Chen displays the award certificate he received for his charity work at his rented room. ZHOU HUIYING/CHINA DAILY

Inspired to help

On May 12, 2008, when Chen heard the news that an earthquake had hit Wenchuan in Sichuan province, he thought of his own experience of leaving his home village due to a natural disaster.

"I knew there must be lots of people who needed help," he said. "After reaching an agreement with my wife I sent a donation of 500 yuan to the Heilongjiang Charity Federation the next day."

From then on, Chen made more charitable donations. In 2017, he watched a TV program that showed there were still many left-behind children in impoverished areas of Heilongjiang, which reminded him of leaving his sons behind.

"At that time, they were all teenagers and needed parents to take care of them, we had no other choice," he said.

"Fortunately, they now have stable lives through their own efforts."

Chen and his wife decided they would help left-behind children have a better chance in life by offering them financial support.

Through the Heilongjiang Charity Federation, Chen has donated 1,200 yuan each to eight left-behind children.

When he sees a media report of a child in urgent need of help he always rushes to offer assistance, his wife said.

"In January 2014, Chen gave 100 yuan to an 8-year-old left-behind boy who had severe frostbite in his left hand and was in a Harbin hospital," Sun said.

"When he arrived at the hospital and found a girl with burns injuries was also facing financial difficulties, he gave all the cash he was carrying to the girl."

Sun said Chen did not have any money left to pay for transportation and walked for three hours in the middle of winter to get home.

Chen said to save money his wife usually goes to the market just before closing time to buy discounted vegetables and fruit. "We seldom have dinner at a restaurant or even travel around the city," he said.

Due to the concern for their aging parents and their physical health, Chen's three sons, who live in different cities, are always inviting their parents to come live with them.

But Chen refuses.

"They are all facing great pressure from work and life, but I can't give them any help," he said. "We don't want to bring them more trouble."

He added there are many people who need his help, especially children. "I have to continue my business till the day I can't move," he said.