A disabled sanitation worker has moved the Chinese public after getting to work at 4am every day for 12 years – be it rain or shine, snow or sleet.
Shang Wuyi, 46, cannot hear or speak and has only one leg, but his disabilities have never stopped his passion for work.
One colleague claimed Mr Shang has never taken a single day off after being tasked to sweep four streets in Xi’an, a provincial capital of China.
One colleague claimed Mr Shang has never taken a single day off after being tasked to sweep four streets in Xi’an, a provincial capital of
Shang Wuyi has touched the hearts of millions after going to work at 4am to clean his city
Mr Shang said that he loves working because he was born on May 1, which is the International Workers’ Day, according to People’s Daily Online, citing the local Huashang Newspaper.
He sweeps the roads with the help of a walking stick, and is more hardworking than any of his colleagues.
Mr Shang’s wife Wang Yaqin is also a road sweeper, and she works alongside her husband.
The couple, who have been married for 21 years, are required to sweep four streets, which are about 1,000 metres (3,280 feet) long in total.
Mr Shang, who lost his leg at the age of seven, is tasked to clean four streets alongside his wife
According to Wang Yaqin, Mr Shang and his sister were both born deaf because their mother was deaf.
He lost his left leg when he was seven after being run over by a train because he couldn’t hear the locomotive coming, the woman told Kan Kan News.
A colleague, Mr Yao, told Huashang Newspaper that their shifts start from 4:30am, but Mr Shang and Ms Wang choose to arrive half an hour earlier every day.
‘When everyone else arrives at work, he and his wife would have already started,’ said Mr Yao.
‘If his wife is ill and has to take a day off, he would come at 3am (to ensure work is done).’
Mr Yao added: ‘He has been like this every day for 12 years. To the best of my recollection, Shang Wuyi has never taken a day off.’
Mr Shang’s wife said their life depends on the job.
‘Although he can’t talk, I know he cherish the job a lot,’ said his wife. ‘He knows his body has disabilities, so he has to work even harder than the others to keep his job.’
Mr Shang’s boss, Mr Huang, said he was previously worried if Mr Shang could handle his job.
‘But according to my observation, Shang Wuyi could complete his tasks well. He’s not only hardworking, but sweeps the roads very clean,’ said Mr Huang.
A recent video of Mr Shang removing snow from the streets in Xi’an has gone viral, attracting the dedicated man much praise.
As a local restaurant owner put it: ‘Looking at his back makes me feeling touched, especially when he bends down to pick up cigarette butts. I’m sure whoever sees that image would feel moved too.’
