ZHONG ZHAOBING, 103

Education provides the best chance for prosperity, Zhong Zhaobing believes. Fond of reading and calligraphy at a young age, he showed extraordinary talent. But, sadly, he was forced to drop out of middle school because his family had little money.

He was determined to earn more to help his children get a better education and saw an opportunity in cattle, which were needed to perform farmwork but difficult to buy in the 1960s.

"At first, I could only afford one animal. But I could make 10 yuan profit by selling it. That was equal to a month's salary for a staff member of the local government," he said.

He moved to neighboring Hunan province, which had a cattle trading market, and gradually built a successful business. He was able to send his son and daughter to school. The son now serves as a village head; the daughter became a teacher.

Living in a three-story building with his son in Changwan village of Hezhou's Liantang town, Zhong has returned to his love of calligraphy and reading. He practices writing every day and reads as much as he can.

"Education is the best soil to support children's growth and will nurture their minds for a lifetime."

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