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Mother's devotion keeps her on the road
(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-06-18 10:32

Shandong province in eastern China is proud of its ancient philosophers - the region was home to sages Confucius and Mencius - and its modern mothers.

Legend has it that the mother of Mencius - a contemporary of Plato, who advised Chinese rulers and interpreted Confucian thought - was so committed to providing a nurturing upbringing for her son that she moved three times in order to find the best learning environment for her child.

Recently, the provincial city of Rushan began a search to celebrate its "Top Ten Great Mothers."

One woman honored was Wang Shao-song. She has been called a "Modern Mengmu," after Mencius' mother.

In an effort to give her daughter a better life and education, Wang has moved five times in the past eight years and changed her job 11 times.

Wang's husband passed away eight years ago, when their daughter was only 11. Ever since, Wang has been raising the child by herself.

Wang brought her daughter to Rushan to further her studies. Her idea was simple: there were better educational opportunities in the city than in the countryside.

Wang rented a room beside the Experimental Middle School, where her daughter studied. They lived frugally. Almost all of their clothes were hand-me-downs from relatives and friends.

Later, the girl was admitted to Jinling High School, and the mother and daughter pair moved again.

Last September when the girl enrolled at Shanghai Maritime University, Wang moved again, to an even cheaper apartment. She also started working in an apparel factory to fund the girl's college education.

When Wang was recognized as a "Great Mother" on June 8, she received a 1,000 yuan ($140) award. Her first idea was to send the money to her daughter in Shanghai.

But the girl refused, instead urging Wang to finally spend a little money on herself, to improve her own living conditions.

Dazhong Daily

(China Daily 06/18/2008 page5)