Liu Faying, deputy principal of Longzhouping Primary School, a school in Changyang Tujia Autonomous County, in Yichang, a city in central China's Hubei Province, has enjoyed her return to a busy, yet happy, work routine. For more than two decades, Liu and her family have dedicated themselves to helping children, from households living with difficulties, receive charitable donations to support their education. Liu hopes children from the ethnic Tujia county will feel love from society, which will enable them to dream bigger.
The Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the All-China Women's Federation in May announced the 10 families designated as "Most Beautiful Family" in 2025. Liu Faying's family was one of those so designated.
From Father to Daughter
Liu Faying was born in 1970 into a teacher's family in Changyang. Her father, Liu Shiqing, was a graduate of Wuhan Normal College (predecessor of today's Hubei University). Liu Shiqing returned to his hometown to teach at a local middle school following his graduation.
When Liu Faying was a girl, her father earned a regular salary to support the family. Liu Shiqing generally returned home once a week. His wife, Hu Fangqiong, took care of their three children. During his 37-year career before he retired in 1998, Liu Shiqing never hesitated to work as a teacher in rural areas.
"If every child, who was born and raised in a mountainous region, leaves his/her hometown to earn a living, who will help develop the villages in the mountains?" Liu Faying recalls her father asking. Enlightened by her father's words, she decided to work as a teacher in Chenjiaping Primary School, in one of the remotest mountains, in Changyang, after she graduated from normal college. "My father told me, 'A teacher must keep an honest and pure mind.' Working in a tough environment will help me improve my teaching skills," Liu Faying says.
While Liu Faying was a teacher at the school, located on Mount Huangbai, she planted vegetables for her daily food. She did not know how to grow vegetables well at the beginning. Her students' families gave her fresh vegetables, and they taught her how to grow vegetables. On weekends, her students, especially young girls, took turns inviting Liu Faying to their homes. "I was saved by my students and their families when I felt helpless deep in the mountains. The children lived with various difficulties themselves. I was determined to teach them well, to help them, and to repay their kindness," Liu Faying explains.
Joining 'Sis Yingzi'
Liu Faying met Qin Shoulong, also a college graduate, when they both worked at Chenjiaping Primary School. "He was like an elder brother, honest and kind," Liu Faying says, describing her first impression of Qin. What was Qin's impression of Liu Faying? "I respected her very much. She was an outstanding woman, who chose to work in the impoverished mountainous region after she graduated from college," Qin says. The young teachers fell in love, and they got married in 1993.
In 2003, Liu Faying assumed her post as principal of Baishaping Primary School, located in Ziqiu Town, after the township of Mount Huangbai came under the administration of Ziqiu Town. Two years later, two volunteers, working with an education-aid website, visited Baishaping Primary School. Liu Faying accompanied the volunteers as they visited several impoverished households, whose children studied at the school. The volunteers posted the students' information on the website, to collect donations for the purpose of paying the students' tuition fees. Inspired by the kind deed, Liu Faying registered her QQ account, with the name "Sis Yingzi," in 2005. She began posting information about her impoverished students on the social-media platform.
Given support from both the Party (Communist Party of China) committee and the people's government of Changyang Tujia Autonomous County, Liu Faying established an education-aid website, under the name of "Sis Yingzi," in 2010. Teachers, retired cadres and former students, who had received help from Liu Faying, joined her effort to help more students.
Changyang was lifted out of poverty in 2020. Since then, local children have no longer needed to worry about their tuition fees for compulsory education. Liu Faying and her team on Sis Yingzi's website have shifted focus, to help students who perform well in school, but whose families are disadvantaged.
"During the years I have devoted myself to education-aid work, my husband has shown his support and understanding. When my father was ill, and paralyzed in bed, in 2007, my husband took care of him, day and night. My husband has been the one who cooks for our family, and who shoulders the majority of housework. His actions have been the best proof of his deep love for the family," Liu Faying says.
Third Generation
Liu Faying's son, Qin Fei'ou, had a difficult time understanding why his mother was working so hard. "When I was a kid, I couldn't see my Mom, even on holidays. Dad cooked for me, mended my worn clothes, and accompanied me during my school days," Qin Fei'ou recalls.
However, things changed after he met a less-fortunate student, who had received help from his mother. "That student said her destiny had been changed, because she had received timely support to help her enter a college. She said she wanted to be a warm person, just like my parents. I have since realized my parents have been 'sowing a seed of hope' among students in the mountains."
After he graduated from college in 2015, Qin Fei'ou decided to work in his hometown. When he has spare time, he visits local households to record the families who may have trouble supporting their children's education.
Qin Fei'ou's wife, Zhang Wanbin, has had a special connection with Liu Faying. Why? Zhang was one of the students who received funding from "Sis Yingzi." Says Zhang: "When I met my mother-in-law, for the first time, I was so surprised and happy. I never expected the person who encouraged me, and helped me find the direction for my future, would become a family member of mine!" Zhang has joined Liu Faying's education-aid team. On weekends,
Zhang often visits children in the county. When she holds the children's hands, she feels like she is meeting herself, the once shy girl who dreamt about a bright future.
Liu Faying and Qin Shoulong celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary in 2023. Their son and daughter-in-law ordered a cake for them, which was inscribed with sincere wishes: "Original aspiration leads a long way."
Over the past two decades, Liu Faying's family has kept 227 account books, which have recorded clearly the money provided by more than 2,000 donors. The combined donations of 36 million yuan (US $5.07 million) have supported the education of 5,000-plus children in Changyang and neighboring areas.
"Absolute poverty has been eliminated in our country. But my family will walk firmly on the journey of providing education aid, to help children who may still need our support," Liu Faying says.
Photos from Interviewee
(Women of China English Monthly September 2025)
Editor: Wang Shasha
