The "children of the nation" have returned home! This separation of more than half a century has ushered in a happy ending

In the late 50s and early 60s of the 20th century, much of China experienced a period of severe natural disasters in southern China. A large number of children have gathered in welfare homes in Shanghai, Jiangsu and other places. In that era of scarcity, in order to solve the problem of the survival of these children, the state decided to send them to Inner Mongolia, which was relatively well fed at that time, and these children were affectionately called "children of the country".

Time flies, and as the years go by, many people who are called "children of the nation" have a stronger and stronger search for their roots, and they yearn to reunite with their long-lost relatives. But their search for their relatives is fraught with difficulties, and the chances of finding their relatives through the clues of their looks are slim.

In 2021, a ray of hope illuminates the way to find relatives. The Ministry of Public Security organized a "reunion operation" to comprehensively search for missing children using the national anti-abduction DNA database. To get more families involved, more than 3,000 free DNA blood collection sites have been set up across the country.

Upon learning of the news, local residents of the Xilin Gol League in Inner Mongolia, one of the cities that have received many "children of the country", have sought help from the public security department, hoping to reunite with their loved ones through the "reunion operation".

"Children of the country" Han Lijun: Because we have a lot of people doing blood samples now, now you see that there are eight people found through the national gene bank, and five people who have not been found through the national gene bank. Because we have not relaxed our work, we are also actively cooperating with the public security.

In Xilinhot, Su He, a retired worker, was fortunate to become the first "child of the country" to be reunited with his relatives through the "reunion action".

"Children of the country" Su He: At that time, I was excited, I couldn't wait to see my relatives immediately, how can blood be thicker than water, you look at my brothers, younger brothers, nephews, he can't see it. We belong to this country to give a second life, I feel that I am the luckiest, retired, and found a home again, there will be no regrets in this life.

Since then, the "children of the country" have embarked on a journey to find their relatives. Some elderly people came on crutches to collect blood samples. The continuous improvement of DNA technology is like a beacon to illuminate the way home for separated families. But even with such technological assistance, it is still a difficult task to find clues to relatives in tens of millions of data.

In the office of the Technical Brigade of the Criminal Investigation Detachment of the Xilin Gol League Public Security Bureau in Inner Mongolia, the police are facing the lengthy data on the computer screen, constantly searching, comparing, and analyzing.

Wu Damu, Captain of the Technical Brigade of the Criminal Investigation Detachment of the Xilin Gol League Public Security Bureau: When you have 100 data, I have to compare 100 times, and when you have 1,000 data, I have to compare 1,000 times. But our technologists are more optimistic, and if I deny one, I may have to rule one out. Whether it is affirmed or denied, it is getting closer and closer to the truth, and we just need to go further.

With the development of science and technology, especially the rapid improvement of criminal investigation technology, the pace of searching for separated relatives is getting faster and faster. Four months after Li Shiying submitted his blood sample in September 2023, he got the matching result, and his relatives are thousands of miles away in Jiangsu.

"Child of the country" Li Shiying: My sister called me several times, saying that now the Xilin Gol League is doing that DNA, you should go to the local police station to see if you can do DNA, saying that you can find your relatives in Shanghai. I didn't have much hope at the time, and I said it was impossible to find it. Unexpectedly, after a while, in December, I said that your comparison was successful, and that you are now looking for your brother.

"I'm back, reunited!"

No matter how the years change, the direction of home never changes.

Nostalgia is like a simple ticket, carrying deep emotions, spanning 1,800 kilometers, leading the hearts of Li Shiying and the old man Li Yong to a distant homeland.

On December 30, 2023, Li Yong and Li Shiying, two elderly people who are also 67 years old, embarked on the road home at the same time.

"Child of the Nation" Li Yong: From Erenhot to Jining South, then to Beijing South, and then from Beijing South to Yixing, I have never been far away, looking forward to seeing my old mother one day earlier.

In Yujiaqiao Village, Xushe Town, Yixing City, Wuxi, the hometown of Li Shiying, the family is busy preparing for a reunion after a long absence.

Li Shiying's third sister: I found my brother, no matter how hard it is, I feel bad about losing a relative, I am so happy to find a relative, I can't sleep every day.

In order to welcome Li Shiying who returned from the north, the family has redecorated the old house, considering that Li Shiying may not be accustomed to the damp and cold in the south of the Yangtze River, the eldest brother and sister-in-law of the family specially turned on the newly purchased air conditioner in advance, making this room specially prepared for him warm. Every detail reveals the family's longing and love for this reunion after a long absence.

"Child of the country" Li Shiying: It's been more than half a century, I left at the age of 3, I am 67 this year, and I have returned to my roots, I now have two hometowns, one is Xilin Gol League is my hometown, and the other is Yixing, Jiangsu.

In Tianluowei Village, Liyang City, near Yujiaqiao Village, Li Yong, after 65 years, crossed a distance of more than 1,800 kilometers and finally met his biological mother, Shi Bamei, who threw himself into his mother's arms like a child.

The eldest who left home at a young age looked forward to returning for many years, and finally returned

The legend of "3,000 orphans into Inner Mongolia" will be passed on more than 60 years later. In the past, the state sent them to a new home, and now it is the state that helps them find their home. What is meant by "a country has a home", and the "children of the country" know best.

The place where the reunion comes after a long absence is a long road of twists and turns. It is the application of DNA data comparison, the efforts of the public security police, and the persistence of volunteers that have made more than half a century of separation into reunion.

When I left home at a young age, I went back to my eldest child, and I looked forward to returning for many years. The special history has ushered in a happy ending, and the light of hope illuminates more ways to find relatives. At the beginning of the new year, may all relatives be reunited, and every dream of returning home can come true.

(Reporter Zheng Ying, Zhang Yang, Gao Dongguang, Sun Xiaolu, Inner Mongolia Station)