Zhang Haojie, disabled but strong-willed, blazes a trail to prosperity

Clearing weeds

Zhang Haojie and Zhang Yu repairing the weeder

In Dasi Village, Keku Township, Wenchuan County, at an altitude of 2200 m, a special father and son depend on each other: 50-year-old Zhang Haojie and his adopted nephew Zhang Yu.

Zhang Haojie contracted polio from a fever in childhood, leaving him disabled, and his nephew Zhang Yu was adopted by him from an early age. For many years, the two have lived a simple, hard life.

Because of his physical disability, Zhang Haojie cannot do heavy manual labor; the heavy and tiring work at home all depends on the help of his several brothers and his younger sister. Zhang Yu's schooling also costs over 10,000 yuan a year. Zhang Haojie's family was listed as an impoverished household in the village.

After joint investigation and study, the three-party joint assistance team from the Provincial Forestry Department, Zipingpu Development Company and Aba Teachers University tailored a poverty-alleviation plan for Zhang Haojie. "The state has arranged the subsistence allowance for us, and I also have a living subsidy for the disabled, plus policy subsidies such as returning farmland to forest and ecological awards and subsidies, amounting to more than 7,000 yuan a year." Zhang Haojie's life has improved considerably.

In earlier years, Zhang Haojie made a living by growing potatoes, corn, cabbage and the like. In 2007, he planted more than 500 green-red crisp plums on his own land. In 2015, the plums sold for only a little over 10,000 yuan.

Last year, the Provincial Forestry Department sent technicians to teach Zhang Haojie plum cultivation and management techniques. "The agricultural technician taught me fertilization, weeding, spraying and other techniques hand by hand, which was very useful. Only then did I learn the importance of scientific planting," Zhang Haojie said. The Provincial Forestry Department also specially supplied him with plum-specific fertilizer based on soil testing and formula.

The improvement in management techniques brought Zhang Haojie real benefits. "The plums here are of good quality and taste good; merchants from other provinces drive directly to the village to place orders, so there is no worry about sales. Last year, my family's plums sold for 85,000 yuan." Last year, Zhang Haojie also raised 3 pigs and sold them for 9,000 yuan. His family's per capita net income reached more than 28,000 yuan, and he successfully escaped poverty.

"The assisting unit also helped me apply for 6,000 yuan in development funds for the green-red crisp plum project. In the past two years I have planted more than 500 more plum trees to expand the planting scale," Zhang Haojie said. In five or six years, when all the plum trees bear fruit, the green-red crisp plums will bring an income of nearly 300,000 yuan a year.

Zhang Yu is 20 this year and has already graduated from school and returned to the village. Zhang Haojie hopes he can stay at home, learn fruit tree cultivation and management techniques, and help run the orchard.

"Uncle has always treated me very well. Now that he is getting older and his legs are inconvenient, I cannot leave him alone. Now I have come back to learn techniques from him and manage the orchard well. In a couple of years, when I have earned money, I will rebuild the house and open a horse-racing track to receive tourists, realizing my childhood dream and also letting Uncle live a good life." The obedient and sensible Zhang Yu is now Zhang Haojie's capable helper.

"The climate here is good, with plenty of sunshine, suitable for plum trees to grow. From now on, we will run the orchard well, and life will surely get better and better." Zhang Haojie is envisioning a happy life in the future.