Zhang Guimei encourages peacekeeping heroine's son to follow his mother's path

On Monday, an event was held in Lijiang, Yunnan, to honor the deeds of police officers in the province. They were accompanied by the son of He Zhihong, a peacekeeping hero who died during a UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti in 2010. Also in attendance was Zhang Guimei, founder and principal of China's first free high school.

He Zhihong was the only woman among eight Chinese peacekeeping police officers who lost their lives when a 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Her son, Zheng Xiaoyun, was only four at the time. Zheng has since followed in his mother's footsteps and become a student at Yunnan Police College.

Zhang established Huaping Senior High School for Girls in 2008. The school has helped more than 2,000 rural girls attend university, providing opportunities for those who might otherwise be left behind.

During the event in Lijiang, Zhang and Zheng shared a touching interaction, according to the Lijiang Integrated Media Center.

Zhang took the future police officer by the hand and said, "If you don't mind, I would be honored to be your mother."

Encouraging Zheng to live well, study hard, and follow in his mother's footsteps, Zhang's words left a deep impression. The cadet called her by an honorific used for motherly figures before expressing hope that she would take good care of her health as well.

Zheng said he was inspired by Zhang's dedication to teaching despite illness, and by the energy and ambition of her students, many of whom are rural girls striving to change their futures. "This warmth and strength will guide me as I pursue a career in the police and carry on my mother's work," he said.