No.259 Zhang Youcai： Sticking to the Front Line of Flood Control in Recent Years

Zhang Youcai, 68, is an ordinary farmer in Paifang Township, Feidong County, Hefei City. In July this year, heavy rain fell in the south, and some dikes in Feidong County collapsed, causing the village to be flooded. When he learned that the village committee was organizing a volunteer team for flood control, Zhang Youcai felt an inexplicable surge in his heart. Although he was nearly old, he still actively signed up for it.

Since July 7th, Zhang Youcai and other members of the village volunteer team have been stationed in Huaguang section of Nanfeihe River. Loading sand, carrying sandbags, and fixing dams, Zhang Youcai’s old figure kept running on the dams. Tired, he sat by the rubble for a while; Hungry, just chew two steamed buns with white water.

Zhang Youcai, after all, is an old man who is nearly 70 years old. After days of hard work and irregular diet, he finally collapsed. At noon on July 11th, Zhang Youcai felt upset in his stomach, and he didn’t care. In the evening, the stomachache became more and more serious, and I couldn’t even speak. The villagers rushed to find a doctor to treat Zhang Youcai. The doctor asked Zhang Youcai to stay in bed and not to take part in heavy physical labor again.

Although Zhang Youcai left the dam with regret, there were still more than 150 of his "comrades-in-arms". They guard the dam day and night, guarding the lives and property of nearby villagers. They have the same name as Zhang Youcai-members of the Paifang Township flood control volunteer dike guard team.

In addition to participating in the flood control work in Huaguang section of Nanfeihe River, villagers in Paifang Township spontaneously organized a small volunteer team of 30 people to rush to other dams in Feidong County to participate in the first-line flood control.

The flood is ruthless, and there is love on earth. At the age of 68, Zhang Youcai, a villager in Paifang Township, resolutely went to the front line of flood fighting and rescue, loading sand, carrying sandbags and consolidating dams with other young boys. Sweat like rain on a hot summer day. What supports him is the obsession in his heart: we must protect the lives and property of the villagers, and we must not let the flood take more lives and prevent the flood from washing away the original happy home.

In the face of the devastating flood, we have seen people’s perseverance and tenacity, and mutual assistance and warmth between people. It is this little warm glimmer that lights up the lamp of hope in the hearts of people in the disaster area. In the face of the flood, besides Zhang Youcai, there are countless troops, officers and men of the armed police and ordinary villagers like Zhang Youcai who fought in the front line of flood control. It was their persistence, their dedication and even their sacrifice that saved countless lives and defended our warm home. Let’s say thank you here to all the "soldiers" fighting in the front line of flood control!