Source: Yangguang Military and People's Liberation Army News and Communication Center Rong Media
Author: Zhao Min Yang Hong
Liu Qi, a native of Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, joined the army in December 1972 and served as a technician in a department of the former Lanzhou Military Region. In April 1981, in order to rescue the baby boy who was deeply caught in the fire due to the liquefied gas explosion, he unfortunately suffered extensive burns, lost his facial features and hands, and was designated as a special disability. After being injured, Liu Qi overcame the pain with superhuman perseverance, tenaciously created, and successively published nearly 2 million words of works such as poems "Road", "I Wish" and the novel "Go to The Wandering". In 1987, his superiors honored Liu Qirong with the second class merit, and the former Lanzhou Military Region awarded him the honorary title of "Iron Warrior". After retiring in 1999, Liu Qi continued to maintain his true character as a soldier, carried out patriotic education with the spirit of self-improvement and the feeling of serving the people, devoted himself to the cause of helping the disabled, and won wide praise from society.
Liu Qi, once known as a heroic figure of the "contemporary Paul" style in the 1980s, his heroic deeds of sacrificing himself to save others and the inspirational story of fighting against fate have deeply infected and inspired countless people. One day forty years later, a reporter from the "Chinese Veterans" column of the Central Radio And Television Bureau came to Liu Qi's home in Baoshan District, Shanghai, to listen to the life story of this "steel warrior". When I first met Liu Qi, he had just returned from a patriotic education report in the community.
Liu Qi: I like the old saying "Old Ji Futuo, aiming for a thousand miles". As a retired old comrade, I feel that I am still young, and I can still dedicate myself to the country and society and do what I can.
Influenced by his father and influenced by the family environment, Liu Qi has been full of yearning for the military camp since he was a child. In December 1972, he joined the army and joined a certain unit of the former Lanzhou Military Region. Six years later, Liu Qi was promoted by the army for his outstanding work achievements and served as a technical operator. However, just when he was full of ambitions to do a career in the barracks, a sudden fire completely changed the trajectory of his life.
Liu Qi's military travel photos
On the afternoon of April 1, 1981, a comrade-in-arms' liquefied gas tank suddenly exploded and caused a fire, in order to rescue the comrade-in-arms' baby less than 40 days old, Liu Qi braved billowing smoke and rushed into the fire.
Liu Qi: When the house was burning, there was a baby inside. At that time, no matter who it was, as long as there was a conscience, it would definitely rush in to save people. When I rushed into the house, I saw that the whole room had turned blue, like the color of the sea. At that time, I thought to myself, quickly rush in and pick up the child and hurry out. As soon as I entered, the door was sealed by fire, and I was trapped inside the house.
The relentless fire caused Liu Qi to burn forty-two percent of his whole body, the muscles of his head and face were burned dry and scorched, his ears, nose, lips and other prominent parts were burned off, his eyes were blind, his left leg was deformed and rigid, and he lost his function. After the comrades-in-arms struggled to rescue him, he was urgently sent to the general hospital of the former Lanzhou Military Region. After more than 300 hours of coma, Liu Qi woke up.
Liu Qi: In that fire, my hair burned out, my ears burned out, my face was burned to the point where there was no flesh and skin, and bones were exposed everywhere. Because it was covered with gauze, I couldn't feel it at the time. Later, the doctor told me about the injury, and I knew that after that, I was particularly sad.
At the time of the injury, Liu Qi was only 24 years old, and he was in a beautiful youth. How will he survive the long life that follows? Liu Qi has had pain and wandering, fear and despair, and even thought of ending his life.
Liu Qi: During the period of hospital treatment, because my eyes could not see, I was very anxious and particularly irritable. Obviously, I heard the sound of rain, but I just couldn't see it, and my heart was depressed. After a long time, I finally realized that this is the reality and can only be bravely faced.
Liu Qi was burned and disabled by rescuing his comrades-in-arms' infants who were less than 40 days old
In the face of the cruel reality, Liu Qi was not defeated, and the bravery and tenacity of the soldiers made him reinvigorate and actively accept treatment. In his hospital bed, he did not want to waste a lot of youth and decided to continue his former hobby of writing. Without a pen in his hand, he asked his comrades-in-arms to help him record, and with a strong and indomitable will, he devoted himself to literary creation. In April 1984, he heard the news from the radio that the "Literature Newspaper" was titled "Road", and he couldn't help but feel his heart fluctuate, and he couldn't sleep all night, and his heart kept gushing out passionate verses.
Liu Qi: Although, I only have one leg that has lost its function; although, I have no hands and I have lost my eyes; but I do not feel that the future is bleak and I am cornered... Those who are good at flying have a road in the sky, those who dare to climb have a road in the mountains, those who dare to attack have a road in the sea; my road, in the long sky, in the steep mountains, in the depths of the sea...
In August 1984, Liu Qi's poem was published in the "Literature Newspaper" and won the first prize, and the soundtrack was broadcast by Shanghai People's Radio 8 times, broadcast by the Central People's Radio, and was also included in the poetry selection published by the People's Literature Publishing House that year.
Liu Qi: The publication of this poem gave me a lot of motivation. I never imagined that such a small poem would receive such attention and attention. I was immediately more confident and determined to continue to write in the future.
In January 1987, his superiors recorded Liu Qirong's second-class merit, and the former Lanzhou Military Region awarded him the honorary title of "Iron Warrior" and made a decision to learn from Comrade Liu Qi. In July of the same year, Liu Qi attended the All-Army Heroic Model Congress held in Beijing. At the end of that year, his first autobiographical novel " To Wander " was published , causing a sensation in the whole society , not only winning multiple awards , but also being adapted into a television series.
Liu Qi: I belong to the cheerful personality. I don't think it's wrong, it's not a sin, because I'm mentally healthy. So, when I was writing a novel, there were times when I had difficulties, but I never wanted to give up.
On October 21, 1988, Liu Qi and Wu Guohua registered their marriage
Liu Qi's recovery from injuries is a long process, in addition to dozens of surgeries, large and small, but also regular rehabilitation treatment. In 1988, Liu Qi met Wu Guohua, a hygienist 12 years younger than him, during the treatment, and this enthusiastic and meticulous southern girl deeply touched Liu Qi's heart, and Liu Qi's heroic feat of sacrificing himself to save people and the spirit of self-improvement and unremitting struggle also infected Wu Guohua. Gradually, the two developed a love for each other.
Liu Qi: Before she feeds me grapes, she always peels the grapes first. So I thought, this little girl is really careful. Because she loves to laugh, I often make her happy. Once, I plucked up the courage to say to her, will you marry me? She said, okay. I said, you marry me, I have a condition, you need to run on my back, because I can't walk. I'm nearly one meter eight tall, and she's only about one meter and five meters tall. As I spoke, she literally came over and carried me, carrying me from one end of the corridor to the other, running back and forth like a cheerful deer.
After Liu Qi recovered from his injuries, he made a patriotic report for everyone
On October 25, 1988, Liu Qi and Wu Guohua held a wedding. A year later, the daughter was born, and the world of two became a happy family of three. In 1990, medical experts performed a corneal transplant for Liu Qi, who finally saw a glimmer of light after 9 years of being injured and blind. After his eyesight was restored, Liu Qi threw himself into literary creation with more enthusiasm. He bought a wrist guard on the broken arm, the left arm was tied with a high-powered magnifying glass, the right arm was tied with a plastic soft pen to write, the tender flesh regenerated after amputation was worn out again and again, and the blood and sweat merged into Liu Qi's passionate writing. Later, after having a computer, he practiced typing with a tenacious will and wrote on a computer.
Liu Qi: Now, I am also very skilled in computer typing, but I play more slowly, because I need to use the tip of the arm bone to press one by one. The reason why I bought a computer to learn typing is to do a better job of writing.
After retiring from the army in 1999, Liu Qi did not stop his pace of progress. While continuing to insist on creation, he carried forward the true feelings of the world and spread positive energy by telling the stories of the people around him, while making patriotic education reports to local garrisons, enterprises and institutions, and schools.
Liu Qi: Over the past few years, I have given many voluntary lectures in Shanghai for military and civilian units, just to use my experience and experience to encourage children, young party members, young soldiers, and ordinary young people, so that they can also strengthen their faith and grasp the direction. I think it's a very meaningful thing.
Liu Qi and his lover Wu Guohua accompanied each other in ordinary days
Disabled for so many years, Liu Qi has always had a wish to stand again and continue walking. In November 2011 and April 2012, after two difficult surgeries, Liu Qi bid farewell to the wheelchair he had been in for nearly 30 years. With the help of his wife, Liu Qi worked hard to carry out functional exercises, from the beginning when he fell down as soon as he lifted his leg, and now he can walk 1.5 kilometers alone.
Liu Qi: Since my heels can't get to the ground, when I practice walking, I hold things and walk a thousand steps a day. Sometimes, I walked so sweaty that I ran out of strength. So I cheered myself up, I must go, I must persist!
As a disabled soldier, Liu Qi better understands the inner feelings of people with disabilities. As a result, he often provides help to friends with disabilities within his ability. The lover of a female nurse is also a disabled soldier who faces great difficulties in life because of her mobility problems. Liu Qi actively coordinated after learning this, not only helping to solve the problem of their separation, but also finding a suitable job for the disabled soldier. Usually, he also often participates in the training of disabled people in Shanghai, leading everyone to help more disabled people.
Liu Qi: I often enlighten people with disabilities so that they can correctly understand the reality of disability. They know that I have a cheerful personality, that more and more disabled people are coming to me, that they are willing to tell me about any troubles, and that I am doing my best to help them.
Liu Qi wrote with his arm
After retirement, in terms of maintaining social welfare, Liu Qi will still stand up like a warrior. In December, a migrant worker in his wife's hometown was injured at a construction site, and the construction company refused to provide compensation. Liu Qi rushed to the construction site overnight to find the contractor, and through reasoning, finally the legitimate rights and interests of the migrant worker were protected.
Time passes, years change. More than 40 years have passed, the "steel warrior" of that year has passed the age of flower armor, and the hero's aura has become flat with the long years. However, whenever he sang this song "Return from Shooting Targets", Liu Qi's heart would still ignite the passion of the warrior. In his heart, whether it is the original fire field life and death test, or the ordinary years of life experience, he will still maintain the strong will of the soldiers and the courage to face difficulties.
Liu Qi: Soldiers must have a will of steel, they must not be afraid of difficulties, and if they work hard and pay, they will reap the rewards. At the same time, everyone must have a goal in mind, and if there is a goal, there will be a pursuit, and there will be endless motivation.
In the ordinary years of life experience, Liu Qi still maintains the strong will of the soldiers and the courage to face difficulties
(Produced by the Central Broadcasting Military and People's Liberation Army News and Communication Center)