By Xiao Liu (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-05-21 07:09

At Jiangyou county, one of the worst-hit quake areas in Sichuan province, a pregnant woman walked out of a makeshift shelter - a large cement pipe draped with a tarp.

Wang Zhuo, the wife of a soldier involved in quake relief efforts, is the person thousands of netizens have been trying to find and help in the past week.

"I'm grateful that so many people are trying to help me," said Wang, a 25-year-old elementary school teacher.

She turned down the local government's offer to relocate her to a proper shelter several times.

"Please keep the tent for other quake survivors," she said.

On May 13, a letter was widely copied and read on most Chinese online communities.

"She is 7 months' pregnant and has no food or water. I called her this morning, she was starving Our troops are about to leave for Wenchuan. I will devote all my strength to save people Please, can anyone in Jiangyou bring her a bit of food, or even a bottle of water," a soldier who would not reveal his name pleaded in the letter.

Netizens were all touched by the appeal and joined an unprecedented campaign to save the Junsao - a term of respect for a soldier's wife.

However, except for giving his wife's name and the fact that she was on a truck, the officer did not leave any other information.

On Sina.com, the country's largest online portal, a special BBS is devoted to the campaign to find the pregnant woman.

"Behind each soldier at the frontline, there is a Wang Zhuo. We promise, we will provide the best care to all soldiers' wives. This shouldn't be a mission impossible," went one post.

Many people called the Jiangyou Public Security Bureau for help. Bureau director Zhang Defu sent 10 police officers to search for five hours on Wednesday. But they could not find Wang.

When telecommunications resumed on Thursday, local police received a call from Wang. Some netizens had miraculously found her and she wanted to thank the kind-hearted strangers.

That night, Wang went to the police bureau where the relief headquarters is located.

She posted her thanks online: "Dear friends, thank you for your concern. I am Wang Zhuo. I've got help Although we can't go home, the care you have shown makes my heart warm. I believe we will have a beautiful home soon."

Wang told local media that she ran out of her home when the tremors began. A driver, whose truck was out of gas, asked her to hide in his vehicle. From there, she called her husband Feng Yong, who was stationed in neighboring Guizhou province.

Fortunately, Wang's mother found her soon after the quake hit and started building a shelter for themselves. Three other tubes stood side by side, sheltering other quake survivors. Wang's neighbors said she had sent water and cucumbers to the rescuers.

"But they sent the food back," Wang said, smiling shyly.

Wang has managed to contact her husband. At a program broadcast live on China Central Television at midnight on Saturday, host Bai Yansong called both Wang and Feng.

The couple called out: "Laogong (husband), I love you!" "Laopo (wife), I love you too!"

Wang's mother, also an elementary school teacher, said she would go back to teach at her Jiangyou school once conditions have stabilized.

Wang declined the local government's offer to take care of her.

She plans to move with her mother to the school grounds and live in tents with other teachers.

(China Daily 05/21/2008 page17)