Mao Yuequn, an elderly blind woman who is from Songyang County of East China's Zhejiang Province, has taken care of over 20 abandoned children in her home for more than 24 years.
"Look, my granddaughter bought me the shoes," Mao said to her neighbors again contentedly. She now lives in a low-rent house in the suburb of Suichang County in Zhejiang Province.
However, the granddaughter she mentioned has no blood relations with her. The 17-year-old girl Xu Yang, abandoned by her biological parents since her birth, was fostered in Mao's family, entrusted by the Civil Affairs Bureau (CAB).
Mao has fostered over 20 abandoned children for CAB over the past 24 years. Now, most of the children have been adopted, just leaving Xu Yang and another girl Liu Wei who was born with cerebral palsy with her.
"At that time, there were no care homes in Suichang, so such abandoned children could only be fostered in families under CAB's fund. What's more, it is respectable of Mao, a blind woman, to look after those children for decades," said Zhang Zhaohui, head of the Disaster Relief and Assistance Section of CAB.
The government provided this low-rent house for them, which has two rooms around 40 square meters.
Everyday, Mao gets up before six o'clock to make breakfast for Liu Wei. Xu studies at a secondary polytechnic school in Suichang, so she could buy breakfast on the way to school.
Mao must prepare something soft for Liu Wei who cannot chew normally.
"She has a fussy taste even though she does not eat too much," Mao added as she fumbled to steam rice in the kitchen.
Although blind, Mao still could feed accurately to Liu Wei. "I have got used to it as we have been living together for many years," Mao explained.
After breakfast, Mao turned on the radio and listened with Liu Wei. Mao said: "I love listening to Chinese operas, which affected Liu's hobby potentially."
51-year-old Zhang Hongyan is the biological daughter of Mao, who just lived next door to her mother in the same residential building. Working as a cleaner in the vegetable market, she comes back home to help her mother look after Liu Wei before lunch every day.
Lunch and supper are prepared by Zhang Hongyan, as her blind mother can not deal with too complicated cooking procedures.
Mao said that she is from Songyang County, and became blind at two years old due to illness. Twenty-three years ago, there were no care homes in Suichang, so the government selected families to help foster abandoned children with 150 yuan ?provided per month.
Up to now, she has fostered over 20 abandoned children for the government, and the fee has increased form 150 yuan to 1,500 yuan.
"There are fewer fostered children as care homes have been established. Liu Wei and Xu Yang may be the last two children could accompany me," Mao added.
Some officials of CAB often visit Mao's family and they said the children have already assimilated into the family quite well. Xu Yang often purchases some gifts for Mao to show her love.
Mao also expressed her concern that no one may take care of Liu if she passed away.
For that, Zhang Chaohui said the relevant department of CAB will provide appropriate care service for Liu. "Mao is a kind woman, and we will not let her leave with any regret," Zhang added.?
