What they say

Editor's note: The State Council Information Office invited five representatives of newly elected national model workers and outstanding workers to answer questions on the topic of upholding the spirit of model workers and undertaking the mission of the new era on Tuesday.

We are beyond the olden days when workers had to carry buckets and shovels to dispose of sewage as we now have machines and smart vehicles, but the spirit of senior worker role models continues to inspire us. I participate in common volunteer services like them — making flower beds for communities, caring for residents at nursing homes, etc. When they appreciate us by bringing us drinking water or just by saying "thanks for your hard work", I feel so elevated because that shows the public's respect for senior role models.

Li Meng, sanitation worker in Beijing's Dongcheng district for 15 years

I once saw a blind child who was struggling on the station's sidewalk with a cane. When I reached out, I was stopped by her mother, who said the arduous journey would be the routine that the child has to endure as she would soon begin to commute between Wuxi, Jiangsu province, and a blind children's school in Shanghai every week for her studies. I made up my mind to help her and that continued for 11 years. That blind child eventually became the first blind postgraduate student at the renowned Fudan University and is now a teacher in Wuxi. This made me realize how volunteering work can help vulnerable groups like her, and that's what the public sector should always strive to do.

Gao Yu, director of Shanghai Metro's Hongqiao Railway Station

The power grid we guard is like a human's blood vessels, and substations which supply electricity are like the heart that pumps blood to all parts of the body. The maintenance job I do at the grid is like that of a general surgeon. By thorough inspections and precise isolation of parts that have malfunctioned, we secure the stable supply of electricity and contribute our part in achieving China's "dual carbon "goals. When the clean power generated here is sent to the network, I feel like our substation is glowing and the career I choose is magnificent.

Wu Jianan, specialist in substation maintenance at the State Grid in Qinghai province

When I first started my career as a ticket conductor, I found my uncle, who was the driver, was busy carrying things, making calls and purchasing goods. He said the goods are bought on behalf of fellow villagers who don't have time to shop in the county during the busy farming season. I told him jokingly "that's why your business is good and your bus is always full". But later on I realized that like him, many rural drivers are happily offering extra help to villagers and are trusted by them. Inspired by them and learning from them, I eventually became one of them.

Deng Lanzhou, rural bus driver in Wufeng Tujia autonomous county, Hubei province

I often tell my apprentices that they may learn about theoretical knowledge from books, but we, the operators, care more about practice. The feeling in our hands can only be accumulated through time and by transforming habits into muscle memories.

Ye Linwei, technician and operator of an 80,000-metric-ton die forging press at Sinomach's China National Erzhong Group in Deyang, Sichuan province