BEIJING (SCMP): A man from eastern China has spent a decade travelling with his partially paralysed wife, claiming that life on the road has made her “100 times” more spirited.
Liu Peijin, 69, a former serviceman from Weifang in Shandong province, dedicated 18 years to the military, much of that time away from his wife, who was his primary school classmate, as reported by Hongxing News.
As newlyweds, they dreamed of exploring China together in retirement. However, in 2010, complications from diabetes left Liu’s wife partially paralysed.
After repeated hospital stays failed to halt her decline, Liu resolved to fulfil their long-held dream.
“We would rather die on the road than in a hospital bed,” the couple agreed.
In 2014, they set off in a standard car, touring Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. Their daughter initially objected due to concerns for her mother’s health, but Liu soon noticed that life away from the hospital seemed to rejuvenate his wife.
He later transitioned to a campervan, equipping it with two beds, air conditioning, a sink, and a dining table.
With no sensation on the left side of her body, Liu’s wife relies on him for medication, foot soaks, and rehabilitation exercises. He keeps the vehicle well-stocked with medicines and nursing supplies.
Liu humorously remarks that he is “the driver, cook, doctor, nurse, and carer, all in one.”
Under his careful supervision, his wife has avoided muscle and joint atrophy, maintained good coordination, and can communicate largely as before, although her swallowing has slightly deteriorated.
Their journeys have also been marked by acts of kindness from strangers.
In Fujian, villagers came to their aid after their vehicle lost control on a steep road, while staff at a scenic area in Hubei assisted in carrying his wife onto a sightseeing vehicle.
In 2017, a hair salon owner in Fujian refused payment after hearing their story. Liu cherished the kindness for years and tracked her down in March to express his gratitude in person.
Since 2014, the couple have travelled through 31 provincial-level regions, sometimes spending three months on the road, according to reports.
In April, they returned to Xinjiang for a second visit, where a tourist recorded Liu feeding his wife. The video quickly went viral on mainland social media.
The tourist, a 23-year-old woman surnamed Cheng, was moved by the couple’s unwavering devotion.
“Everyone longs for this kind of love, unadorned yet enduring. The older generation rarely speaks in romantic terms. They are very different from young people today,” Cheng told the Xiaoxiang Morning Post.
Liu acknowledged that he assessed the risks before each journey and prepared for the worst.
Now back home after completing their tour of China, the couple are reportedly planning to hit the road again and explore lesser-known destinations.
One online observer commented: “Liu is a devoted husband. Had his wife stayed at home for years, she might not be doing as well as she is today.” -- SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
