Strangers help man, 102, eking out living
Source: Xinhua |
October 26, 2012, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
AT 102 years of age, Wang Zhenrong struggles to eke out a living selling shoe insoles on a Beijing street late into the night, gulping down a single cold bun for dinner and refraining from taking breaks for the bathroom or drinking water.
His story sparked widespread sympathy after it was posted on the Internet on Tuesday. People came in droves to buy insoles. For the first time in five years, Wang's insoles were sold out and he was able to go home early on Wednesday.
The widower, born in 1910, sews removable insoles during the day and sells them in the evening. Wang has three children, all retirees who are either unable or reluctant to care for him. His most frequent customers are sympathetic students from two nearby universities, who often buy more insoles than they actually need, bring him hot meals and help him at his "stall," an old baby carriage that also is his only means of transportation.
Wang's story has led many to consider the plight of elderly Chinese who have no one to take care of them.
A 78-year-old woman from Henan Province in central China has been in the spotlight peddling her own paintings on the streets of the southern boom city of Shenzhen. The old woman lives with her husband in a hut in Shenzhen, saying they are too poor to survive in their hometown.
As 14 percent of Chinese are aged 60 or above, inadequate care for the elderly people has proven to be a serious problem. China had 190 million people at or above the age of 60 at the end of last year. By 2050, one-third of Chinese will be over 60 years of age.
His story sparked widespread sympathy after it was posted on the Internet on Tuesday. People came in droves to buy insoles. For the first time in five years, Wang's insoles were sold out and he was able to go home early on Wednesday.
The widower, born in 1910, sews removable insoles during the day and sells them in the evening. Wang has three children, all retirees who are either unable or reluctant to care for him. His most frequent customers are sympathetic students from two nearby universities, who often buy more insoles than they actually need, bring him hot meals and help him at his "stall," an old baby carriage that also is his only means of transportation.
Wang's story has led many to consider the plight of elderly Chinese who have no one to take care of them.
A 78-year-old woman from Henan Province in central China has been in the spotlight peddling her own paintings on the streets of the southern boom city of Shenzhen. The old woman lives with her husband in a hut in Shenzhen, saying they are too poor to survive in their hometown.
As 14 percent of Chinese are aged 60 or above, inadequate care for the elderly people has proven to be a serious problem. China had 190 million people at or above the age of 60 at the end of last year. By 2050, one-third of Chinese will be over 60 years of age.
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