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[The author is working hard, surely you won't even spare a glance at the ads?] 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

A gray-blue shirt with a torn collar, repeatedly patched pants, worn-out thousand-layer cloth shoes, a plastic cup with an open lid — this humble attire is the "Shoe School" Li Zhenhua's 68 years of donations to students in the Yimeng Mountain Area. Villagers say, "His heart is always filled with others, without himself."

In 1953, the 17-year-old Li Zhenhua resolutely bid farewell to his hometown, Nanjing, and left Nanjing Normal School for Yiyuan, Shandong, determined to change the fate of mountain children with knowledge. Because of this "city guy," a rural school that had suspended classes for half a year reopened.

Since starting work, Li Zhenhua donated a fixed 14% of his salary every month, continuing for 47 years.

Retiring in 1997, he held over 30 part-time jobs, keeping only 500 yuan of his pension for living expenses, donating nearly all other income. By last year, Li Zhenhua had donated a total of 1.36 million yuan, supporting over 2,300 students.

In the Hanwang Middle School campus, there stands a jade statue of Li Zhenhua, funded by Yiyuan County locals. Over 68 years, he was honored with 103 titles at county, city, and national levels, met national leaders eight times, and won numerous awards, including National Education System Model Worker, China Education Annual Figure 2015, and Shandong Excellent Communist Party Member.

The Shandong Provincial Party Committee and Education Department issued a notice announcing "2021's Most Beautiful Teachers of Qilu" and Shandong Provincial Exemplary Teachers. Comrade Li Zhenhua (formerly of Chengguan Second Middle School) was awarded the "2021 Qilu Most Beautiful Teacher" special award.

Retired, he chose to "work"

First meeting Li Zhenhua, you can hardly imagine he's 85 years old. Deaf, blurred vision, hunched back, gray hair, and dark skin make him appear spirited. Retirement kept his schedule busier than his working years.

Due to continuous student support, in his retirement year, Li Zhenhua donated his only savings of 15,000 yuan plus the State Council special allowance totaling 20,000 yuan to schools he had worked at: Hanwang Primary School, Zhangjia Middle School, Yiyuan County Experimental Middle School. Following the donation, a "Zhenhua Scholarship and Poverty Relief Foundation" was established to support nearly 10,000 impoverished students.

Seeing other poor students outside the foundation's scope, Li Zhenhua decided to continue with his support. Limited by his pension, he chose to "work" outside to help more needy children. At Zibo Wanji Chaoyang School, he served as junior high division director, earning 500,000 yuan over eight years, aiding 23 poor students beyond the foundation's reach. "Each year, 5 students get 5,000 yuan, and 5 vocational and junior college students get 3,000 yuan, while 13 junior high students get 1,100 yuan annually."

At his toughest times, Li Zhenhua collected trash on campus with Zhang Wenqiang, a previously supported student turned vocational graduate, raising 16,000 yuan over 8 years, all spent aiding poor students and the elderly.

Upon retirement's first-month pension, Li Zhenhua tried living on only 200 yuan, finding it couldn't suffice, adjusting to 500 yuan monthly for living expenses, donating all that remained. Across 68 years, a total donation of 1.36 million yuan supported over 2,300 poor children, realizing their academic dreams.

Li Zhenhua (left) traversed over 300 villages in Yiyuan County, Shandong, identifying impoverished students and left-behind children, providing economic and psychological aid. (Photos contributed)

Despite enjoying State Council special allowances, Li Zhenhua lived frugally. Three meals consisted of noodles and radish slices morning and night, squash, radish, and steamed buns for lunch. Never drank alcohol, smoked, or had tea leaves — using a plastic cup to hold boiled water.

Li Zhenhua's clothing could not be simpler: worn for six to seven years, frequently patched and mended. Cloth shoes worn two to three years until worn out, then taken to street cobblers for repairs to keep wearing. He never wore high-end shoes or suits — not for lack of funds, but for spending money on impoverished children.

"Although living simply, my heart is rich, joyful every day."

Most gratifying for Li Zhenhua is students thriving and giving back to society.

Li Zhenhua enjoys being with the children. (Photos contributed)

Among the 23 poor students Li Zhenhua supported, Ren Jilan was one of them. Diagnosed with cancer, health deteriorated, leaving the family struggling. In 2013, Ren Jilan's senior year saw cancer at a critical stage, hospital issuing a serious illness notice. That year, Ren Jilan seldom attended school, studying at home instead, busied with medication, caregiving, and chores. Ren Jilan proved resilient, scoring 576 in college entrance exams, admitted to Qufu Normal University. But tuition concerns left aspirations unclear, until then Yiyuan County Experimental Middle School's Li Zhenhua placed warm hands with tuition in hers. Each summer break over the following four years, he covered tuition.

From that point, Ren Jilan resolved: she would be like Grandpa Li. College graduation brought her back to her hometown, Yiyuan, through teacher recruitment at Fuluping Primary School where Li Zhenhua had worked. Inspired by Grandpa Li, she began her teaching career, using part of her salary to fund two poor students, fulfilling her promise.

Li Zhenhua tutoring students. (Photos contributed)