China Scene: Central

Pining husband offers reward to find wife

A businessman in Wuhan, Hubei province has offered a 10,000 yuan ($1,389) reward for information on the whereabouts of his wife.

Yang Hengsheng's wife Li Jinmei left him last August. He has traveled to Hubei from their home in Hunan province 20 times in the past six months trying to find her.

Li left Yang because he refused to give up gambling.

But Yang said he still loves his wife and no longer gambles. To win back her heart, Yang said he's also quit smoking and drinking. He believes his wife is working for a company in Wuhan.

(Chutian Metropolis News)

Foster mom hopeful parents will show

A 61-year-old nurse in Jiaozhuo, Henan province, has unwittingly become a foster mom.

Niu Xiaomei was hired by a young couple to look after their child in June 2001. They promised a monthly salary of 400 yuan ($56).

But the couple didn't return to collect their daughter after they left her at Niu's home on the first day.

Niu was offered 10,000 yuan for the girl, but she refused. She named the girl Yang Yang and has taken care of her for over six years, even though her family is struggling and her husband's health deteriorating.

Niu remains hopeful Yang Yang's parents will turn up to take their daughter back.

"It would be good for Yang Yang to live with her own parents," Niu said.

(Dongfang Jinbao News)

Chopstick campaigner helps diners go green

More people are bringing their own chopsticks to restaurants in Luoyang, Henan province.

Luoyang local Xu Chunlong has spent more than 24,000 yuan ($3,374) on environment-friendly chopsticks, which he's distributed to local diners free of charge since November.

Xu also created a tree sculpture in front of a local restaurant, made from disposable wooden chopsticks he collected from there.

The "chopstick tree" is 15-cm wide and 1.8-m high. He said it was a reminder to locals of the environmental damage caused by disposable wooden chopsticks.

(Dahe News)

(China Daily 03/04/2008 page6)