Praise of a Young 20-Year-Old Life 　　This is Part II of posthumous Notes on a good fighter Li Xiangqun of the new period. 　　The report is written by Xinhua Correspondents Liu Jianxin and Jia Yong and Our Staff Reporter Jia Zhaoquan 　　In Jingzhou City of Hubei Province where his eternal life resides, in his hometown Qiongshan City of Hainan Province and Guilin City of Guangxi where his army unit was stationed during his lifetime, more and more people regard him as "a textbook on life"; the first lesson for the new school year of middle and primary schools, what is taught in this lesson is still things about his story; centered on his short-lived life, university students have conducted discussions on the question "with what outlook on value and life to step into the 21st century?".... 　　He had gone through three smelting furnaces-the special economic zone-barracks-anti-flood forefront; the three examination halls-youth of the special economic zone-an outstanding soldier-anti-flood hero. Those were the experiences of Li Xiangqun during his short life of 20 years. 　　His advance from an ordinary special zone youth, to a qualified soldier and then to a Communist Party member, this represents his solid footprints of scaling heights and pursuit.... 　　He had withstood these tests: Military drills were harsh to him at the beginning. But due to his firm resolve and perseverance, Li xiangqun had finally finished running a five-km course. In two-months' new soldier military training, he got full marks. One year later, his name was on the military drill pace-setter list in the regiment. 　　Before he became a soldier, he had smoked two packs of cigarettes a day. But after that, since it is stipulated that no smoking is allowed in the drilling arena. So soon after he was enlisted into the army, he solemnly declared one day: "From now on anyone who sees Li Xiangqun smoke may fine him an amount equal to one month's allowances." After one month, Li had quitted smoking. He set targets for steeling himself under harsh conditions. In fact, giving up the opportunity to make money by doing business and his comfortable family living conditions to join the army is an indication of going beyond one's self and steeling himself under harsh conditions. 　　He wrote in his diary: "the 21st century is an age of high science and technology, everyone should make preparations for advance toward the new century." In less than two years of military service, Li had written notes running to more than 50,000 words about his experience and gain through reading. Through his 20 months of life in barracks, he had step by step realized the greatest value of his life: he had twice been cited as pace-setter in military training in the regiment, twice cited as an outstanding soldier, won one third-class award... until he became a Communist Party member, eight days thereafter, he got an immortal glory as he died in the fight against flood on the dyke, he was posthumously awarded the title "Anti-flood fighter" and posthumously awarded first-class merit. 　　As a member of the new generation grown up in the course of reform and opening up, Li Xiangqun, like many other youths from special economic zones, had cultivated an open-minded personality, he liked to expressed his views on everything happened. 　　Through his daily life experience, he had gradually come to know the truth: since one is in the army, only when one merges his open-minded personality with the iron-clad discipline, can one become a genuine modern soldier. 　　Though coming from a well-off family, Li Xiangqun had fostered a habit of practicing economy in daily life, but he was generous in helping those in need. Platoon and squad leaders had worked out an account: During Li's days of military service, he had received 830 yuan of allowances, after deducting necessary expenditures on daily necessities and stationary, the allowances saved up and money brought from his family had all been used to help comrades-in-arms and the masses in need, a sum totaling 1,030 yuan. 　　In a letter Li wrote to his friend, he said: "It is a fashion to be able to make and spend money, making money legally shows that one is capable; the money earned and spent for oneself demonstrates that one lives a smart life; when it is spent on others, it embodies the significance of life. What Li Xiangqun pursued was precisely the value outlook of merging his personal value with the happiness of others. HomeNews 1999-02-25 Page3 Full Story in Chinese