is primitive, but we are accustomed to it and feel contented," Mr. Fei senior said.
He said that to decline such offers is the best way to protect the good reputation of their son.
In praise of the family, the Kunshan government has also offered the family a villa.