At the beginning of 2024, in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, deaf mute girl Wang Yani is busy preparing lessons for the new semester.
Becoming a teacher is Wang Yani's childhood dream. It was the meeting with General Secretary Xi Jinping many years ago that lit up this dream.
On the eve of the Spring Festival in 2014, Xi Jinping came to Hohhot Children's Welfare Home to visit the children living here. Wang Yani is one of them.
The welfare home was a welfare institution built by the local government that integrates maintenance, treatment, rehabilitation, education and resettlement. At that time, more than 200 orphans and disabled children were accommodated.
"The moment I saw Grandpa Xi, I recognized him at once, and I was very excited. I never thought that Grandpa Xi would come to see us specially for the Spring Festival." Ten years later, Wang Yani still remembered the situation of that year.
On January 28, 2014, Xi Jinping encouraged Wang Yani (left), a deaf mute girl, and Yan Zhijing, a college student "going home" during the holiday, to study hard and succeed in school in the dormitory of Hohhot Children's Welfare Home. Photographed by Lan Hongguang, a reporter from Xinhua News Agency
In the welfare home, Xi Jinping talked cordially with the children. He looked through Wang Yani's sign language books and photo albums on the shelf, and encouraged her to study hard and succeed with Yan Zhijing, a college student who "went home" from the holiday.
Little Yani could not help but stretch out her right hand and bend her thumb to show "thank you" in sign language.
Xi Jinping also gave a thumbs up and said, "Yes, it is' good ', and a turn is' thank you'." He wore a kind smile on his face.
On January 28, 2014, Xi Jinping learned the sign language "thank you" from Wang Yani (second from left), a deaf mute girl, and Yan Zhijing, a college student who "went home" on holiday in the dormitory of Hohhot Children's Welfare Institute. Photographed by Lan Hongguang, a reporter from Xinhua News Agency
In the rehearsal room of the welfare home, the orphans and disabled children who were rehearsing the Spring Festival show met Xi Jinping and gathered around to introduce themselves. Xi Jinping squatted down and picked up a child lovingly.
On January 28, 2014, Xi Jinping came to Hohhot Children's Welfare Home to see the children. Photographed by Pang Xinglei, a reporter from Xinhua News Agency
"Thank you, thank you …… ”The children sang "Heart of Gratitude" in unison while making gestures. The singing is melodious, and many people's eyes are moist.
Xi Jinping said with emotion that it is important to have a heart of gratitude. For children, especially orphans and disabled children, the whole society should have a heart of benevolence and love, and work together to enable them to grow up healthily and feel the warmth of the socialist family.
Sentimental words and cordial encouragement are like spring breeze warming and bright lights illuminating the way forward.
"Grandpa Xi made me realize that we are all his beloved children and should work hard for our dreams." After graduating from Hohhot Special Education School, Wang Yani went to beauty school for further study. Today, she has become a beauty teacher in Hohhot Special Education School, It has become an endless power for her to help more disabled children change their destiny.
