Zhang Yuanyuan (first from the left) with the South Sudanese children. (Photo/PLA Daily)

Zhang Yuanyuan, a female soldier with the Chinese peacekeeping force stationed in South Sudan, saved four local boys in an armed conflict last October.

On October 2, 2015, a large-scale conflict broke out near the temporary operational base where Zhang was stationed. 

Zhang, along with her fellow soldiers, immediately went to the nearby village to assist civilians. She quickly noticed that a teenage boy, dragging three younger boys with him, was running about in fear of the gunshots. Zhang took all four boys to the military protection zone of the Chinese peacekeeping force. 

The oldest boy told Zhang that his name was James. His mother had been killed in another conflict and his father had been forced to join the fighting. He was alone with his three brothers. The youngest brother suffered from malaria and a dangerously high fever. Zhang brought him to the army doctor and the boy’s life was saved. 

In the following days, Zhang came often to the boys' home, giving the brothers food and telling them stories. 

The night before Zhang's detachment left, James came specially to the operations base in order to say goodbye to her. The next morning, he and his brothers went to the gate of the base to see Zhang off. 

After Zhang returned to China, she sent T-shirts and stationary back to James through the new detachment of soldiers going to South Sudan. James asked the soldiers to take a photo of him and his brothers and send it to Zhang.