Migrant couple return home for Spring Festival for the first time in 28 yrs

In early February, the couple Li Zuohe and Xu Xiuming, from Dazhou city, southwestern China's Sichuan province, prepared goods for Chinese Lunar New Year. They decided to accompany their 80-year-old mother to spend the Spring Festival holiday at their hometown along with their brothers and sisters. This is the first time that the two have returned home for the New Year since they came to Shenzhen to work in 1988. 

Back in the spring of 28 years ago, the young couple left home for Shenzhen to seek jobs. They opened a noodle shop eight years later. In 2013, their business declined, the wife Xu Mingxiu went back to working in a local electronics factory and the husband continued to run the shop while looking after their granddaughter. In 2015, Li Zuohe’s father passed away.

"My father was attacked by a disease one morning and died that very afternoon, but no one returned home at that moment. When seeing my sad mother later, I felt very depressed and made the decision that I must spend the new year with my mother whatever happens", said Li.