简体中文
Li Yajie, a migrant worker, usually goes back home once a year during the lunar New Year or to attend friends' weddings, but his recent unforeseen return was for a special purpose: fighting floods.
Li, 29, works as a warehouse staff in the financial hub Shanghai, more than 600 km away from his rural hometown in Jiangxinzhou in the city of Jiujiang, east China's Jiangxi Province.
Jiangxinzhou is a township-level settlement on a large sandbank along the mighty Yangtze River. It is the registered home of about 42,000 people, but like Li, many residents have migrated to big cities for better-paying jobs, leaving behind the elderly, women and children.
Villager Huang Fumei gets back home in Sanzhou Village of Susong County, east China's Anhui Province, July 15, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Fangqiang)
Jiangxi is a province with a large number of migrant workers. According to a 2019 report, the province had about 3.4 million outbound migrant workers, accounting for 7.25 percent of its population.
In the face of manpower dearth and devastating floods, local authorities issued a letter to the migrant workers, asking them to return home and help contain the floods.
"Dear town-fellows, you are pursuing your dreams across the country with your hard work and you have made great contributions to our country's prosperity," read the letter. "But Jiangxinzhou is currently facing a severe shortage of people who could help fight the floods."
"We request that our town-fellows come back home and work together to protect our family members and friends, and defend our homeland," the letter added.
According to official data, after the letter was issued, more than 4,000 migrant workers have come back to join in the battle.
Li Yajie took a 5-day leave from work and returned to Jiangxinzhou.
"It is my homeland. I was born and brought up here," he said. "It is my responsibility to protect this place."
EPIC JOURNEY HOME
China has entered its rainy season. Since June, incessant downpours have lashed large parts of southern China, and the waters of many rivers in the affected regions have exceeded warning levels.
Houses have been flooded in Sanzhou Village of Susong County, east China's Anhui Province, July 15, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Fangqiang)
The northern stretches of Jiangxi Province have experienced heavy downpours since July 6, with water rising significantly in local rivers and lakes. In the Jiangxinzhou area, the water level rose to 22.81 meters on July 12, posing a serious threat to the settlement.
Amid worries about his hometown, Li embarked on his journey to Jiangxinzhou.
He endured a 10-hour train ride before reaching the city of Jiujiang. He then hopped on a long-distance bus that took him to a ferry port. There he boarded a ship that transported migrant workers like him to the islet of Jiangxinzhou. Some workers returned by bus, while others by motorcycle.
Once the ship reached the islet, Li and the motley army of workers on motorcycles disembarked the ship anxiously. They headed back to their houses, some of which were already inundated. Thereafter, they went to the embankment.
"Our hometown is in danger," said Li. "It is an urgent task."
SAVING HOME SWEET HOME
Li is tasked with patrolling, filling bags with sand and carrying them.
"I usually work from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.," Li said. "We take turns to patrol."
Li and his peers focus on finding leaks on the rear surface of the embankment.
"If we see muddy water flowing out, we report to the authorities and experts, who come over to fix it immediately," he said. "Otherwise the dam will be in danger of collapsing."
It is a tough job, and everyone must be patient and pay attention to details.
"You don't want a minor leak to cause massive damage," he said.
When he is tired, Li takes a little rest in one of the stations along the embankment. Villagers have sent instant noodles, bottled water and watermelons for the flood fighters. There are also life-jackets, water shoes and loudspeakers.
Li has suffered sunburns and his skin has tanned because of patrolling in the scorching heat.
"It's OK," he said. "I am a strong man."
But one thing that does bother him is mosquitos.
"My hands are itchy due to the mosquito bites," he said.
Li looks forward to containing the floods as soon as possible and believes all the hard work is worth it.
"United we stand," he said. "I believe we will win the war against the floods."
By Xinhua writers Zhong Qun, Chen Yushan and Huang Haoran
