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Chen Suhou: From vice governor to farmer
By Jessie Tao (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2005-12-29 14:58
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| Chen Suhou is watering
the vegetables in his own garden on December 19, 2005. [Xinhua]
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Back in his hometown, Chen insists on physical labor in spite of his old age.
He grows peanuts and a dozen kinds of vegetables in his garden, and in his spare
time, feeds chickens and ducks with his wife. As he joked to the reporter, "we
are self-supporting, and hardly buy any vegetables."
A bird has its nest, and a man his home, Chen told the reporters with the
Xinhua News Agency. But he hardly had the time to go home during his working
time, and paid little attention to his hometown. Once a few years ago, he
managed to spend the Spring Festival in his hometown for the first time since
1985. Once while Chen was having a talk with the local people, a farmer
complained, "You are in charge of agriculture of the province. There are people
saying irrigation works have made huge progress, agriculture output has risen,
and farmers' income has increased. But in your own hometown, irrigation works
remain in disrepair, irrigation coverage has reduced sharply, and farmers are
living a destitute life. How to deal with the problem?" The farmer's words
pierced Chen's heart like a sword, and Chen could not wait to make up to them.
In the winter of 2003, the county government mobilized local people to get
ready for a key irrigation project in Lingao, mandating a laborer from every
household. Chen Suhou also participated with a spade. When the news spread of
the deputy governor's participation, many unwilling local farmers took up their
shovel and walked to the project site.
Chen later said, "I participated in irrigation repair projects many times as
an official, but the one in the winter of 2003 was my first as a farmer since I
retired from my government post."
"I am largely a facilitator!"
Speaking of his return to the countryside, Chen said, "It has been another
important turning point in my life. I have greater space to myself in the
countryside, while if I continue to stay in the city, I can only stay in the
bookstore all day long."
Many people think his decision to return to farming stupid or even
ridiculous, but Chen has no time to worry about that, as he is only concerned
with what he can do for his hometown. He is deeply uneasy by the fact that his
hometown remains one of the 42 villages that haven't escaped from poverty after
so many years of liberation, even though it is an old revolutionary base.
"In the past, I had the power but no time, and now I have got the time but no
power. I keep asking myself if I can do something for my fellow villagers within
a limited time," said Chen.
Chen is right when he says that he has a greater space to himself. In fact,
there are a great many things waiting for him to resolve or improve.
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