Remembering the city that died in one night

Although left paralyzed, Yang Yufang and his wife Gao Zhihong survived the Tangshan earthquake. WANG ZHUANGFEI/CHINA DAILY

Life continues

Although Gao and Yang returned to Tangshan independently, they both moved into a clinic owned by the city, and met as patients there in 1981.

In the past four decades, more than 1,800 people paralyzed in the earthquake have been treated at the clinic, and 120 of them still live there.

In the 1980s, all college graduates were assigned jobs by the government, and in 1982, when Gao had recovered, she was given a job as a preschool teacher. Despite her background as an engineering major in college, she was gratified to be given a teaching job.

In those days, college graduates were seen as real talents and were often known as "State treasures". Gao still keeps in touch with her college friends. "They are successful and making their contributions. They are leaders in factories, and some are even successful politicians. Sometimes I envy their success, but my life is peaceful and happy," she said.

She remembers Aug 15, 1982, her first day at work clearly: "I was so excited. I was no longer a loser. I had a job and I earned money. I love children. Sometimes when kids cried and would not leave their mom and dad, some parents put the child on my legs. Because I could not feel my legs, I never tired of the children sitting on them."

Once Gao had a job, she took her paralyzed mother under her wing. "At first, one of my brothers took care of my mother. He treated her very well, but I sometimes worried about him. Without a job and with a paralyzed mother to look after, what girl would marry him?"

To resolve the situation, Gao arranged for her mother to move into the clinic. She has taken care of her ever since.

Gao was so busy teaching her students and caring for her mother she failed to notice that Yang, her fellow patient, had fallen in love with her. It took three years, but in 1984, they married and moved into a 15-square-meter room provided by Gao's employer.

They still live there. Although they only own a queen-sized bed, a wardrobe, two motorcycles adapted for the disabled and two wheelchairs, the tiny space is packed.

They would like to move to a bigger place, but money is an obstacle. "We can feed ourselves but can hardly afford a new house," Gao said.

Yang earns a living as an itinerant key-cutter, patrolling the streets with his tools. He also writes stories and poems. Sometimes the couple read Yang's poems at home, or share them with patients at the clinic, which they consider their second home, and at memorial occasions.

"I have experienced so much. I received help and love from others. Without their help, I would have died long ago. I have so much to say－that's why I started to write," Yang said, who has written a novel and a play about the earthquake, and both will be published soon.

"After I became paralyzed, difficulty and I became twins," Yang said.

Gao echoed his sentiments: "Some of the things most people can do in five minutes take us a lot of effort to accomplish. Losing the ability to walk was devastating, but we are grateful because we are alive and we have each other."

Zhang Yu contributed to this story

luowangshu@chinadaily.com.cn