Keeping the light on

A shared call

For Zhang, being a member of the special police unit is more than a job."It's a belief," he said. "It comes with both reverence and passion."

"The weight of policing isn't just the uniform you wear," he added. "When people are at their most desperate, police officers are a helping hand — or even the only light in the darkest moments."

Zhang recalled participating in earthquake rescue operations, where police officers were among the first to arrive.

"In those moments, you don't even have time to feel tired," he said. "When you pull someone to safety, you truly understand the mission of the police: to be the most reliable support when people are most helpless."

But not every challenge comes in a crisis.

Wang Yuxin, an instructor at the Xima border police station under the Dehong border management detachment in Yunnan, spoke about the hardships of long-term service in remote border areas.

After joining the force, he was posted step by step from major cities to border prefectures, then counties, and eventually remote townships. His current station is more than 50 kilometers from the county seat.

"Young officers sometimes joke that even eating hot pot feels like a luxury here," he said.

Even so, Wang has long cared about the lives of local students. For more than 13 years, he has led charitable initiatives to support children in remote areas, mobilizing volunteers and donations from across the country. Thousands of students have received books, school supplies, and financial assistance.

For Zheng, community policing has become deeply personal over time.

"Now, when I return to the neighborhood each day, it feels like coming home," he said. "Residents are happy to see me, and they're willing to join the anti-fraud activities I organize. They treat me like family."

Helping people solve everyday problems brings him the greatest sense of fulfillment.

"Seeing their smiles means more to me than any award. I'm like a small night-light: always on, quietly watching over everyone so they can live and work in peace," Zheng said.